I Must Go Down to the Sea Again….

John Masefield wrote, “I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky…”. I know what he meant. I am a land-locked beach bum at heart. The beach and ocean seep into to your soul and take up residence. I can’t get back to the beach for a while, so dreaming and tablescaping will have to suffice for now.

I am planning a dinner party with seafood as the main course. This table has been sneaking into my dreams for a while, so I thought I’d give it a test run and see how all the elements look together. The table is a mish mash of china patterns and absolutely nothing is new.

You may know by now that I love centerpieces. Quite often it is the “jumping off” point for a tablescape and everything else is built around it. For me, anything has possibilities as a vase or centerpiece container. Try looking at everyday items with a new perspective. This trifle dish works perfectly. The clear glass and depth allow the shells and starfish to take center stage.

All the colors of surf and sand are here—the sugar white and taupes of Gulf shore beaches mixed with the cool blue of the water. I mixed casual and formal pieces on a white matelasse“beach blanket”. The contrast of casual and formal seems to echo both the elegant beauty and the carefree fun of a day at the beach.

The DIY napkin rings are mixed with the crisp linen of hem-stitched napkins. Casual placemats are a backdrop for sterling silver.

The glow of tea lights flicker against crystal.

Layers of muted colors, patterns, and textures remind me of the ever-changing landscape at the beach.

Oh yes, I must go down to the sea again….

placemats-Walmart

dinner plates-Nina Campbell exclusively for Steinmart

salad plates-Gibson at Big Lots

appetizer plates- T.J. Maxx

napkins-Steinmart

crystal-Lismore by Waterford

flatware-Burgundy by Reed and Barton

salt and pepper-Target

tea light holders-Dollar Tree

shells-the sunny beach :)

I'll be joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday. You can join the fun here!

Please Join Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday by clicking on the button on my sidebar. Thank you for visiting. I hope you’ll come back tomorrow for a delicious seafood appetizer—eggplant Josephine!