Dishing: Tabletop Tips

I am very excited to be the newest contributor to Dishing, a magazine and website created by two friends and food lovers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It is a must read for any foodie or anyone looking for a mountain lifestyle fix. My column will cover style and design for the kitchen, for the table and for entertaining. The photos below are of a tabletop I pulled together (inspired by the DIY tablecloth from yesterdays post) to showcase my simple tips for setting a rustic and modern table. I hope you will pop over for more photos, resource information and my tabletop tips! 

DIY: Drop Cloth Tablecloth

A couple of weeks ago I set out on a mission to make a chic tablecloth from a painter's drop cloth, as many of the standard sizes perfectly cover round tabletops and serve as beautiful runners for rectangular ones. The only other materials I needed were fabric paint and painter's tape. It was not only an easy and inexpensive project but a very quick one. If you would like to make your own, here is how. Start by penciling out the desired pattern on to the cloth. Just a little tip: for scale purposes, it helps to lay the cloth out on the table you intend for it to cover. Once the pattern has been penciled in, tape off the area you wish to be negative space.

 Then paint the exposed areas. Be very careful around the edges of the painters tape - it is best to make brush strokes away from the tape to ensure no bleeding occurs.

 Let the paint dry, pull the tape off and voila! 

Stay tuned! Up next is the way I styled this table up for a perfect fall fete! 

keeping it simple

After a hectic day nothing helps me unwind more than making an overly complicated dinner in a perfectly simple kitchen. Today has been an especially busy one and this sleek minimalist kitchen would be the perfect setting to concoct one of my typically overly ambitious entrees (which usually involves homemade pasta and a huge mess.)

(via athome magazine)

g-force {grand + gorgeous}

I have never been a "purple person," yet the way this energetic color is mixed with crisp white in this grand and gorgeous living space has completely changed my mind. Vibrant plum is used so perfectly through this entire room - from the leading edge of the drapes, the geometric pattern on the rug to the stripe on the skirted table. Complete bliss...

(vía nuevo estilo)

feeling a little caliente

Well, Fall arrived in Chicago with a vengeance. Frost, fire and whiskey season has very quickly arrived. It has left me craving not only flannel and fleece, but these stylish yet seasonally appropriate pieces....

(1. caynee cadiz runner from serena + lily , 2. sophie hulme leather lote 3. axe from the best made company 4. studded valentino flats)

And yes, that is an axe, I happen to LOVE chopping wood--best stress reliever EVER.  I just wish that my rusty axe would magically be replaced with one of the amazingly well crafted and just downright beautiful ones from the Best Made Company.

home crush {bolts of bold}

This is one boldly designed home, making it a wonderful source for inspiration. I would never personally replicate this same level of intensity in a room design, yet will absolutely look to these spaces for ideas when I am looking to take the energy of a space up a notch or two. The styling of these shelves is incredible - the eclectic mix of items and colors create the perfect backdrop for a casual and welcoming living space.

And starting right now I am going to collect perfume bottles so I can display them floor to ceiling, like in this bathroom..

And I am just crazy about this color palette, particularly the azure blue with the electric lemon yellow. Amazing how a design element, such as a throw can really pull a space together.  

And I just really really want these chairs!!!

And for the most over the top of the rooms, this look is DARING! I don't think I could pull off mixing ALL of these elements together but would absolutely consider adding a hot pink lamp shade, kelly green welt cord or bright yellow side tables for a bolt of color in a neutral space. 

(via AD Espana)

Could you add these bold hues to your home, in smaller doses? 

crazy about {codor design}

I was recently in the Atelier Gary Lee showroom and I am slightly embarrassed to tell you how long I gawked at this chair and desk from Codor Design. I stared and snapped shots of this little set up for a quite a while. The sales rep was probably shocked I didn't buy both pieces on the spot. 

All of Tamara Codor's pieces are truly amazing and the perfect mix of glamour and simplicity with a rough luxe touch. My favorites...

Who does't love glass and gilt? Amazing, no? 

the details {a pretty pocket}

Pocket doors are one of my favorite design details. They are a wonderful way to divide small spaces and can make a grand a statement in larger ones, especially when decked in antiqued mirror. 

(via traditional home)

craving {a cooling trend}

Just because the summer is coming to an end doesn't mean that the neon hues that came with it have to go too. Simply mix the hot colors in with cool grays to make this hot trend transition in to the fall... 

(1) Sequin Clutch from Calypso Celle (2) smoke rings dinner plate from Anthropologie (3) pom pom throw from Serena & Lily (4) Chevron pillow from Pure Home

Which summer trends will you be holding on to through the fall? 

fashioning exteriors {mara hoffman spring 2013}

 The playful colors, tropical vibe and bold prints of Mara Hoffman's spring 2013 RTW collection were mesmerizing. I am particularly drawn to these aqua shorts, the color reminded me of the gorgeous patina on these chairs...

And I just love the visual impact of this maxi dress, the same impact created by the combination of colors and shapes on this graphic garden wall...
(exteriors via AD Espana)

fashioning interiors {altuzarra spring 2013}

New York City Fashion Week seems like an excellent reason to revive one of my favorite delight by design series, fashioning interiors. And the runways are just chalk full of inspiration! One of the collections that everyone seems to be buzzing about is that of Joseph Altuzarra. The pieces strike a genius balance of tailored elegance and relaxed femininity -- a sensibility that in fashion and interiors will always be timeless.

(interiors via Architectural Digest + Elle Decor)

Next up a fashioning exteriors with Mara Hoffman, one of my personal favorites!

gray sophisticate

It was a very gray day here in Chicago, which I actually loved as I needed some motivation to stay inside and get some work done! It also led to a revived affinity for the color in interiors, whether mixed with cappuccino hues...

Or with crisp white creating a look tailored to perfection...

(images via belle magazine, elle décor, see by chloe spring 2013 and belle magazine)

desktop declutter

Happy Wednesday! It has been a busy week and my computer's desktop is filling up with way too many screen shots of inspiring images. In an effort to de-clutter, a few of the inspiring details and ideas I came across this week...

(via moutain living,  canadian house and home, michael del piero, and house beautiful)

lust list {nice legs}

Training for the Chicago Marathon (doing a half this weekend!) has made me have a whole new appreciation for legs. Just a hunch -- but guessing it is why I am currently being drawn to the very lovely legs of these modern pieces...

(ribbon stool from abc home, reale table from hive modern, lindsey adelman table lamp, modern coat rack from blu dot)