As we continue to endure this pandemic together and stay home as much as possible, looking for new, fresh ways to set our own tables makes yet another night in feel more exciting. As the season begins to shift, with temperatures dropping and foliage turning, color palettes that feel more rustic and earthy sit just right at home—but with a refined and elevated spin.
Rich textures, like nubby linen napkins, pewter flatware with character, and glassware where one can see the hand of the artisan, come together to create settings that feel comfortable and humble in the most sophisticated way. Here, we've created three layered and rich tablescapes to gather around this fall.
Bold and Relaxed
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Blue and white: It's a classic color palette that never fails to charm, and its role in the history of design, and ceramics especially, is deeply rooted. Here, a muddy burnt orange is added to the mix to riff on the long-standing duo, creating one that feels decidedly right for an alfresco dinner under autumn skies. Set on Galbraith & Paul's Persian Garden fabric—a climbing floral that lends depth to the table—this setting feels warm and familiar, like an old friend that you can bring out time and again over the season. A collection of blue-and-white exportware, mixed in with anemones in delicate glass bud vases, fills the center of the table for an alternative to standard floral arrangements.
Shop the Look: Layers of Blue & White
The marbled effect of these super-thin dinner plates (created in Paris) comes from a process called stamping, where oxides are swirled in with the clay to create the varying patterns.
Here, a multitasker's dream: These 22-inch square napkins are large enough to be used as placemats, and the woodgrain motif dyed in indigo brings a modern spin to one of nature's patterns.
The gorgeous patina of the Italian pewter used to create this beautiful place setting lends an old-world, laidback feeling to the table.
Handcrafted in Italy, these tumblers are created without the usual layer of crystals that you see in most Murano glassware, thus giving it an opaque, layered design that is altogether unique.
Maximalist and Layered
This richly-patterned dining room, designed by Markham Roberts, boasts botanical motifs on the walls, upholstered sofa, and dining table's tablecloth. This lush scene creates a backdrop for a more simple, but still sophisticated table. Blue and white porcelain dinner plates, along with bud vases filled with seasonal dahlias and other florals add a pop of unexpected color to juxtapose against the more deeply-toned tablecloth. And sometimes, less is more when it comes to settings: here, the pattern-on-pattern decorating is allowed to remain center stage when the table isn't over-laden with multiple plates and glasses.
Shop the Look: A Patterned Dream
The French's designer Asian botanical-inspired dinner plate is hand-painted in France on fine white porcelain.
Silver-plated olive wood flatware adds a natural - but still elevated - touch to any table.
The ever-classic Festival napkin is one everyone should have in their party closet, and this rich brown hue is the perfect antidote to a colorful table for tempering a bold palette.
William Yeoward Crystal Country Tilly Footed Hurricane
Handmade glass from Europe creates a stunning silhouette for this antique-inspired hurricane.
Lush and Verdant
Sometimes, all you need to create a compelling dinner-party color palette is complementary shades of a favorite hue. Here, varying degrees of moss, sage, and olive live together in harmony, resulting in a calming yet dynamic place setting that will intrigue guests. Astier de Villatte plates, bowls, and vases grace the center of the table and are filled with a bounty of produce and eucalyptus, along with a marble bust from The Ancient Home for height, making an effortless table decoration perfectly aligned with the harvest season.
Shop the Look: Layers of Green
Romantic and Sophisticated
For a sparkly dinner party, look to Jon and Keith Meacham's Nashville dining room - decorated by Brockschmidt & Coleman - to inspire your next evening gathering. Keith Meacham, the tastemaker behind Reed Smythe & Company - the home accessories and tableware destination she founded with the late Julia Evans Reed - shows us how to make a table feel inviting and special with just a few specially-sourced items and one stunning centerpiece. Roses in shades of coral, peach, cream, and pale pink mix with greenery to make a show-stopping floral moment, while classic Ginori 1735 Oriente plates in a rich green pick up the blue-green shade of the custom-made table skirt.
Shop the Look: A Ladylike Setting
Curved handblown goblets feel sturdy to the touch and add a shapely silhouette to your table's look.
A square tablecloth looks lovely layered over a round table's skirt, and this linen hemstitched gem is handmade in Italy using time-honored craftsmanship.
Ginori 1735 Oriente Italiano Malachite Dinner Plate
Ginori 1735's classic pattern comes to vivid life in a stunning shade of acid green accented with a rich teal blue.
Edme Samson Veuve Perrin Faience Large Vegetable Motif Tureen
This beautiful hand-painted tureen makes a lovely centerpiece vessel for an abundance of fresh flowers.
Elevated and Mysterious
Inspired by faraway lands and the places we are itching to visit, this table setting is a perfect example of how channeling our current desires and wishes into a creative endeavor can—albeit temporarily—satisfy our souls. Layered textiles whisper of trade roads of yore, while beautifully crafted candlesticks and sourced antiques create an eclectic, unexpected centerpiece.
Tip: Table decor can be pulled from your coffee table, bookshelves, and nightstands. Don't limit yourself to just flowers and candlelight, although, these fit in nicely with your beloved treasures.
Shop the Look: Layers of Mahogany
