Can we sneak in one more outdoor table? You bet!
Especially when it features Wildlife by Bernadotte, whose subjects most definitely belong outside! Like this fellow the wild Boar. for instance.
Or the stealthy fox, doing his best to plump up for the long winter ahead.
Bernadotte, a Czech porcelain manufacturer, is recognized by the distinctive shape and relief on its porcelain blanks, which are then decorated with images.
I love the nubbly texture of the raised relief on the shoulder of the plates, with its ripples and folds.
Each plate has a different central motif of animal or bird. The outer edges have a consistent pattern of two horns, and two species of wildlife peculiar to each plate.
I set this table with eight of the ten plates I have. I believe there are twelve available plates, though Replacements lists dinner plate #13, that seems like a very strange number. Perhaps there were two versions of one plate that were produced. The pattern has been discontinued, but eBay had a good selection when I picked them up a couple of years ago.
Trader Joe’s obliged with a good selection of flowers, as the garden is definitely past its prime. Moss covered planter boxes make an easy base for an outdoor, woodsy-themed setting.
I was able to supplement Trader Joe’s deep red alstroemeria and rusty coloured mums with some late blooming hydrangea from the garden and some green berries from a local shrub. Kind of a floral public/private partnership!
A small duck tureen from Spode glided in.
Aren’t they fun plates?
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- Fox
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- Wild Boar
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- Two Hares
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- Two Woodcocks
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- One Doe Two Fawns
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- Stag
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- Pheasant
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- Quail
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- One Hare
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- Two Flying Mallards
My trusty forest green plaid napkins from Pier 1 and wooden Acacia chargers from Amazon were a natural fit.
Along with my much-loved Amber Stem Julia Depression and Amber Swirl Glasses (Williams Sonoma, long discontinued). That duck seems to be giving me a reproachful look. I mentioned you earlier!
Ok. Here you go. People can see your other side now. Yes, you are very lovely sitting on your nest of colourful leaves.
It was a bright sunny day, and I needed to snap these photos before the wind came up and it got too cold, so the lighting is not the best. That’s the difference between a blogger and a professional photographer, I believe. Only the pros are willing to wait around in the freezing cold for the perfect light, or tear down and reset the “shoot” if the weather isn’t right. We amateurs have other things to do!
I did manage to get back out later in the day and take some shots with the candles lit. We would have needed outdoor heaters and lots of blankets to enjoy a dinner outside, that’s for sure. But it sure was puuuurty.
We’re back home in Canada now, still wending our way through contractor’s drop sheets, but definitely down to the short strokes. The closet people finish today (a chorus of heavenly hosts sing Alleluia). The ensuite awaits an elusive plumbing part and the glass for the shower stall. The electricians are reputed to be returning today (fingers crossed) to finish installing the sconces. Impatient, they departed yesterday while one of their colleagues was cutting the freshly painted wood panelling to accommodate the gem junction boxes for the sconces. You can see the holes in the panelling over the vanity Had I realized what was happening, I might have tied them to the porch railing rather than let them leave before the job was finished – just kidding, sort of…
I’ve hung temporary “sheers” with fabric I had leftover from a much earlier project, using flimsy spring-loaded cafe-curtain rods. At least it gives us some privacy. I was toying with the idea of using gathered sheers of 36″ length on the lower portion of the windows and leaving the top open but quickly discovered the line of sight from the upstairs windows of our neighbour’s house leads right into our bathroom, exactly where one emerges from the shower. So, scratch that idea. Shutters maybe?
Mirrors from Wayfair, towel stand and bars, robe hooks, tissue holder and bath mats from Restoration Hardware are in transit. I waited until we saw everything in situ before making decisions on those finishing pieces. I’m also going back and forth between Vogue Magazine Cover and Botanical prints for artwork. I’ve decided to order both and see which looks better. They’re going into the squares of panelling you see on the right-hand wall above the tub and perhaps one centred above the fireplace, though I also have an oval mirror with a silver gilt frame from the old ensuite that might look good in that spot.
Here is one of the Vogue covers. They’re available from Heritage Posters on Etsy. They’ve got quite a selection, and couldn’t be more helpful in getting them shipped here to Canada. I love the dramatic nature of the Art Deco era prints. These are 16″ x 22″ and using a simple black frame without matting, they would almost fill the 24″ x 24″ spaces in the panelling.
The reproduction Loudon Botanical prints are from Love The Print. They’re 11 x 14″, and being a bit more formal in nature, would likely look better with a generous matting. We could take the frames out to 19″ x 20″, so the overall picture would be similar to the Vogue prints. Here is one of them with mostly blue flowers.
Everything comes unframed, so those decisions will be made once I decide on which route to take. What do you think? Art Deco or Botanical?
Oh, and for anyone wondering about Dundee, he was incredibly calm on the nine-hour drive, emerging from his SleepyPod a couple of times to chow down and use the facilities. His two sisters are old hands on the journey and didn’t put up any fuss, either. As you can see, he has found a substitute blankie here in Canada and is none the worse for wear.
Have a good weekend, everyone!
