Saturday, November 7, 2009

Red Cliff Tureen

I'm almost finished with the buffet, but I need a little advice. Here's the basic arrangement, but do you think I should put small white pumpkins on the Martha Stewart cake pedestals? (I got those yesterday at Macy's. They were on sale for only $16.00 each! Regularly $28.00 each, which I wouldn't have spent.) Or maybe something else? Please leave a comment with your suggestion.
So here is the soup tureen from my MIL that started this arrangement. I Googled Red Cliff soup tureen and found {gulp!} that this baby is valuable. Replacementsdotcom had one just like it for $479.95! Nearly fell off my chair.

Anyway, it is beautiful, and I've always displayed it, but I'm glad I put it in a more prominent position where everyone can admire it.

Nice contrast against that dark wallpaper. Don't tell Julia (aka LOM, aka the Lord of the Manor) but I'm thinking of getting rid of that wallpaper and painting the dining room gray. A sort of dark gray, then overglazed with a lighter gray which I would comb to create a grainy texture. What do you think?

These pitchers are from Home Goods and are definitely not Red Cliff, but they support the grouping nicely and since I already have lots of pitchers they add to my collection.


So here it is, almost done except for some accent on those pedestals. Any ideas?

11 comments:

Chris said...

I love the arrangement! I think the pumpkins would look great on the pedestals. You might add some some color by putting some autumn leaves or greenery under the pumkins. A bare branch of some kind or twigs with berries in the tall pitcher would look nice too.

I love your dining room!

JC said...

I think it looks really nice. The white against the darker background. So, the grey would look nice too ...

Pippajo said...

I love the wallpaper! Of course, I'm not the one living with it day in and day out so you obviously have a different perspective on it...

Your tureen is beautiful! I have a certain think for tureens, but only have room for one and I have no idea who made it (it was a gift from my mother). I once had one long ago that was handmade and purchased at a yard sale. It was definitely not valuable, but I loved it and when I accidentally dropped the lid in the parking lot outside our apartment, I was so upset I sat down and wrote an ode to my lost soup tureen lid. It was so very silly and I wish I had kept it! Guess I should get to the point...

I think the pumpkins will look lovely. All that white looks wonderful contrasting with the rich reds. I'm sure whatever you decide on will be perfect!

Stickhorsecowgirls said...

Beautiful and, of course, I'm drooling for the tureen. Not to be, I realize, but thanks for sharing yours. C

Blondie's Journal said...

I love your buffet, and yes, white pumkins would be pretty on the pedestals, maybe on top of a burgundy color napkins. Your decor is such that I think gray would be very nice. And congrats on finding out you own a very special tureen!! ;-)

xoxo
Jane

Tara said...

Laura

Love the arrangement, now I see two tall, small, thin matching green plants on the pedestals, lower in height than the lamps...

Stickhorsecowgirls said...

I love the wallpaper and the white dishes are a lovely contrast. Absolutely, YES, the pumpkins would be perfect!!! And I agree with Chris, a little green, some branches/berries, whatever would finish it off beautifully! the "other" stickhorsecowgirl "V"

Martha said...

I would put gourds on the pedastals. Ones that are white with green stripes, green with a hint of orange-- a nice mix. Our WM had them. And if you can find bittersweet, a stick or two of that.

I love your wallpaper and your white on the buffet. It's a great combination!

Laura said...

Thank you all for the great ideas. I'll be making a few stops on the way home this evening searching for the finishing touches.

Lucy said...

My opinion is that a pumpkin on each of the pedestals would be too predictable? Tuck them together, peeking out from behind one of your beautiful pitchers. That makes the pumpkins the accessory and the porcelain the feature.

Miss Jean said...

I love the arrangement. I would definitely put white pumpkins on the pedestals and surround them with red berries of some sort, possible pepper berries or some such. I love the red and would keep it rather than paint gray.