French Country Outdoor Living...and...A French Inspired Tablescape

The time I spent living in France left me with some wonderful memories…especially those long afternoons and evenings spent with friends, lingering over beautifully prepared meals served in their gardens. So when I saw the latest issue of the French online magazine Campagne Décoration, I was thrilled to see some lovely outdoor spaces! This old farmhouse really speaks to me! It reminds me of the home of a dear friend in France.

I love this one! Doesn’t it looks as though Renoir and his friends are just out of sight? What a beautiful setting…lunch under the dappled lighting of willow trees! This is the garden of the summer residence of the French author Alfred de Musset.

I love the textures in this photo! Nothing adds to the ambiance of a French garden like old stone walls and the ornate curves of a vintage garden bench!  What a nice place to rest after a little gardening.

Oooh…but this one looks so much more comfortable! Could you sit and read for hours on this wrought iron banquette? I love the fabrics on the cushions!

What a wonderful little space for a cup of morning coffee and a croissant! I want that table with the curvy French legs and that copper lantern!

You don’t have to be in the country to have a picnic! How about enjoying some time along the Seine River in Paris? On my list of things to do when my grandson and I are in Paris in a few weeks is having a pastry while sitting along the quai of the Seine!

And here’s my favorite…the courtyard of an ancient farmhouse in Provence where I spent a week during my retirement trip to France! (Click here to see more!) Oh how I would love to be able to recreate something like this at my house! But…I don’t have those stone walls, creeping vines and wonderful Provençal blue shutters! Sigh! 

Then I saw this one! Maybe I can’t recreate the garden, but I can create my version of this tablescape! Just maybe I can transform my patio into a little corner of France!

And voilà…here it is! I had to take a few liberties based on what was available, but I think I have captured the essence of it. I actually already had most of what I needed, so I only had to do a little Goodwill hunting. You may recognize the placemats and the Bordallo cabbage plates from a spring tablescape that I did two years ago. Hmmm...note to self...check into buying some French bistro chairs.

The glasses came from the clearance aisle at Home Goods…$3.00 each…and the napkins were a GW find…6 of them for $2.50! The cheese plates are from Crate & Barrel and were also a thrifting find…only $2.00! I pulled out some of my favorite old silverplate and set the table à la française...French style...with the tines of the forks and the bowls of the spoons pointing down. The monogram or family crest is customarily located on the back of the flatware in France.

Their centerpiece used fresh figs…nowhere to be found for me…so I used limes and a bouquet of fresh flowers from the grocery store! In the background, you can see that my shabby picnic basket planter is back again this year! I’ll have more about that later! Just add a few candles for ambiance...
(Hint: For a quick and easy color change, I wrapped mine in matching scrapbooking paper. Of course, be careful as you would any time you use candles.)

…and there you have it…my French inspired tablescape! My sister is coming over later today, so I think we will have lunch on the patio and enjoy the wonderful weather we have been having!

Our co-host Miss Kitty, who is the only mother on our staff (other than moi, of course), would also like to wish a wonderful Mother’s Day to each of you! May your day be filled with family, friends and fabulous food…that you didn't have to cook!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my tablescape!  Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Judy at DIY by Design for the Outdoor Cooking and Dining Blog Party
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for Today's Thrifty Treasures on Mondays
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for Swing into Spring
Kara at Elements Interiors for Whassup Wednesday
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday
Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Leigh at Tales from Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday
Jill at French Cupboard for Voilà! French Inspiration on Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Fridays
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Rachelle at Fingerprints on the Fridge for Feature Yourself Friday
Laurie at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie for A Few of My Favorite Things Saturday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
See you next time! A la prochaine!