Thursday, May 3, 2012

Derby Party Setting




Today was the home tour
that I told you about a couple weeks ago.
My friend Jenn and were asked 
to stage a couple rooms
 in a gorgeous old home in town
in a Derby Party theme 
to promote our business, 
Blue Cardinal Antiques & Vintage.



Front entry

View of the back of the home.....lovely.


We decorated a formal dining room,
a family room game table, 
and their galley kitchen.

Thought I would share 
the formal areas first
 and save the casual scenes 
for another posting.

We got to choose the theme,
and when we saw 
the red plaid upholstered
walls in the formal dining room
and knew that this tour date was just
two days before the Kentucky Derby,
well...
 it just made sense.



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Jenn had custom horse ribbons made for the chair tie-backs.


A local florist donated the flowers for the fundraiser.



Made these horse displays using vintage Breyer horses.







The small sideboard was set up for a Kentucky bourbon tasting.

The large buffet was arranged for serving mint juleps.





Little rose cupcakes filled monogrammed cups at each place setting.





Mint juleps in a wooden galley tray ... faux ice chips.





Max, the butler/mannequin, held a tray with a "pretend" invitation
that we bought from a super talented gal on Etsy. Link to her here!






Two months of planning,
two days to set up,
and two hours to tear down.

What a whirlwind!

Back home with my feet up
and a mint julep in my hand.
(Just kidding. I prefer a nice glass of red.)

We had an 85 degree day here today.
Could not have been more perfect
for a tour of five homes. 

Hope you
enjoyed the little recap!

More to come. 
Stay tuned!
Thanks so much for stopping by.




Linking up with



vif187     


39 comments:

Miss Kitty said...

Wow! Just beautiful! So many thoughtful and wonderful details. Thank you so much for sharing such a great dining room display. I REALLY loved seeing it all and can't wait to see the kitchen area also.

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Wow, y'all did a fantastic job. I especially love the mantel and all those trophies and roses.

Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads said...

Your attention to every detail was evident! The plaid dining room was the perfect background for such an awesome table display. A REAL WINNER!

Rebecca said...

That must have been so fun to stage! I, too, really like the plaid dining room & I just had to add the white mantle to my pinterest "white mantle" board!

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Holly cow...or horse!! What a stunning table for the Derby!! Your attention to every detail to make a perfect setting like this is totally amazing! Starting with such a great dining room with the plaid wall, just the perfect stage for it too. The dishes in plaid are great and all the elements darling Alison. Thanks for sharing such loveliness. Hugs,
FABBY

NanaDiana said...

You did an absolutely stunning job! Love your choices and those old Breyer horses! WOW! I'll bet your house was the talk of the show! I know how exhausted you must be-deep breath now and you can unwind.

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

There are so many wonderful thing to see that I would have had sensory overload! What great details!
You get the blue ribbon and the silver trophy!

Debra@CommonGround said...

Oh Alison, this is just perfect. Love the plaid of course, and the horse ribbons, you thought of it all!! wonderful job you girls!

Susan Hawthorne said...

OMG- that bourbon bar- definitely an idea worth stealing! The table was stunning- loved the tartan with the lace. Those chocolate horse candy bars- where in the world did you girls find those? This table was "to die for" - My favorite part of the Spirit of 67 Home Tour! Susan at Romancing the Home

Linda said...

Oh what a fabulous post!
My Mom always watched the Kentucky Derby. This would have been so real to her.
You girls sure pulled it off.

Shirley@Housepitality Designs said...

Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow....I am totally speechless!..The decor is simply amazing...You two have incorporated every imaginable detail...from the ribbons to the rose cupcakes, I could go on an on...AND that HOUSE...is phenomenal...I just love the architecture of that home...Your hard wok is evident in every inch of the space....Fantastic job...Bravo...Standing ovation!!!

Enjoy your rest with your glass of Red!..Well deserved!

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Hi darling, what a fantastic job. This room is incredible. I cannot wait to show my gf. Enjoy your glass of red.. hugs ~lynne~

Rooms by Ann said...

Absolutly Gorgeous, I love the horse with the roses around his neck. Thanks for sharing.

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

What a gorgeous home Alison!! You guys did an amazing job!!

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Wow, does that look like fun...the ribbons on the back of the chairs are so great! Who wouldn't want to be a guest at that dinner?

Sarah said...

