The Painted Chandelier

A Creative Companion Home/Design blog to Interiors by Melanie Robinson

Beach Dining

by 6 Comments

Nature’s Tablescape

 
Aren’t the colors in nature perfect?! Our beautiful world is God’s palette, and He is the Master Artist. I’ve always been a very visually inspired person, but since I started learning some photography, that has become even more evident to me. I love all the colors and patterns in nature!
 
 
 
 While at the beach a few weeks ago, we celebrated my oldest son’s 18th birthday! I have no idea how the years have gone so quickly, but he is now old enough to vote, drive a car, serve our country, etc. Makes me sad, just thinking about how my once towheaded little boy is now a curly-headed, handsome, funny/witty, responsible, young man, and will be a senior in high school this year! Oh, a Mother’s heart for her children!! Anyway, back to the topic! I knew we wanted to celebrate al fresco with a casual elegant kind of feel. Something not too feminine or girly, for my all- male-except- Mom- and- girl- dog- family! I let the natural landscape of North Florida’s Gulf Coast be the inspiration for my son’s birthday table.
 

 I had not remembered to bring anything for a birthday table setting, so I just started looking around the beach house for some things that might work. I found  a white sheet to use for the tablecloth. Not perfect, but it worked pretty well! Next, I found a glass decanter, a pretty little round crackled vase, and went down to the yard and started cutting palmetto branches and berries. I love the texture that they provided for my centerpiece. I found some various seashells, including a pretty whelk, and used the Williams-Sonoma dishes in the kitchen in all the beautiful, soft colors of the sea. I found some wooden bowls for salad, and used clear drinking glasses with stems. I love the beach house owner’s choice in plate colors for a beach house. Creams, soft blues, soft sage greens. Beautiful.

 
Oh, and candles! I rummaged around the house and found some cream pillar candles, and used some sherbet bowls as holders.
 
 
I was really happy with the way my son’s birthday table turned out! We had fresh grilled teriyaki Gulf shrimp, jasmine rice, Caesar salad, crusty bread, and Raspberry Elegance cake from Publix, with Homemade Bluebell Vanilla ice cream. Delicious! That cake is my son’s FAVORITE! 
(The one thing I wish I had brought for this beach table setting would have been my tan/ natural linen napkins! They would have beautifully completed this setting, I think. Live and learn, right?)
 
 
 
 

 

I think this year’s trip to the beach was an especially memorable one because we celebrated a milestone birthday. Bittersweet, for sure, but lovely all the same. My boy is now officially a man……

 



I want to encourage you that it’s easy to set a beautiful table, no matter where you are. Let the local flora and fauna be your guide, and keep it simple. Simple elegance is the best~ natural, unpretentious, inexpensive, yet beautiful!

Have you set a beautiful impromptu table this Summer? What was your inspiration? I would love to hear!

Hope y’all are having a wonderful Summer!! 





 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Comments

    • Hey, Erin! Thank you for your sweet words:)So great to meet you at Haven, too! Excited to be part of the ATL group and have that local support. Can’t wait to get to know you better and check out your blog:)

      Reply

  4. Melanie,

    I love the beach! We go every year to the Cape! It was so wonderful to meet you at the conference! What an amazing time! My heart is smiling from all the incredible inspiration from such a wonderful supportive group of bloggers!

    Have a wonderful and blessed day!
    karianne

    Reply

    • Hey there, Karianne! Yes, the beach is my favorite place, too:) We vacation at SGI every year. It was so wonderful to meet you at Haven. I can’t wait to check out your blog! I learned so much from y’all’s class, and am super excited about my IKEA gift card!:)

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.