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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Feels like Autumn

Autumn is arguably my favourite time of year, perhaps a close tie with the first few months of spring, but there’s something about autumn, with its falling leaves and the perfect amount of nip in the air. You can start planning on how to turn your home from the cool summer vibe to a warm and cosy one, using nature as your best inspiration. Deep colours, warm lighting and cosy textures are the best way to make your home feel ready for those colder evenings. I’ve collected a few ideas of some wonderful ways to transform your home.

A beautiful candlelit room by Ralph Lauren Home via Pinterest

In the summer all you want is light, bright rooms that can soak up the sun, but when the nights start to draw in, creating an inviting space with some warm lighting is the perfect way for your home to make you feel protected from the cold. Candles are a must have item in the autumn, but what’s equally as important is finding the right holders to keep them in.

If you love your cool contemporary interiors, but still want to add some warmth to your home, these metallic base candle holders from Graham & Green are a lovely way to incorporate both concepts into an interior. Mix and match the different finishes, or keep a clean look with just one in different sizes.

Tiya Lanterns from Graham & Green

To really hone in on the feeling of autumn, these Nkuku candle holders are beautifully decorated in charming autumn colours. The antiqued finish will really give you that warm, glistening feeling; a great way to light a small get-to-together or a quite night in.

Morri T Lights from Nkuku

Go one step further in using nature as inspiration with these lovely leaf wall candle holders from Rockett St George. With a hint of Baroque style, but with the right amount of modernity as well, they’ll keep your walls looking interesting and pretty and help to create a fantastical woodland feel to your home.

Leaf Wall Candle Holder from Rockett St George

Filling a room with different textures helps to create an inviting atmosphere in your home, ridding the place of any harsh surfaces and adding in warm, textural pieces will keep those cold thoughts at bay. I love this image below, of a cool contemporary setting that’s subtly been given some winter charm to it by the use of the faux fur throw and the textural tassels of the rug.

A clam textural living space from Nyde via Pinterest

Velvet is a fantastic texture to use in your accessories, but in autumn it’s practically a necessity; just want you need to nestle into on a cold night. These cushions from Zara Home are a divine colour, and will complement the warm oranges of the autumn, plus they have the perfect velvety sheen that’ll give your home that extra bit of luxe.

Velvet Cushions from Zara Home

I hold the biggest soft spot for the use of faux fur in interiors, there’s just something about a good quality item that’s too hard to resist. This furry stool is an amazing buy and the perfect way to top off an autumn style interior. Its sweet little legs give it a Scandinavian touch, plus the fur comes in different shades so you can match it to your existing colour scheme.

Shawn Sheepskin Stool in Taupe from Graham & Green

For an extra touch of texture to your walls, this hanging frame from Anthropologie with the cutest fringing along the bottom is a lovely way to frame a treasured photo or piece of memorabilia.

Fringed Hanging Frame from Anthropologie

For me, autumn colours is the best part about the season, in Cambridge we’re very lucky to have an abundance of trees all around the town, and when autumn comes the roads are full of fallen orange leaves. A beautiful deep orange is a lovely colour to add to your interior; just like this bedroom below which has been given a sumptuous orange throw and shades of orange cushions, all in wonderful velvet fabrics.

Rich orange bedroom from Designlovefest via Pinterest

This rug from Missoni Home is just the perfect colour, completely spot on for autumn. It’ll add depth to a clean and crisp white interior and enhance the romantic feeling of an interior that’s been decorated in dark tones.

Nirsa Rug from Missoni Home

Another lovely orange find is this beautiful, bright glass vase, a perfect place to host some winter twigs.

Wells Bubble Vase in Amber from Graham & Green

And finally, for that extra bit of autumn cheer at your dinner table, these Abigail Ahern plates are superb! The raw edge and rich colour are a lovely way to just your home a luxurious rustic vibe.