Alison, this is a blue ribbon post! You girls did a terrific job. What a fun home tour! Thanks for sharing these photos. I look forward to the other rooms you staged. Clever idea for the ruffled edges under the plates. I'm not a fan of mint juleps, but I do love the silver cups! ;-) Fantastic post! ~ Sarah

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Love the plaid walls and your Derby theme is stunning. Every single detail is perfection. Such a beautiful tablescape. Hugs, Marty

Mary Anne said...

Alison, I would find the greatest hat (and I don't do hats!) make a plan to meet you at the Derby Party and enjoy those special moments shared!! What fun! Plaid walls, roses and a Mint Julep or two! Great little post Alison. Loved it!
Mary Anne ox

Calypso In The Country said...

Alison,
What an amazing job you did! It really could not be more perfect! I love every detail and the way that room was just made for a Derby setting. I can't wait to see the rest of your work in that house!
Cheers - Shelley

Sweet Posy Dreams said...

Stunning job! Just gorgeous, and what a lovely house. I used to decorate at a local house museum for Christmas (different theme every year) and your photos bring back memories of those fun times.

Tammy said...

Absolutely stunning! You know how I love this theme. I'm drooling over every photo. Great job!!

michele said...

bravo, Alison!

you did a fabulous job, and those rose cupcakes have stopped me in my tracks, and i am so off this laptop in search of something sweet to eat!!!!

love to you.

michele

Andrea said...

What an amazing job! My 8 year old daughter was admiring this with me (she's a horse nut, and in Pony Club). I've never tried a mint julep....I think it's about time, don't you? =)

The enchanted home said...

And the blue ribbon goes to you...YOU! Wow what a stupendous job. This could make a Kentucky Derby fan out of anyone, you did such an amazing job in the dining room, its so stately and so elegant, really has that super refined Equestrian vibe. Love love love it. You must check out my polo salt and pepper shakers on my post today....they totally belong on that table!!
Fabulous home too:) Thanks for sharing!

waveney said...

Manowar, could i use one of those julips right now!! actually a couple. Hands are arthritic from pruning as tuesday is Tally ho day for gay Paris. LOVED the chair treatment.....so clever and I noticed the charger. Great job!
Waveney

busana muslim murah said...

Your photos are just amazing! I am so in love with them!

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

APPLAUSE!!!!!!!!!!!! YOu 2 definitely get the blue ribbon for this amazing space! Every detail was perfectly executed. I LOVED the rose cupcakes and the Breyer horses, have never heard of them. Beautifully done. XO, Pinky Can't WAIT to see the rest!!!!!!

lexie may hunter said...

I found your blog the other day on my birthday (4/30)--just love it and love your style as well! I'm over in Barrington and your sense of style is very fitting to the Barrington scene-old world grace-- horsey elegance!

lexie may hunter said...

I found your blog the other day on my birthday (4/30)--just love it and love your style as well! I'm over in Barrington and your sense of style is very fitting to the Barrington scene-old world grace-- horsey elegance!

Karen said...

Alison,
You and Jenn did a fabulous job. There were so many details I noticed and admired. I love the idea of the horse ribbons with your store's name on them. The plant and roses and horse details were so great. Good job!
Sounds like you've launched into summer with 85 degrees.
Karen

The Tuscan Home said...

AMAZING job, I love all the attention to detail, what a festive event!

Have a lovely weekend! xo ~Liz

The French Hutch said...

Alison, I love it! First of all the home is beautiful so it must have been fun to create the derby theme. I love what you did with the tablescape. The plaid, ruffles and silver cups are perfect for the theme. Gorgeous Alison. I'm sure it must have been madness getting this done in your time frame. The tour has to be a very successful event. Oh, take a blue ribbon for yourself Alison, you deserve it!

~Emily
The French Hutch

Ricki Treleaven said...

WOW!!! How lovely. I love everything about it! We have our share of horse ribbons and Breyer horses around here, too. Y'all did an amazing job, Alison. You should be so pleased!

I love the plaid and roses together. :D

Anonymous said...

Wow, everything looks wonderful. That room looked just amazing, great job of decorating. I love everything.
Pat

Boho Farm and Home said...

WOW Allison...this looks great...amazing!! What a fabulous job. <3

Tartan Terrace said...

Perfection (as usual)!

Barbara Bussey {The Treasured Home} said...

Wow! Alison, you and your partner did a stunning job! So much attention to detail and you were in plaid heaven! Well done. Looking forward to seeing more!
Best,
Barbara

Ron said...

OMG! I love it all. Can I share some of these on my blog? Of course, you'll get credit! What awesome taste you have.

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

All three of your deby three rooms have been wonderful, but the formal one is my favorite! It is fabulous!! You and your friend did an incredible job!!