Tablescape Archives - Modern Pineapple

April 2, 2015

Five Seasonal Changes from Curtains to Tables

Despite spring taking an official leave of absence, I started the seasonal shift over the past few days: that exciting time when you can finally swap out heavy sweaters and boots for cardigans and ballet flats. {Seriously one of the best times of the year!} Just as we get ourselves ready to dress in season, I like to do the same thing for my home to mirror the fresh feeling of the outdoors.

1. Go bare. Remove the tablecloths and extra rugs to expose the surface underneath. Working with the elements instead of against is what makes this season so special. It’s no longer time to fight off the cold weather – instead embrace the cool wood under your feet or glass on your tabletop.

2. Light! It’s not necessary to have heavy curtains to keep the chilly winter air at bay anymore. Instead, consider swapping your window dressing for linen curtains. The room will feel breezier, and it’s amazing what a difference it will make with the actual light it will let into your home. A great source I’ve found for new curtains is the amazingly inexpensive Yorkshire Linens, along with scoping out Amazon.

3. White everyday. I like to switch up my china to more casual white plates for most any dining situation. It adds an effortless style to the table, and allows for other dynamic elements to take center stage: flowers, pastel-colored napkins, and of course the wonderful people around you.

4. Exchange pillows. I love our perfectly color-matched velvet and silk cushions on our living room sofa. But for now, they will be put away to make room for lighter cotton and linen ones. I buy pillows that are the same size to just swap off the covers {mostly at West Elm and John Lewis}, not the inserts themselves. It makes for easier storage and of course it’s easier on the wallet.

5. Decorate with nature. Utilize fresh branches {love cherry blossoms with their gorgeous height} and accent with bright colors from favorite flowers that are finally in bloom like tulips and peonies. I love the white pottery vases from Jonathan Adler that really make the blooms pop.

March 30, 2015

Sophisticated Easter Dinner Celebration

Thoughts of Easter draw pastel-colored memories of bunnies, chocolate eggs and spring dresses. It’s a fine line decorating for this holiday without getting stuck in the world of bright plastic eggs and green basket grass, even in a home without any kids around (!). Instead, I try focusing on layering colors a palette of Easter colors mixed with fresh flowers and lots of glass to bring a contemporary yet classic feel to the table.

Since we have a wood dining table, I used a bright white tablecloth {with playful little white polka dots} as a light backdrop. Then, to start adding color I used multi-colored woven placemats from Chilewich. To create more depth and space between the placemat and the actual china itself, I added gold glass chargers {ours were a seasonal purchase from Crate & Barrel, similar here}.

From the placemats, I pulled out to colors to work into the rest of the table for a cohesive look: pink and green. I folded pastel green napkins I picked up at John Lewis {also love these mint linen ones from CB2} around our white china plates to add color to the white china. {I love how there are so many different yet compatible textures in this place setting.} On top of the napkins, I placed little ramekins of pastel-colored chocolate Cadbury eggs, tied with raffia. So. Many. Layers.

For the flowers, I paired bright pink tulips in square glass vases with the Italian cherry blossom branches {still going strong from last month’s trip to the flower market!}. I nestled a little bunny between two of the vases {from Williams-Sonoma} and filled his bowl with more Cadbury eggs. With a couple of spring straws and the addition of light pink candles, our Easter dinner table was set!

Modern Pineapple Easter Setting

Since we’ll be out of town this weekend, we had our Easter dinner at home a little early this year. It was a lower key dinner with salmon, roasted brussels and quinoa. I have a feeling our Easter this year will have a bit more Italian flair!

March 19, 2015

Easter Decor Inspiration

Though we’ll be traveling over Easter weekend, I’m still looking into ways to add a little egg-citement {I couldn’t help myself!} around our home. These pretty pastel tablescapes are giving me some gorgeous inspiration. Plus, I’m thrilled that the Italian cherry blossoms I scooped up last month at New Covent Garden Market are still blooming beautifully. I’m hoping to use them as the centerpiece in a few weeks’ time.

1. Pottery Barn / 2. Ina Garten / 3. Design and DIY Magazine / 4. Love Grows Wild / 5. Pottery Barn

March 17, 2015

Stylish St. Patrick’s Day Tablescape

“May your troubles be less, your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door.” An Irish Blessing

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everyone! I’ve had fun setting up a little green and gold-inspired dinner table for us this evening. It takes some ingenuity to change the table with holidays and seasons, without going overboard with spending in the process. For our St. Patty’s decor, I picked up a few items {less than £10 total} that made a stylish and festive tablescape when paired with other items we had around our home.

