the secondhand table | christmas

A TOUR OF THRIFTED CHRISTMAS TABLESCAPES.

if you’re just joining us from Aimee Weaver Design, I’m so glad you’re here!

Last month, I collaborated with a few talented home bloggers to create a thanksgiving table using only secondhand items. if you missed it, you can read more about it here. it was such a fun creative challenge that when Rachel asked if I’d be interested in doing it again for Christmas, of course I said yes! the rule of this challenge is simple: use only thrifted, foraged, or secondhand items, as well as items you already own. or perhaps what’s simple is that there is only one rule…

My thanksgiving table could be described as traditional, using the warm tones one expects to see in fall decor. for my Christmas table, I wanted to kick it up a notch and make things a tad more formal. I only bought a few new [to me] items for my table; everything else I already had on hand. I’ll include a list of “new” items and price breakdown below!

green is my favorite color. I find that I am never finished with a room, picture, table, project—whatever it may be—until there’s a touch of green. that’s why when I came across this dark green tablecloth with a ruffle detail, I snagged it. it was $2.99 and I’m pretty sure it is straight from the 90s, but I kind of like it. it makes for a lovely canvas, anchoring the entire tablescape, and allowing the other items on the table to pop.

For my centerpiece, I used a champagne bucket filled with greenery, brass candlesticks, and a Blue Willow platter filled with pomegranates, clementines, cranberries, nuts, and sprigs of boxwood—all things I already had on hand. I found the champagne bucket that holds the boxwood cone topiary sometime in the last year or two on Goodwill’s website. you read that right. you can shop at Goodwill online, auction-style. I believe this bucket was about $8 or $9. not too shabby! but with the shipping and handling, it ended up being around $20-$30. I’m old-fashioned and prefer a brick-and-mortar store [and frankly, not paying extra for shipping + handling], so I haven’t really “shopped” their website since. however, some may not mind that!

I suppose the glassware is what elevates this from a casual tablescape to a more formal setting. I had been wanting some crystal stemware, or something similar. while I love shopping secondhand, one of the challenges of doing so is finding multiples of a certain item. for instance, I had seen a few different pieces of crystal at various thrift stores, but never more than two that matched. I suppose I could have gone for a collected look and used mismatched stemware, but I really wanted a set of matching crystal stemware. when I had just about given up, I happened upon a set of six crystal goblets! for $1.99 a piece, I couldn’t pass that up!

I used the same thrifted rattan chargers that I featured on my thanksgiving table. the dishes are a collection of thrift store finds. the Federalist Ironstone dinner plates were found at Goodwill in a set of 8 place settings—dinner plate, salad plate, bowl, and saucer. 36 pieces of ironstone for just $8! the teacups were missing, but I figured it was still worth it. I found the black + white toile plates at another thrift store a few towns over for 50¢ a piece. and the buffalo china dessert plates with red scroll detail were 49¢ a piece at one of my favorite local thrift shops.

The vintage scalloped linen napkins were a gift from my husband a few Christmases ago. I couldn’t decide how to fold or place them, when I got the idea to simply tie a piece of tartan ribbon in the center, creating a giant bow. then I placed them front + center on the stack of collected dishes, like a bow on top of a gift. it seemed fitting considering the occasion! I also used some old mint julep cups that I found at the thrift store this past summer. I have a growing collection of [secondhand] silver and love to feature it in our home wherever I can.

Towards the end of the shoot, I filled the crystal glasses with sprite, a cranberry or two, and a sprig of rosemary. it made for lovely photos and the boys were all too excited to help me empty the glasses… into their bellies.

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I don’t typically enjoy numbers, but I do love the “guess how little this cost!” game. plus, I thought this may be a helpful guide in that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to create something you love.

COST BREAKDOWN:

GREEN TABLECLOTH | $2.99

CHAMPAGNE BUCKET | $8-$9* plus shipping + handling

RATTAN CHARGERS | $8.00 [$1.99/CHARGER]*

FEDERALIST IRONSTONE DINNER PLATES | $8.00 [36 piece set]*

BLACK + WHITE TOILE SALAD PLATES | $1.50 [50¢ for three plates]

RED SCROLL DESSERT PLATE | $1.47 [49¢ for three plates]

CRYSTAL STEMWARE | $11.94 [$1.99/GLASS]

MINT JULEP CUPS | $8.00 [$2/PIECE]*

GRAND TOTAL: $50.90

however, I feel it is worth mentioning that since I had most of these things on hand, I only spent $17.90 on the “new to me” items!

