29 March 2010

The Wisteria: Inspiration for an Easter Brunch




Even though it's still Lent, I had to go outside and design an Easter Brunch table beneath our incredible showing of wisteria early this morning. Who can blame me for these gentle excesses?




I started by covering two square tables with a long white cloth, then topping that with my grandmother's lace bedspread (which I noticed needs some attention: mending and cleaning!). On top of the lace, to take some of the sweetness out and to give a little edge, I tossed a lavender cowhide left over from a design project, suede side up. I thought it would be great with the color of the wisteria, and it is!

I then tried a couple of different centerpieces: an arrangement of Lenten Roses in my chinoiserie tea canisters was casual and elegant. Then I tried the Easter Egg Tree I made last year, and I like it too. I guess it's nice to have a couple of choices next Sunday.

Place settings are Malvina Golson's embroidered pink placemats (my husband's grandmother), Limoges luncheon plates, and bread & butter plates from my grandmother Amie in yellow paisley pattern I adore. I used the silver I bought at a vide grenier just outside the front door of my dear friend Camilla's house in Rians, France last year. The adorable straw domes are from Anthropologie, and I placed a French sacerdotal relic at the head table, for Easter.

Voila! A little bit ready for our big Easter celebration with lots of family and friends coming over..let's just hope it is nice enough to be outside. They're forecasting rain for the next several days. We might be sitting inside around the fireplace roasting marshmallows!






.........................................

in 2010, it's:

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic
Chic Provence Interior Design


65 comments:

  1. Beautiful table...the yellow looks so nice against the aqua plates. Your grandmother's lace bedspread is fabulous as a table topper. The wisteria is a gorgeous background for your outdoor dinner.

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  2. Hi Mimi, thanks for visiting..and for your kind comments. I'll hop over to your blog for a little visit there...

    a bientot!

    Kit

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  3. Oh I do hope that you get to host your guests under this fabulous canopy. If there is rain, will it affect the blooms terribly? Love the fabulous china and the cowhide idea. I am assuming the little grass tents are to keep the bugs away from sweets? Or maybe it is just for decoration. Either way, fun fun fun!

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  4. HI Pebble, yep for bugs! thanks for the good wishes, I'll keep you posted..love your blog, am now following too!

    xx

    Kit

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  5. Kit Thank-you so much for visiting me and your lovely comments! I have posted the chicken tartlet recipe. This setting looks gorgeous and I love the wisteria hanging so perfectly over your table setting. I love the way you have incorporated and layered the setting with antique, china and especially the Limoges! I adore Limoges and I'll never forget Meryl Streep as Karen Blixen's quote in "Out of Africa" about "Her Limoges"! Beautiful post and it has inspired me to get started with our Easter preparations! Have a lovely day!
    Frances

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  6. Hi Frances! thanks for the recipe, I went and got it on your blog..thanks for visiting

    xx

    Kit

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  7. Kit,

    It's an absolute dreamy setting. The wisteria is so beautiful. I think you did a marvelous job, as always, and what a great idea to use your grandmother's lace. Have a wonderful wonderful Easter celebration.

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  8. Your Wisteria is absolutely stunning, and makes a marvelous backdrop to the beautifully set table. The Limoges looks so Springy!
    Enjoy your Tuesday,
    Mimi

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  9. Kit: YOur wisteria is wonderful: and it blooms just in time for Easter?
    Love those yellow plates; yes, yellow is my favorite color!

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  10. Kit- You're amazing! I love what you have done with this. My wisteria hasn't even started to bloom yet.. Can't wait. Yay Spring!!

    xxj

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  11. Hi Kit!
    OMG that wisteria is just gorgeous!!!!!!Lovely table too!!!I've always wanted one of those...Maryanne xo

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  12. Beautiful images!!!I love wisteria and yours are absolutly stunning,
    Hugs,
    Cecilia

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  13. Looks beautiful Kit. Love the Hellebores! And the wisteria is magnificent. Gorgeous table! Trish

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  14. Hi Corine thanks for visiitng...are you getting excited about your trip to Paris??

    xx

    Kit

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  15. Hi Mimi so good to see you! thanks for the visit..and have a wonderful Tuesday..I have been swamped but will get back to you via email..let me know how things are going!

    bisous

    Kit

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  16. You outdid yourself this time again! such very pretty colors and such wonderfully whimsical mixes! love the cowhide and lace and I love the different patterns. TRES TRES beau! bravo.

