An Eclectic Tablescape for Spring

I was sick a few weeks ago and I spent WAY too many hours on the couch watching English designers on Design Notes and Homeworthy on You Tube.  I love the English cottages I saw--full of eclectic and delightful mixes of textiles, dishes, patterns, and colors. The talented homeowners are not afraid to live by the philosophy that more is more as they create cozy spaces with quirky and unique objects that they love.

Inspired by my decor show marathon, I created an eclectic tablescape full of curated, sunny and cheerful finds. 

What I noticed in the shows I watched were tables styled with a variety of objects, stacks of plates and dishes setting out to be used, asymmetrical vignettes, and lots of color.

Let's start with the base or tablerunner. I sewed this one from a pair of cotton curtain panels from the thrift store.

Because the blue patterned piping on the edge was only on one side of each panel, I cut the washed panels in half and ironed under the cut side. I then topstitched along the edge so that the colorful piping would show. 

I have both leaves in our table right now so the runner hit the table corners when I placed it lengthwise. I decided to run it widthwise, across the table for now.

I also sewed four cloth napkins and have enough fabric to sew four more or a couple pillows. I placed the napkins in a popsicle basket and put a funny wood frog on top as a hold down. We always and pretty much only use cloth napkins daily.

I've shared tablescapes and vignettes and centerpieces before and I always use a similar formula: Repeat colors, vary height, anchor or ground the space with something, use something natural like plants or wood. Everything in my tablescape is thrifted or from a garage sale except the mason jar that was given to me from a dear friend in 2000 when my son Mason, who passed at 6 days old, was born. It belonged to her grandma and says Perfect Mason on it. In the mason jar and a green pitcher are GOOD faux flowers--tulips and calla lilies. 

I placed the flowers on a wood and metal cake stand for more height. I also put a little green wooden sofa on the cake stand. Why a sofa? Why not?

A stack of vintage, Stetson China plates in the green Rio pattern sit on one side of the cake stand. On the plates sits a blue and green pottery strainer with real lemons and a lime in them. A copper peppermill is not only a useful item, but it adds more height next to the plates and warm metal tones.

I love candlelight at the table. A pair of green candlesticks are sitting at an angle in front of the cake stand.

A shallow wood bowl holds vintage green dessert plates. A sky blue, handmade, footed, pottery mug holds faux shamrocks. I found the mug in a free pile on the side of the road. 

This eclectic tablescape is cheerful and fun. It is just the hubby and I at home so the extra items (which really are minimal compared to the English tables) don't get in the way of our everyday meals. We will use the plates and other items when we want--nothing is too precious and all of it makes me smile and shouldn't our home spaces bring us joy?

Creating Centerpieces with Curated Finds

Creating small vignettes or centerpieces with curated finds is one of my favorite things to do. These vignettes add color, personality, and life to a table, shelf, side table, or other small space. I put together three different, visually appealing, unique displays with recently sourced items.

All three vignettes are different, but share common elements: height, flowers for spring and summer, color, vintage, one-of-a-kind items, tablecloths or coverings, and something to corral and ground the objects.

The first one I am sharing started with this lovely, vintage, wool, mint green table runner (I have 6 matching placemats as well). 

A round, tarnished, silver plated tray holds a fantastic, very vintage, metal wedding or funeral, flower container. The patina on it is so good. It holds faux tulips. A battery operated candle sits in a vintage, China, saucer.

I always buy art postcards when I find them and use them to write notes on or recipes. I cut up a couple Georgia O'Keeffe cards to put in a tryptic photo frame to add more of the bright pink and mint green color to the centerpiece.

The next centerpiece features yellows and greens and reds inspired by the vintage tablecloth.

I utilized a green fabric covered, wood box as my base. A lemon covered pitcher holds flowers and lemons. A small, oval, red box adds a touch of red to match the tablecloth.

The made in Italy bowl features lemons and red berries. A vintage red book incorporates more red color. Red cloth napkins would also be cute in this bowl.

The final vignette features a more eclectic mix of items. Large napkins with pinks and greens   provided the fabric texture. A new wood tray with brass handles holds a variety of colorful items.

A blue, pour over, coffee carafe acts as a vase, holding blue and pink flowers. It sits on a pink (faded red) and green book. The books add height and color.

An old wood cheesebox with pink clover depicted on it holds a Haitian painting featuring flowers and pink colors and a wood, diamond, pool ball rack. The ball rack is funky and adds a touch more wood texture and visual interest.

A copper basket holds a candle. The copper reflects the light and protects the wood tray from wax drips.

These fun finds will be available at my next pop-up, date TBD. I would love to help you put together a centerpiece that you love.

