If you’re like me, you love Pinterest – and I’ve been seeing all kinds of dark cherry red all over Pinterest these days. So I thought I’d give it a try – not on my hair or nails, but on a table setting!
Dark Cherry Red Table Setting Inspiration
While I was mulling this idea over, I happened to see some beautiful luscious-looking cherries at Whole Foods. I figured that was the table setting fairy giving me a little nudge, so I bought them and went to work.
I tried to find some red plates or other tableware, but realized I didn’t really have anything red except these napkins.
And then I remembered my mom’s little cordial glasses! When we cleared her apartment after she passed, we boxed these up and they’ve been under my tableware shelves all this time. So I unearthed the box, and gently unwrapped them from their layers of newspaper before giving them a good wash.
I also had gotten some beautiful red roses, and had a couple of maroon vases. So with those and the cherries themselves, I was in business!
The Perfect Table Surface
One table setting surface at my house that I probably haven’t shown you too much before is the bar. It’s in the little room off the kitchen, that we call The Pub. Nobody can really figure out what this room was originally built for. The stairs go up to the 3rd floor, which was just an attic, and is now our primary suite.
Because of that, we can’t obstruct the middle of the room, so we have a piano on one side and our bar on the other. If you’re sitting on a stool and stretch your leg out, you can almost reach the piano bench, it’s that narrow.
We love the whole room, but especially the bar. My husband built it, and he and my brother installed it – with lots of blood sweat and tears. Which only makes us love it more! It’s a cozy spot for the two of us, and also a favorite spot at parties.
Plus, it has red walls! So I thought it would be perfect for my dark cherry red table setting – and it was! For a casual at-the-bar dinner, it really worked. Especially with our cherry appetizers and tiny glasses of sherry!
The Actual Dark Cherry Red Table Setting Itself
As for the place setting, you’ve seen all these pieces before. (Except for the cordials.) The plates are some that my mom actually made in her ceramics classes at the retirement village she lived in. I loved the silvery finish she used on an early ceramics-class gift, so she made me a set of four dinner and salad plates later on.
There’s a stoneware pattern from Juliska that has the same lovely color and patina, which I’m going to buy when I start replacing these. I use them a lot and they’re showing quite a bit of wear and tear. I’ll link the Juliska below in the Boutique Recommendations – they’ll be much sturdier than Mom’s.
The flatware is the copper version of a really fun pattern. I also have it in gold, and I use them both a lot. (Like in 4 Easy Tips for Setting a Beautiful Fall Tablescape, and A Colorful Outdoor Tablescape.)
The cordials are vintage – possibly antique. They might have been my grandma’s that came to Mom, then to me. (Although these might ultimately be going to my brother. I think I said, all those years ago, “Oh I just want to do a post with them, then I’ll give them right back … !”)
I love them, not only because they’re so cute, but because of the history and care behind them. I’ll see if I can find something similar, and if I can, I’ll put them in the boutique too.
Table Setting as Still Life
I was having so much fun with my dark cherry red table setting, that I got a little carried away with my photographs. I took way more than I really needed to, and I spent a long time experimenting with different camera settings, lenses, angles, etc.
I won’t make you suffer through them all, but here’s one I thought was particularly fun. Maybe a little Orson Welles-inspired dutch angle thing going on! And of course, this was the one that was clearest and most in focus out of every single one I took! Photography is a never ending study.
Here’s what it really looked like at the proper angle.
Have you used this much dark red in a table setting? Let me know what you think about Pinterest’s Dark Cherry Red trend. I found this fun article about the new It-Color too, if you want even more info.
Barbara’s Boutique Recommendations
Click on the pictures below for links to the pieces I mentioned in this post. If something’s not available, I chose a similar replacement.
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Pin the Dark Cherry Red Table Setting for Later
Oh I like this look Barbara – Dark Cherry Red. So fitting that next week is the Chinese New Year – Year of the Wood Snake and then Valentine’s Day. A quick look and it looks like you are the Ox which states you are diligent, dependable, strong and determined – yes, that sounds like you. Myself the Rat. How extra special using your mom’s cordial glasses (and possibly passed down from your grandmother as well) and plates that she made. You have pulled it all together quite nicely. Thank you for sharing this post. The roses look like velvet. Love it!!!
Ha – I think Ox fits, but I’d sure love to be something delicate and graceful instead! 🤣 Your sign is perfect too – outgoing, fun, interesting, smart … ! Good thing we’re so suited to our lives. Hope you’re having a lovely week up there! Happy Friday!
Very pretty dark cherry red table Barbara – and how creative to set it at your very cool bar! The Orson Wells dutch angle shot is great – I’ve never heard of that. The cordials are gorgeous and I love how those beautiful napkins tie in the cherries and the roses. Happy Thursday my friend and have a wonderful weekend!
Hi Kim! So glad you like it too – it’s so fun to experiment, but I’m not sure I’ll stick with that diagonal shot too often.🤣 Thanks so much for always being so encouraging! Hope you have a lovely weekend too my friend!