The Holly & Ivy Holiday Table

The Holly &  Ivy Holiday Table

This year I decided to design my holiday table setting based on my Lenox Hollyberry china. Which of course instantly made me think of the song The Holly & The Ivy.

The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the woods
The holly bears the crown

I remember signing this song in the high school show choir. Honestly, I really thought it was a boring song and I would have much rather sang something with a little upbeat tempo. Now here I am designing a a tablescape around it, and hopefully it is not as boring as that song.

My second inspirational piece for this table is a gorgeous driftwood log centerpiece. I fell in love with it three months ago and I just had to have it. I knew it would make a perfect yule log for the holidays. I have filled it to the brim with stems of holly berries, red roses and seeded eucalyptus. I spray painted the eucalyptus  gold to add a bit of shimmer and character to the piece.The final, and probably most important inspiration was the color theme. I have used a very traditional red, green and gold color story.  The red is a primary focus in my great room which is open to the dining room. It only made sense to carry that color story to the table since we have such an open concept floor plan.As you can see above it really creates a very stately and sophisticated table. We started with a runner underneath the yule log floral arrangement in an ivory linen with a gold chevron embroidery pattern. It brings just a touch of texture to the table, and matches perfectly, I was so lucky to find this it as a one off at Home Goods, which is one of my usual linen go to store.I must say, I really love my Lenox China, and I am so glad that gold is trending back in style again. I have had it for almost 20 years now and I still think it looks a classy and elegant as the day we received it for our wedding gifts. The beautiful Holly Berry Salad plates were given to us at our first family Christmas as newly weds. It is still considered Lenox’s most popular holiday dinnerware pattern, a colorful holly and berry motif on fine ivory china trimmed with 24 karat gold. It certainly keeps the  holiday cheer on the table throughout the season.To mimic the gold in our china we added these durable gold chargers anchor the chine on the table. Then utilized our gold ware which is really making a huge comeback these days.
We topped the plates with my out used but favorite napkins in a deep rich red. They are bound by our matching napkin ring of Lenox Holly Berry.Okay so here is where things get interesting. The stemware, it looks pretty right? You probably think that is Lenox Holly Berry glasses to match the entire table set. Well, these I actually inherited from my brother-in-laws grandmother, they were her fine holiday stemware. I was so honored to get them, especially since they matched my china perfectly. One day while I was shining them up for the dinner table, I noticed very small print. It was a logo that said “Arby Holiday Collection 1986”. Yep, this holiday stemware was a give away from Arby’s in 80’s, apparently granny loved her some Arby’s! Which is pretty ironic, since I actually worked at Arby’s during my  high school days! I can not possibly make this stuff up.Now our table is all set for the perfect holiday dinner party. We have even decorated the sideboard with a lovely variety of woodland trees, nutcrackers and a sweet little vintage toy train made of wood. Our “Gather” pillows still adorn the upholstered side chairs, since this is the room we all gather in.No party would be complete without some sweet tunes, so I am sharing my favorite holiday playlist with you. I feel that music can set the perfect party tone and I tend to have very eclectic taste when it comes to my music. Please notice that The Holly & The Ivy did not make the list, lol. You might recall how I stated I actually found the song to be quite boring, well I still do it is up there with Snow, another snooze fest for me, but check out our list of favorites for a party below.

Jen & Ron’s Favorite Holiday Playlist:

PIN ME for later and be sure to follow us on Pinterest at Jen @ JENRON DESIGNS

Elegant Christmas Table JENRON DESIGNS

Want to see more of my Christmas Tablescapes? Here are some from Christmas’ Past:

Tips for Setting Your Christmas Table

Jingle Bells Tablescape & Tree

The Island of Misfit Toys Christmas Table

A Snowy Tartan Plaid Tablescape

 

*Please note that this post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. These involve no extra cost to you, but may result in me receiving a small commission – for which I am very grateful! You can view my full advertising disclosure here.

Shop My Christmas Table Decor:

32 Comments

  1. Jennifer this is absolutely beautiful. Those roses really bring the room and table to life!

  2. I love the classic red and green colors for decorating at Christmas time, and this just looks exquisite. Your china is amazing; someday maybe I’ll actually own some China of my own. 🙂

  3. I’m loving your whole table! I love your Arby’s glasses; they’re perfect for your Lenox china. The tall trees on your sideboard are gorgeous. Thanks for the playlist too; checking it out for our Christmas gathering. Thanks for welcoming us to your table here. Merry Christmas!

  4. I want to come over for Christmas dinner! The decor looks stunning! I love how festive those Lenox Christmas glasses are! It must be a special season at your house!

