This post contains information on Vintage China Table Settings – Fancy or Farmhouse.

Please bring them out of the china cabinets, breakfronts, hutches, buffets, and storage. It’s past time for you to use your wedding/inherited china to set the table. You don’t have to wait for special occasions. I have my dining room table set all the time. Why wait for the great-granddaughter-in-law to inherit a mint condition complete china set, only to be rejected as out dated and stuffy? 

Here are additional posts with Formal Table Settings: Ten Everyday Table Settings, Two Quick and Easy Easter Table Settings, 6 Simple and Elegant Valentine’s Day Table Settings.

Vintage China Table Settings – Fancy or Farmhouse

Today, I’ve set my dining table for you in two distinctly styles.  I had the forgotten meal, breakfast, in mind when I set these tables, but they work for any meal.  You’ll find these tables true to my style of mixing vintage and new with treasures and  thrift finds

Vintage China Table Setting #1

The first table I call  “Of Crepes and Crumpets”.  Along with crepes and crumpets, the lady of the house would likely serve Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise Sauce, Rosemary Garlic Roasted Potatoes, and Ruby Grapefruit Supremes.

Vintage Silver Tea Set

My Lady would also be serving up tea, loving any opportunity to put the silver tea set to use. (Incidently, my silver tea set is a gift. I shared my wish to own a silver tea set some day with my beautiful bonus mom, Mary Mooney Rowe.  Many moons later, Mary arrived at my home for dinner one evening with a box in tow. The box contained this silver tea set that she had dutifully stored away in her buffet. To this day, this is one of the most meaningful gifts I’ve ever received, an unforgettable expression of love ((she chose to gift the set to me, a daughter-in-law–I am forever humbled)).

I love to give you floral options that don’t break the bank, like these sweet violets. These were on sale at my grocery store 2 for $5. Perfect! One for me and one for a friend. The trophy-like container purchased from retail on a sister’s trip to Atchison a few years back provides an ideal home for my unpretentious violet.

When mixing china, keep it simple by using china patterns that contain the same colors. Here I’ve mixed the Rowe family china , Royal Worcester from England (no, Mary did not bring the family china to me in a box–Tom the Great chose it fair and square–and the siblings are welcome to use it anytime they would like), with J.P. Limoges salad plates from France, and finally  Homer Laughlin USA fruit bowls (kind of the United Nation of table settings). What ties them all together is the blue and/or violet colors found on all three sets. By the way, how sweet are the vintage butter dishes?

Vintage China Table Setting #2

The second breakfast table is fittingly titled “Come and Get It”. It’s likely that Mama had to ring the bell to summon Papa and Brother in from the barn, as they had already put in two hours of hard work having risen with melodious call of the rooster (I’m painting a picture for your mind’s eye. Can you see it)? Here is a mix of vintage china in a farmhouse style table setting.

Who better to hold court at center stage than the proud and confident ruler of the barn yard, Mr. Rooster! If you’ve ever lived or visited a farm for a time, you figured out fairly quickly who was in charge of the barnyard. (I can tell you that not all roosters adhere to this thing we call southern hospitality).

I know this from personal experience. When I was 5 years old, my fairly citified family moved to the country … with barns… and animals… and dirt… and Ro Ho, the ruler of the barnyard (I’d bet the colloquialism ((or is it an idiom–anywhoo) “Rules the Roost” originated with His Majesty, Ro Ho)!

The Ro Ho Saga

As the story goes my mom loved riding horses and really wanted one of her own. When  the cost of boarding her horse continued to rise, dad decided we might all benefit from the country/farm life. So, we packed up our city treasures (Mrs. Beasley for me), and headed to “Bluebird Road”! Boy howdy did we benefit! Horses, cows, dogs, chickens and of course a struttin’ rooster to oversee them all! I cherish the memories–four wonderful years that our family of six fondly recalls. There was, however,  a clear and concise learning curve for each of us!

Ro Ho provided one such  learning opportunity. He was a banty rooster . We learned the hard way, that banty roosters, although small in statue, have an aggressive “do you want to fight” attitude. My dad appreciated (okay, loooooved) that rooster. He may or may not have given Ole’ Ro Ho mouth to mouth resuscitation after my mom was a little to aggressive self protecting. And yes, Ro Ho lived to attack another day!

Suffice it to say, if you had to make a trip through the barnyard , you’d best  be quick and light of foot!

Vintage Homer Laughlin China

These simple and humble vintage dishes, Homer Laughlin’s golden wheat,  take me back to those fun and formative years on the farm.

This 1950s coffee carafe allows you to keep the reinforcements in close proximity!

I hope you enjoyed setting the tables. Maybe you are inspired to get cooking and invite over the neighbors. Your table setting will be spectacular with that china you’ve freed from storage.

Enjoy Today!
Love y’all,

Lori Nell

I’d love to have you visit me for more inspiration on My Instagram, My Pinterest, and My Facebook .