The Inspiration: Scenic Spectrum
Brilliant blue pigment makes this dinner plate the perfect piece for adding a pop of color to table settings all summer long. Each of these plates are made and painted by hand in a former produce warehouse in Athens, Georgia.
Wood Studio Dinner Plate in Summer Sky, R. Wood Studio Ceramics.
For a table that exudes simple Southern charm, combine the artistry of sky-blue plates with delightful homespun details. Tomato red serves as the perfect accent color, drawing the eye about the scene from old-fashioned paper straws to vintage-look napkins.
Elegant Options
Transport guests seaside with a polished arrangement that plays off sandy shores and shimmering waters. Anchor the scene with plenty of white, layer varying shades of blue, and offer subtle nods to the sea: oceanic textures and plates with rippled edges.
The Inspiration: Festive Fourth
This look starts with a clean slate—a crisp white charger and a dinner plate with simple red edging. The holiday theme is incorporated almost entirely through accessories. A chic burlap place mat brings the stars, while a casual cloth napkin and a simple bow on the silverware add the stripes—completing the all-American motif.
The DIY components of this tablescape make it a fun activity for the holiday weekend! Create your very own star-spangled settings with plain woven place mats, a star stencil, and blue latex paint. (Use spray adhesive to keep the stencil from slipping as you paint.) Pick out pretty striped bakers twine, and practice tying techniques for beautifully bundled flatware.
For more ideas, check out this video from our publisher Phyllis Hoffman DePiano—Fourth of July: A Tablescape How-To. Experiment with all of these looks at your holiday gatherings this weekend, and let us know which become your favorites!
