When I file my dissertation I want to spend a week in this house, having cocktails and appetizers by this fire place!  This amazing tablescape (floorscape?) is from the February 1969 issue of Sunset. The magazine doesn’t say much about where this house is located, other than it’s 25 miles from San Francisco and designed by architects John Arrison and Tajima Fuller.

A few weeks ago a member of the choir I sing with motioned that she wanted to talk to me after rehearsal.  “I have a ton of old Bon Appetits,” she said guiltily.  “Do you want them?”  As soon as I found out they were from the mid-1970s, I giggled with glee.  “Of course!” I shouted, disturbing the tenor’s sectional in the next room.

After a dress rehearsal last week, she handed me a bag full of old magazines and I could barely contain my excitement.  The following images come from the June 1977 issue of Bon Appetit and feature Phyllis Diller’s kitchen!  I’ll be making one of her recipes this weekend, so stay tuned!

First, readers got a chance to see Phyllis’ (I’m hoping she won’t mind me calling her that) kitchen, which I loved.  Okay, I really liked the wallpaper and her go-go boots, but I absolutely must have her dress.

This week’s post comes from Sunset Magazine’s May 1968 issue.  As a person who has hosted wine parties before, I love the integration between the wine and food at this party.  In fact, I liked this article so much, I decided to let y’all read it too!

There’s a wine to pair with every course, even dessert!  Mmmmm.  And I really want that ice bucket.

And here’s the ‘action shot’ of the party.  Now, to find some barrels…

After wishing and hoping last week for some fondue photos, I decided to take matters into my own hands and find some tablescapes featuring FONDUE!

The first photo has some pretty fantastic fondue plates, complete with dividers, which is good since there’s raw beef next to the various dipping sauces.

I love the fondue pot in this second photo.  Even better, when someone loses a piece of bread, they have to kiss someone!  Who knew fondue parties were so…interesting!

This week’s photos come from Betty Crocker’s Dinner in a Dish and the Hostess Cookbook!

Today’s vintage tablescape comes from Sunset Magazine‘s article on throwing a “Nothing-to-it Big Party” from April 1969.  Guests hover around food stations, with each station providing a different course.

The article suggests either renting wine-glasses or using plastic ‘nested’ glasses for easy cleanup.   Soup is served in paper cups without spoons.

Instead of a traditional salad, guests dip vegetables in ranch dip

Sandwich-makings serve as the main course and apple-slices with cheese for dessert.  I’m sad there’s no fondue for dessert, quite honestly.  I definitely think this party needs fondue!

This week’s vintage tablescapes come from New Creative Home Decorating, published in 1954.  Each of these tablescapes feature furniture from the Heywood Wakefield company, one of the most famous makers of 1950s ‘blonde’ furniture.  The first image features Heywood Wakefield’s ‘dogbone’ dining chairs, buffet, and other furniture, along with some tropical flowers for the table.

The second photo shows Heywood Wakefield’s ‘wish-bone’ dining table and buffet.  I think it’s interesting that part of the table is unextended and that the centerpiece is shown off-center.

I saved my favorite of the three for last.  Mostly because I have the darker-wood version of the buffet in my own dining room!  And because of the lovely fiestaware.  Not too sure about the brick wallpaper though!