* items I already owned

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To be completely candid, I was a little worried and not really feeling confident in my vision or what I had gathered. but as I begin to set the table, the ideas began to flow; and overall, I am really pleased with the finished product. maybe I’m biased, but if I saw this table somewhere, I would be surprised to learn that nearly everything is secondhand. it just goes to show the wonderful treasures you can find if you’re willing to dig a little!

I hope you enjoyed this post and leave feeling inspired! don’t forget to visit Annie at Most Lovely Things to see the beautiful secondhand table she created! thanks so much for reading!

and merry, merry Christmas to you + yours!

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make sure to hop over and check out all the secondhand tables that were put together!

Rachel | Cherry Street Blossoms

Aimee | Aimee Weaver Designs

Annie | Most Lovely Things

Dana | Adored House

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the secondhand table | thanksgiving

a tour of thrifted thanksgiving tablescapes

if you’re just joining us from Adored House, I’m so glad you’re here!

When Rachel of Cherry Street Blossoms reached out and asked if I’d be interested in sharing inspiration for a fall table using only secondhand items, I couldn’t say yes quickly enough! I am a big fan of Rachel and her work, so I was both humbled + flattered by her invitation. if you know me personally or have followed the tiny white house for any length of time, you know one of my favorite pastimes is shopping secondhand, specifically thrifting. so any opportunity to essentially create something from nothing [or using/spending very little] is right up my alley!

the challenge was to create a thanksgiving tablescape using only thrifted or secondhand items. when the majority of your household belongings are secondhand to begin with, this isn’t hard to do. but to not use anything new? well, that calls for a little creativity. per usual, my vision was a simple, timeless table. less is more and all that.

Most everything I used I already had on hand, with the exception of the “tablecloth” [which is actually a throw blanket] and the produce. this is one of the benefits of thrifting, but can be a downside as well. with patience, you can curate a lovely collection of unique, quality goods. but patience is the tricky part. while it may be easier and more convenient to purchase things new, I have found that in buying secondhand, I not only spend less [always a bonus], but what I come away with is original and often times better quality than buying brand new. you know what they say: they just don’t make ‘em like they used to.

if patience is an ingredient to successful thrifting, then preparation is a tasty reward. when I say that I had the other things on hand, I mean, though it may have taken time to gather, when such an occasion arose, I was prepared [a rarity in most other areas of my life] and already had what I “needed.” I found the rattan chargers earlier this year, the brown + white dishes this summer and knew they’d be perfect for fall. the seagrass glasses were my souvenir from our visit to the beach in September. while my family relaxed on the beach one day, I relaxed by visiting every thrift store in Destin and the surrounding areas. time well spent, if you ask me.

The only new [to me] item is the tablecloth, or throw blanket rather. a couple weeks ago, I saw a brown + cream floral sheet at a local thrift store. I didn’t grab it when I saw it—rookie mistake; and when I went back for it, it was gone. I was pretty bummed about it since I had kind of planned the table around it and was counting on some type of table covering. then on a fast + furious trip to Georgia for the funeral of an old friend, I popped in Value Village [my first time to visit one] before the nearly 500 mile trek home. it was a quick thrift haul, I was probably in and out in ten minutes. but I’m so happy I stopped by because I found the beautiful plaid throw that serves as a tablecloth… and a blue + white flat sheet [that I’ll use as a tablecloth] and a rattan basket and a lamp and a book and a mug—all for $12!

As for the centerpiece, I knew I wanted to use a flat-bottom basket I had thrifted a few months ago filled with fruits + vegetables. I thought it would make for a simple, yet colorful display, and would also be significant, considering the holiday we are about to celebrate. how fitting for the centerpiece to be a reflection of the very thing that brings us together—delicious food + the Lord’s provision! it also reminds me of the fresh markets in Paris. I had the incredible opportunity to spend a few days there this past spring with my mother + sisters. creating a table with things fresh from the garden [or grocery, in my case] is certainly a nod to the French.

the little linen napkins were a gift from my husband a few Christmases ago and the mismatched antique flatware is one of my many collections. after the pretty silverware from our wedding registry disappeared in the flood, I began to slowly replace it with these beautiful, antique pieces. the engraved pieces are my favorite.