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  17. lavender cow hide! now that is the crowning touch! i can almost smell your wisteria! Ahh! Love it. Wish I had some. Maybe I will have to build an arbor so I can grow some! ha ha! oh does it ever stop?

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  18. Wisteria and a lavender cowhide...I just love it! K

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  19. Kit, your table looks great!
    I loved reading about the process and that you just happened to have a lavender cow hide laying around! Fantastic! :)

    Also think it is fantastic that you incorporated so many family heirlooms - it makes all that more special.

    I hope you get to enjoy a wonderful Easter with your family and friends.

    xCharlotta

    P.s. So glad you joined my little blog family. I look forward to seeing you over at my blog again soon. x

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  20. Such a beautiful table you have put together!

    Blessings,

    Jo

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  21. Oh, that wisteria look so pretty. We've had nothing but cold and rain here in New England. No eating outside here for quite a while!

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  22. How stunning! So thankful for your sweet comment as it brought me to your beautiful blog. I am a huge fan of wisteria and these photos make my heart sing. What I would give to dine in a pretty spot like that!
    xoxo Katie

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  23. JeanneAelia, welcome back home! thanks for visiting, I'm looking forward to hearing about your amazing trip abroad!

    bisous!

    Kit

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  24. Hi Dana and Daisy..that's the design process for you..suddenly lavender cowhide was the perfect thing to throw into the mix!!

    and yes wisteria hangs around forever..it's great! this one blooms twice..now in early spring before it gets leaves, and again in summer when it has all its leaves..strange!

    thanks for visiting!

    Kit

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  25. Kathy, Charlotta and Jo...thank you sweet ladies for visiting and your very kind comments..so glad you like the wisteria setting! I am enjoying each of your blogs too.

    xx

    Kit

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  26. HI Linda! thanks for visiting...I know, I used to live in Vermont! It will come, and when it does, spring/summer are so incredible in New England! We will be in Boston area early June..what will it be like then?

    and up to Portland ME too...

    xxx

    Kit

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  27. Maryanne, Trish, Cecilia, as always thanks so much for visiting and commenting and for your gorgeous blogs too!

    xxx

    Kit

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  28. Oh my! What a beautiful table! Sweet and sophisticated rolled into one! Love your china selections :) Marija

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  29. I love all of it!!!
    What a great wisteria specimen to have in your yard!
    And I love the purple cowhide!!!!
    xo xo

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  30. having the wisteria around is like having that extra special guest around too. i could hear cheers and fun times this weekend. love the table settings,the flowers at the center, spring is here indeed! hope it wont rain, but i'm sure you have contingency plans in place. happy easter to you and family! maryann

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  31. Hi Marija, thanks for visiting!

    Kit

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  32. Hi Valorie, just like the cowhide on your dining table, no?

    thanks for the visit!

    Kit

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  33. Hi Maryann, thanks for the wishes..here's hoping it doesn't rain, but it's looking more and more like it will...marshmallows around the fireplace for Easter??

    :)

    Kit

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  34. Oh I love your wisteria and your lovely Easter table! What a vision for your guests. Just beautiful :) Happy Easter and let's pray it's a gorgeous day!

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  35. A lovely table underneath your fantastic wisteria!

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  36. Kit, I have wisteria envy! My, what a lovely garden setting and a beautiful table. Happy Easter!
    Beth

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  37. Your table looks like a magazine cover! You have a beautiful space for outdoor entertaining. I love the Anthropologie hats. What a whimsical touch! Have a great time with your family and friends. Happy Easter!

