GATHER ROUND Tallulah Rushaya

GATHER ROUND

With a little help from the design experts, Tallulah Rushaya finds out how to make your table the topic of conversation this season

PHOTOGRAPH: CHLOE WINSTANLEY PHOTOGRAPHY; ANDREW MONTGOMERY They’ve been all over Instagram feeds, carefully curated for shop displays, and aren’t going anywhere any time soon. It’s safe to say that the art of tablescaping is here to stay. After having spent extensive time at home in lockdown, we learned to appreciate the beauty of having tableware and linens that match and honour the host’s culinary e orts.

Dressing tables is a practice that has stretched over centuries, signifying the importance of community. “Some of life’s most memorable moments take place around

READY, SET, GO Above: Birdie Fortescue's Ando tableware range is new for autumn 2022

the dining table,” says Sarah Larsen, sales and marketing director of the POSH Trading Company (poshtradingcompany.com), which o ers handcrafted placemats and coasters in a range of colours and finishes. This season Larsen recommends bringing warmth and cosiness via earthy tones of burnt orange and fiery reds, to reflect the rich hues of the autumn transition.

Ronny de Koning, the creative

TABLE SERVICE Clockwise from top left Bonadea's Fortuna Rust dinnerware; Bertozzi tableware from Petersham Nurseries; Pumpkin patch centrepiece trio, £52, Truffle Tablescapes; the Lily of the Valley collection by Bonadea

director, and global buyer at Petersham Nurseries (petershamnurseries.com) also takes inspiration from the season: “I always look to nature for colour inspiration and autumn, rich in warm hues of orange and reds are my favourite. If you use these colours, you’re o to a good start – it might be in the linens you use, the dahlias or berried foliage, or the tableware you are using.”

Being bold with colour and pattern has been a hallmark of 2022. “Hand-painted plates will continue to be a big trend into autumn. While summer saw vibrant yellows, Provençal blues and hot pinks, autumn will be more muted, with tones of burgundy and burnt orange,” says Louisa Preskett, co-founder of Maison Margaux (maisonmargauxltd.com). “Checked and gingham linens will again be a trend across autumn, as will frill-edged tablecloths. There’s also a move towards a more subdued, rustic tablescape. Bold summer patterns and colours are replaced with subtle, elegant hues. Coloured glasses and mismatched objects on the table will reappear. Moving towards winter, we’ll see sumptuous rich jewel tones and contemporary takes on tartan. Bamboo and olive wood cutlery will be autumn staples, while moving into winter and Christmas, gold and green cutlery will come into play.”

It’s certainly a chance to show your individuality and style, as it would seem there’s no right or wrong way to lay a table. “Sharland England is all about taking pieces from any collection and layering them together,” points out founder Louise Roe (sharland-england.com). “I designed the colours of my ceramics and linens – terracotta, rich greens, cognac, dusky pinks – so that they would all mix well together. Throw in a little vintage crockery here and there, candles and wildflowers, and you have a beautiful setting.”

With tablescaping a focus at the interior-design festival Decorex this

DISHING UP Clockwise from top left: an Oscar de la Renta dinner set from Maison Margaux; linen napkins and tablecloth from Cultiver; Ottomans Palms hand-painted ceramic plates from Amara; an autumnal tablescape using linens and crockery, Maison Margaux; Les Ottomans mushroom collection, Amara; a modernist setting by POSH Trading; burgundy and gold scalloped plates from Maison Margaux; a seasonal tablescape featuring Sharland England's latest collection

year, Natascha Dartnell, founder of ND Studios (nd-studios.co.uk) notes points to consider. “Texture is so important when it comes to creating a dynamic table. I like to use natural textures, such as woven jute placemats, linen napkins, and hand-blown tumblers,” she says. “To continue the ode to nature, a large vase of branches or foliage creates height and drama. Inject some personality, whether it’s with hand-picked flowers or hand-written place cards to ensure your guests feel special.”

It can also be a chance to reinvent tableware that has been hidden in the cupboard for years. “I’m constantly changing my table around. It’s important to keep ‘shopping your cupboard’ when it comes to laying the table. Use things in di erent contexts and combinations to give them a new life. It’s rather like with your wardrobe, even putting an object on the table instead of flowers sometimes can work,” advises designer, Nina Campbell (ninacampbell.com). “A china ornament that might look very old fashioned on a mantelpiece can suddenly look great when it’s placed on the table. I love mixing colourful glassware, antique tablecloths, and di erent pieces of fine bone china together.”

Founded in 2016, Bonadea in Belgravia has made a name for itself in tablescaping. “Bonadea has been instrumental in driving forward this growing love for and awareness of a well-designed table and how it can make an occasion, no matter the size, and this is something I'm proud of,” explains Gemma Martinez de Ana, founder and creative director (bonadea.com). “I think this comes from my Spanish roots, where we believe in the art of making an occasion out of a meal. My passion and creativity in table design is in always changing it up. I like to layer from the table linen and napkins up, mixing my best items with more day-to-day pieces. Accessorise with seasonal foliage and blooms and trinkets such as pinch pots and mustard jars.” L

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