We Can't Run That

In an effort to keep moving forward in the dining room, I've been on the prowl for table linens.  Don't table linens seem like such an adult thing to own? I guess I'm really growing up. I came across some earlier this week at Pottery Barn (and they were on great sale) so I snatched 'em up. I knew I wanted orange napkins, but after I paid and was on my way out I noticed a blue table runner, so that came home too. Don't worry, I went back up and paid for it.

Both the napkins and the runner are the same ikat print. To be honest, I wasn't 100% sold on either purchase, but I figured the only way to really know was to come home and style the table with them.

The neutral linen coasters are from Crate & Barrel, those are a recent purchase too, we'll use them on our new table to avoid water stain and scratches. 

All of our tableware are things we registered for at Crate & Barrel.  It's moved around quite a bit, but surprisingly nothing has broken (knock on wood).  Five years later I still love the classic white with blue accents.  We've also had those napkin rings since we got married, but this was the first time I've ever pulled them out.  It was a big day for me. 

Since I was playing around in the dining room anyway, I decided to live like there's no tomorrow and style it for fall, I just shuffled everything from the kitchen shelves into the dining room. The centerpiece on the table is a white ceramic tray filled with stemless martini glasses, candy corn, tea lights, and gourds. 

The mirror was accessorized with pumpkins, a moss wreath, and a gold lantern

The top shelf of the bar cart got a vase filled with candy corn and parchment paper, a pumpkin candle, and a bottle of champagne for a pop of orange.

And on the bottom, a pitcher filled with parchment and a bowl full of pumpkins.  The vodka book works too, because purple is kind of a Halloween color, right?

The buffet table got a Crate & Barrel vase filled with gourds on a copper tray.

When Matt got home I asked him to weigh in on our new table linens, he said "I like the napkins, not so much the runner." So as you may have surmised from the title, the runner is out.

And you know what?  Ditching the runner was like infusing fresh air into the room.  It was fun to play with, but it was too fussy and made the room feel overly formal.  The runner actually looks better in these photos than it did in person. Maybe the heaviness was because the runner was such a thick and patterned fabric, or maybe we're just not runner people.  Maybe when we're 40.  

But wait!  There's more fall fun to be had.  After I was done in the dining room I scooted everything over to the living room.  There's a certain breed in this world that finds it fun to rearrange pumpkins and gourds over and over.  I happen to walk among them. 

By this point Shep was so over it. 

  

Her walk was well overdue. I hear ya girl, although it pains me that my dogger doesn't seem to share my enthusiasm for seasonal decorating. I knew I should've bought some squirrel figurines. 

{More dining room posts here + here + here}