Lakeside Woodland Fall Tablescape
Happy Fall! In my neck of the woods it is starting to both look and feel like fall. Leaves are slowly fading in preparation for their colorful October show and both our days and nights have been cooler. In celebration of fall, this month’s Pinterest Challenge is a fall tablescape. For this challenge Mr. SP, Sherman, and I hiked through the woods at Smith Mountain Lake State Park where I set up a Lakeside Woodland Fall Tablescape.
Today’s Lakeside Woodland Fall Tablescape is a Pinterest challenge that I’m sharing along with a group of blogging friends. This is a monthly challenge hosted by Cindy from County Road 407. Each month Cindy picks a picture from Pinterest and challenges our group to recreate the look.
You may remember last month’s challenge where our group created coffee table vignettes, August’s summer mantels, June’s Lanterns for Summer Decor, May’s Patriotic Porch Decor, April’s Spring Floral Wreaths and also the challenge from March where we each created an Easter Centerpiece and Table.
Many thanks to Cindy for hosting this challenge!
If you arrived here from Decor to Adore, welcome! I’m sure that you enjoyed seeing Laura’s version of this month’s fall tablescape inspiration picture. You’ll find a list of all of the participating bloggers at the end of this post. I’m looking forward to seeing how everyone recreated this look.
Our Inspiration for this Challenge
This month we were challenged to create a fall tablescape inspired by this beautiful one designed by Beth of Home Stories A to Z. I’ve enjoyed Beth’s blog from the beginning and always enjoy seeing her decor.
Isn’t this a beautiful table? When Cindy sent this picture to me, I was excited to create my version of this table. I examined Beth’s decor, thinking about how and where I wanted to set a table that looked like Beth’s.
The centerpiece surrounded by gourds was something that I knew I could pretty easily create. The place settings were more problematic as I don’t own wood chargers, white dishes, or copper mugs.
One of my former students is a logger, so I asked him if he would make some wood slice chargers. Sweet Brandon not only immediately said yes, he made them and delivered them to me the next day. Wasn’t that nice? Yes, he was one of my favorites and I think that the feeling was mutual.
After Brandon delivered the chargers, I selected some linens to use that I’ve had for years, and then made a trip to Walmart to buy some white plates and copper mugs. I’ve always wanted white plates and I really like the mugs, so I didn’t mind having to buy a few things to do this tablescape.
Lakeside Woodland Fall Tablescape
Beth’s tablescape was set in her beautiful backyard next to her pretty sitting area. I wanted to set my table up in an equally pretty spot, so I picked one of my favorite areas of Smith Mountain State Park, a picnic area in a grove of pines overlooking the lake.
A path meanders through the woods and leads to an area with multiple picnic tables, all with a lake view.
I have a really good husband as using this beautiful spot meant making multiple trips carrying supplies to and from the car, each trip involving a bit of a hike.
I wanted to set the table up in the early evening and we realized that we were quickly losing light, so I worked on the table while he made trips to and from the car.
Here is my version of Beth’s beautiful table. My husband and I both loved how this looked and we both regretted not packing dinner so that we could enjoy eating it at this pretty table.
The picnic area overlooks beautiful Smith Mountain Lake. We hike in Smith Mountain State Park nearly every weekend with Sherman and almost always walk to the shore here so that Sherman can get a drink of water and go swimming.
Each picnic spot has a large picnic table and a grill. There also is a covered pavilion in this area that can be reserved.
Lakeside Woodland Fall Tablescape Details
Rather than use tea towels and round rattan placemats like Beth did, I used a vintage tablecloth purchased long ago. I chose this tablecloth because the stitching colors remind me of fall.
Beth used wood slice chargers at four of her place settings and round rattan placemats at the settings on the ends of her table. Since Brandon kindly made six wood slice chargers for me, I used them at all of my place settings.
Table Centerpiece
Beth used clippings from her yard to create a centerpiece arranged in a lantern. In the inspiration picture the lantern looks metallic, so to mimic the look, I spray painted a glass florist vase with a few coats of a copper colored spray paint that I had on hand.
