Easter Table Hunt

I always love an occasion to have a little hunt for some tableware goodies, and what better occasion than Easter. Creating a good collection of tableware is always an enjoyable activity; adding things here and there when you find the perfect item means that over time you’ll create a beautiful looking table.

Whether it’s for everyday dining with an added touch of glamour, or making sure that your table is ready to host a special occasion or dinner party, here are some ideas to give you table an extra helping of style, and some Easter themed treats to go along side.

Every perfect table starts with the perfect plate, and for dinner parties it can be a nice idea to which up your everyday plates for something a little more fancy. These Oka plates are reminiscent of Italian Majolica designs with their playful blue patterns and green leaves. These would make a great design to use for a side plate on your table.

Aragonez Side Plate from Oka

If you’re going to for a more exciting plate design, your place mats should be more of a muted neutral, or vice versa, these place mats from Rockett St George are simple but very stylish. They have almost a rippled effect and fade into different tones. They’re a great neutral design to use as a calming foundation to an elaborate plate, or to complete a more minimal look.

Round Grey and White Wicket Place Mat from Rockett St George

These khaki rectangular place mats from Holly’s House has lovely frayed edges, giving a warm and contemporary look, and would make a great everyday place mat for your table.

Pascale Place Mat in Green from Holly’s House

To accompany your table necessities, a few little extra items are what can really give your table some personality. Give your table some Easter charm with these little ceramic eggs from Oka; use them as name tags or spread around the table as a fun, relaxed display.

Ostara Ceramic Egg Decorations from Oka

These piglet salt and pepper shakers are another find from Oka. They avoid looking garish or gimmicky by sticking to the natural ceramic colour, which is a sweet off-white hue. Whether you’re actually using them as shakers, or just for decoration, they are sure to put a smile on your face.

Piglet Salt & Pepper Shaker Set from Oka

Sticking to the spring theme, these allotment napkins from Not on the High Street are a contemporary but elegant way to use a vegetable motif. There is a happy balance between contemporary and traditional in these designs, the vegetables are drawn in a classic illustration style, but the pop of colour makes them feel modern.

Allotment Vegetables Napkin Set from Not on the High Street

Add some more farmhouse style with these glass dishes from Oka the chicken shape tops are a super sweet detail, and could make a great juxtaposition in a contemporary apartment. The butter dish and honey pot could make a stylish breakfast even sweeter.

L’Oiseau Butter Dish and Honey Pot from Oka

I didn’t think a plate of cheese could get any better, but this rabbit shaped cheese board from Anthropologie is the perfect presentation. It would make a charming addition to an Easter table, but it’s also a great design for any occasion.

Lapin Cheese Board from Anthropologie

Of course a table wouldn’t be complete without some glassware, and there are hundreds of shapes, sizes, styles and colours of glassware available, and finding a set that suits your style and your table is all part of the fun. You may want to go for a matching tumbler, wine glass combo, or have a mix and match selection, either way there is always something for everyone. The pearl design at LSA International is the perfect collection for a special occasion; they have an iridescent finish, looking like little bubbles, a great way to decorate your table.

Pearl Glassware Collection from LSA International

If you like something a touch more bohemian with a laid-back style, these assorted tumblers from Rockett St George will make a colourful mark to your table, they are also the perfect way to serve a few cocktails before dinner as well.

Assorted Design & Jewel Coloured Tumblers from Rockett St George

Lastly, I had to show this beautiful jug from Anthropologie, from its gold bottom and handle, and the gorgeous glaze means this jug will be the centre of attention on any table; water never had it so lucky.

Karuma Pitcher from Anthropologie

Your Easter table never looked so good with all these gorgeous items to choose from, whether you’re finding last minute pieces to give some personality, or you’re slowly curating the entire table, getting the right items for you means your table will be the life and soul of the party.

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Bon Appetite

If you love styling your home, there’s a good chance creating a beautifully tailored table setting is at the top of your to-do list. There’s no fixed way to create a gorgeous looking table, from simple, clean looks for more extravagant, it really boils down to your own personal taste, and your what your lifestyle requires. From day-to-day dining to those special occasions, a beautiful table setting is the key to turning even the simplest of meals into something of a celebration.

Contemporary Table Setting from Interior Decoration via Pinterest

This setting above follows a clear theme; showing that all your plates and bowls don’t need to be from the same set, as long as they co-ordinate. The simple colours tones gives off a contemporary feeling, and works as a great canvas to display your food. By having a simple foundation of tableware it can make it easier to introduce the stars of the table, like some gorgeous cutlery or a decorative serving bowl. For a simple setting like this one, I would keep to the minimal theme, but add in something to stand out from the rest, like these beautiful mugs from Arrow + Sage, a great way to add flair to your normal breakfast or a Sunday brunch.