I purchased a bag of gold coins {from the kid’s aisle in a party store} that I used to scatter around the table runner, and these cute green and white striped straws from Whole Foods to add a whimsical feeling to the champagne glasses. I made little tags with the words “The Luckiest” and a shamrock, since it’s a romantic dinner a deux tonight.

The white and green tulips in a Waterford vase look fresh and elegant as the centerpiece. I flanked the flowers with white tapers from Williams-Sonoma and green candlesticks in Mariposa pearled holders. To tie in the gold from the coins, I added the shimmer gold chargers we often use from Crate & Barrel {similar here} and wiry gold napkin rings around crisp white dinner napkins.

Tonight I’m planning to serve roasted salmon with Irish whiskey and honey, along with the more traditional Irish soda bread. I’m looking forward to our party for two tonight, and wearing a bit of green. Sláinte!

March 12, 2015

Spring Awakening Tablescape

Flowers, flowers, flowers! Nothing says spring quite like fresh blooms, and with Mothering Sunday this weekend and the itch to leave winter behind for good, I’ve pulled together a spring tablescape fit for any occasion. Starting with the table, I removed the pads to expose the table’s wood underneath for a more earthy, natural feel. Then I added a table runner {ours is from West Elm, though I’m also in love with this basket weave look from Chilewich} that’s actually peach-colored on one side and cream on the other. To give an airier look and stronger contrast against our wooden table, I opted for the cream look.

During my recent trip to New Covent Garden Market, I had picked up cherry blossoms, long-stemmed pink roses and green hypericum. My favorite part of the whole table is the height range from the cherry blossoms down to the tea lights, which keeps your eye moving. The tall cherry blossoms in the center added the drama while the roses anchored the table on either side. To do this, I cut the bottoms of the cherry blossoms on an angle and put them in a tall cylinder vase in the center of the table runner. Then, with these cute pastel pitchers {also picked up from the market — wholesale makes accessories a complete bargain}, I paired the roses with the green hypericum in a tighter bunch {which I held together with a rubber band to keep its shape}.

To round out the table, I added a few bud vases with one rose in each {bud vases from Whole Foods Floral for £1 each (!), similar here} and scattered tea lights around the vases along the runner. For the place settings, I used Caspari rattan chargers to keep with the natural theme and placed an elegant dinner plate on top to add a bit of sparkle and formality for a festive event {Vera Wang Wedgwood Lace}. For the napkins, I folded them in thirds, tied it together with raffia and tucked a bit of hypericum into the folded napkin, tying the place settings together with the arrangements. A champagne glass for festive drinking, a tumblers for water {on sale now at Selfridges!}, and silverware for your meal, and it’s set for a sweet spring soiree.

Keeping the arrangement together with a rubber band as mentioned above – simple trick I use all the time!

February 28, 2015

Host an Italian Countryside-Inspired Dinner

These days, the overwhelming sentiment from everyone I talk to is spring can’t come soon enough. I couldn’t agree more. I’ve been pouring over our summer plans and dreaming of the warmer weather that’s slowly approaching. I decided to give us a little preview of the fun to come, and take us to the Italian countryside for a recent date night.

I try to cook mostly in season, using local vegetables and decorating with regional flowers. But there does come a point where I break that, like a Saturday night when we need a dose of springtime. We picked up some cherry tomatoes and fresh basil, along with rocket greens and a giant ball of mozzarella for our dinner.

MP Roses

For the table, I used a bright white tablecloth and a peach-colored runner to add a light, fresh feeling {I got mine on sale at West Elm, but also like this one here}. Then I got to work on the center arrangement. I picked several leafy branches from our trees outside our building and inserted them into a wire frame. I used roses from another arrangement, cut them so there were just a few inches left on the stem to show off just the bloom, and added them in casually.

For the place settings, I paired our bright white plates with our rattan chargers {ours are from Caspari, similar here} to give it a relaxed rustic feel.

I was inspired for the pasta dish by the one Camille Styles shares in her book {she has great taste – I love the way she brings all the senses together with her entertaining}. It was a simple mix of olive oil with minced garlic, cooking down the halved cherry tomatoes, adding in the cooked pasta, creamy torn mozzarella and shredded fresh basil just picked off the plant. The entire kitchen smelled heavenly.

For the salad, I just drizzled from freshly squeezed lemon juice onto the rocket and parmesan, along with a little olive oil. It was light, fresh and a delicious accompaniment to the pasta.

My husband decanted a wonderfully aged bottle of red, and poured them into our crystal glasses {it’s okay to add a little glamour, it was a date after all!}.

We had such a good time laughing and dreaming about returning to Italy {the bottle of wine certainly helped!}. I know we’ll call on this combination again soon. Salute!

Chargers / Plates / Silverware / Napkins / Glassware / Decanter / Wine Coaster / Pitcher

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