  5. The setting looks gorgeous. Red, green and gold is always a good color combo for Christmas. Great job. Happy holidays to you and family!

  6. This is absolutely beautiful! I LOVE the goldware. So gorgeous!

  7. So festive and bright. Your dining room is so spacious too Jen, gives you lots of room to decorate and you do it so well!

  8. Nan Hervig Giordano

    Just beautiful, Jen. You are so talented and I just love your blog! I hope you and Ron have a fabulous holiday season. I know for sure that your holiday home supports that happening!

  9. Hey Nan, thank you for stopping by and leaving me a little holiday note you are the sweetest!!! I hope you all have the happiest of holidays too!!!

  10. Prudence

    Your table is just too lovely, I would be afraid to eat at it. Those roses are among some of the prettiest I have seen! They are so open and just the perfect amount, would yo be willing to tell us how you make that happen? That I would love to know.

  11. Madalynn Fermer

    You made the most beautiful holiday table I have ever seen, here. I have looked on the internet for inspiration and found most individuals should just go to your website and forget the rest of the mess out there .

  12. gigi58

    Thanks so much for giving everyone remarkably terrific opportunity to read your ideas from here. I alway enjoy seeing you tables hot is much like getting the JC Penny catalogue before Christmas as kids now I have a grown up version with pretty tables. Thank you for running such a interesting and inspirational site. Keep up the good work.

  13. the cheap jordan’s

    I love that your used the Arby’s glasses from 90’s we used to have some too. It is great that they still look good, and hold there own at a table with Lenox China. That is very impressive. Honestly I think most people would have thought they were expensive Lenox glasses too, especially with the gold chargers, gold ware and that stunning centerpiece of roses, holly and ivy. It is a table worthy of the Biltmore House.

  14. NVMD

    I was very happy to find this internet-site again after missing it for the past few months. I enjoy your spring projects with such pretty pictures and design ideas.I needed to thanks for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely having fun with each little little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you weblog post.

  15. lia

    Beautiful table and those roses are to die for. I love that you included a play list for your table setting that is just brilliant. Maybe you can actually do a Spotify account and followers can just play your list for future posts. Just and idea, I know I would use it.

  16. April Helmsworth

    I love your table it is so regal and rich looking. Even though I know you are more of a farmhouse gal, this setting looks like something from the Biltmore House. We just did the Christmas tour this year and I swear you could be the same designer.

  17. Gwendolyn

    This table is really the cats meow, and really pretty. Those roses alone are some of the best looking ones I have ever seen. The gold flatware makes your table fit for royalty, and is a fun contrast to the farmhouse table, and very unexpected. Just proves you are not a one trick pony.

  18. gigi58

    I wish to express my affection for your Lovely table and all the creativity you share with us. I love to look at all your pictures and they are of such high quality I feel as if I am looking a magazine or catalogue. Best wishes from us.

  19. The Wooly Farmhouse

    I truly wanted to make a simple comment to be able to say how pretty your holiday table looked. I love that you used vintage Arby’s glasses, that is hilarious, to think they adorn such a gorgeous table and really no one would be wiser to this, but your honesty won out.

  20. Gloria Flacks

    This is so pretty, and one of the most beautiful tables I have seen. You are real commitment to getting table setting solutions out there and to make them be remarkably functional too. This insightful help and advice denotes so much a person like me and far more to my peers. Thank you; from all of us.

  21. Urban Farmgirl

    Your table is so fancy. All the gold ware and chargers really make your dishes pop, and those vintage glasses too.

  22. Sundie Breyland

    Most people probably haven’t encountered this type of design work, it is very clear that your inspiration drives you to create one of kind ideas and tablescapes. It is like watching a artist work but with different tools.

  23. Georgia Gal

    I am finally glad to be able to start reading and commenting again. The holiday got pretty busy and I just now resurfaced. I love how you address this table and made such a stately holiday beauty out of it.

  24. I wanted to compose a quick note so as to appreciate you for these remarkable tips and hints you are giving on this site. Thanks once more for everything.

  25. the cheap jordan's

    I actually to say thanks to you for the great advice you are giving here and all the beautiful pictures. I feel very grateful to have used your webpages and look forward to really more brilliant minutes reading here. Thank you once again for all the details.

  26. Ellen

    The gold ware is beautiful and I needed to compose you the tiny note to say thanks for all the stunning ideas you have featured on this website.

  27. Maria Echols

    Hi, there The Holly & Ivy Holiday Table article above has helped me get a lot of ideas for table settings and centerpieces.

  28. Rosie Hartfield

    This is an amazing article I love all of your decor for the holidays. The floral centerpiece is a showstopper.

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