Cadiz Plates from Abigail Ahern

As autumn comes in, so do the luscious colours, textures and atmospheric lighting; helping you turn your home into a warm, cosy nest that you’ll never want to leave.

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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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Dress me up

A beautifully made dresser can really transform an area, be it your kitchen, dining room or hallway. It’s a piece of furniture that provides not only storage but a space to display treasured items and decorative accessories. Whether you like to have your dresser brimming with bric-a-brac, or keep it clean and crisp, there are all kinds of ways to get creative and use your dresser to show off your style. Here are some ideas to get you thinking…

from The Jungalow via Pinterest

I love how this dresser is overflowing with plants, it really draws you in, especially as the natural green of the foliage bounces off the green paint. Dressers are the perfect location to display fresh flowers and plants, as well as some interesting vases that’ll still catch the eye when empty. This Kassandra vase from Holly’s House has an interesting design with individual slots for each flowers, I can see a few wild flowers sitting in this beautifully.

‘Kassandra Vase Tall’ from Holly’s House

Something that might sit nicely on one of the shelves of your dresser is this unusually shaped vase from Nordic House, showing how you don’t need a whole bouquet of flowers to make an impact.

‘Reclining Clear Vase’ from Nordic House

from Vintage Rose Garden via Pinterest

These lanterns hanging off a dresser shows how you can get creative with both your lighting and your dresser. Although it may not be advisable to have any open flames on your dresser, it can be a nice way to display larger candlesticks when they’re not in use, ready to place on the dining room table at a moment’s notice. I like this contemporary brass candlestick piece from Holly’s House, which would sit beautifully on the surface of a dresser.

‘Move Brass Candlesticks’ from Holly’s House

These carnival tea light holders from The Estate Yard are an amazing collection of fun designs that’ll look great placed sporadically on your dresser.

‘Carnival Glass Tea Lights’ from The Estate Yard

Curating your dresser to work perfectly for you is all about finding the right pieces, and the right amount of pieces, to display. The key is to create a range of items, in all shapes and sizes to really give you something to look at. As a backdrop to your accessories I like the idea of fixing a few small mirrors onto the your dresser, this will not only give the impression of a touch more space, but will also give the dress some extra character. This collection of brass framed mirrors from The Estate Yard are the perfect assortment of shapes and sizes, and their style will work with a whole range of schemes.

‘Brass Mirrors’ from The Estate Yard

You may also want to think about what other decorative type things to add, some with a function and some just because they look pretty. This jars from Maison du Monde are a great style piece on their own, but also handy storage in a pinch.

‘Abelia Glass Resin Pots’ from Maison du Monde

 

from Mademoiselle Poirot via Pinterest

With an array of pots, bowls, plates and jar this dresser is covered head to toe; showing how a dresser can both store and display items beautifully.

One of the best things you can display on a dresser is a beautiful set of plates. From ones you’ve collected over the years, to maybe a special sentimental set, or just some really beautiful designs, on a dresser they’re safe from harm’s way and can be admired on a daily basis. Anthropologie always do some striking pieces of tableware, I love these botanical plates, they’re fresh and eye-catching and will instantly improve your mood. So will these pretty plates in a range of bohemian patterns.

‘Jardiniere Melamine Dinner Plate’ from Anthropologie

‘Adele Dinner Plates’ from Anthropologie

Finally, I had to add in this dramatic photo of a dresser displaying a collection of portraits. This is quite a bold look, but dresser are still a great way to display photos of your loved ones, especially in something as lovely as this photoframe from Plumo, which would look gorgeous on a dresser.

from Remodelista via Pinterest

‘Mustard Frame’ from Plumo

A beautiful dresser can be made even lovelier with the perfect accessories to go with it, tailoring to both your needs and your style is a great way to turn a functional piece of furniture into a thoughtful display.