I intended to use a tray for my arrangement like Beth did but could not use it since the picnic table was rather narrow and the tray wouldn’t fit along with the place settings. Since I couldn’t use the tray, I simply arranged dried gourds on the tablecloth around the arrangement.
For the arrangement, I used Pampas Grass from my neighbor’s house along with Fireworks Goldenrod and Chinese Fringe Flower from my yard.
Place Settings
For the four settings on the side of the table, I layered a colorful fall napkin over the wood slice charger followed by a white plate.
The plates are Better Homes and Gardens Sophia from Walmart and cost less than $2 each. I’ve always wanted some white dishes and now I have a set of six to enjoy.
The copper mugs, also from Walmart, wouldn’t fit on the table, so I placed each one on top of the plate and added a touch of color with clippings from a shrub at my lake house.
Candles in glass votives would have been so pretty lit but we forgot to bring a lighter or matches with us.
The four colorful fall napkins were purchased long ago from Kmart with place mats to match. I only had four napkins of this pattern and needed two more napkins for the two table head place settings so I used two mustard yellow napkins that coordinate with the tablecloth nicely.
I can’t finish this post without sharing a picture of Sherman. He patiently waited while I took pictures wondering why we were hanging out in the picnic area instead of walking like we usually do when we visit the state park.
Many thanks to Beth from Home Stories A to Z for this month’s Pinterest challenge inspiration. I enjoyed this challenge and had so much fun creating my own version.
Next on the tour is my fellow vintage loving friend Lora from Lora B. Create and Ponder. I’m looking forward to seeing Lora’s version of the fall tablescape inspiration picture.
More Fall Tablescapes to Enjoy
Click on the links below to visit each blogger who is sharing their version of the inspiration picture. I’m looking forward to seeing them all!
Pin it!
More Fall Inspiration
Pumpkin Honey Beer Bread
Perfect for fall, this bread combines the taste of pumpkin, honey, and beer into one yummy fall treat.
Butternut Squash Rice Pilaf
Butternut squash, almonds and dried cranberries mixed with brown rice cooked with garlic, onion, and spices makes a flavorful combination. This dish is a perfect side for a fall meal or for Thanksgiving.
What an amazing tablescape Paula. The setting is spectacular. I love the addition of pampas grass!
Thank you, Laura! I had a lot of fun putting this table together.
Paula
I love everything about this! So beautiful. The view is incredible and the tablescape is perfect in every way. Sherman posing for that last photo makes me smile.
Thank you, Brenda! Sherman wondered what the heck we were doing fooling around at the picnic area and not hiking on the trails with him.
Paula
Wow, you hit the jackpot with your helpful husband; lucky lady! The state park setting is drop-dead gorgeous! You worked hard on this one and it totally shows! Love all the materials you brought together and the beautiful trees, lake, and pine needles as a backdrop make it magazine worthy! Great styling, friend! (and love the cute pic of you working;)
Thank you, Lora! I had a lot of fun with this table. The previous day we looked at every picnic table that we could think of trying to find the perfect spot. I loved the location of the spot we picked and it’s a wonderful spot for picnics. I love walking in this area on a holiday weekend when nearly every table is set up with food and there are families having fun there. I am looking forward to seeing all of the tables shared today.
Paula
You are amazing Paula. I would never have thought to go somewhere else to set up a fall table! Your table is beautiful and the setting is stunning. I can see why y’all like to walk there. And hello, I’ll take Sherman. He’s precious! Oh, excuse me, I bet her prefers handsome. Thanks so much for joining in. Loved your post!
Thank you, Cindy! I love my Sherman and he goes where we go. I had so much fun planning this challenge. Not having a picnic table to use ended up being a good thing because it challenged me to find a beautiful spot to use and I got to share one of my favorite spots with everyone. Thank you for hosting each month. I love being challenged by the inspiration picture each month.
Paula
Paula what a beautiful place and your table setting was beautiful enjoy
Thank you so much, Laura! I had so much fun planning this table and then setting it up at the lake.
Paula
You did a lovely job with this Pinterest Challenge, Paula. Love that you were creative and placed the mugs on top of the plates to show them off more! Smart lady! Also, super-smart to paint the vase in a copper! It all looks lovely!
