Romantic Valentines Dinner At Home

This year I'm up for any excuse to set the mood and get creative, it may be only planning a table but if it makes Valentines a bit more fun why not, so I thought I would go for a full on classic romantic style valentines table setting , I hope it inspires you to create something of your own of course using vintage !

First I started with an antique white linen rose embroidered tablecloth just gorgeous, with some linen scallop edge napkins, then some burgundy and gold bordered vintage dinner plates and some vintage Japanese desert plates in burgundy gold and white.

The roses I mixed classic red with deep pink and burgundy tea roses which gave the look I wanted, in 2 vases plus a bud vase to give them a more casual eclectic look .

For the glassware some vintage Venetian cranberry and gold glass tumblers and crystal wine glasses, I got out some silverware........why not ? I've used it a lot this year . Then most importantly for the candlelight I mixed white tapers in Venetian glass candlesticks with votives in white porcelain pots.

Lastly I set aside an espresso set and some chocolates for dessert .

Vintage Valentine Tablescape

As most of us will be being good and spending our Valentines Day at home, why not make it a little special, if you set a cute table you won't feel as guilty about spending your day in pajamas ! I made this tablescape for lockdown lovers or a family brunch whether it's homemade or ordered in.

Start with a pale pink vintage embroidered linen set, a beautiful tablecloth instantly turns your table into a party and matching sets just are just so perfect, they really are a game changer, I find placemats may be practical but they can look cold and minimal and I'm over that and into a more tactile thing, this set is perfect for Valentines but will also work for anything Springy, a baby shower remember those , hopefully they'll be back soon, not to mention the sustainable aspect.

Then I added some vintage Wedgwood plates that have a lovely shape and simple flatware from Cutipol, for the glassware chose some antique opalescent swirl tumblers and some etched wine glasses which have a lovely subtle shimmer to them.

For the flowers I chose some simple pinky green tea roses from my local here in NYC, they always amaze me with their selection and great prices I cut them short and placed them in 3 vintage cranberry glass tumblers, I love the casualness of using tumblers they are a great height, I just placed them in an uneven line down the centre, and that's pretty much it. ( I kept the flowers cute and simple so as not to compete with any long stemmed red roses any of us may be lucky enough to receive ! )

One last tip I never iron vintage linens until just before I use them.

How to make a simple Tablescape with Vintage Linens

The addition of a beautiful set of vintage linen hand embroidered napkins and a couple of candles can transform your tablescape into something really special whether it's Sunday lunch with family, or a gathering of friends. For this tablescape I layered a gray linen tablecloth with some vintage ironstone plates then added these vintage lovely hand embroidered linen napkins.

It takes the same amount of time to layer vintage linens on your table as it does to place boring napkins and synthetic placemats , not to mention the sustainability of owning and using a vintage set. Here I layered vintage hand embroidered linen madeira placemats over some linen tea napkins used as coasters, then I added some vintage damask Irish linen napkins, I love the mixture of textures against the simple white porcelain plates.

Vintage napkins are the perfect way to start a vintage collection, they make a beautiful gift to treasure. They add so much to a table and are a lot easier to care for than imagined, they are built to last, or they wouldn't be vintage would they !

More on my tips for linen care to come soon, hand wash or delicate cycle, no harsh chemicals and air dry do not tumble dry are the basics to longevity.