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  38. Hello La Dolfina, thanks for leading me to your wonderful blog! and yes lets hope the Bay Area dries up by Sunday..BTW..the Alameda will not happen on Easter Sunday, will it? Just wondering!

    xx

    Kit

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  39. Hi Martha, thanks so much for the kind comment! xxx Kit

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  40. Hi Erin, you made me blush! how sweet of you!! and yes Anthropologie always comes through with whimsical touches...these are to keep the bugs off your summer picnic..

    Happy Easter to you

    Kit

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  41. Hi Beth, yes the wisteria is magnificent this year..must be all the rain we've had this winter!

    Happy Easter

    Kit

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  42. That is the most gorgeous wisteria covered arbor I've ever seen! Just beautiful! Happy Easter.

    Miss Bloomers

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  43. Sonia and Blue Moon, Thanks so much for visiting and your super kind remarks!

    xxx

    Kit

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  44. What a beautiful table setting, you did a great job!!! Hope you and your family have a Happy Easter. Blessing~~ Daphne

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  45. Thanks Daphne Nicole & Lynda so much for visiting! Have a great Easter too!

    xx

    Kit

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  46. How lovely the wisteria is with your setting! I love that you used your Grandmother spread! I adore the food cover! Such a wonderful setting outdoors!

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  47. Wow! Your wisteria is amazing and your table is absolutely adorable...Christine

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  48. I was immediately fascinated by your blog name and had to come and say Hi. Now I'm hooked ! I do love everything !Beautiful table settings and the wisteria.. truly lovely. Do you mind a new devout follower?
    Oh..and Happy Easter weekend to you
    xo, Flaviana

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  49. Oh my goodness - I am swooning! All of it is SO gorgeous - and the cowhide? Genius!!! I love it all!

    Have a Happy Easter weekend!!!

    ;-) Robelyn

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  50. Just gorgeous!! I love your images & site! Come and join in....

    Giveaway is up on my site.

    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  51. Hi Lady Katherine, Christine, Flaviana, Robelyn and Karena...

    Thanks for all for visiting & commenting, Flaviana no I don't mind another follower, welcome welcome! Karena I'll go to your giveaway on your site..Lady K, Christine, Robelyn, have lovely Easters all of you1
    xx
    Kit

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  52. That looks so luxurious, I can't believe how gorgeous all the lavender looks! And what a fun touch with the cowhide, so unique!

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  53. Hey Padgett, thanks! good to see you, and have a Happy Easter!

    xx

    Kit

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  54. Hi Kit, you and your wisteria are a good team. The wisteria is just blooming in a time you can need it and you made a adorable tablesetting with its colours. I like the limoges, I like also the idea of your lifestyle. To make what you want with the things you have, is exactly like we live here. But my love is instead of Provence the italien region of Tuscany and Umbria - not so far away from the style. Have a look at my Tablescape - I think, thats what you like too.

    And by the way, I am a new follower.

    Happy Easter to you.
    Johanna

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  55. Your table looks gorgeous and your blog is lovely!
    Happy Easter!
    Greetings from Italy,
    Federica.

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  56. Hi Johanna, thanks for your very thoughtful comments, I hope we can stay in touch. I'll visit you too.

    Have a happy Easter

    thanks so much for following

    Kit

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  57. Hi Federica, thanks for stopping by from Italy! adn for your lovely compliments..

    Happy Easter to you too

    Kit

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  58. oh my gosh, what a lovely space! A beautiful blog you have.. I look forward to visiting again + again! xo

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  59. This the most lovely setting I've seen... I hope show pics of the real day! Lezlee

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  60. Hi Sarah, thanks so very much!

    xx

    Kit

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  61. Hi Lezlee, thanks! unfortunately, Easter day was very rainy so we were indoors :(

    have a great day!

    Kit

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  62. Suas glicínias são perfeitas!! E a mesa ficou muito fofa!! Parabéns!!

    Uska hope
    http://uskab2.blogspot.com

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  63. So beautiful place and decoration

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