My Grandmillennial Chintz Valentine’s Tablescape
Communicate your love and devotion with a Grandmillennial Valentine's tablescape covered in floral chintz, vintage Limoges, vibrant cabbage ware, and sweet treats!
The Victorians believed in the language of flowers and their power to communicate love and friendship and sorrow. Therapists today talk about the five love languages: acts of service, giving gifts, words of affirmation, quality time, and physical touch.
Can tablescapes be their own love language? After all, a beautifully laid table and thoughtfully prepared meal incorporates all 5! It is an act of service; it is a gift; it involves quality time where words of affirmation are uttered and the physical senses are engaged. So yes, and I think this one would say...
I shower you with the beauty of flowers both sweet of scent and bold of hue.
I wish you double the happiness entwined in generous luck and peaceful longevity.
I treasure your well being and offer you courses prepared with care to nourish your body and soul.
Now if that is not a table fit for Valentine's Day, I don't know what is!
This Grandmillennial Valentine's tablescape started with the gorgeous set of Limoges bowls from C. Ahrenfeldt, featuring green garlands and floral wreaths with pink roses and lilies. It is such a sweet pattern I just knew it was perfect for Valentine's festivities. Then it seemed natural to pair that subdued design with the riot of florals in my vintage chintz tablecloth.
Thanks to a lovely reader, I now have an identity for this gorgeous chintz! It is "Park Lane" from Waverly! My mother custom made this tablecloth for me, and if you would like to create a similar one for yourself, check out this vintage chintz or this one at Cottage Textiles.
White chargers, cabbage ware dinner plates, pink napkins, and bamboo flatware complete the place setting. Down the center of the table sit a pair of small red double happiness ginger jars and a sweet pea vine cylinder vase that I filled with a profusion of pink roses, red and pink tulips, baby's breath, and lime green carnations.
The Limoges and Chinese porcelains will be available to purchase on Thursday night 2/2/2023 at 8 PM EST on my Instagram page.
Ready to add some Grandmillennial flair to your Valentine's Table?
Try this...
No. 1 Tie your napkins with a pretty red or pink velvet bow.
No. 2 Use flowers abundantly in your centerpiece and linens.
No. 3 Bring your double happiness ginger jars to the table.
The double happiness symbol on ginger jars actually signifies wedded bliss! The symbol is known as the shuang (double) xi (joy), and it first appeared on Chinese porcelain in the early 19th century and gained popularity during the 1872 Imperial wedding. Usually, it appears around the jar three times and is surrounded by sweet pea vines, which symbolize "many children" and "forever".
No. 4 Place heart themed candies at each place setting for a sweet treat.
No. 5 Mix a pretty patterned china with cabbage ware dishes.
Tablescape Sources:
Bamboo Flatware - Amazon
Cabbage Ware - Southern Living for Dillard's, similar here and here
Garland Bowls - P&P Curio Collected Available Thursday 2/2/23, Anitique C. Ahrenfeldt Limoges
Red & White Chinese Porcelains - P&P Curio Collected Available Thursday 2/2/23
White Chargers - Hobby Lobby
Pink Napkins - Vintage
Red Velvet Ribbon - P&P Curio Collected
Chintz Tablecloth - Custom, Fabric is "Park Lane" from Waverly
Heart Candies - Melville Honey Spoons
Cupcakes - Kimberley's Bakeshoppe Rosé