Howdy Darls. How's it going? Wanna know how to style a fabulous coastal white table on a very tight budget, with a tiny little bit of help from Ikea? It's easy, follow me!!!
This was actually my Christmas table, but it doesn't really have a whiff of Christmas about it, which was just how I wanted it!!!!
Take 2 white bed sheets. OK, I only took one cause I've also have a pretty damask table cloth.
Roll some brown paper length wise down the centre of the table. It adds texture and catches any sticky sap from waxy type foliage. This paper was left over Christmas wrapping from Ikea and was about $2.50 for eight metres.
Gather a whole lot of coastal type greenery. I used Norfolk Pine, cause that's what I've got in my garden. The tree must have been planted as they dug the foundations for the cottage, as it's huge now and drops lots of rats tails, but we are cool with it, as they create a fabulous mulch which improves the soil around the Beach House garden greatly. Also creates lots of exercise re the raking....Thanks Mr Beach House!!!! You can see by the tone of things here we made up. Go here if you want to find out, what about!!!!
If you don't have Norfolk Pine, ( and from the view over my deck not many do, it's pretty rare on the ground. I also know this cause if you cut one of these grand old ladies down, the local council hits you up for a $60,000 fine. I've saved Mr Beach house a fortune by reminding him of this, every time he wants to chop into this baby). Anyway, if you don't have a Norfolk, insert palm, elephants ears, or anything with a big leaf here.
So pile it up in the centre of the table with the tips pointing out diagonally. Then dot it with shells and coral. No rules here, just place them all over, at well spaced intervals.
Glue a few faux pearls, or real ones if you are not on my tight budget, into the centre of a scallop shell to add interest.
Make these too easy coastal vases and run them down the centre of your table. I have also made these into beachy lanterns with sand and a tea light at the bottom. Have a look here to find out how. These ones were recycled Vegemite jars, we go through so much of the stuff at the Beach House.
Fill these with white flowers of your choice. I wanted a voluminous posy look so I used agapanthus, again cause that's what I had in the garden. Gardenias, white hydrangea or frangapani would work well too.
Style your coffee table and buffet to match
My SIL contributed this cake to our Christmas table and it was amazing. It's the Womens' Weekly Celebration Cake if you want to google the recipe. She said it was too easy to make and Mr Beach House has been eating the leftovers since Christmas. He finished it off last night and almost cried and it wasn't me being mean to him that made him well up!!!!!!
I kept the platters white too. The one with the embossed leaves I snaffled at the local Red Cross shop for a few bucks.
These are Margaret Fulton's Smoked salmon pancake rolls and were a real hit on the day.
As for napkins and rings I used what I had. They didn't match and again that's how it should be. There were shells, crabs and starfish. I borrowed several napkins from mum as I didn't have enough. The bonus was she said that her entertaining days were over and that I may keep them. How kind!!!!!
So I'm off to pick a winner out of a beach hat for my Seaside Style Interiors Book giveaway. The winner will be up next. I set myself a goal of increasing my followers to 350 with this competition and I got there. So that's my first goal ticked for 2012. Thank you so much if you are following me I so appreciate you. If you are reading me and not following think about giving me some love and following officially. If ya don't want to that's fine too!!!!
Happy Mid Week to you. I must say I am in Summer Holiday heaven at the mo. The Beach House Brats are cooperating better than usual and our daily trips to the pool and beach are making life very good too. I'm enjoying it while it lasts.
Click on the Twit picks in my side bar to see how good an Aussie Summer is, or have a look at face book if that's your social media of choice.
Thanks for all your lovely comments. Blogger is being naughty again and not allowing me to write comments on blogs that have Word Verification...... so why not turn it off. Here's how. Go to the Settings tab in your dash board. In settings go to the comments tab. Scroll down to "Show Word verification for comments" and click no. This makes it so much easier for people to comment....so watch them grow
Today I am Partying here

I am so excited you are back. i have so missed your posts. Loving this table it looks just divine. i hope you had a wonderful Christmas and here's to a fabulous 2012 xxx
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pis! Your table looks amazing! X
ReplyDeleteGreat table, thank you for the how too. Happy 2012. KP
ReplyDeleteGORGEOUS!!!!....LOVE the norfolk pines and the sheet and the paper and all of it...lol...it's so beautiful...you totally have "THE" touch!!
ReplyDeletexo, Mariaelena
This is beautiful, Carolyn! I love it! I used brown paper as a runner down my table for Thanksgiving this year, but I never thought of using it for a light, coastal table. It looks great.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog. I am now following you.
I also wanted to add...the food looks delicious!
Very pretty! Natural, yet dainty! xo
ReplyDeleteOk there is all kinds of beautifulness going on here!! What a perfect beachy/Christmas table setting, I love the pines!! Gorgeous and Yummy!!!
ReplyDeletexoxo
This table setting is so beautiful, love all the white and especially the brown paper runner, perfect. Thanks for the fab ideas. The food also looks amazing! Cheers!
ReplyDeletewhat a lovely setting on your verandah! love the norfolk pine with the agapanthas, all the white and shells. the food looks great too.
ReplyDeletex
Love, love the brown paper idea! And you could spread just about anything from nature on it. Beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteMorning sweet- your table , complete with Norfolk Pine {which I can grab from my mama's place!} of course, looks divine!
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing like an un-Christmas table-Christmas table...you could use this all summer- white and green is so fresh together...
Love the shells- I seem to be uncovering all manner of these as we unpack and fill our beloved little beach house!
