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Thursday, January 1, 2015

Sit-Down Christmas Dinner in a Small House

Happy New Year!

As my long-time readers know, in our home, Christmas goes on until Jan 6th... at least!

 With that in mind, I wanted to share the tablescape and table set-up I created for last week's family Christmas dinner.

We have a small house by today's standards so it is a challenge to accommodate multiple guests for sit down meals but with a little ingenuity, we make it work.

This year, we were expecting 16 family members so we purchased a fold-up banquet table. By moving the existing furniture back, we were able to place it in our living room. I set the table with 8 place settings but you could accommodate 2 more on the ends if need be. 
 
 
These types of tables are the usual length but are narrower than standard tables.  As such, it is a bit more difficult to create a centerpiece but of course, I did my best!
 
 
Black lanterns and candlelight were the theme for the centerpiece design.
 
A bit of tartan, some Christmas greenery and these black & white salad plates Canadian Superstore rounded out the colour scheme for the tables.

Basic stacking chairs were given a bit of formality with some white pillow cases embellished with ribbon and silver ornaments.
 (Thanks to my mom for the idea!)
 
Below, you can see that the table just fit alongside our living room furniture.
 
A look at the living room/dining room set-up.
 
Two extra leaves added to our regular dining room table allowed for eight guests to sit here as well.

Black lanterns were given a Christmas look with votive candles inside glass inserts along with faux greenery and berries.


I didn't have enough black dinner plates so mixed and matched with white ones.
 
Some sparkly votive holders on pedestals amongst faux greenery were placed in the space between the lanterns.
 
A side view...
 
I wanted to add a bit of trendy tartan to my table so I folded a plaid napkin around the center of the table runner.
 
 

Once the meal was over, this table in the living room was easily de-decorated and folded up...
 

 ...so we could use the existing furniture to sit and visit in, in comfort.



What did you do for your Christmas dinner table(s) set up? Were you able to accommodate all your guests for a sit-down meal?
 
Although it might take some advanced planning and a bit of manual labour, it's always nice when guests can sit at a table for special occasions.
In case you are wondering...we had our guests serve themselves from the food laid out "buffet-style" on our kitchen island and then they sat down at the table(s).
 
 
Thanks for visiting!
All the best for 2015!
 
I will be linking this post to these wonderful blog parties:
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch
Foodie Friday & Everything Else at Rattlebridge Farm
Feathered Nest Fridays at French Country Cottage
Weekend Retreat at AKA Design & Life
Show & Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Saturday Sparks at Pieced Pastimes
Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings
Tutorials & Tips at Home Stories A to Z
The Scoop at Stone Gable
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Tuesdays at Our Home at Our Home Away From Home
Show & Share at Coastal Charm
Talented Tuesday at Home Remedies
Wow us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Sunday Showcase at Under the Table & Dreaming

23 comments:

  1. Oh how beautiful your home looks all decked out for the holidays, like a Christmas winter wonderland. I love how you used the banquet table in the room. The narrow width didn’t prevent you from setting a beautiful table. I love the touch of tartan and the little plates with trees are gorgeous! I’m sure your guests were thrilled with the decor, I am! Thank you for sharing and I am delighted to meet you.
    A late Merry Christmas to you and wishing you a most wonderful New Year..........

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  2. What lovely settings for your guests. The black lanterns with candlelight set the mood and the tartan was just the right Christmas touch. Beautiful job! Visiting from Susan's.

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  3. Every photo is an inspiration! Just gorgeous and sparkling. Thank you SO much for including this post at Foodie Friday. I'm putting a fold-up table on my wish list. Happy New Year!

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  4. I love your tables. So pretty and Christmasy! I think that is the perfect place to put an extra table.

    I don't know too many people who can seat more than a certain number in their dining room, and we always have two tables. I can set up places for twenty at round tables if I push all of the furniture out of the family room, but it's tight. I have done it for luncheons and other parties, but for Christmas, I like to set up two tables.

