Your table is not only the place where you gather for meals–it is also a canvas for your creativity and for the treasures you’ve gathered over the years. Each day offers you a chance to surround yourself with what you love, whether you’re enjoying cereal from a punchy yellow gnome bowl, inviting friends over to test your latest recipe served on cherry red retro plates, or holding a formal dinner using delicate family china.

By loosely mixing modern accents you’ve bought on a whim with vintage elements earned by combing flea markets, you can create tabletops and arrangements that look timeless and classic even as they speak to your mood. Much of the fun comes from knowing you’re using pieces that have personal meaning, and The Vintage Table offers all the guidance you need to discover gems among family heirlooms, textiles, and antiques store offerings. Whether you’re making napkins by repurposing old aprons or collecting stylish pastry boxes from your favorite bakery to be used as a signature centerpiece for your dining room, the pieces themselves become your décor, and they will bring you the same pleasure as a beloved painting that still surprises you every time you look at it.

From creating a party that plays on nostalgia, such as a fairy theme for children or a Mother’s Day celebration at which guests dress in aprons that recall Betty Crocker, to a more opulent affair starring all your finest objects, the possibilities in these pages show how setting the scene can be a festive and imaginative process. This beautifully photographed book will inspire you to make sitting at your table a frequent pleasure and to enjoy what you have–every day.