I’m sharing this post with Between Naps on the Porch.
Dear Ms. Kain,
I was going to comment on your beautiful table. I was going to add my voice to the Deco or Botanical debate. But then I scrolled down and saw those conch shell pink ear interiors of a very contented Dundee and lost all interest in table or art. He is without a doubt a beautiful boy. He looks so relaxed and trusting after his first experience of international travel. I’d like to reach into these photos and snuggle the daylights out of him.
Hoping that your ensuite punch list is completed in record time, home renovation can be exhausting.
Warmest regards,
Elizabeth Speicher
I have a hard time staying focused myself with that little scamp around! He’s good for what ails you, no matter how frustrating the day. He has taken to plonking himself right in between us at night, not budging until morning, regardless of how many times we turn over. Occasionally he comes further up the bed, purring like a jet engine, and then the tenor of the purring changes just a stick as he prepares to bite my nose. I’m instwntly alert now for that slight tremor in the purr. What possesses him, I have no idea. Pay Attention To Me!
Almost to lovely for words. You are a magician at making a beautiful restfull home.
Thanks, Jennifer! It’s a chaotic mess right now with dust, dog fur and drop sheets! But order will be restored eventually.
Thanks for more pics of Dundee. It’s pretty bad when I look forward to seeing him rather than a tablescape and tablescapes are my passion. But he has captured my heart and I cannot get enough of him.
I’m thinking perhaps I should just change the site to “The Antics of Dundee” and stop setting tables. LOL. He has quite a fan base, apparently.
Love these plates but was hoping there would be a bear. One showed up at my son’s garden one morning. A first and kind of Scarry. My brother, Jay, has a bear that hangs around his garden most days. But, I do like all the animals on these plates.
I would go for botanical since I think I would have more choice of towel colours but the art deco is striking. Hope it’s finished soon.
There should be a bear, don’t you think? I haven’t seen one, though. We used to have them around our family cottage. They’s scary!
Thanks for the vote on the prints. I’ll keep you posted as they come in and I see them “in person”. Hope all is well. HK
Dear Helen, We have a duck parade through the adjoining field every day, but not one of them gives us baleful looks, lol. Foxes, owls, and boars lurk in the adjoining forests, and at night now we can hear the distant bellowing of rutting stags. This would be a perfect setting for an Alpine dinner; wish you could transport it here! I like these rich colours and think amber is underutilised. It snowed down to 1500 meters last night, even as the narcissus and muscari have peeked up from the cutting beds…time to go.
Your ensuite will be lovely. Given the already-formal paneling and fireplace, chandelier, and tile, I would vote for the botanicals. IMHO the unmatted Art Deco would look jarring and a bit too large for the allotted space. Just my tuppence. Best wishes for a quick completion. We have a similar view problem in our new shower (the tall farmhouse three lanes over could possibly see our top halves with binoculars). We are not willing to sacrifice the mountain views with something fixed, and a curtain would mar the decor. Browsed Houzz for lower-half window treatments…I’m leaning toward a small-pleat shade gliding up and down on fine strings, fitting inside the moving frame–we have been happy with the one we have downstairs. Bon chance! Beatrice
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could just teleport tablesettings to different locations? Such fun we’d have!
The closet people finished up on Friday and did a splendid job. I spent the weekend getting settled in there which involved a lot of reshuffling of shelves and pins to hold them, de-fuzzing and refolding sweaters, and ruthless discarding all round. I’m thrilled with the final product, though. Just baseboards to go in and curtain rod brackets to be tracked down to rehang the curtains.
Thanks for the words of encouragement on the ensuite and the input on window coverings. Our fairly recently installed neighbours tore down the perfectly good house next door and replaced it with one of those shipping-container-like deals which towers above us and regrettably was built within 7′ of the lot line. No binoculars needed for a good gaze right into our ensuite, unfortunately. The pleat-shade ones are quite lovely. It’s between that and shutters, I’m thinking.
When do you head back?
Oh dear…that could never happen here. Our old 3-story house towers, and anything new must be max 2 stories. We are surrounded by fields and orchards, but I’m sure that, as plots in the village are getting scarce, it will be increasingly tempting for farmers to sell off plots. As this is a private lane (each home on the lane owns the pavement in front of the house, and any builder would need every owner’s permission to run construction lorries through the driveway-wide lane) we aren’t too worried. Relocation in less than 2 weeks, to the flagrant cattleya Grand Dragons! Wish I could give you a pic…they are as big as your hand, perfumed, and rich red-purple!
They got around the two storey restriction by raising the basement, so the ground floor starts off several feet off the ground already. Grrrrrr.
Safe travels, Beatrice! I look forward to chatting again once you’re settled.
I also vote botanical print, it seems to fit the elegance of the room. What a dream bath! And thanks for the update on the most excellent Dundee! How he has grown…
Thanks Cheryl. The botanicals have the edge, it seems. I’m wondering if the Vogue prints might not make an excellent grouping for the upstairs hallway. We got more wallspace when we closed off the door into Glenn’s former study. hmmmm…
That little monkey, Dundee, is getting cheekier by the second!