The best, most beautiful tablescapes are not matchy-matchy. Instead, they contain an artfully-chosen mix of components that seem destined to be together. This beautiful table combines some of my favorite colors and textures and takes advantage of the climate conditions that beckon us to eat outdoors.
The overarching color theme is deep plum, with accents of green. Vintage dessert stems (Fostoria, I think, from my friend Carolyn Herr, and they glow under blacklight, which makes them doubly cool) added a little height. The white dishes are vintage china, thin and fragile, but beautifully made with a delicate pattern that makes them more pretty than plain, but avoids such a distinctive design that would make them unlikely to blend with other textures.
A light-colored napkin ring makes the deep plum napkin color pop. The hydrangea bowls really stand out against the white plates. Lilac flatware made of acrylic was chosen because regular stainless seemed to plain and sterling flatware would have added too much formality. The floral centerpiece ties everything together — colors, mood. My friend Shirley fashioned it from flowers in my yard, making it low and long, perfect for encouraging eye contact and conversation. To hide the low containers, we circled the arrangements with hydrangea leaves, which, of course, echoed the hydrangea leaves that form the side of the bowls.
It is a beautiful table in a casual setting that pulls the garden onto the table, from the asparagus design napkin rings to the floral bowls and centerpiece. The picture below shows what it looked like before we added the bowls. Still pretty, but just not quite pulled together.
And below, we are ready for our outdoor dinner party. Here is the final tablescape, close up so you can see all the detail. I love it! I hope you do, too.
Michele Petry says
I love the floral centerpiece. Looks so natural with garden flowers and leaves! Simple and Perfect for the setting.