I had a miniature ginger jar full of pheasant tail feathers on our mantle, so I snagged a few to tuck into the folds of the napkins. last month, I hosted our monthly book club meeting, where we discussed Where the Crawdads Sing. I used these feathers for the place cards [if you’ve read it, you understand], so the idea of incorporating feathers was fresh on my mind. besides, I thought it would be a nice touch and add a little masculinity to the mix.

even the cotton sprigs are secondhand! some of our dear friends who farm gifted me some to decorate with.

from now on, I think I’ll only buy carrots with the leafy tops still attached. and maybe leave them on the dining room table as decor year-round...

a little corner of our dining room… everything photographed is secondhand [thrift store, flea market, facebook marketplace], except the pears + pumpkin. those came from Walmart.

I don’t typically enjoy numbers, but I do love the “guess how little this cost!” game. plus, I thought this may be a helpful guide in that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to create something you love.

cost breakdown:

brown + white dishes | $4.50 [$1.50/plate]
rattan chargers | $8.00 [$1.99/charger]
glasses | $12.00 [$3/glass]
plaid throw | $1.24
turkey platter | $8.00
flat basket | $1.00
produce | approximately $15.00

GRAND TOTAL: $49.74

I’m really tickled with the way this turned out! with the exception of the produce and throw, I already owned every piece used. it’s especially amusing to me that the artichoke I used in the centerpiece cost more than the plaid blanket I used as a tablecloth. we have yet to host thanksgiving dinner and are usually making the rounds during the holidays, but I plan to recreate some of this when we host friendsgiving in a few weeks.

I hope you enjoyed this and that it inspires you to create something beautiful as you gather with those you love—whether it’s in the form of a table setting, a delicious meal, or a meaningful conversation!

and thanks again to Rachel — such an honor to be included in this fun challenge! head over to Fabiana’s to see the beautiful secondhand table she created! I think this is the first time in the history of the tiny white house that I have ever shared any kind of holiday decor before the actual holiday. so this is what the real bloggers feel like!

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make sure to hop over and check out all the secondhand tables that were put together!
so much beauty + creativity!

Rachel | Cherry Street Blossoms

Fabiana | Ciao Newport Beach

Annie | Most Lovely Things

Dana | Adored House

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full disclosure: I am not the biggest fan of thanksgiving, or should I say, the typical foods served. let the record show I am all about gratitude and think it’s one of the greatest lessons we could ever learn and one of the most important things we could ever practice. I just don’t love turkey [unless it’s cold + thinly sliced and on a sub sandwich with all the fixins’] or ham or cranberries or dressing or stuffing or pecan pie or even sweet tea. I know, I know–how am I even from the south? when it’s my turn to host thanksgiving 30+ years from now, we’ll be having fried chicken and spicy parmesan shrimp pasta and whatever else I want because I’ll be the grandmother and I get to say. isn’t that how it works?

the apothecary cabinet.

I came across this little apothecary cabinet through an online market page.  I probably didn't need it; but as soon as I spotted it, I saw its potential and couldn't stop dreaming of the transformation.  and for only twenty-five bucks?  it was totally worth it.

the seller listed it as an apothecary cabinet and described it as very heavy.  upon reading the description, I assumed it was an antique and a steal at that.  I simply couldn't pass it up.  now that it's mine, I'm almost positive it is no antique.  while it is a heavy piece as it is solid wood, the wood seems newer.  obviously if it was an antique, it would have more character and patina.  I certainly don't regret the purchase, though.

If you've been following the blog from the beginning, you may remember the bedside table transformation.  as soon as I saw this cabinet, I knew I wanted to do essentially the same thing: give it a fresh coat of black chalkboard paint, season it with chalk, wipe the "seasoning" off with a felt cloth, and update the hardware.

Based on the paint job and the decorative knobs, I imagine that this piece previously belonged in a child's room.  my initial vision was inspired by old card catalogs.  I would've loved to replace the ceramic knobs with card holder drawer pulls.  however, due to the dimensions and the drawer fronts being so small, I ended up going with a simple cabinet knob.  I prefer the warmth and tradition of brass fixtures and hardware, so I chose this antique bronze flat knob from Hobby Lobby.  I snatched them while the hardware was 50% off, so I got nine knobs for $18 plus tax.  not too shabby!

