Friday, January 6, 2012

Unconventional

Who knew that setting the table could be so much fun?  Today's tablescape sort of just...happened!  January 6...in Chicago...and it is 54 degrees and sunny.  A friend called and asked if I'd like to meet her for lunch.  Well, of course.  Lunch happened to be at a restaurant in beautiful OakBrook Mall...where there just happens to be a Crate & Barrel.  Hmmmm.  While the new treasures for Spring are making their way into the store, there were still plenty of holiday bargains.


These Keaton Terra Cotta placemats suddenly caught my eye, mostly because they were square.  They will fit nicely on my not-so-large dining room table.  And surely I must have some napkins in my stash at home.  Sold!  Indeed, I had these Lila napkins, also from the Crate.  This is when the fun started.


Why not turn these not-rectangle placemats on their side.


Why not fold my napkins into squares to match the placemats....and plop them in the center of the bowls!  I'm on a roll.  Taking cues from the stripes on the placemats, I positioned my Aero flatware all around the plate.  Who says there are rules?



To maintain the playful mood of the table, I chose my South Beach glassware by Joseph Aboud.


Nothing else was quite in the "right"place, so I positioned the wine glass and water goblet on the corners of the mats.


Flowers just did not seem like the proper accent for this tablescape, so I opted for my ever-so-verstaile candle holder instead, this time filled with black beans.  I just could not be happier with how this table setting came together...and all I bought were a few placemats (that were on sale) !  Up next...The Year of the Dragon.  And stay tuned for future postings...a series entitled "What Was I Thinking? A Tablescape Challenge in Three Parts!"

7 comments:

  1. This table is gorgeous!

    I love Crate & Barrel.

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  2. OOh Oakbrook is just a great mall! What memories I have of shopping there, in the summer, in the winter, with snow on the ground. Isn't there a papyrus there and a maggiano's close by? Your table is amazing. Very creative and fun. I love the colors and the placement of the flatware. The centerpiece is perfect! xo marlis

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  3. Making me miss Chicago...but your table is beautiful. The colors are wonderful!

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  4. Love the "outside the box" placement of your flatware and stemware! The shape of the placemats is so unusual and begs for something different...very creative of you to break the rules. Colour scheme and centerpiece are great too!

    DD

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  5. Ooh, I like this! You did a great job! I agree, who needs rules, especially when being artistic looks so much better! Good ole' Chicago! I lived there in 78-79. Crate and Barrel had a new store on Michigan Ave. not far from the Water Tower Place. I don't think it's there anymore. It sure can get cold in the winters! I live in northern Michigan and it get's cold, but not nearly as cold as Chi-town! Back to your table! I love those glasses by Joseph Aboud! Simple clean shape- but very attractive! I love the warm colors in the placemats and the fun napkins! Your candle centerpiece is perfect with the angular lines!

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  6. Wow! what an idea. It didn't came across my mind, doing that, when I had my square chargers?

    TY a mill for sharing.

    Greetings from a chilly Stockholm,

    Happy TS...
    /chie

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  7. What a fun table! I love the modern feel and "rules? What rules?" approach! Crate and Barrel has SUCH great stuff -- love that store, especially the big one on Michigan Avenue. What a cool candleholder!

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