Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Coastal Tablescape Inspiration From The Beach House



With Winter biting hard for my northern friends, I thought I would bring you a little sunshine from Down Under. I can't bring you the real thing, as it hasn't stopped raining here on and off all week. I know alot of you are new here and possibly haven't seen some of my earlier tablescapes.  This table is one of my all time favourites and it was one of my readers'  favourites as well, until recently.  I adore the purity of the white and the little hints of pale pink given off by the shells.



I think one can never underestimate the power of a shell to create happiness.  If you are freezing right now, go and grab a shell from your collection, put it up to your ear and you will hear the sea.  Close your eyes and you're almost there.  See, warmer already!!!!



  Here's another white table coastal table.   I was trying for a Caribbean look here.  This table represents that casual Summer dining we all so love.  The bare wooden table, the palm leaves and the hemp place mats from Ikea, help to pull it together.  A lantern thrown into the mix says balmy coastal nights to me.


This nautical table is one of my favourites too.  You just can't get away from the fact the red, white and navy is completely eye catching and so stylish.  Here I introduced nautical stripes in different ways.  The vase of flowers sits in a striped gift bag, which was a very affordable way to change out the colour of the vase. I also used navy stripes in the place mats.  The life buoy makes for a striking centrepiece. No one is left under any illusions that this is a nautical table.



I just can't go past this colour combination.  I love it!!!!



Here's yet more colour for a tropical feel.   I have used a different part of the palm tree as a centrepiece for this table.  In coastal styling, I love to use the greys and browns of natural elements juxtaposed against bright colours.



I also love coloured bottles and use them where I can.



This is my all time favourite coastal table.  Loads of coastal greenery with a touch of white to keep the floral budget on track.  The scattered use of shells and beachy style vases helps to sing out beach.  I also adore the contrasting brown paper down the centre of the table as  focal point and to stress the length of the table.



Mix your shells up with another theme.  Here I was trying for French Coastal, with the rusty chandelier base as the centrepiece and the scalloped Ikea plates contrasting against the coastal elements on the table and around the room. 




Shells plonked in a vase work very well as a table centrepiece.  They look fabulous at the bottom of a vase with or without flowers.







And why not pretty up your plate for a simple mid week family dinner with yet more shells.  Believe me, I don't usually go to this much trouble midweek with my table settings, but this kind of thing would work well for a simple small family celebration dinner.  The combination of nautical stripe, coral and shells just makes it feel like you are on perpetually on holiday.



33 comments :

  1. oh wow, you certainly have the knack of putting together fabulous tablescapes! the 1st one and the one with all the greenery are my favs! Kate x

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  2. what a great entertainer you are! the decorating and the cooking look beautiful. my favourites are the same as kates. x

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  3. Carolyn~ ya think I can fly over and just "relax" and forget about life for awhile? You should own a spa!!!
    Love it all!!
    happy V-Day!
    Smiles~
    Cricket @ Gypsea Nurse

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  4. Wow It all looks beautiful! Hard to believe you are in the midst of summer while we are toiling away at winter. Oh well, it is my time for getting projects done in the house instead of outside the house, so I won't complain.

    Hugs,
    Judy

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  5. We can smell the sea air just looking at your photos! Longing for the summer in New England...
    The Greeley Girls

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  6. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE that is all :) xxx

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  7. So adore the first floral bouquet. That is spectacular.
    Happy Valentine's
    TTFN ~
    Hugs,
    Marydon

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  8. Thanks for all the wonderful ideas for table settings. They are all beautiful!
    Mary Alice

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  9. Your table settings look just beautiful. So jealous of how warm it is down under. Can't wait for it to warm up here. Thanks for sharing at DIYbyDesign.

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  10. Oh, they are all such gorgeous table settings! Just the thing I needed to help with the winter blahs.

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  11. Lovely ideas! I can here the sea now! Your tablescapes are amazing! I'm now following on Linky Follower and GFC. I look forward to more great ideas!

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  12. What beautiful tablescapes! Thanks for sharing!

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  13. Absolutely lovely! Makes me want to go the shore. ~ Sarah

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  14. Gorgeous table settings and beautiful pictures!

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  15. Thank you for sharing. Your images are just beautiful. I'm visiting from It's So Very Cheri Linky blog hop and I'm gladly a new follower.

    Hugs, LIsaKay
    Belles Roses Romantiques

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  16. I'm in California, but I still am feeling the need for Spring decor! Love your ideas and I found one, shells in the decanter that I can use and it's a free redo for me!

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  17. Lovely tablescapes - beautifully styled and decorated. Lots of pretty inspiration.

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  18. Wow...they are all so pretty there is no way to pick a favorite! So many great ideas that I fully intend to steal! lol Thank you for sharing. Visiting from BNOTP

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  19. Hey, Carolyn! Lucky for you it hit the upper 50s here today. Otherwise, I would just cry and cry and cry! :-) It's so nice to know you guys are warm, but sorry about the buckets of rain. It beats the heck outta snow ANY day of the week, though! We got hit with about 2 inches of snow on Monday, and there were so many car accidents...I just sat home praying that my husband safely made it to and from work. SO frightening!!! It warmed a bit and rained yesterday, thus washing away most of Monday's remaining snow. We're looking at highs in the upper 50s again tomorrow. Hooray!!! Thanks for sending some warm thoughts and photos our way! Have a happy weekend!!!

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  20. Have you thought about making a living out of this, as you really do have the knack for it. You have been inspiring me lately to make a little more effort in dressing up the table and ot just saving it for special occasions. By the way, thanks for the Linky tip. I have now installed it :) xx

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  21. Hi Carolyn! I just found your blog - so glad I did!! Your tablescapes are so beautiful!!

    Are your white plates with the scalloped edge Mikasa? So stunning!

    Found you via the link party at Flaunt it Friday Chic on a Shoestring Decorating.

    I am your newest follower thru Linky Followers. Please visit my blog to say hello. I love visitors and comments on my posts!

    Have a wonderful weekend.

    Heather @ settingforfour.blogspot.com

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  22. All your tables are FABULOUS!!! My favourite, if one can say that from all the FABULOUS tables is the one with all the greenery in the long table...stunning! Thanks for sharing them with us.
    Happy Seasonal Sunday!
    FABBY

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  23. Oh my, your table settings are just delightful! I love every one of your settings, you have a gift for putting things together! I'm so happy I found your blog!

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  24. As living in a winterland, looking at your surroundings makes me drool to death.

    TY for sharing and make me more drool so I can book a ticket to fly somewhere warm §;-)

    Happy day.

    Greetings from freezing Stockholm,
    /chie

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  25. Your table settings are gorgeous. I love them. Shells are some of my favorite decorating pieces. I live in New England. We are surrounded by the sea. Thankfully we are experiencing one of the mildest winters in years. I am still looking forward to spring.
    Ruth

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  26. Super Cute! I'd love to have you share your projects at my party...it just opened!!! XO, Aimee

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  27. Just beautiful :)
    Cas x

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  28. Your styling is beautiful. And I like that you are displaying lots of different themes for your table-scapes - the norfolk pine branches on the table looks amazing and such a fresh idea, I also love the yellow hibiscus (are they real? I have never seen yellow ones). And the surfboard on the wall as a feature is amazing too. Your'e my new fave blog!!

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  29. So many beautiful tablescapes - hard to pick a favourite. Love them all :)

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