‘Theory Mug No.21’ from Arrow + Sage

Giving your table some extra pizazz when you’re entertaining will not only make the room and table look distinctive, but make your guests feel like they’re getting the special treatment too. This setting really stood out to me as an innovative way to use your regular tableware and with just the a few small additions to make it seem like it was design especially for your event. With woven placemats, wooden handle cutlery and tan leather napkin holders, there’s a simple rustic feeling going on, and by simply placing a fern leave under a glass plate the table is given a flash of excitement. Although this might be a little over-the-top for some, keeping a table feeling fresh and lively with some plants and flowers is always a great idea.

Botanical Table Setting from The Perfect Palette via Pinterest

For a similar look, these place mats from West Elm are a great starting place if you want to create a rustic, natural styled table setting; you can choose to stick with the Natural finish, or mix up your look with either the slate or charcoal.

‘Woven Placemats in Natural, Slate and Charcoal’ from West Elm

If you like the idea of a glass dinnerware, I love this design by Catesby’s, the bobble detail on the rim is a sweet touch that can give your setting an individual feeling.

‘Glass Bobble Plate in Large’ from Catesby’s

You may want to embrace your inner theatrical side with a luxuriously dark table setting. This sleek black setup is simple yet oh so effective; the dark tones give off a sophisticated vibe, perfect for instantly switching from regular dining to a dinner party.

Dark Tones Table Setting from Vosges Paris via Pinterest

This rich bronze colour plate from The Conran Shop will add a beautiful, glamorous feeling to your table, and help to recreate this dark and mysterious look if it has you feeling inspired.

‘Organic Sand Dinner Plate’ from The Conran Shop

Tableware Selection from Suzanne Sullivan via Brown Paper Bag

Finding some stand-out pieces of crockery can really make your table look great. Whether it’s a large serving platter, or maybe a set of sweet side plates, discovering a design that really speaks to you will make your setup feel all the more distinct. This Aztec hand-crated design by Suzanne Sullivan is mix between bohemian and glam, making it the perfect unique piece to show off your style. By using an eye-catching patterned design for your stand-out piece, you can choose to have simpler, less expensive surrounding pieces, and still keep the table looking smart and stylish.

Glamorous Table Setting from Smitten Studio Online via Pinterest

This well thought out table has been given a really contemporary, luxe look. There is a perfect balance between the three main colours, black, gold and white, giving an overall crisp, sharp and glamorous look. This a small table, but its setup shows that you don’t need a banquet hall to make your dining area feel like royalty. To test the gold plate waters, a little number like this patterned plate from H&M Home, is a fun and stylish way to see if the theme is for you. And if you think you’re ready to take the leap, go all out with these devilishly glitzy plate from Amara by L’Objet.

‘Patterned Porcelain Plate’ from H&M Home

‘Alchimie Gold Plates by L’Objet’ from Amara

There are so many ways to creative with your tableware, from finding pieces to make your everyday a little more exciting, to thinking outside the box when it comes to entertaining and creating a statement. Your dining table is the perfect place to experiment or push your style and have some fun in your home.

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Easter Table Treats

Easter Weekend is just a few weeks away, which means we have a fully-fledged excuse to update our dining room tableware in preparation for the occasion. Whether it’s a big affair or a quiet gathering, new glass and tableware helps create an exciting and sophisticated setting ready for however you choose to celebrate.

I’ve picked out some wonderfully charming items to fill your table with, that were made for spring in mind, each with its own lovely characteristics that will help to make your dining a thing of beauty this Easter!

‘Jackson Ceramic Collection’ from Graham and Green

This Jackson Ceramic collection from Graham and Green are full of light-hearted elegance, and the modern splattered design will add innovation and a contemporary sense of whimsy to your table. For a similar style, with a tad more dramatic feel to it, try these limited edition ink blot ceramics from Rockett St George, together the two designs will create a theatrical setting for your future dinner parties.

‘Ink Blot Bone China Side Plate’ from Rockett St George

There are some amazing ways to add a hint of nature to table, the perfect theme for spring. These garden party spoons from An Angel at my Table are utter perfection and will add so much charm to a table.

‘Garden Party Porcelain Spoons’ from An Angel At My Table

Another sweet, nature themed addition to a table are these beautiful hand embroidered napkins from Sibona. They really add a personal touch to a table for a light and delicate dining scheme. If you feel like something a little different than the olive design, Sibona, who are a fantastic company who have a complete range of wonderful hand embroidered napkins, from crabs to cupcakes!

‘Olive White Cotton Cocktail Napkins’ from Sibona

If you want to inject a little colour into your table design then some beautiful glasses is a great way to go. These glasses from Rose & Grey are full of character and will add a little amusement to any table, creating a delightfully relaxed and bright atmosphere.

‘Tiny Tall Glasses’ from Rose & Grey

For those who love a bit of the unconventional, why not wonder a little into the world of all things bohemian with these adorable cactus shaped salt and pepper shaker, ideal for not just special occasions but for adding flair and fun to the everyday!

