I.O.U. One Great TableScape (and why this isn’t it!)
Hello-Hello to all my friends.
And welcome to Fox Hollow Cottage, to anyone new here today or visiting from the Fall Ideas Party!
This was an odd post for me so either get comfy or I apologize. Take your pick!
I Am Not A Tablescaper.
If you have already visited the other tables and are now here… I’m so sorry.
Normally, I can fiddle my way through until I’m happy with the end result, but I just made some big changes to our home and this is the first anything I’ve done with this (new to us) table. In fact, I’ve yet to even refinish or reupholster the dining chairs.
There is something you should know about me…
I’m pretty dang transparent. I simply could not plug the pictures in, write a post and dash.
It’s impossible. I feel the need to tell you the story about this attempted tablescape.
Let’s start here…
This is our current table.
We just downsized from a big farm table. I’ll share it below…
You can see more of this space decorated [here]
Yes, we had TWO tables in our little cottage & NO formal dining room.
Let me explain. The round table in the kitchen is Broyhill and I bought it one day when I channeling someone else and thought I was rich. (I’ve never done that again!) Fast forward about 10 years and three houses later, and there it sat in our tiny kitchen eating area, over-filling the space. It wasn’t alone. No, it came with a full-size, gorgeous buffet that wouldn’t fit in the upstairs, so it was relegated to the basement level. One day, I decided to let them go to a new, loving home.
Perfect. Worked great, best decision ever. Didn’t even miss them!
In it’s place, with lots of room to maneuver around, we added a DIY kitchen island/storage shelf.
You can read all about it and get a better look [here]
I could not have loved this situation any more! The boys & I all loved that nothing was in the way when accessing the cabinets or when traveling from the front of the house, through the sun room and downstairs. The space was now so blissfully open.
Plus, it was a blast to decorate!!
Which leads me to the missing farm table… we brought it from another house as well.
Now, it might not look like it from this angle, but that farm table was a tight fit! When you walked in the front door, you had to skirt around it. Not good in the Winter, wet from rain and loaded down with groceries! For Austin trying to get to his room, or when welcoming guest into the house. Plus, it dwarfed the fireplace and threw the entire room off, it truly was too big for the space. And as our family situation has changed, the need for all that dining space has dwindled. I decided I didn’t want to live in my house inconvenienced and irritated year round, in exchange for a handful of days when it was used. That is what God invented folding tables for right?
Finally, after years of wrestling with the idea, I sold the farm table.
We opened up the space for easy in & out… and it feels wonderful, just like the kitchen did when we deleted the table & chairs and went with the island!
You can see below, the “island” has got a new home.
You can catch all the changes & details [here]
Then for some damn reason… apparently we need a table & chairs. I don’t know why some people are so high maintenance? They like it when I cook too.
It was a trade off when I sold the farm table. I knew it would result in loosing the beloved kitchen island and that open feeling, but really… we did need some kind of table.
In a perfect world, I wouldn’t cook & we wouldn’t even need one!! hahaha
But alas….
A table & chairs were brought in. Actually a quick-borrow from my booth project stash.
Which brings us back here.
Where I think; “Oh, won’t is be fun to stretch & push myself with my decorating and do a tablescape?”
No. No it won’t be “fun” !!
Because the new table fits great in the space… because it’s sooo small.
It’s so small in fact, that the placemats I had planned on using, do not even fit on it!! Too big.
And none of my go-to decorating items do either. Like the wood charger I use to layer… and the table legs are pure white and all my table linens are creamy white… and all the things I’m pulling out look terrible… and I think about pulling out of this party, but I assure myself something will come to me.
To give myself a little wiggle-room I added a leaf and looked for something to get started!
WOOD. I need wood. Where is all my wood?
Oh why did I wait until the day before to do this? (All the while, reminding myself I really didn’t… I just kept having false starts and stepping away!)
After finding an aged, whitewashed plank I intended to make a sign out of, I looked for some natural foliage. I figured since my Peegee Hydrangea only gave me one bloom… I’d sacrifice some stems to the cause.
I laid them out and prayed something would start to come to me.I had picked up a pretty Mum and so I wrapped it up and popped it in the middle, thinking I’d work out from there.
I cheated and turned a brown paper grocery bag inside out to cover the nursery pot.
