Dining Room with Late-Summer Sunflowers

I'm here in the Dining Room today,
adding a few late-summer sunflowers 

to the table and buffet bringing a little pre-harvest color.

The Dining Room is one of those places where a few seasonal changes take place, 

but they are usually more subtle. The first thing I change up is always the runner

 on the big dark wood table. I realized when we first purchased it

 that I was going to struggle to overcome the massive darkness. 

I've had to constantly keep the tabletop covered

 with a lighter fabric so all that dark wood is not overwhelming. 

...same with the chairs.

I had custom chair slipcovers made for them back in 2012. 

Those made a beautiful difference with the whole look and feel of the room.

I've been keeping my metal Italian basket on the table for many years. It's large enough to make a statement and can be seen over the slipcovered chairs. Ivy and hydrangeas are the basics, then I usually add a few flowers, branches, or leaves to make it seasonal.

When I took out the French pottery from the Holiday Cupboard last month

I was just seeing pastel flowers and a springy-summer look.

I displayed the tea set in a tray and then moved it here to the Dining Room table.

Basically I wasn't sure what to do with it so it landed here "temporarily".

I was really surprised how well the pottery complimented this gray floral fabric. 

The golds, creams and coral colors picked up the golds and deep reds in the pottery.

So it has stayed for a bit.

A sunflower botanical print is attached with a few pieces of scotch-tape

to an old "foxed" canvas. It's just propped up against the antique triptych mirror.

I added a late summer tussy mussy in one of my small iron urns

under a cloche and a few pears scattered around.

These two sheep are usually found somewhere here in the Dining Room.

One of my heavier tureen bases is full of late summer pears.

Too soon for pumpkins, but pears and apples are perfect for late summer.

My little antique wire plant stand doesn't take up much space,

so it's perfect here where it's a tight fit.

I love paperwhites and use them throughout the year.

I have kept a vase and urn filled with the faux bunches

for a quick change up.

My little family washstand is tucked in here in the corner

 with another vintage sunflower botanical print.

I don't think I'd ever even looked up the mark on the bottom

of my sweet pottery lamb tureen; Olfaire Portuguese Pottery.

They are a Portuguese company that makes modern day Majolica.

Lamby is nestled in a woodsy moss and twig wreath on an ironstone platter.

Let me know what you all are up to.

Hope you guys are good...

if you'd like to see more Sunflowers click here and here

Hope you'll come by Monday evening.

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