A Spring Tea with Mason’s Quail

by Helen Kain | Feb 26, 2026 | Afternoon Tea, Blue, Home, Spring Tablescapes, White, Yellow

There is something about late winter and early spring days that call for afternoon tea. The unpredictable weather doesn’t support an outdoor setting, but shifting to an informal setting in the sun room is almost as good as outdoor dining. The wicker furniture...

Tulips in January (or: Refusing to Accept the Weather)

by Helen Kain | Jan 23, 2026 | Green, Home, Recent, Spring Tablescapes, White, Winter Tablescapes, Yellow

January in New England has a particular talent for dampening spirits. The light is thin, the days are short, and winter storms loom with an air of inevitability. Rather than sink into the gloom, I decided to ignore it entirely. The solution was simple: tulips.  ...

Royal Doulton’s Poppy Plates for Remembrance Day

by Helen Kain | Nov 5, 2025 | Antiques, Fall Tablescapes, Green, Pink and Red, Recent, White

Every November, the poppy reminds us to pause and reflect — a small but powerful emblem of remembrance.     This year, I’m marking Remembrance Day through art and tableware. The square poppy plate shown below is one of a set of twelve Royal Doulton Arts...

Fall Feathered Friends—A Woodland Owl Tablescape

by Helen Kain | Sep 28, 2025 | Amber, Green, Recent, Terracotta, White, Yellow

There’s just something about owls, isn’t there? Wise, a bit mysterious, and oh-so-stylish when adorning a pasta bowl. This table was pure autumn whimsy—a little farmhouse, a little forest fantasy, and a whole lot of golden sunflowers to top it off. Let’s start with...

Tables from the Loire: A Spring Table with Gien’s Château Series

by Helen Kain | May 15, 2025 | Blue, Featured, Recent, Spring Tablescapes, White, Yellow

There’s something timelessly elegant about a spring table dressed in blue and white, and few collections capture the romance of the season quite like the Gien Château Series. With soft French hues and architectural detail worthy of a travel journal, each plate...

A Late Summer Alfresco Meal

by Helen Kain | Sep 18, 2024 | Fall Tablescapes, Grey and Pewter, Terracotta, White

Returning to Canada after being overseas since mid-August, I was delighted to find that summer had not entirely left us. Temperatures in the high 70s tempted us onto the porch to enjoy an alfresco meal. Our local grocery store is overflowing with sunflowers and...