A Vintage Blue & White Christmas Tablescape

There’s something a little bit magical about stepping away from the expected reds and greens of Christmas and leaning into a palette that feels calm, collected, and quietly festive. This shoot took place in the dining room of the Historic Aitken Estate — a space that already carries so much character, history, and charm, making it the perfect backdrop for a design rooted in timeless beauty. This tablescape was all about that feeling — a wintery mix of blues and whites that felt both timeless and fresh. Brought to you by: Me (Margee Nickola- owner of the HIVE Brand), Dustin (Owner of Hive Bartending), and Waneita Bovan (Owner of Bentley Florist and Bovan Event Floral).

At the heart of the table is one of my forever favorites: vintage English blue and white china. If you’ve ever collected (or even just admired) these pieces, you know the joy is in the details. No two plates are ever quite the same. Each one tells a tiny story — pastoral countryside scenes, winding rivers, charming cottages, grand estates, and romantic ruins. It’s like a little gallery laid right onto the table.

Historically, English blue and white china dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries, inspired by Chinese porcelain that made its way to Europe through trade. English potters put their own spin on it, creating transferware designs that allowed detailed scenes to be reproduced more easily. What I love most is that these plates were meant to be used. They were everyday pieces that somehow survived generations — and now get to shine again during moments like this.

The centerpiece deserves a moment of its own. Waneita (or “Pita,” if you’re lucky enough to be on nickname terms 😉) of Bovan Event Floral dressed the table with absolute perfection. Soft, elegant, and intentional — the florals added movement and warmth without overpowering the china. It was one of those designs that makes you stop mid-sentence just to admire it.

And before we get to dessert, the table needed a proper toast.

Hive Bartending crafted a signature cocktail just for this shoot — a blue-and-white-appropriate take on a beloved gin classic, the Aviation. Light, elegant, and perfectly on theme, it looked right at home among the china. I’ll be updating this post once the full cocktail tutorial is ready, but for now… the image truly speaks volumes. And yes — in the name of creative direction and quality control — I did in fact drink all of the cocktails made for the shoot. A tough job, but someone had to do it 😉

And then… the cake. Sugar High delivered a showstopper that felt like it was designed specifically for this table. Stunning, refined, and almost too pretty to cut into (almost). It tied the entire look together and reminded us that a tablescape should be just as delicious as it is beautiful.

They even made a few cupcakes to set on some cute vintage china as well! If you are in the Genesee County area and are looking for a phenomenal bakery to work with, we highly highly suggest Sugar High Bakery.

One of my favorite little details actually came in the form of the place cards. My best friend Brooke — the creative force behind Brooke Ahne Creatives — brought her calligraphy magic to the table in the most playful way. Instead of traditional names, she hand-lettered place cards using character names from an old favorite, wildly popular TV show. I’ll let you guess which one 😉 It was such a fun, unexpected touch that instantly made the table feel personal, lighthearted, and full of personality.

Another one of my favorite little details? A vintage Delft blue and white salt and pepper set shaped like tiny Dutch figures. Delftware originated in the Netherlands in the 1600s and is known for its hand-painted blue designs on white earthenware. These little figurines may be small, but they carry so much history — and they’re proof that it’s often the simplest, most whimsical details that steal the show.

You’ll also spot something a bit rare in this blog: behind-the-scenes photos of me and Pita setting everything up. And let me tell you — we earned those photos. At the time of this shoot, we were still in the process of reconnecting all of the radiators in the Historic Aitken Estate dining room after having them disconnected for refinishing. Totally worth it… but Michigan winter decided to arrive earlier than expected. So we bundled up, powered through the setup in the freezing cold, and relied heavily on a propane heater to keep us going. (Huge thank-you to Marc for saving the day!) I’m almost always the one behind the camera, so being captured mid-setup felt extra special. There’s something fun and honest about those moments — the adjusting, the laughing, the stepping back to see if it all works.

This blue and white Christmas table was a reminder that holiday design doesn’t have to be loud to be memorable. Sometimes, it’s the quiet elegance, the collected pieces, and the stories layered into every detail — even the chilly ones — that make a space feel truly magical. Beauty is almost always worth the work, especially when it’s created alongside people you love.

Your take aways!

Vendor Love & Creative Credits

• Location & Styling: Historic Aitken Estate
• Florals: Bovan Event Floral (Waneita “Pita”)
• Cake: Sugar High Bakery
• Bar & Signature Cocktail: Hive Bartending
• Calligraphy Place Cards: Brooke Ahne Creatives
• Photography & Creative Direction: HIVE Photography

This tablescape wouldn’t have been the same without each creative bringing their magic to the table — literally.

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A friendly reminder that Hive & Co. is a fully sustainable, vintage-forward business. Every item we use is second-hand or thoughtfully sourced, with sustainability at the core of everything we do. Our mission is to reduce carbon footprints within the event industry throughout Genesee County and the surrounding areas, while proving that beautiful design can also be responsible design. If you’re a local vendor or small business interested in participating in upcoming mini shoot or larger styled shoots at the Historic Aitken Estate, we invite you to join our Facebook group: Aitken Styled Shoots + Events, created to keep our creative community connected and informed.

We would LOVE to hear what you think of the table design in the comments =)