And secured it with some twine.
Next, I started adding pumpkins. Real & velvet.
A few candles and Hydrangea blooms…
And this is all I could come up with!
My creativity was stunted. I knew that no mater what I did in that moment it was not going to get any better. I know me. I can’t force a thing. It’s not even a mater of giving up… it’s just not there. It’s like a wall comes down and I can’t get an idea to save my life. I could copy some random thing I’ve seen and do something totally un-original (oh say… like this!) hahaha. But I know when I’m done. It’s no use.
I’m primarily a percolator. I roll ideas around and really tend to mull them over and explore them… or they spill-out and everything clicks. Either way, it’s always on their own time.
Now, it’s not the it is sooo bad, it’s more that it simply doesn’t feel like me. Has that ever happened to you? You do something and think, how did that even come out of me? Like you were sleep-decorating!
One problem could be that this didn’t have the layers I’m used too… and those chairs I mentioned earlier? They desperately need to be recovered and the current fabric fought everything.
I thought about starting over and trying to salvage it. I did.
The sky was getting dark and threatening rain though, and I knew my widow for photos was closing.
So I ordered pizza and called it a night!
All the while knowing this little battle wasn’t over. I’m no quitter.
I owe you & myself one kick-butt table design and I’m going to practice hard and bring it soon!!
I bet you didn’t know this little blonde had such important goals did you?
Do you have a decorating arch nemesis? I think we all know what mine is. And since I told you mine, you should tell me your’s! What do you struggle with decorating wise???
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You can view ALL the other fab fall creations by clicking the links below. Have fun!!
Monday
Postcards from the Ridge | All Things Heart and Home
Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer | Domestically Speaking
Prodigal Pieces | Housepitality Designs
Mad In Crafts | My Creative Days
Tuesday
Refresh Restyle | 2 Bees in a Pod
Fox Hollow Cottage | Artsy Chicks Rule
Our Southern Home | Restoration Redoux
Savvy Southern Style | Atta Girl Says
Wednesday
H2OBungalow | Cottage at the Crossroads
Today’s Creative Life | Dukes and Duchesses
Hunt & Host | The Interior Frugalista
Sweet Pea | Petticoat Junktion
Thursday
Art is Beauty | AKA Design | At the Picket Fence
Town and Country Living | Cupcakes and Crinoline
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia | So Much Better With Age
kathy@petticoatjunktion says
Shannon you tell a good story! I love the story and your style. We could be sisters. Of course, you would be the much younger, more talented sister!
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
Hahahahahahaha!!!!
Oh my, that got me.
Okay fine.
Can you be the older, richer sister?
I’d like that! 😉
Barb Hughes says
The table is lovely (but where will you set the dishes?). I don’t even try on some days… good job! Your display reminded me of some of my fall-ish clutter here and there… guess today would be a good time to gather them in one place and try it out! 🙂
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
Yeah well, again… the table is too small. If it’s decorated, there is no room for dishes. haha
Always a fine line between decorated, and livable 😉
Jennifer @ Town and Country Living says
Shannon, your tablescape is beautiful! I love the velvet pumpkins. I always love seeing your home!
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
And your OWLS are darling. So, so cute!!
Chyrle Parnell says
I think your tablescape is perfect for fall. No need to stress yourself out. It looks GREAT!
You asked what do we struggle with decorating wise? I would have to say for me it is simply DECORATING! hahaha My family & friends like my style, but I just do not have the creative sense or style that you and so many others have. I would love to go to a flea market/yard sale or shop for “junk treasures” and know right off the bat I could use a certain item or it was a good find. I see all these things and think to myself “ewww, I love that. but what would I do with it? Where or how would I use it?” Then I have absolutely no idea and end up going home empty handed. 🙁
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
I wrote a lengthy reply but I’m not seeing it here? 🙁
In short, lol… I said to start small, buy what you like. If you are nervous, don’t spend a lot, but pick up the thing that attracts you, it did for a reason. Only you need to like it!! Believe in what you like 🙂 If it makes you happy that is all that counts.
Heidi says
Your tablescape is just as pretty as the others, if not prettier!
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
Oh now stop…. haha.
But thanks!! 😉
xo Shannon
Donna Marie says
The tablescape looks good and I love the mum in the sack.
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
Thank you 🙂