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Bad to the Bone

It’s always fun to have a look at themes and trends that are making the rounds in the world of interior design. Our general rule of thumb here at Angel + Blume is to go with the style you most like over what’s hot right now, but it’s sometimes worth looking a little outside your comfort zone, you never know you may discover something new to take you fancy. Recently I’ve been seeing a lot of skull and bone like accessories that are perfect for anyone who wants something a little unusual and quirky. I’ve picked out a few fun and diverse products that all follow the bone theme for you to take a look at.

Not all bone themed pieces have to be obvious, in fact if you want to find pieces of furniture that make a statement, getting ones that ask a few questions is always a smart move. I find this whale bone chair from Anthropologie so interesting, it’s from eucalyptus wood by artist Adam Birch. At first glance, the chair looks like an abstract, Avant-Garde piece, but on closer inspection you can see the bone-like structure, making the whole thing even better. It’s a great occasional chair for a contemporary setting.

‘Whale Bone Chair’ from Anthropologie

If you feel like starting off slowly, a few simple home accessories are an easy way to work with the theme without going the whole nine yards. I love this picture frame from Graham & Green, it will beautifully mount a treasured photo without stealing focus, but without being dull either and will fit nicely into an already existing collection of picture frames.

‘Indigo Printed Bone Frame’ from Graham & Green

Another little gem from Graham and Green are these fantastic salad servers, they’ll be decorative both when in use and when on display, plus they incorporate both bone and colourfulness to make a wonderful combo.

‘Multi Coloured Salad Servers’ from Graham & Green

For anyone that favours the suave and sophisticated look in their home, and wants to keep this theme running, this reeded bone ice bucket from Oka is the perfect balance of vintage and sophisticated style, it’ll look charming on display and can be whipped out just in time for cocktail hour!

‘Reeded Bone Ice Bucket’ from Oka

Inlaid bone as a decorative form dates back to as early as ancient Egypt, and if you’re looking for a bit of bohemian luxury it’s a great way to get started. This four poster bed from Anthropologie is absolutely dream-like, ideal for helping create a fairy tale bedroom.

‘Bone Inlay Four Poster Bed’ from Anthropologie

If you want to take a more light-hearted leap into the bone theme why not try something cute and dainty? These star carved doorknobs from Rockett St George are just adorable. They’ll make a wonderful decoration to a cupboard door, anywhere in the house be it a kitchen, bathroom or bedroom.

‘Star Carved Knob’ from Rockett St George

Adorning your home with trinkets and treasures is a sure fire way to add character to the place. I really like these plaster cast shells, fossils, coral pieces from Pale and Interesting. Filling up a bowl with them is a great way to decorate a bathroom.

‘Bag o’ Bones’ from Pale and Interesting

These skeleton paper lanterns from Rockett St George are a kooky (and spooky) way to include the bone theme in an unusual way. They’re superb if you need them to make a party that extra bit special, but will also work well for everyday use if you want to create a playful interior.

‘Skeleton Crew Paper Lanterns’ from Rockett St George

If you want to bring your bones to the table, check out this set of six skeleton plates from Re-found Objects. Perfect for a dinner party where you want to impress and entertain the crowd, they’ll look amazing up on the table and will turn into a piece of art when on display.

‘Bone China Skeleton Plates’ from Re-found Objects

For the grand finale, a real showstopper, and something that’s probably not for the faint-hearted, is this glorious embellished buffalo skull from Rockett St George. Mounted animal heads on the wall may seem like a thing of the past, but there are loads of similar but alternative products floating around at the moment, from paper and felt animal heads to bedazzled skulls like this one. If you’ve got the guts it’ll look fab hung over a fireplace, bed or even placed amongst many strange and beautiful pieces running up a stairway.

‘Embellished Buffalo Skull’ from Rockett St George

From the adorable to the pretty to the slightly odd, there are all kinds of ways to experiment with the bone trend and so many ways to get inspired.