‘Cactus Salt and Pepper Shaker’ from Graham and Green

To keep things simple yet stunning, opt for something that oozes laid-back sophistication, this elegant vase from Rocket St George will let the flowers do all the talking, making a wonderful centrepiece for a busy table.

‘Glass Jar Vase’ from Rockett St George

Or for something with more of a rustic, country style feel try these Potter jugs and bowls from An Angel at my Table. The slightly off-centre finish to the ceramics gives them a lovely homemade feel making them the perfect farmhouse chic style.

‘Potters Jug and Bowl’ from An Angel at my Table

Houseology is full of amazing products, especially if you’re into your contemporary style. So if you want to make your table shine with some modern accessories, take a look at their website for some great ideas. I particularly love this wood and slate serving board, it’s full of style and will look superb as a minimalistic centrepiece.

‘Just Slate Sheesham Wood Serving Platter with Slate Insert’ from Houseology

And lastly, for a subtle sense of cool, these black and white mugs with terracotta bottoms are perfect for the chilled out mornings when the hustle and bustle has been and gone and you can relax with a warm cup of coffee.

‘Moroccan Mugs’ from Rose & Grey

There you have it, a few treats for upcoming Easter that prove not all good things come in chocolate egg form!

For more information on these companies and many others don’t forget to check out Angel + Blume’s Address Book, http://www.angelandblume.com/addressbook.php

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Catesbys

How wonderful to see a lovely new independent shop moving to Cambridge offering stylish and elegant interiors products in a beautiful environment. Welcome to Cambridge Catesbys! If you love understated, neutral, beautiful, tactile (any or all of the above) home products, Catesbys is going to be a must stop shop for you and the great news is that from Saturday, there will be a cafe on the first floor, in case all that shopping has exhausted you. They are at number 10 Green Street – see you there!

           

Sneak preview of the new cafe which is opening on Saturday

  

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Vintage style

I took a trip to Whittlesford today to visit the delicious Oxbow and Peach shop and although I had an inkling of what I would find having already discovered this wonderful company at an interiors fair, I had no idea what a lovely treasure trove it would be. They specialise in finding one off vintage pieces and they clearly have a very good eye because all their stock is unusual and charming. They are only open on Fridays and Saturdays so plan your visit carefully in order to avoid disappointment!

     

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Oxbow and Peach

Don’t miss seeing the Oxbow and Peach stall at the upcoming Christmas Fairs at Barnadiston Hall this Friday or at the NSPCC Autumn Fair in Cambridge on 21st November.  Beautiful hand picked accessories for the home and lots of individual things that would make perfect Christmas presents – it is worth the trip to see what new stock they have in and I am told there is lots of it!

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Missing rooms

Once upon a time, houses had a wealth of rooms dedicated to particular activities – rooms that rarely appear in our modern homes. We look at how to integrate these useful spaces back into our homes.

(This article first featured in Agenda magazine September 2011)

Fashions for rooms come and go as our society changes and our relationship with our homes develops. The separate dining room, for example, has seen a great demise in recent years as dining tables and sometimes a TV and sofa are incorporated into a modern family kitchen. However our basic daily needs from our home often remain the same even if it is us now using the space rather than the staff!

A butler’s pantry was traditionally a room for plates, glasses and a sink and was evident in most grand historical houses. Whilst this room might seem like an extravagance these days, if you entertain often a modern version of this can be really useful and marking out a section of your kitchen to store glassware and crockery close to a sink or dishwasher is a way of reinstating this practical space. Some modern large houses have even created a 20^th century version of this room by installing two kitchens; a residential kitchen for everyday meals and a catering kitchen for entertaining purposes.

A larder or cool room, the cool room or larder is another room that is making a bit of a comeback with more people requesting them in modern homes. Brilliant at freeing up space in a kitchen, an insulated cool room with shelves and a sink reduces the need for lots of cupboards in the main food preparation area and acts as a natural overflow for your fridge. When planning your home it may be worth going for a smaller kitchen that incorporates a decent sized larder.

A boot room may already be a familiar concept if you live in the country and undertake outdoor pursuits. Popular in historical country houses these rooms provide a heated space for wet boots, coats and clothes to dry out. They are usually fitted out with hooks along the walls and low level heating and someone returning home after a long day outdoors can walk straight into this room and remove their wet and muddy boots and clothes before entering the rest of the house. A great idea for any rural home, saving a space for this set-up is worth considering in a modern house.

A flower room is likely to appeal to all you gardeners out there. Traditionally set as the back of the house, near the gardens this room served as a practical room for storing vases and garden tools, with a sink and bench for arranging flowers. Although not many of us would have the space for this in our own home, if you have a utility room you could always set aside some space there with a separate sink for this purpose.

Whilst these rooms all sound appealing, when considering your own home, essentially you need to ask yourself, ‘how do I live in my house?’ and ‘what rooms do I need?’ But be warned, you might be surprised by the answers; I am now desperate to find space for a flower room!

Images: Plain English, The White Company

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