    Love your dishes and everything you did.

    xo

    Sheila :-)

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  5. You did a great job making the narrow table beautiful, Lori! I love the idea of using white pillow cases to fancy up the stackable chairs.
    Happy New Year to you and yours.

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  6. Absolutely stunning! We always squish more people than can fit in our house. Beautiful tablescapes.

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  7. Pillowcases on the chair backs, brilliant! The tablescapes are gorgeous! Carole @ From My Carolina Home

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  8. Beautiful setting for your party and when we have the wish to accommodate a big number in a small space... WE DO! You've done a stunning job and I adore the black and white C'mas dishes...very different and elegant!
    Happy and blessed New Year 2015.
    FABBY

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  9. Your home is lovely, as are your tables. Love the way you've taken generic chairs and long table and made them so wonderful. Beautiful!

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  10. So lovely! I love the tartan, the narrow table works perfectly, and your house is a winter wonderland!

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  11. Absolutely warm, cozy, festive!!

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  12. You set lovely tables! I love how you mixed and matched those plates - great idea! We have a lot of extended family on Christmas Day, too, 26! We have to be creative in our seating but make it work. Happy New Year!

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  13. Wow, you have done it again Lori and not only one stunning table but two. Yes, I can tell lots of planning and labor went into this dinner party but it looks gorgeous. Love the lanterns and tartan, I see your snowflakes on the lanterns, that was a good idea and such good use of light with the candles and of course your tree shinning brightly. As always I love everything you create. Happy New Year.

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  14. You said you can fit two more place settings at the ends may I join in at this home and table to eat?this home looks like a magical enchanted fairy tale who would not want to sit in this room? Wow is this fantastic.Susie

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  15. Lucky you, you can let your family members sit and gather in the table.

    I live i a smaller house that doesn't fit in US standard.

    But during holidays, the buffeé style is the best way. I am lucky during summer as I have a huge open porch and enough garden.

    Lovely settings and the ideas are just to good.

    Happy 2015.

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  16. You are definitely gifted at tablescaping. You managed to create the two tables into a seamlessly beautiful Christmas design that is simply gorgeous. Those black and white tree plates are perfect with the black lanterns and the tartan plaid. I love the way you worked the snowflakes into the design too. Lovely!

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  17. Oh your tables look gorgeouys!! I love the tree salad plates and also mix and match when I don't have enough of the same plate. Much more interesting too! I bet everyone was oooing and ahhhing all over! Love the tartan too, I am loving it!! We go to my daughters now for holidays, it makes me a little sad to not have it here anymore. But her in-laws won't come up this far anymore..... Have a wonderful new year!!!

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  18. Wow! This is sooo beautiful and absolutely magical! Beautiful ambiance with candle light and the Christmas lights...you have done an amazing job! Love the use of tartan and black lanterns, a truly beautiful tablescape! Wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year~hugs, Poppy

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  19. Beautifully done. Such a blessing to have so many gather together at one time. Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY.
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  20. Love your tables! We do the same for large Christmas dinners--a folding table in the living room as well as the dining room and kitchen tables. Food is laid out buffet-style in the kitchen and I set up a "bar" area in the adjacent laundry room by placing a board across the W&D, cover it w/ a vinyl tablecloth and place beverages, glasses, ice and the Keurig coffee pot in there. Having the drinks in a separate area eliminates some of the conjestion around the buffet.

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  21. Wow! Your "holiday" home is absolutely stunning! Great job with the tables - so many thoughtful and beautiful touches! I love the lanterns, the fabric you chose, and your mix and match plates - it all works so well together. Great idea to use pillowcases as chair covers - so clever! Thank you so much for sharing at Talented Tuesdays! :)

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  22. Beautiful!
    And you did a great transformation with the fold up table.
    Sheila

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  23. Beautiful décor. I'm going to steal your lantern and candles idea. Love the dramatic look.

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