Tablescape Thursday - Back to Earth

As you probably have already read, this past Saturday was our 3rd annual Garden Walk. The weather was fabulous: hot, sunny, and with a slight breeze perfect for a late morning, or early afternoon stroll. Our garden was on the walk - of course - but this year we had an addition that was truly a hit with the garden "walkers": our pergola. Now, when we designed the patio and the pergola space next to the garage, I knew that I wanted it to be a transitional space. Somewhere we could use for both casual lounge space with our outdoor settees and such, but also a place where we could entertain friends with dinner, as we tend to do. With the pergola in place, the space really feels complete, and "room-like" so I knew for the walk I wanted to give all of the people who came through the yard a little look into what you could do with a sweet little space like ours:

I decided on a "dining room" and used our Smith & Hawken's elmwood set to stage a dinner for 4 with a colorful flare. I found the striped fabric at Joann Fabric's for a mere $4.50/yard, and topped it with the gingham/ikat to bring in a little of the blue and white that I spread around in my Asian pottery pieces.

My blue and white Spode plates topped white ironstone over brass chargers, and elegant vintage brass eggcups held sphagnum moss balls to give the idea of a topiary on the plate. I wanted to go one step further, making these place card holders but time didn't allow for that.

I brought out an indoor table to stage as a petite buffet of sorts, and hung the mirror you might remember from the fireplace Christmas-scape with jute from the pergola supports. The entire back wall, and entrance corners were draped in my SUPER CHEAP outdoor curtain solution: FLAT TWIN SIZED SHEETS! A bargain at a mere $3/each, sheets give you length, and finished edges without the disgust of a ruined curtain that cost much much more at the end of the season. The wire urn was a loaner from my good friend Melisa. I filled it with more moss and a fern to bring some green to the table, and height and presence to the display. She liked it so much, I didn't take it apart when I gave it back to her - and it now looks great in her living room!

The entrance to the pergola was flanked by these two hibiscus trees, my blue and white garden stools and pottery barn lanterns. The crystal pendant was a thrift store score just a couple of weeks ago, and adds the perfect amount of sparkle to the space, don't you think?

Add in our crystal stemware, and hurricanes for the brass candlesticks, and the light was literally bouncing from one end of the table to the other. Usually we don't get to enjoy these lovely tables, but that night we had a great party, and people gathered around for gourmet pizza and watermelon mojito's to laugh about all of the build up and tension broken after the event was over. It was the most perfect way to end the day, and the most perfect setting to come back to earth, and let a bit of that creativity that was stored for safety out to play. Yes, Artie is back - and the future is looking bright!

Thanks to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for allowing me to post this on her Tablescape Thursday post. Take a spin back over now, and check out all of the other fantastic tablescapes from this week!

See you soon, with a giveaway, and more!