A Beachy Tablescape....Finally

Today's tablescape has been a long time coming, and I can't really say why.  I've had some of the components in my tablescaping stash for over a year; even before I ever started my blog.  I've wanted to do a beach-themed tablescape for so long. Even this one has been thought about and re-worked, started and stopped. Has this phenomenon ever happened to any other tablescapers? Finally, I got up this morning and decided, I would just put the table together and let it turn out as it would. No more debates on tablecloth or placemats, netting or no netting, yellow or white plates, shells or lighthouses for accents??? Etc., etc., etc...... So, this is the final result for my beach-themed table.


A Look at the Table:

How It Was Created:

I decided to forego table linens.  I felt the dark wood would better ground the elements of the table. I  added a straw placemat whose sand color seems appropriate for the beach, and because I like the rough texture of the mat.

My plate stack starts with my white Metaceramica plates from Portugal, purchased at HomeGoods.

The next plate is one I found at Tuesday Morning (on the clearance rack!).  I saw the texture of it and the shell design around the border and knew I wanted it for a beachy tablescape! It is labeled Mud pie, Shell Dessert Plate.

The next plate is from J. C. Penney's and I got it a while ago during a major sale event.  I LOVED the color of it, its unusual shape and the crackle-effect of the glaze. It is labeled ASA Selection, Germany, and is the salad plate of the collection.

I topped the stack with Ralph Lauren napkins I got from HomeGoods.  I had started with plain turquoise napkins, but changed my mind (one of the stumbling blocks along the way to this tablescape!).  I went to HomeGoods in the middle of setting up and found these. They are labeled Fenton Paisley/Aqua and I thought the tan and blue colors were perfect for the beach; and I loved the pattern and texture of the linen.  I created the starfish napkin rings with my straw napkins rings, faux starfish and a drop of glue! (easy, peasy, and seen on many a tablescaping blog!)

The table setting was completed with turquoise-colored goblets (generously given to me by dear friends who were moving and downsizing) which I decorated with shell napkin rings I had originally bought for my beach tablescape (another change of heart!).  The flatware came from one of my trips to Tuesday Morning.  It is labeled Cambridge Stainless Steel; pattern: Cameo Ivory.  I am extremely happy with it and you'll probably see it in many of my future tablescapes!!  I also added individual votive candles and candleholders that were used at my daughter's bridal shower.  I'm hoping they add a warm lighting effect to the table.

My centerpiece starts out on a fishnet accent I got at HomeGoods.  I purchased the white lantern at least two years ago at Sears. I was actually Christmas shopping and discovered it on a clearance rack!  I bought it long before I thought of blogging, and just felt I'd use it on a summer table sometime!  It's filled with shells from a gift shop located on a local pier, and a pillar candle.  The lantern is flanked by two glass domes I purchased at a thrift store in Ojai, CA and the faux sea urchin and starfish are from a shop in Ventura, CA where we recently vacationed.

For table accents, I added a white pitcher (Farval, from Portugal and purchased from Marshall's) for iced tea:

A serving dish which is part of a four-piece salad plate set given to me at Christmas by my stepdaughter:

And, a conch shell my hubby got me MANY years ago from Catalina Island when I was teaching Lord of the Flies to my freshman English class and needed a teaching prop to illustrate how the stranded boys from the story signaled each other to call their "meetings" together on the island.

So, I finally completed my Beach Tablescape!  I had thought of using multiple colors on the table to reflect the many colors of the beach and sky;  I just couldn't decide what sort of table covering I wanted to use, and I had even toyed with the idea of sand (somewhere on the table!)  But, in the end, I kept the color scheme simple aqua blue and white, so reminiscent of the blue of the ocean and the clouds in the sky on a beautiful beach day!  I'm officially "unstuck" once more!  Enjoy your summer months!

I'll be joining Christine at www.rustic-refined.com for her Link It! Table Party and
                Susan at www.betweennapsontheporch.net for Tablescape Thursday.                             Thank you, Ladies, for  hosting these parties!  Please join these parties and see what others have created!!

I love to hear from you and your comments are always appreciated!