Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Details, details: table linen storage

You'll see that the Wedgwood china is still stacked in my house, instead of at a consignment store! My husband asked if I'd like to keep it as an anniversary gift, and pay for our passports out of pocket instead.

I had hoped to sell the china to pay for the passports! Back in the days when department stores would refund cash for duplicate wedding gifts, we traded our new china for an emergency fund.

Romantic, right?

I expect the armoire display to change frequently. Right now it's an homage to Mother's Day, with my grandmother's favorite watercolor leaned against the canteloupe paint.

My mom bought it back from a yard sale.

Later I will stash the plates below, along with those odd size serving platters we all have!

The yard sale baskets hold folded table linens. I thought the wicker looked a little stark, so I softened the edges with two delicate place mats.

You can often use less-than-perfect linens to line baskets without showing any of the spots or holes.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Meredith-

Wow. We all knew that it was coming! I'm impressed. I wish I had your help with my studio! You have a knack to both organize items, while making them a beautiful delight! I'm taking notes.

Anonymous said...

Meredith! It turned out beautiful. Love your idea of using the linens on the outside (and inside) of the baskets.

Anne Marie@Married to the Empire said...

It looks really nice! I'm always impressed by your artistic eye. It's definitely a gift!

Maggie said...

I like the color on the inside, I bet green would be gorgeous in there to, like green Majolica. Nice fit with the baskets too!

Hyperactive Lu said...

Oh! I love it! I wish I could spend a week with you! I'd learn so much and have so much fun! :) Ha! Just kidding, but you definitely have a gift and I love searching for treasures and making it my own! :)

Anonymous said...

Truly lovely. You really do have a gift.

Anonymous said...

The armoire, and the current display, are great!!! What a lovely thing to behold. I like that you plan to rotate your displays with the holidays and seasons.....such a neat idea.

I love the way you've draped the placemats over the edge of the baskets. It is so pretty and, as you say, it softens the look. Personally, I love little bits of lace or linen peaking out like that!

Another job well done!

Gena said...

I love your armoire! I am praying for a piece of furniture similar to this for our t.v. and all of the stuff that goes with it. Right now it sits on top of a hand-me-down teak table and all of the other equipment is underneath. I want to be able to close it up and hide it.

You have done a beautiful job. Keep posting pictures as you change your arrangements.

Kelly said...

I think the armoire looks so very cute. The colors, the china, the linens on the baskets.... it looks like a Martha Stewart magazine. Beautiful job :)

Amy said...

That is beautiful, Meredith! I love the basket idea and how you plan to change your display. It looks lovely!

Anonymous said...

Just lovely, Meredith!

Anonymous said...

It is just beautiful. You really do have a gift. Thank you for sharing it as you do. I hope you enjoy the "passport" through the years. Roxie

Anonymous said...

I'm a lurker, but I'm coming out to say that looks beautiful, and that it seems like you are posting less than usual since the crankiness about frugality. I love to pop over here during the day to see what you have going on and what things you have managed to find at the thrift shop or yard sales. Please don't punish the rest of us by not sharing your deals because of the crankiness of the world :) Seriously, I really enjoy seeing what you have found, what you are reading, and reading about your life. Thanks for being so open and sharing.

Rebekah

DonnaB said...

Very pretty! You do have a knack for making lovely vignettes in your home.

Damselfly said...

I love the idea of changing your armoire display.