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Book Club: The Grammar of Ornament by Owen Jones

The book featured in Book Club this month was brought to our attention by one of our lovely clients, and though it’s not the usual type of book we tend to include on the list, it’s a real thing of beauty! The Grammar of Ornament by Owen Jones is a detailed depiction of the history of decorative design and ornament. From Greek to Turkish to the Renaissance, the book is full to the brim of beautiful, traditional designs, and an interesting history on each origin. The collection of ornament designs are absolutely stunning, in fact this book is even worth buying to pull out and frame the images. I’ve selected a few of my favourites from some of the different eras to show off just how lovely they are.

‘Greek Plate No.6’

This design comes from Greek and Etruscan (the name of civilisation in ancient Italy) vases. Something Owen Jones, the author of The Grammar of Ornament, notes about Greek decoration is that unlike some of its predecessors or companions at the time, its designs lacked meaning. Beautiful though they were, they weren’t representative or symbolic in any way, and were purely for decorative purposes. However, what is important to note is that there is an overwhelming amount of Greek ornament that still remains today, this indicates that at the time the style of Greek ornament would have been in popular demand and considered high on the taste scale. Jones comments that “the lands would have been overflowing with artists, whose hands and minds were so trained as to enable them to execute these beautiful ornaments with unerring truth”. Below the Greek plate shows off ornament from the Temples and Tombs in Greece and Sicily.

‘Greek Plate No.8’

Ornamentation from Pompeii takes its influence from its surrounding areas, from Greek to Roman styles, the design below is a rather fantastic geometric ornament, taken from Mosaics from Pompeii. The rich dark colours mixed with the almost neon bright tones creates a somewhat contemporary design.

‘Pompeian Plate No.3’

There is a certain vagueness that comes with the discussion of Byzantine ornament, it appears that historians are often unable to track down, or confirm authentic Byzantine pieces of design and therefore are unable to make a true, viable comment on the history of the ornament. Jones calls the Byzantine style “peculiar” but I think it’s rather wonderful, and the combination of various schools of design compile together to create a gorgeous style.

‘Byzantine Plate No.3’

Of course, if you’re talking about decorative ornament, you can hardly leave out Turkish designs. From mosques, tombs and fountains in Constantinople, or modern day Istanbul, these intricate designs are truly something special, perhaps because they take influence from other styles of ornament, as Jones says, “on the same building side by side with ornaments derived from Arabian and Persian floral ornaments, we find debased Roman and Renaissance details”.

‘Turkish Plate No.1’

The Alhambra is a palace located in Granada, Andalusia, Spain, and is home to some wonderful examples of Moresque ornament. As Jones tells the reader, “we find in the Alhambra the speaking art of the Egyptians, the natural grace and refinement of the Greeks, the geometrical combinations of the Romans, the Byzantines, and the Arabs”. It’s this wonderful collection of influences that creates such glorious patterns and designs. The example below shows a diaper ornament, which is a repetitive geometric surface, usually composed of lozenges or squares, which this pattern uses.

‘Moresque Plate No. 4’

‘Persian Plate No.1’

Above is Persian ornament taken from manuscripts that belong to the British Museum.

Jones describes medieval ornament as being in “perfect harmony” with the structural features of a building. Although little remains of medieval decorative interiors, the decoration of some manuscripts gives some indication as to what would have been the common and popular styles of the interiors. The design below shows off the conventional leaves and flowers from medieval style.

‘Medieval Plate No.1’

And finally, I thought I’d squeeze in a few more designs from the Renaissance and Italy. The Renaissance design comes from pottery ornamentation at the South Kensington Museum, which we now know as The V&A.

 

‘Renaissance Plate No.5’

The Italian plate is pilasters and ornament from none other than the Vatican, specifically from the loggia, which were corridors, open on one side to the outside and covered in frescos, such as the one below.

‘Italian Plate No.1’

Whether you want to learn about the history and stories of ornament, or just take a look at the glorious imagery The Grammar of Ornament is truly a fantastic book!

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