I applied 2-3 coats of chalkboard paint, letting it dry completely between each coat.  a couple days later, I seasoned, or lightly scribbled, on the surface with white chalk and wiping it down after with a piece of felt.  it took a little while for me to purchase all nine knobs, but I got around to it eventually.   

Now it sits near our hearth.  it adds contrast to the red brick and to a mostly neutral room.  the little drawers are so fun! in the spring, I snipped some roses from our yard, put them in jar of fresh water, and placed it in one of the drawers. the apothecary cabinet also doubles as the perfect hiding place for small objects… trucks, pacifiers—you name it.  I even found a few Fruit Loops in a some of the drawers. and even though it may not be an antique now, it certainly will be someday.  maybe this piece will stay in my family forever, or long enough to become "antique."

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SOURCES:

drawer knobs | Hobby Lobby
Valspar chalkboard paint | Lowe’s

a simple tablescape.

for the Fourth of July, I threw a few red, white, and blue things on the table. we weren't hosting any parties or even home that day, but I wanted to do something. it wasn't anything fancy, but I liked it!

the next week, everything got pushed around and my patriotic tablescape disappeared. you see, sometimes [read: a lot of the time] our table acts as a catchall. after I cleared the thing off, I was ready for something different. a little more formal, yet very simple. I had a picture in my mind of exactly what I wanted, so I set out to make it happen. we all know less is more and that phrase perfectly sums up what I had envisioned. here's the finished product:

I spread a strip of burlap across the table to use as my table runner. then I carefully placed some of my white dishes to make four place settings. after racking my brain for a centerpiece idea, I decided to use an old tool box that belonged to Drew's grandfather and fill it with white hydrangeas [my favorite]. I'm not sure if this is against "design rules," but you should know my flowers are fake. I adore fresh flowers just a much as the next girl, but I prefer to use fake when decorating because 1) they last longer and 2) they can be used over + over again in so many different ways.

after arranging the flowers just so, I went out to my front porch and snipped some pieces of boxwood. I rolled + fluffed a white cloth napkin through a silver napkin ring and tucked a boxwood snippet into the ring. I did this four times and set one at each place setting, then finished setting the table.

one of my favorite features of this tablescape is the silverware. instead of using our regular, matching silverware, I used antique [and some real!] silver I happened upon one day while antiquing with friends. the best part: it's mismatched! I didn't buy one complete set, but several different brands + designs of silverware. collecting antique silver is one of my new hobbies, as well as polishing silver. I know, kind of weird. but it's both relaxing and rewarding! you can see the results right before your eyes.

as for my drinkware, I decided to go for a simple + southern look. so naturally, mason jars were my glass of choice.

and there ya have it! my simple, almost effortless tablescape. what do you think?

the goodwill chair makeover.

One of my very favorite stores is the Goodwill. I can always find a treasure there, whether it's a worn antique couch [one of my best finds to date] or a chipped cake stand. treasure hunting—it's one of my favorites hobbies.

my sister moved cities last year after graduating from receiving her Masters [she's a go-getter, clearly] and started her first big girl job as a special education teacher. she needed a chair for the desk in her bedroom, so I kept my eyes peeled. after a few months, I came across this beauty at our Goodwill for just $9.99!

I loved the French cane backing and that's pretty much what did it for me. it needed a little paint + good reupholstering, but that wouldn't take much. so I bought it, brought it home, and immediately let it sit in my garage for about nine months. as you can see, I could take a few lessons from my go-getter sister.

This past weekend, I figured it was a good time to sand it down and get to work. I don't have photos of the painting or reupholstery process because 1) I just didn't take any and 2) it's really a simple process. anyone can do it. and I just used regular ol' latex paint because I don't mind sanding.

The "fabric" I used is just a canvas drop cloth you can find at Home Depot. we used these for our wedding reception as tablecloths and they've been used since as curtains, ottoman covers, and now this. I used a staple gun to recover the seat. since this was my first "reupholstery" project, my craft veteran mom helped because the corners are a little tricky.

I did a light sanding, used about three coats of paint, lightly distressed it, and here's what it looked like when I finished… 

I'm really pleased with it. it's simple, but classic. and I wish it was mine.

But to sister's house it goes!