Choosing A Design Theme For Your Tablescape - 1st in a series
Did you ever think that creating a tablescape is like directing a story? As each item in your table design is placed individually in its specific location, it becomes directly proportional to other pieces already placed on your table.
The design then starts to unfold onto a theme that tells a story. When done, it should capture a visual image and the sound, taste, and smell of the experience.
“Design is all about creating an experience.”
I love to create a fictional narrative that tells a story when designing my tables. For that matter ,for anything I design, I establish a generalthemem,e whether for a home,tablescapep,e or event I’m styling for. It gives me a place to start my design and inspires me to tell the story. It is based on myimaginationo, design creativity,andd my love for storytelling.
This past November, I joined a group of over 34 designers for a charity event at the Town and Country Club in Connecticut. The Central Connecticut Garden Club held this event. The task was to design a theme-based tablescape that tells a story.
I decided MY TABLE’S THEME be called “Mon Jardin à la Française” meaning, “My French Garden”.
Now, let’s look at how, by using a theme, I could put in motion the design of a “French Garden” tablescape that tells a story.
When I design most tablescapes, I draw inspiration from photos and fond memories from my travels that capture my heart. These initial visuals give me ideas for cultural content, colors, textures, and a general feeling I want to portray in my design.
Here is the process I went through when gathering a theme for my design.
This photo was everything I needed to transpose my thoughts into a design. The beautiful rustic sophistication of a private backyard garden of a chateau in France gave me so much inspiration. It is so dreamy!
First: I chose this photo as my inspirational visual. It captures my idea of what a setting should look and feel like when dining in a small town in France. It truly moved me.
I love alfresco dining and decided that my table theme would take place in Provence and be in the private gardens of a beautiful chateau filled with fabulous flowers and herbs. Now, how’s that for dreamy? Can you imagine it yourself?
Photo by Georgianna Lane
Second: I love French aesthetics when it comes to romantic settings, and I drew upon one of my favorite photographers and author, Georgianna Lane. She produces such beautiful romantic photos of France in her book, “Paris In Bloom.”. There I found the inspiration for colors to put on my table as well as the feelings I got when looking at her photos. To me, they represent beauty, romance, and intimacy.
My flowers had roses, hydrangeas, ornamental kale, and sage, to name just a few. All are found in the summertime in a beautiful French garden.
This photo represents my love for gardening and my ideas for collecting and potting flowers in a beautiful arrangement. It gave me color and texture inspiration.
Third: Since this event is all about flowers and sponsored by a beautiful garden club, I wanted to be sure that I captured a flurry of flowers in my design. A vast array of flowers on my table held in a Confit Pot represented a garden entirely in bloom.
Provence in the summertime is filled with flowers and the French are enthusiastic gardeners. They love herbs and use them as much as possible in most foods and flower arrangements. I had an abundance of flowers found in a French garden.
I also drew from my TIME traveling to Provence and other parts of Europe. The culture, colors, and textures still remain vivid in my memory, and this photo just solidified what I wanted to portray in my design...feelings of warmth, beauty, and an intimate gathering of friends gathering to share hearts and create lasting memories.
Having a theme for your TABLE SETTING is just so important, in my opinion. It sets the scene and gives you something to work with. Without ideas, you start TO PLACE THINGS ON YOUR TABLE haphazardly. It will start to become cluttered and INCONSISTENT.
Whether you are designing for a french garden in a tabletop COMPETITION or a THANKSGIVING table, think about what story you want to portray. Ideas can be a harvest table for thanksgiving; a springtime table for easter; or a BOTANICAL-INSPIRED table for Christmas. It just depends on your imagination.
When designing your table, use your imagination and think what moves you. Think about what colors, textures, flowers, and STYLES you love. Go with your heart, and you will not be DISAPPOINTED. there is no wrong answer as long as it comes from you.
“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.
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“The thing is…visuals always elicit feelings, and those feelings become small visions that start the creative process moving forward.”
Here is a quick video of my tablescape.
“Mon Jardin à la Française” or “My French Garden”
It won the most beautiful table at the event! I can’t tell you how humbled and thrilled I am to have been honored.
I have 10 posts in this series. If you’d like to learn more about how to create a tablescape using textures, colors, and other design aesthetics, you will find them in my JOURNAL posts.
As with everything I post on my blogs, please feel free to comment, or if you have any questions, please email me through my contact page. I welcome it anytime!
Design with your heart™️
Happy entertaining, my friends!
Mary
“May your home be a place where friends meet, family gathers, and love grows. ”
