tabletop « Elements of Style Blog

Archive for the ‘tabletop’ Category

Setting the Table with Zara Home

Thursday, October 11th, 2012

I know every blogger and her mother posted about the new Zara Home launch yesterday and I hate to be redundant, but I had to post about the one section of the site I love- the tableware! I really love all the gold accents offered as well as the mix of traditional and modern styles. As I started playing around with the offerings I got an image of one of my favorite dining rooms in my head. Something about scenic wallpaper makes me weak int he knees….

So here’s a fun table setting based on this traditional look, all from the new Zara Home! (I need those horse glasses for my bar!) No need to wallpaper when you can get a hint of the look through placemats (and I was tempted to throw in some leopard napkins too….) A perfect looks for a less expected looking Thanksgiving table, no?

1./ 2./ 3./ 4./ 5./ 6./ 7./ 8./ 9.

I’d do a centerpiece like these….

Posted in online shopping, tabletop | 7 Comments »

Setting the Table

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

As I think about setting tables for the holidays I think about the fine china I registered for for my wedding. Of course, as with most big decisions I erred on the side of SAFE and CLASSIC. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I remember looking at other china patterns that were so beautiful but scared me with their bold color and pattern. Yes, I can always pair my Vera Wang Grosgrain with colored chargers or pattered dessert plates, but something in me wishes that for fine china that I use only a couple times a year I had gone BOLDER!

The china that I was lusting after, and still am to this day, is the Etoile pattern below left by Bernardaud . Gold tipped and a gorgeous mix of plum and light turquoise it enchanted me from first sighting. But I was too scared to go there. I also loved this mint green and gold design by Haviland. I would advise brides that if they ARE registering for fine china to make it some thing special and funky and keep the classic and safe patterns for everyday dinnerware! Perhaps someday that Etoile will be mine!

Also currently adoring the bold orange and gold setting as well as this chain link Hermes pattern!

I also fell head over heels for the pewter banded Match goods and the over-scale Royal Copenhagen style for a less formal look.

What about you? What china did you register for? Do you still love it or wish you had chosen something different?

Posted in tabletop | 40 Comments »

What I’m Loving: Thornback & Peel

Thursday, November 17th, 2011

As we approach Thanksgiving and all it’s cranberry and family stress glory, I am sure a slew of you are thinking about setting a pretty table, which is why I am loving the good by UK based Thornback & Peel right now! Whether it be a turkey apron or reindeer napkin their table linens are great for the holidays. But they don’t stop there, they also make pillows, wallpaper, cards, tee-shirts and even deck chairs!