Antiques are probably one of my favorite things that I can ever decorate with…and by antiques I mean authentically old pieces. Don’t get me wrong, I have the faux antique pieces here and there too but the best are the authentic antiques because they tell a story…because they actually have a story! Depending on where they come from, we may not always know the story. If they are family heirlooms, it is even neater to know the story but even when they come from an antique store it can be fun to imagine the story. My first apartment that I lived in alone and was able to decorate all to my own taste was full of family and purchased antiques. I remember my cousin coming in and saying how it reminded her of our late grandma’s house…I took that as a huge compliment! Needless to say, I’ve been lovin’ on antiques for quite some time.
So where is all this going…well I had an idea that’s been brewing the past couple of months.
The idea…design an outdoor tablescape for summer created almost entirely of antique pieces! Because antiques don’t always have to be used formally so I am showing some classic antiques used casual picnic style.
Playing off the “farm to table” trend…I’ve named this Antiques to Table – finding antiques you love to create a space you love! The quirkier the better!
Why do this?…to inspire and begin a movement with other antique geeks across social media because that is how we share life with those of common interest across the world. I hope my antique tablescape and my brand new hashtag event #antiquestotable will inspire other antique geeks to find inspiration in the antiques around them and showcase the beauty in the old decor of their home decor and parties in a casual or formal way! I chose casual but formal is still awesome too.
Continue along with me as I show you lots of fun photos of the outdoor summertime picnic gone antique crazy!
*disclaimer: picnic table is not antique – hubby and I built it our first year of marriage so it does have a story
I really layered the antiques on top of the antiques as you’ll see!
Let’s start with a few tablescape overview photos
Quick close-ups on each side side of the table because what outdoor summer party doesn’t have some fresh mint-limeade and toasty bread to start off the meal!
And just a few other angles to show off my staggered place settings so that everyone has a little more space and I thought it was a different visually appealing way to set up a table.
Now to look a little closer at each antique piece…because to me they are their own works of art!
Each place setting was one antique plate serving as a charger almost and another smaller plate serving as the meal plate. I chose to do this for the visual interest it created through the dimension and color it added! Plus I could showcase more pieces this way 
So for the first side of the table you will find these plate beauties! Some are antique store finds but most are my momma’s antique plates she let me use for this tablescape!
And for the other side of the table…
These next detail shots are of my adorable antique juice glass collection that I discovered at a local antique mall. The story behind these I do not know but what I do know is they were earned with hard work from one of my workout goals! You see, I hate to exercise but I know its good for me! To see a fun printable I made relating to workout goals and incentives…like juice glasses…click HERE!
I just love those glasses! I could talk about how much I like them for awhile but I will move to the detail shots of my centerpiece – I’m calling it the necessaries station because it holds all the necessary maybe considered boring mealtime items. But I think with creating the centerpiece display out of the vintage accents, it creates a whole new design purpose. Plus, since we went with casual antique tablescape – utensils and napkins in the middle just made sense.
This antique floral print jar was perfect to hold the utensils but I do have be full in my disclosure that the utensils aren’t antique. I don’t own any cool old silver…yet!
These wooden salt and pepper shakers are every bit of antique as I could tell when I took them apart to clean after purchasing at local antique mall. They are so classic though and great for outdoor rustic tie in.
And lastly on the tablescape centerpiece you will see a gorgeously etched pitcher that my mom got me from an antique mall and I LOVE IT for warm syrup at breakfast. Anyways…for this I thought it was a perfect to house my beautiful (but unfortunately not antique) paper napkins. The print is very authentically vintage so work with me on that one! And personally, I don’t want to use super old paper napkins…eww!
All of the necessities station displayed upon a fun vintage box. Loving it!
These last photos feature the mint-limeade station and the florals mixed with fresh herbs. First, the mint-limeade station shows off an antique beautifully rounded pitcher with a faded gold stripe from years of use in my family. The lime juicer was a recent antique purchase as I love me some fresh lime juice in various recipes and drinks.
Closing the show is the tiniest but sweetest feature of the table…some simple daisies and fresh herb arrangements. I chose daisies because they are classic and don’t distract from the beautiful antiques and I have a fresh herb garden and I thought -why not use some pretty leafy parsley as fresh greenery. I love how they turned out in some old antique bud vases. Hope you love them and the idea of fresh herbs mixed with florals now!!
Hope you enjoyed the casual use of antiques in this almost entirely antique tablescape for summer outdoor fun! Remember to join in the movement on social media with #antiquestotable – a brand new hashtag event that I’m beginning to bring antique geeks like me together sharing the beauty and the stories of our antiques.
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* All Images must are photographed by Natalie at Relentless at Heart – please give appropriate credit if sharing images other than social media image above.