Vintage-Inspired TABLE

This tablescape takes its inspiration from a set of vintage glassware.

What words come to mind when you think of fall? Hopefully “cozy” is one of them. That’s the word that epitomizes this fall tablescape, designed by blogger Shauna Oberg of Satori Design for Living. She combined a creamy neutral palette with cool fall tones and vintage pieces that make this table setting an inviting and warm atmosphere for enjoying a meal.

AVOCADO GREEN

Often a good tablescape will start with an item that inspires you. For Shauna, this was a set of avocado-green vintage glasses. “I inherited this set of vintage green goblets a few years ago, and they fit perfectly with the moody fall vibe I’m drawn to right now,” she says. “It’s a bit of a departure from the light, bright and airy decorating style I tend to go with.”

Alongside her DIYed farmhouse table, the green glassware makes a statement. Shauna then added more subtle elements in her dishes and wine glasses. “I think mixing pretty pieces like the gold flatware and floral mugs, along with the wicker chargers, helped tone down the gothic style of the glasses,” she says. “Pairing the avocado green with touches of black, white and gold worked for me.”

Another vintage touch to the table are the mugs, which tie the avocado-green hue in with the white of the dishware. “Those cute vintage mugs I found at the thrift shop pulled the whole tablescape together,” Shauna says. “It seemed only fitting that I added a small touch of blue-green, since it’s my favorite color, next to white.” (To learn more about transferware, see page 22.)

Think about textures as well as colors when setting your table. Can you add stripes or plaid anywhere, such as in a table runner or the napkins?

CENTERPIECE SAVVY

You may notice that there’s no large floral centerpiece for this tablescape. But a centerpiece isn’t always needed to make a table beautiful—instead, make sure there’s a focal point to the table, and the rest will fall into place.

Rather than a large centerpiece, Shauna worked with what she already had to add succulents to the middle of the table. “The succulents have been living happily on our table for months,” she says. She also supplemented them with votive candleholders, alongside her own twist on votive holders. “I used a few of the green cordial glasses as tealight holders,” she says. “In my opinion, candlelight makes a table setting, especially in the darker months.”

“Seasonal decorating is all about adding small touches to the furniture and décor you already have in your home,” Shauna says. We think she’s more than proved her point with this gorgeous table setting.

PHOTOGRAPHY B Y S H AUNA O B E RG

(opposite) Shauna’s tablescape is a mix of new dishware and vintage glasses and mugs. “I love mixing varying pieces, new and old, to create an eclectic feel,” she says. (top, left) Alongside her vintage green glassware is a set of green and blue transferware mugs Shauna found at a thrift store. “Sometimes I wonder how I’m lucky enough to find this stuff at the right moment,” she says. “Other times, however, I search and search and search… It’s okay, though. The hunt is part of the fun.” (bottom, right) You don’t have to put food directly on the table to serve. But if you have a blank spot on your table you want to fill, a single dish (or dessert) would be the perfect finishing touch. “Fall is all about the delicious food,” Shauna says. “I look forward to many meals shared around this table with family and friends.”

(top, left) Rather than choosing either silver or gold, Shauna went with a combination of both, with flatware that has a bit of shine. (top, right) To bring plenty of candlelight to the table, Shauna added votive candleholders, and even used her cordial glasses as impromptu votive holders. (opposite) Instead of using a centerpiece as the focal point, Shauna chose to focus on her vintage green glassware.