I like coffee, I like tea.....

I thought it was time to get rid of the dried orange slices and cinnamon sticks in the hurricane lamps on the dining table (it is February after all....!) but what to replace them with? I was thinking maybe cloves & star anise, dried beans or something similar (small stones/gravel being sooo yesterday darling....) then when we were in London a few weeks ago I saw some in a lovely restaurant done like this:




A few days later, I was in a wine bar (think The Star & Garter rather than The Library at the Lanesborough....) & was appalled to see some horrid little glass containers on the tables containing candles with, what else, coffee beans......so now I'm having a rethink......they do go rather well with the brown leather chairs though.....maybe if I don't tell anyone....? What do you think?

While I'm pondering I have another question......I was browsing the new Laura Ashley catalogue today (only because when I was in there yesterday they were giving them away!) & came across the above.....now, I absolutely love tea, I just adore white china & lamps are my favourite accessories but..........white cups & saucers made into a lamp base? Hmmm, is this a step too far?