A Lovely Dinner Party With Thrifted Finds

Hello sweet friends! I am so excited to be guest posting on the monthly Thrifting With The Gals series. Today, I will share A Lovely Dinner Party With Thrifted Finds using blue transferware and other elements easily sourced at estate sales and thrift shops.  

The hosts for Thrifting With Gals include:

• Ann from Dabbling and Decorating shares her thrifted finds sourced in her home states of Vermont and Maine. 
• Rachel from The Ponds Farmhouse thrifts and transforms found objects in North Carolina. 
• Robyn from Robyn’s French Nest finds secondhand treasures in sunny Florida.
• Lora from Create and Ponder finds vintage and antique gems in my father’s home state of Minnesota. 

Blue Transferware

I have been sharing my love for thrifted treasures since Decor To Adore first began in 2008. Most of the tablescapes that I create feature linens, crystal and dishes found at estate sales and thrift shops. 

While on the hunt I always keep an eye open for blue tranferware and flow blue china. There is no particular pattern I search for. Instead I seek out pieces that are unusual in shape or the design simply speaks to my heart. 

The collection is often moved and rearranged for the seasons. Some pieces were featured as a backdrop for Creating A Jane Austen Inspired Garden. 

The dishes often show up in summer themed posts as the colors feel so cool. 

I even drew upon Tasha Tudor for inspiration and worked the blue and white china into a holiday table. 

But I must say that my very favorite pieces are miniatures. I can never pass by sweet little children’s tea sets or pieces meant for dolls. 

A Lovely Dinner Party With Thrifted Finds

My son is engaged and will marry this November. His fiancée, Megan, shares my love of thrifting. Her mom, Michele, also collects blue and white china. 

Recently, Michele hosted a dinner party and wanted to use her second hand blue transferware. I went over to lend a decorating hand the morning of the party. It was such fun to see all of the different patterns in her collection. 

To create a cohesive look a white tablecloth was used as a base on all of the tables. 

Other unifying elements are the printed paper placecards, napkins and flatware. The yellow linens were folded into a heart shape. Michele’s flatware pattern is Oneida’s Michaelangelo which can be found at estate sales and second hand sites such as eBay. 

By using several similar elements it fools the eye into thinking all the settings are the same. But the reality is that the blue goblets and dishes are all different. 

Blue and White Delights

Dinner was to be served buffet style. A gorgeous focal point was created on the kitchen island. 

A wooden pedestal and white woven china bowls add interesting texture. 

Various blue and white dishes and lemon yellow carry out the theme. 

Plenty of space remained for the various platters and trays of food. 

The dessert options were fabulous. Michele is an incredible baker!

A pretty little grouping of cups and saucers were corraled on a wicker tray near the butlers pantry. 

I hope you have enjoyed seeing how an elegant dinner party table setting can be obtained using second hand finds. 

See you tomorrow for Friday Favorites!

Laura

More Fabulous Inspiration

You’ll love all of the inspiration shared from my Thrifting With The Gals friends.

Ann from Dabbling and Decorating

Lora from Create and Ponder

Rachel from The Ponds Farmhouse

Robyn from Robyn’s French Nest