Tablescape Thursday: Cote de Texas Style

To say that I am a fan of Joni Webb and her blog, Cote de Texas, is most likely an understatement. I can't remember when or how I came to know her inspirational design blog, or the sweet voice behind the blog itself - but I will tell you that my ideas on interior design have been forever changed for the better because of Joni and her unique vision, and superb aesthetic for everything French. Plus, she is as delightful as they come.

So, for this week's Tablescape Thursday hosted by the always extraordinary Susan at Between Naps on the Porch, I decided to work on a Cote de Texas inspired tablescape - worthy of a brunch with Joni herself. Please, Enjoy!


It's hard to believe that these chairs started out as lowly bentwood candycane chairs in a really brassy wood tone. With some ingenuity, paint, and fabric, I tried to transform these chairs visually - establishing lines which mimic the most charming of all French accent chairs - the slipper chair.

As most of you know - or will soon find, Joni is a fan of slipcovers, and white slipcovers at that. You'd also be hard pressed to find anything that wasn't overstuffed with down at her house - or the homes of her many, very impressed clients. Her sweet dogs even lounge about on fluffy down doggy beds. So as I sat at the sewing machine working tirelessly on these slips, I kept in mind those important details Joni never leaves unfinished. For someone with very little stock of French goods, and even less sewing talent - I think the 2-hours per chair I spent making these slips really "Frenched" them up.

When it came to the table, no ordinary table would do. With her newest radio blog endeavor, the Skirted Roundtable with Megan at Beach Bungalow 8, and Linda at ::Surroundings::, a skirted round table just had to help finish off the look. After sewing a hem in more than 6 yards of burlap, and pulling elastic through - I think I managed to attain the look of the Pam Pierce table skirt used in the Skirted Roundtable header. Double pleated and oh so textural - it's a Joni favorite, and one I hope I've gotten right.

Of course, a tablescape isn't a tablescape without the tabletop. Enter these gorgeous crystal chargers with a Fleur De lis detail. These scream French, don't you think?

And they're the perfect compliment to the woman who wears diamond Fleur De lis earrings everyday! Layered with simple white ironstone - a favorite of Joni's, and softened by a napkin made from a seafoam check, like the signature Chelsea Editions Joni must buy by the bolt, it makes for a delightful brunch setting. I used my bamboo handled flatware, again - such a favorite of mine when paired with the burlap, and brought out the crystal stemware to help tie in the beautiful chargers.
No Joni/Cote de Texas room or tabletop would be complete without her signature use of Blue and White Chinese Porcelain. A favorite of Joni's, you see it perched throughout her home, on floors, mantles, shelves, and desks. Bowls filled with white roses made for the perfect picture in her Houston House and Home feature, and a large antique Blue and White fish bowl filled with family pictures made its way into Joni's Better Homes and Garden's feature. So it was only fair that I pull together some of my blue and white pieces to help accessorize this space and the table in true Joni fashion.



Gorgeous peonies, (thanks to my friend Margaret and her beautiful gardens) make for the perfect splash of color, and believe it or not - I think Joni has a thing for Pink.

So there you have it - my Cote de Texas inspired Tablescape Thursday. I hope that even with my C+ sewing, it's worthy of an A. Now leave your thoughts here, and head on over to Susan's for more fantastic tablescapes!