Archive for the 'Table Setting' Category

Interior Inspiration: Home for the Holidays

via Living Etc.

Tomorrow is the first official day of December.  And I am guessing that means that many of you have already begun to decorate your homes for the holidays.  Who am I kidding, many of you have probably already finished, right?  via House to Home

Me?  Nope.  Didn’t quite get to that yet.  Nevermind that I’m not even sure where my one measly box of decorations ended up in the move.  I’m sure it will turn up sooner or later…right around December 26th.

via Sweet Paul

Here’s to hoping these little interiors will inspire me in BIG way to get my act in gear!  This year, I’m loving  a simple color palette.  Like this blue + green beauty below – or the soft neutrals above.  I think keeping it to one color really elevates the look, don’t you?

viaRue Magazine

And I’m also loving this simple table setting – perfect for a quick Christmas cocktail party or maybe a brunch which I’m just itching to host!

via Home Life

Happy decorating!!

 

 

Object Round-Up: Table Setting

Felt Place Mats via Canvas

There’s nothing I love more about the holiday season than to gather with friends and family around a well-set table to enjoy a home cooked meal.

Nubby Placemats via Pottery Barn

I plan my setting and pieces out way in advance to make sure I have everything just right.  To me, the planning of the decor, menu and night is just as fun as the actual meal itself.  I know…design dork, right?

Dwell Placemat + Napkin via Design Public

Anyway – I haven’t done enough of this entertaining this year – but now that the holidays are upon us, I’m getting my plans together for a couple of get-togethers. I can’t wait to mix and match my favorite serving pieces, and mix in some new loves as well.

Roost Lace Placemat via Design Public

Table linens are a great way to dress up your table in a flash…small touches that really pull the whole look together.  I’m not personally a fan of over-the-top holiday decor and tend to favor neutral colors in rich textures, that I can use again and again – no matter the occasion.  And this year there is no shortage of amazing pieces to update my look!

Owl Placemat via Velocity Art and Design

For a bit of fun, I love this placemat to color from Modern Twist…the perfect distraction for the kids or kid-like during dinner.

Cork Placemat via West Elm

I also love the idea of personalizing some of these neutral pieces with a stencil…this cork would be perfect with a stenciled metallic letter, shape or number.  See inspiration and instructions here if you’re feeling crafty!

Annah Ruby Tablecloth via Crate and Barrel

And although I usually stick to neutrals, this bold stripe is pretty fab.  I can see it with dark grey dishes and metallic accents…which for me means more shopping:)

Chilewich Placemats via Sur la Table

Chilewich has loads of amazing placemats and runners that I think would be fun to mix-and-match to create your own signature table style.  The weave and croco are two of my favorites!

Porter Silver Tablecloth via All Modern

A subtle silver stripe would play off metallic table accents perfectly…


Feather Placemat via Jayson Home and Garden

I’m totally loving the feathers this season…though, not quite sure how I feel about it being so close to my food.  Maybe I’ll stick to underneath the centerpiece for my touch of feather!

Twig Placemat via At West End

Wood Placemats via Plush Pod

And last but not least, a couple of wood styles that would add the perfect rustic touch to any modern table.

Do you have a signature table setting style or one your itching to test out this year?

 

 

in my files: Fall Table Inspiration

I’m a dish junkie.  If space (and my husband) would allow – I’d have sets upon set of dishes.  Some matched, others mix and match, so that I could have endless table setting options. I’m also the kind that thinks it’s perfectly acceptable to change your table with the seasons…so today am sharing some of my fall favorites!  For fall, I love to mix in some autumnal colors with the standard everyday white most of us own.  And this fall, gold, agate and wood accents are really catching my fancy…

images:  Purple Platter; Spice Latte Bowls; Amber Glasses; Gold Flatware; Agate Coasters; Gold Leaf Buffet Plate; Metallic Table Runner; Gold Flute; Individual  Pie Dish; Rectangle Wood Bowl; Elephant Napkins; Slate + Teak Tray; Pumpkin Terrine; Stripe Tablecloth.

in my files: Centerpiece Inspiration

Now that our furniture is reunited under one roof, my dining room table is in desperate need of a centerpiece.  I’m thinking something cute, crafty and easy to change up depending on my mood or occasion.  A sneak peak into my style file:

Loving this rustic centerpiece from Once Wed.  I’m thinking to swap out the candles for some small potted succulents for a more modern look….

This idea from Australian stylist Deborah McLean might just be the perfect summer centerpiece – simple and green.

This horn centerpiece from The Style-Files would probably creep my husband out beyond belief (a horn????  on the table where we eat???  grossss….) but I’m still a bit smitten.

Finally!  A use for all of the random bottles I’ve been collecting over the years.  This beach cottage sneak peak from Design*Sponge serves up the answer!

I alternately love and hate this centerpiece from Apartment Therapy.  Love the colors, clean design and oh-so-fall feel…hate the new obsession I have with finding the perfect grey pumpkin.  Really?

Object Round-Up: The Perfect White Dish

pssst. i’m here to share a little obsession i have.  dishes.  i heart them.  i collect them.  i adore to hold them, shop for them, read about them.  so today – i’m putting this obsession to work for you in this object round-up.

in my opinion, classic white is the way to go.  versatile enough to be formal or casual.  perfectly mixed and matched with many styles.  stunning when perfectly stacked and stored.

