houses dressing: Fall Table for Two

It's fun setting a big dining room table for just 2 (think Mr. & Mrs. Smith), however, instead of being separated by the length of the table, try dining across the width of the table.

This creates intimacy, and still allows plenty of room for dramatic, large scale table decor to be placed on the ends of the table.

I chose a neutral color scheme with lots of texture and plenty of organic elements. The animal print scarf that I used as a table runner, is the inspiration piece that the place settings are built around.

I used silver platters as chargers, lightly tarnished for added color, and topped them with heavily embossed plates and bowls in shades of cream and latte. The small leaf shaped plates are from HomeGoods and work perfect for bread plates. The placemats have silver, copper and gold flecks in the weave, and helps tie the silver from the chargers with the gold flatware.

The champagne colored wine glasses have a light pearlescent glow that is beautiful by candlelight.

The napkins are loosely tied with twine and have a small spray of berries tucked in.

The seagrass chairs, (usually kept at the breakfast table), were brought in to add to the organic atmosphere and create more texture. I love the layers and patterns that this combination of fabrics provide.

I filled this over-sized bronzed urn with neutral colored faux fruits, pumpkins and acorns, along with some decorative spheres.

The china hutch topped with a simple arrangement of pumpkins in various shades of white, continue the pumpkin theme, and the ornate pair of brass candelabras adds another layer of metallic color

A white pumpkin placed on the art deco style table base, adds a little unexpected whimsy and continues the
fall theme.

The pumpkin tureen and wooden salad bowl, are ready to serve up a comforting soup & salad dinner.

The vintage leopard print cloisonne and silver corkscrew awaits it's important job of opening the wine, and ties in with the animal print table runner and silver chargers.

ON THE MENU

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Crystallized Ginger

Apple, Dried Cherry & Walnut Salad with House Dressing

Crusty Dinner Rolls with Honey Butter

Roasted Pears and Ricotta with Raw Honey Drizzle

RECIPE:
Roasted Pears and Ricotta with Raw Honey Drizzle

3 tablespoons sugar devided
2 large unpeeled pairs (such as Bosc or Bartlett) quartered and cored
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup fresh whole milk ricotta cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees
Toss pears with lemon juice and 2 tablespoons sugar in a medium sized bowl.
Transfer pears cut side down to a baking sheet lightly sprayed with cooking spray.
Roast for 20 minutes.
Preheat broiler.
Turn pears to other cut side and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon of sugar.
Broil pears until sugar caramelizes, about 8 - 10 minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning.
Divide pears into 2 bowls and top each with 1/4 cup of ricotta.
Drizzle with raw honey (regular honey can be substituted)

Enjoy!