August’s table design was inspired by being home and the friends that make it feel like it’s where you belong. Upon my arrival to Austin at the end of last year, the wonderful Lauren Smith Ford insisted I meet her friend, Kim West — the designer behind Well Dressed Space and the owner of this killer dining room. Lauren had a hunch the two of us might get along, and as it turns out, she was right. Kim then introduced me to her other designing lady friends: Deeyn Rhodes of Nannie Inez, and Elizabeth Mollen, designer extraordinaire of Stone Textiles. Since then, the four of us have formed a little design posse and have get togethers once a month to talk shop. So, inspired by all of their talent and the kindness each girl has shown to me over the last 10 months, I designed a table that’s cheery, poppy and perfect for indulging in drinks and desserts with friends.
Summer is still in full swing here in Texas, and nothing feels cooler in the heat than neon. From fluorescent pinks to electric blues, each colorful element of this table paired perfectly with Kim’s turquoise chairs and cornflower blue walls. The small plates and unexpected serving pieces work well for serving a decadent dessert spread, and we made sure to set out enough sparkling rosé to last all evening. For a gathering like this, don’t worry about setting a flawless formal table — guests should feel free to move about and fill any sized plate with goodies to nosh on while visiting.
Pictured above: GOTDA Turquoise Dinner Plate from Ikea; Pattern Palette Salad Plate from West Elm; Cupcake Pedestal from Crate & Barrel; Dragon Flatware from Ikea
For each place setting, we mixed plates and serving pieces in different sizes, shapes and color. The party was casual, so no strict placement was needed! Stone Textile’s linens and Nannie Inez’s serving pieces were a must though.
Pictured above: Tour Sparkling Wine Glass from Crate & Barrel, HAY Gradient Carafe from Nannie Inez; HAY Gradient Glasses from Nannie Inez
When it comes to shelves, side tables and decor elements, one of my favorite design tricks is to purchase plastic from wholesale plastic supply companies. For this table, I knew I wanted to add a futuristic detail to pull together all of the crazy colors, and this hot pink plexiglass runner was the perfect solution. Just order sheets from your local supplier (I used Regal Plastics here in Austin) in any color, size or shape, and they’ll cut it to size on-site per your instructions… I plan on making placemats next!
Pictured above: Laguiole Neon Knife Spreaders from Crate & Barrel; Hot Pink Diamond Print Napkins from Stone Textile
To coordinate with the bright colors and modern shapes on the table, I grabbed a unique flower with a fuzzy ball-shaped bloom as the centerpiece to match. These Green Trick Dianthus are hardy little blooms that can last up to 15 days. I love that they look straight out of Dr. Seuss!
Pictured above: Textured Dip Bowls from West Elm; PAPAJA Plant Pot from Ikea; Kaleido Trays (various shapes and sizes) from Nannie Inez
