French Country Lantern Centerpiece

Welcome to the Christmas Dining Room, friends. This last several years I've been pushing myself a bit to come up with new ways to decorate this room. I have relied heavily on Tartan Plaid in my Dining Rooms for years, but recently I've tried to move toward a more French Country look that relies more on neutral, natural garden elements.

I've used this large Pottery Barn lantern here on the table for years. (I have two of them, but since they're pretty large they tend to overwhelm a space if I use them both.) This year I've placed it inside a vintage look wooden garden tray. It usually sits on my coffee table in the Living Room, but I borrow it every once in a while when I want to create an Old World garden theme.

Last year I used one of my old window boxes and created a centerpiece that has similarities to this year's tableau. I love using a harvest fruit theme with pears, pomegranates, apples, and hydrangeas tucked in. I wanted to dress up the pears a bit and give them a more elegant look so I gave them a gold wash.

Elegant Gold Gilt Pears in the Dining Room

Real dried hydrangea blooms and faux hydrangeas mix together on the garland.

I used the gold wash pears again this year around the garland which encircles the lantern.

One of a pair of Boxwood cone topiaries are on each side of the lantern. A few pieces of faux evergreen greenery give a base for the garland.

To add to the garden look I tucked in a few vintage clay garden pots filled with moss and excelsior. 

And I added a gold brocade wired ribbon for a bit of dressing up.

A heavy darker linen tablerunner is the base and a printed handmade burlap tablerunner with Holly and berries cover the table. I always keep a wide tablerunner on this table because it's so visually heavy and takes up a lot of space. I've thought for years about painting this massive piece, but just never took the plunge. I know I'd love these pieces to be lighter. 

I should say, that I'm still in love with Tartan Plaid and it's used all around the house, especially in the Hearth Room and Garden Room this year. I didn't want anyone to think I was abandoning my favorite Christmas look!! I've just been pushing my "Out of the Plaid Box" decorating ideas. 

I'll be sharing the rest of the Dining Room this weekend. My buffet, antique washstand, and wire plant stand are dressed up and ready for the Season!

*Just a note to say thankyou for all your lovely comments about our sweet daughters from my All About Home post earlier this week. We love them dearly and so enjoy our time with them. They are truly a blessing!

Elegant Gold Gilt Pears in the Dining Room from 2021.

Here's the French Country Christmas in the Dining Room from 2020.

And Vintage Christmas in the Dining Room from 2019.

Here are a couple of posts using the wooden garden tray...

Winter Botanical Tabletop Vignette

Botanical Valentine Farm Table Vignette

Christmas Home Tour 2016

Hope you'll come by the link party on Monday evenings.

joining in here:

The House on Silverado,  Love Your Creativity at Life and Linda, 

All About Home at Common Ground and Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Inspire Me Monday at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia 

 Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch 

  Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life  Home Imagined at the Antique Journey

Wednesday Link Party at Our Tiny Nest

 Wonderful Wednesday at Eclectic Red Barn

Turnabout Tuesday at My Wee Abode,  Centerpiece Wednesday at Karin's Kottage

Share Your Style at French Ethereal,  Vintage Charm at Our Hopeful Home,  

Thursday Favorite Things at Follow the Yellow Brick Home,  

Grace at Home at Imparting Grace

Farmhouse Friday at  County Road 407  Fabulous Friday at WM Design House