When I recently posted a photo of my dining room on instagram, I got a few messages asking if I always have my table set. If only! This table is usually full of aptware and other special things that have arrived for the shop, but not yet sold. I sell the few things I stock in house quickly, so the items are constantly changing.

Since aptware and cricket cages and matchstrikers are all my favorite things, I don’t mind walking by and appreciating the beauty - even being the neat freak and organizational wizard that I am.

This process began with a clean slate, as shown below. I want you to see that I do, occasionally, have a dining room table that is somewhat clear. But when the wreath went up, I got all inspired, and I remembered some marbled ornaments I bought after Christmas last year that were tucked in a drawer.

Then I took out some placemats just to see how the color worked. Then came the plates, then the napkins.

I stopped before the silverware and glassware got involved, and then got distracted doing something else. Sound familiar?

Here is my colorful collection of Czech Christmas trees! I adore them!

This has always been a difficult space to photograph with the lighting from the lamp, the large dining room window, and the mirror reflection..

I did love seeing the wreath in the reflection!

I’ve probably photographed this painting a million times. I love it. Ira Yeager is my absolute favorite!

I tried to zoom out for some of the above photos so you could get a better sense of the space, but my favorites are always the close-ups!

I think I said in my last post that you would be able to see the tree from the dining room. Haha. Well, you could if we had a tree up! Hopefully will get to that today or tomorrow. Family room/kitchen coming up next on this home tour.

Sneak peek

On to the Christmas tree!