1.  Stour Dining Collection; 2.  Heath Ceramics Coupe Plates; 3.  Fleur De Lys Dinnerware; 4.  West Elm Pure Square Dinnerware; 5,  Classic Century Dinnerware;
6. Butterfly Plate; 7.  CB2 Modern Dinnerware.

my favorite part about the white dish…all the fab ways you can dress up the table!  mixing materials like wood, horn, metals and fabrics creates an eclectic and fresh mix.  and a print works best in touches – like napkins, placemats or table runners.

images left to right:  nambe metal serving pieces; wood serving pieces; napkin; horn serving pieces; amenity table runner.

what’s your obsession?

Summer, Summer, SummerTime…

Yeah!  Summer is finally here!  I am looking forward to putting my patio together this weekend so I can show you guys the finished product – in the meantime, here’s a preview of our furniture that finally came in…

I can’t wait to plant the containers and hang the birdhouse I got for my birthday and I’m trying to refrain from adding any more pieces or projects to the list, but this Woolly Pocket keeps calling my name!  And when I finally get it put together, I can’t wait to have an outdoor dinner party!  I’m already planning my menu and serving pieces in my head…want a glimpse?

images via Food Network, 101cookbooks and Epicurious

A big, yummy grilled vegetable salad with some fresh mozzarella, and drizzled with balsamic vinegar.  Delicious Six Seed Soda Bread from 101cookbooks.com (a daily read of mine!) and a grilled shrimp cocktail.  To finish, a grapefruit sorbet with fresh rosemary from our garden and a nice glass of champagne.  I can’t wait!

images via  Amazon, Lost and Found, Terrain, Sur La Table, Babylon Sisters and Ikea.

For the table – I love to mix the texture of wood cutting board, plates and salad bowl with more refined metal dessert cups.  And I adore this vintage bakelite flatwareis it wrong to love flatware? A cute citronella candle to keep the pests at bay, and simple dish towels as napkins to keep us all tidy.

I’m looking forward to this someday dinner party al fresco…

xoxo, jill.

Today I’m Loving Terrafirma Ceramics

Over the weekend, I stumbled upon two amazing shops in Philadelphia – Open House and Petulia’s Folly.  Both had many things to inspire and many things I wanted to pack in my already over-stuffed suitcase.  I settled on a few pieces from Terrafirma Ceramics (each store carried a small selection of this line.)  I love the way New York artist Ellen Evans has put a modern spin on her handmade pottery.

Each piece is rich in texture – inspired from lace, honeycomb or even animal skins.  Her prices are great (bowls were around $34 and the above platter was $98) and each piece is signed and dated by the artist, and is food and dishwasher safe. The hardest part was choosing which piece to keep for myself and which to share as gifts…

I’ve had a bit of a tough time tracking down where you can buy her collection online, but did find that Eden Organic carries a few pieces.  You could also contact Ellen directly through her website here.

xoxo, jill.

girlie garden party

These chairs spotted at design*sponge have inspired me to plan a girlie garden party.  Want to come?  I do make a mean margarita…


Very Berry Chargers, Black Floral Plate, Tiki Placemat, Fuschia Napkins, Margarita Glasses, Outdoor Rug, Outdoor Floor Cushion, Chair.

Inspired by Mark Rothko

I adore the use of color in Mark Rothko’s work.  He had such an amazing eye for mixing seemingly contrasting colors together in such lovely combination.  I have used the above untitled work from 1954 as inspiration for today’s table setting.  I think this would make the perfect table for a Valentine’s party, don’t you?

Fleur de Lys Glasses, Fiesta Dinnerware, Table Runner, Pink Conversation Hearts scattered on table image via Papierdreams, Hammered Flatware (for texture.)

xoxo, jill.

New Year’s Party Inspiration

Still debating about how to ring in the New Year?  How about a simple gathering at home with your closets pals, good food, fun cocktails and great music.  I’ve rounded up the best of the web to give you easy peazy party inspiration.

The Look:

I love the look of streamers hung from above.  This image via Martha Stewart comes complete with DIY instructions.  If you don’t have the time to craft yourself – check out your local craft or paper store for some ready made garland.

Let your favors do double duty as a simple centerpiece until midnight rolls in.   Image via Martha Stewart.  I suggest sticking with a simple color palette that works with your serving pieces.  Classic gold and silver will work with anything, as will black and white.

The Goods:

I like this casual cocktail party menu from Delish.  Combining store-bought with some homemade, it makes for the perfect simple feast that won’t leave you stressed.

Serve up these yummy pomegranate ginger champagne cocktails from Epicurious.

The Playlist:

Some classics mixed with some of the best dance tunes of the past decade to help your party get it’s groove on…

  1. Good Riddance – Greenday
  2. 1999 - Prince.  Overdone – for sure, but a classic can’t miss.
  3. Just Dance – Lady Gaga
  4. Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough – Michael Jackson
  5. Party in the U.S.A. – Miley Cyrus.  Noddin’ my head like yeah, Movin’ my hips like yeah…
  6. Sexy Back – Justin Timberlake
  7. Let’s Get it Started - Black Eyed Peas
  8. Single Ladies - Beyonce
  9. Umbrella – Rihanna
  10. I Kissed a Girl – Katy Perry
  11. Fight for Your Right - Beastie Boys
  12. Celebration – Kool & the Gang
  13. Stronger – Kanye West
  14. Auld Lang Syne – Robert Burns.  For that midnight smooch.

So, whatcha waiting for?  Get those e-invites out pronto and get your party hat on!

xoxo, jill.


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