Thank you, Julie! The spray painted vase turned out really well and the arrangement still looks really good. I left it on our kitchen table at the lake and I’m hoping that the contents will all dry and I can keep on enjoying it.
Paula
Great job on this tablescape, Paula! The setting is absolutely perfect, and I’m in love with your centerpiece. Kudos to you for trekking into the woods for the ideal location.
The textures and colors look so great together! Brilliant idea to spray paint the floral vase, too. I hope you’ll join us at Tuesday Turn About again today!
Thank you, Crissy! I was really happy with the way the vase turned out and I’ll be able to use it for future arrangements. I left it on the kitchen table at the lake and so far it still looks really good. We had so much stuff to take to the lake the weekend that I shot this that we had to take two vehicles. My husband got a good workout lugging all of it from the car to the picnic area and then back to the car. He’s a good blog husband!
Paula
Paula, Sherman is adorable posing in his portrait for you! What a good dog to wait for his walk and let y’all take pics!! Your table is lovely and I agree, it would have been a lovely spot for dinner. Next time! Your former student was a dear to cut those chargers for you. <3
Just lovely… Happy fall,
Barb 🙂
Paula, I always love your creations, but this one is outstanding. First, so happy to hear that you are having cooler weather. I’m jealous. The outdoor setting is gorgeous and you are so lucky to live near a wooded park. Love the copper mugs (are you surprised?) and the wood slices are wonderful. Spray painting the vase was a smart idea. Thanks to Mr. SP for helping and Sherman must be a gentleman of a dog.
What a gorgeous tablescape! So smart of you to take the party on the road to the park. What a gorgeous setting. Looks like Sherman had fun!!
Great encouragement to take advantage of these beautiful fall days!
What an awesome setting for a picnic. Love it.
Oh, our long suffering blog husbands! Sometimes I wonder if mine thinks I’m crazy. I love the idea of a blogging challenge. It really does stretch us, and help us to try new things. Ypu’re centerpiece looks great, and Sherman is adorable! #littlecottagelinkparty
Paula it looks stunning! You did an amazing job with your tablescape.
This tablescape is gorgeous! Love the rustic, woodsy theme, and especially the fact that it’s outside. So inspiring. And one of my picks for this week’s Snickerdoodle Create Bake Make Link Party, which goes live Saturday at 5pm EST.
Gorgeous tablescape in a lovely setting, perfect for fall! So pretty!
I LOVE this table! I’ve wanted copper mugs but needed a reason for them. Now I have one. Cna’t with to copy this. Plus I can incorporate some of amy’s of Amy’s ceramics. She’s my college girl.
Your table looks amazing and blends so beautifully with the Fall colors all around it! Love the view of the lake!
Thank you so much, Donna!
What a stunning setting. Thank you for packing in all of the decorations and sharing your creation.
Thank you so much, Marie!
Such a lovely Fall table! This shows how a beautiful table can be set anywhere!
Thank you so much, Dara!
What a great idea to take your gorgeous table setting to a park! My step-mom used to do this type of thing in her younger years. She would pack a picnic basket and also lovely table arrangements and such so that the meal would be special! Love those copper mugs! Pinned!
Thank you so much, Cindy!
Paula, this is simply beautiful! I wish I were with you to enjoy it all. Applause for that husband helping with the toting and trek!
Thank you so much, Leslie! My husband is wonderful about helping me with any blog project. The day that I met him at the YMCA in step aerobics class was the luckiest day of my life.
Wow, Paula. A dreamy table set in a dreamy location. It belongs in a book!!
Thank you so much, Kim!
Love your pretty table Paula!
Thank you so much, Stacy!
This is just lovely, Paula! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm–pinned!
Thank you so much, Cecilia!
Pretty table, pretty lady!
Thank you so much, Rachelle!
I like yours better. The rustic location really creates an ambiance that’s really enhanced by the tablescape. And your placement of the copper makes it stand out more. Pinning this one! Thanks for sharing at My Big Fat Menopausal Life’s Share the Wealth Party. Have a fabulous weekend. See you again after the 15th!
Thank you so much, Helen!