Create a Cheery, Romantic Mother’s Day Tablescape
Surprise Mom this weekend with a relaxed and charming table setting with special ingredients you may already have
Soft pinks and touches of green and gold can make for a fresh Mother’s Day table setting with a light country French vibe. Lory Bernstein of DesignThusiasm guides us through her process for creating an elegant yet relaxed tablescape for the mothers in our lives by mixing antique finds with family heirlooms, repurposing a scarf as a tablecloth and revamping a cake stand.
Mother’s Day is the perfect time to grace your table with family heirlooms. “What better way to honor the mothers in your family than to utilize the dishes that they once used?” says Bernstein of DesignThusiasm. “It also evokes an image of elegant ladies’ brunches or pretty afternoon teas, so that was the concept I was going for here.”
Start with a concept. Bernstein approaches her table settings from the standpoint of a fashion designer. “I was a fashion designer for many years before I moved to home decor, so I approach all design projects the way I designed a collection,” she says. “I start with concept first and move immediately to pattern. I generally have a centerpiece pattern and then a simpler coordinating pattern or two; then solids are pulled from there. The concept is like the foundation upon which everything else is built, so pattern, color, texture and accessories all maintain the integrity of the concept.”
Pick a base; use what you have. For the base of the table setting, Bernstein used a scarf. It’s unexpected but gives the table just the look she was going for. “If I like something and it fits on my table, it will eventually wind up there,” Bernstein says. “In this case, I’ve been wanting a washed linen or cotton tablecloth for some time now, and I remembered a scarf I just bought at Club Monaco. The scarf was huge, and had the right drape and wonderful trim. It is the perfect size for the table and became an excellent backdrop for the look I was going for.”
Mix and match new and old china. For the china, Bernstein used a mix of her antique finds with existing antique pieces as well as her regular day-to-day dishes.
“The salad plates are recently purchased Haviland Limoges, and they are the pattern I started with here,” Bernstein says. “I build [the tablescape] intuitively, so my concept began with the salad plates, and then I scavenged around my home until I found just the right mix. The small dinner plate in the plate stack was the perfect secondary pattern, as it really enhanced the top pattern. I’m delighted to have salad plates that work so well with the simpler dinner plates, which were from my grandmother’s china.”
Select napkins and silverware. “I love the soft drape of the ruffled blush pink napkin, as it gives just the right attitude to the table — romantic and relaxed, a charming combination,” Bernstein says. “I stayed with a delicate napkin ring to let the fabric of the napkin do all the talking. The silverware is also a family heirloom, and I use it over and over with many different looks.”
Bring in flowers. When picking out blooms for her table, Bernstein shares this tip: “I always set my table first and take a photo with my phone before heading to the flower market. While I may have something in mind, I have to work with what’s available, but always the most significant variable is adhering to my color palette.” Bernstein opted for pink tulips.
“I tend to prefer simpler arrangements with only one or two colors, and the vase is often selected based on both the flowers it will hold and the concept of the table,” she says. She used Mason jars with a slight green tint.
Add a defining element. Bernstein added vintage rose-colored crystal bobeches to her candlesticks, which gave height to the tablescape as well. “The logical pairing would be to mix it with brass candlesticks, but I enjoyed seeing the surprise of silver instead,” she says.
Augment with a personal touch. To make the table even more meaningful, Bernstein added a personal touch with these lilac demitasse cups that she bought at an antiques market in Paris when she took her daughter there for her 16th birthday. “The family heirloom pieces connect me to past generations, yet these lovely teacups connect me to the generation of my children,” she says.
Pink champagne glasses help complement vintage china and are ideal for mimosas. “I love them for their simplicity and the beautiful pink glow they add to the table,” she says.
Pink champagne glasses help complement vintage china and are ideal for mimosas. “I love them for their simplicity and the beautiful pink glow they add to the table,” she says.
Revamp the ordinary. Bernstein wanted to add a pretty confection to the center of her table, but her cake stands were either too bland or too low. “I simply found the serving plate I wanted to use, and mounted it on top of a very ordinary cake stand to give the dessert a little height and a more impressive presentation,” she says.
The Easiest, Most Versatile Cake Stand You’ll Ever Make
The Easiest, Most Versatile Cake Stand You’ll Ever Make
Tell us: How are you spending Mother’s Day? Will you be cooking a meal for Mom? Share a photo of your special tablescape in the Comments below.
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