It's lovely to be back for tables outside on the balcony like this!! :-)
Melissa x
Lovely, breathtaking, beachy beauty!!! You've done it again my dear!! TFS!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely Christmas or any other time spread. A lot of time and effort for a beautiful result. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous table! I love IKEA, too. And your food looks absulutely delicious. You have a great sense of style
ReplyDeleteSuper gorgeous table! I love the green and white with the brown paper runner. Stopping by from Wow Us Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteDoes the norfolk pine only grow in Austraila? I would love to see it here. Your table is smart and sophisticated. Nicely done. The food looks delicious. You must be one good cook to get that all out on the table at once.
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning table setting! Excuse my while I wipe the drool off my keyboard too. It's always nice to find another fellow Aussie blogger! Megan :)
ReplyDeletewww.megandmums.com
I absolutely adore your table setting...to me it does say Christmas but just not in a traditional kinda way xo
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by and commenting. Your table and the food you made looks amazing. I never thought of just keeping it simple and white with the greens underneath. I especially love the pearls in the clam shell. I can see I can learn a lot from your blog.
ReplyDeleteYour table is stunning! Love how the pine looks with the brown and white. Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI love your table setting! It's amazing!
ReplyDeleteDebbie
Your table looks amazing, so classic yet simple, and the food, yummmmm! Looks like you had a fabulous time!
ReplyDeleteRebecca
looks fabulous, love the norfolk, striking idea~
ReplyDeleteVery pretty table. The vibrant green of the Norfolk pine is striking with all the white. Cute idea putting pearls in the shells.
ReplyDeleteI want to have dinner at yur house! It looks stunning...I bet it smells great too!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! The table is so pretty, and the food looks fantastic! I am suddenly craving antipasto! :-) When I read about the tiff you and your husband had, I laughed SO hard. Sounds like my hubby and me...we don't argue unless we're riding in the same car! We made a trip halfway across the country last year in separate cars, and everything was hunky dory. When we went to a party last weekend in the same car, we were fussing about both directions and his Type-A driving habits. Go figure! A $60,000 fine for disturbing a Norfolk Pine??? Really??? Wow! A lot of people use little, tiny baby Norfolks for Christmas trees here. I understand they can grow up to 200 feet tall in Australia with up to 15-lb. cones. Wow! I'd like to see that someday!!! Your agapanthus is beautiful! I love it in both white and purple! Great idea gluing the little pearls inside the clam half shell, too! Very cool table, Carolyn! Have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteI'm just going to live vicariously through you right now. It is -19C and freezing rain today. Let's switch spots.
ReplyDeleteSo glad that you decided to join Pin'Inspiration Thursday this week :-)
Carolyn, your table is fabulous! Such a crisp, clean look. I love the brown paper runner! Visiting from TT.
ReplyDeleteWow, you have done an outstanding job on this table. I love the Norfolk Pine. You are so lucky to have it on your property. I never would have thought to use the brown paper runner. The food looks so appealing. The table setting is fabulous with the white, pearls and shells. I would love to be a guest at this table. Oh...another thing, Thank you so much for the Giveaway. I am so grateful and appreciative. I will send you my postal info. I hope this new year is a wonderful adventure. Blessings, Linda
ReplyDeletei love the green and white theme
ReplyDeleteand how fresh and lovely your table looks
thanks for sharing at Fridays Unfolded!
alison
I'm your newest follower-stop by for a visit!
ReplyDeletewow an amazing table and great looking food. Our nearest Ikea is 4 hours away, that makes me sad....and my husband happy. ;)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI inherited some napkin rings recently...shells.
I don't guess I'd have to live by the shore to use them, right?
:)
Iv'e just discovered your blog through a linky party, its really lovely, I guess by the photos you are living not so far from NZ, a Christmas in Summer time. I will definitely visit again and have just become your latest follower.
ReplyDeleteBeachy Keen, I love it. I did a dead stop at that yummy looking dessert too. Found you from link party. HI.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful tablescape this is!
ReplyDeleteAlthough you used it for Christmas, it is the perfect winter table.
ReplyDelete- The Tablescaper
The table is beautiful! I love white and it makes everything feel dressy! Your food looks amazing too! I have a link party on Fridays. I'd love if you would link up!
ReplyDeletehttp://daysofchalkandchocolate.blogspot.com/2012/01/latest-and-greatest-friday-14.html
the white table looks fabulous and very neat!
ReplyDeleteCes of http://momdaughterstyle.blogspot.com/
The foods look very tasty and mouthful, I love your very creative ideas for handing out the table design. You've perfectly emphasized your creative talent. And I can see from those photos that the house got a very nice verandah.
ReplyDeleteI love this.
ReplyDeleteWow, that is gorgeous! Just found you on HOH :)
ReplyDeleteSo lovely- sharing this at tonights party! Thanks for linking up!! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is...GORGEOUS! Well done! Just letting you know that I'm featuring this tomorrow on Feature Friday Free-for-All!
ReplyDeleteP.S. I'm a new follower! : )
~Abbie
That is one gorgeous table setting! The food looks divine too. Love it all.
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful! It's my pleasure to feature you in my Fab Friday Favorites today. Please feel free to take an "I Was Featured" button if you don't already have one. And please do come back again next Friday!
ReplyDeleteWarmly, MIchelle
I love your blog.....please link up to centerpiece Wednesday and share your ideas with us.
ReplyDeletekarin
Gorgeous and delicious looking.
ReplyDeleteDee
I absolutely love it Carolyn.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen this before. I especially like the brown paper as a table runner. It's subtle but fabulous. And that CAKE! WoW!!!
Gorgeous styling. I'll be copying for sure ;O)
Tania xx
Just beautiful! I love the brown paper too - I think I might use that this Christmas!
ReplyDeleteLooks gorgeous Carolyn :) Jo xx
ReplyDeleteLove it - Beautiful!
ReplyDelete