Reclaimed Wood, Copper, and Antique Headboard Bar

A dozen years ago I "collected" headboards and footboards for benches and chalkboards and other projects. I used many of them, but still had a few that I never upcycled. A week ago, I saw this antique headboard leaning against the workshop wall (actually, I think it is a footboard) in a new way.

I thought it would make a beautiful bar top.

We (we, as in hubby and myself as this was a joint project) cut the legs off of the footboard. We built a framework or base from reclaimed wood we had on hand. 

I added thin wood panels on the side, using a brad nail gun.

A couple copper sheets that I had on hand were used for the front of the bar. We attached these onto a thin piece of plywood and then framed it out.

I love how the curved edge of the footboard shapes the bar and the lip created by the edging is perfect for a bar top.

The rectangular sections on the back part of the bar top work as a place for the bartender to set glasses and bottles while mixing.

There are two shelves behind the bar, one shorter for glassware and the lower shelf for bottles. I still need to add a bottle opener and towel hook to the back.

This bar (which would make a fun coffee bar too) will be available at my next pop-up, March 20th and 21st.

Spring Tablescape with New Finds

Spring is just around the corner and I was ready to take down the last of my winter decor and replace it with fresh items. I put together a colorful, spring tablescape with recently curated items. These will be available at my March 20 & 21 pop-up shop, but I am enjoying them for a few weeks first. (Honestly, I am really enjoying that I cleared all of my recent finds off of the table so I could take pictures!)

I started with utilizing a pretty piece of vintage looking fabric as a table square. The colors are perfect for the new season.

This candle holder is old and made from gorgeous, aged wood. I styled it with pastel colored candles and a few faux flowers. This piece will be fun to change through the seasons with different colored candles and small items placed on the base.

I filled a wood trough with two battery operated, flower shaped candles and faux flowers tied with a ribbon. I may add a floral hankie or embroidered towel.

On the settee there are a couple more new finds for the shop--a spring pillow and a nice quilt with wonderful pastel colors.

I have both leaves in my table right now so I have the space for both of these "centerpieces". I like the varying heights between the two pieces, the candlelight in both, and the color and floral repetition.

I look forward to sharing all of these new items with you at the Spring Home pop-up shop.

Sunny and Cheerful Spring Vignette

There is just something about yellow and blue that cheers me up. It is sunny and fresh and perfect for spring and summer. This sweet vignette features recently sourced items for the pop-up shop. Keep reading for the details on these finds.

This dried flower art is absolutely gorgeous. It was created in Montana. I think the artist no longer makes these. The frame was painted light grey. I decided to paint it a dark blue to better emphasize the flowers. 

A DebCo blue and white striped pitcher holds yellow daffodils. A vintage, signed, handmade, pottery canister features Japanese irises.

I am sure coffee tastes better in a vintage, Pflatzgraff, Rio Blue Striped mug and sugar and creamer set.

The bright yellow, Provence tablecloth ties the vignette together. All of these items will be available at my upcoming pop-up shop, March 20th and 21st.

Updated Side Table and Freshly Curated Decor

A wonderful weekend of pop-up sales means I am hitting the trail sourcing new items for my next Spring Home pop-up, March 20 & 21. Let me start with sharing this little, homemade side table that I found. It clearly needed saving and updating, but had good bones.

I sanded it lightly and cleaned it thoroughly and then painted it with a warm brown, which was an oops can of paint. A couple coats of paint and clear coat and it is ready for a new home.

This table makes a great side table and can be used lengthwise or widthwise like in the picture. It would make a good plant stand too.

I styled the upcycled table with fresh, colorful finds to create an eclectic vignette for spring. Note the elements that help create an interesting and unique vignette: repeated colors and materials, varying heights, items arranged to form visual triangles, and unique, quirky objects.

Colorful dishes sit on a very old, handwoven fabric piece that I think was a pillow cover. I have it folded here, but I may stuff it to make a pillow. The colorful bird art, entitled Gossip Girls,  is printed on wood.

The blue in the woven fabric pops with the vintage (made in the 90's), blue teapot and mugs. The mugs sit on a hand painted, crazed plate. The blues and pinks on the plate connects the woven piece and the mugs and helps to ground them.

Faux flowers in a woven "vase" repeat the vignette colors. The vase's texture and woven fabric texture create more cohesion.

And, what about these carved, wood ducks with ducks inside of each of them? 

A greige quilt is draped on the chair with a vintage book and a blue creamer.

More old books sit on the bottom shelf with an old basket that holds wooden bobbins and a wool, woven placemat. A floral stitchery and a round mirror hang on the wall. 

I love these fresh, funky finds and I am excited to offer them to my customers.