Along with creating the menu, styling the table is definitely one of my favorite parts of planning a supper. I love being able to transform my table into a space that reflects the seasons and the ingredients that I’m going to use. In this section, I share with you the best ways to create a beautifully set table that will make any supper even more special, and the great thing is that it can be done in advance, leaving you more time to enjoy cooking.
HANDWRITTEN MENUS
A handwritten menu perched in the middle of your table sets such a lovely personal tone. This can be done really simply by using nice postcards or 5 x 8-inch blank notecards. I always write them in pencil (easy to rub out mistakes) and draw little illustrations of vegetables or festive images along the side. The following day, I clip the menu on my menu string in my kitchen, as I love to stop and read back through them.
DISHES, CUTLERY, AND GLASSWARE
Most of my dishes, cutlery, and glassware come from secondhand stores and markets. This is the best place to pick up special pieces for your table without it costing a fortune. Don’t worry about not getting matching sets - I love to mix and match, because it brings more personality to the table. Also keep an eye out for flower vases, jugs, and small bowls that can be used for sea salt, sauces, and butter. I recently picked up a whole set of Irish china for €25 in a thrift store in Ireland, and these mixed store-bought plates look so pretty even though they don’t match. It’s well worth taking an afternoon to forage through a secondhand store to find treasures for your table.
LINEN
Texture is important to create a beautiful table, and good linen will soften and warm hard textures such as wood or glass. It is worth investing in a good tablecloth and napkins that will last you through the years. I love natural linen, as the more you use and wash it, the better it becomes. I have four different sets of linen - one for each of the four seasons. Soft blush pink for summer, mustard for fall, teal green for winter, and soft sage green for spring. The linen for me is the canvas to the table, and I build upon that, introducing colors through flowers and dishes that will reflect the season and work with the linen. Linen napkins bring a softness to the table that you won’t get from using paper. As well as linen, I have a drawer where I keep all different colors and textures of ribbon - these are to tie napkins with sprigs of seasonal flowers or herbs.
FLOWERS
Like my food, I always use seasonal flowers. Seeing the seasons visually throughout my home makes me so happy, and on my table it creates a seasonal moment. The flowers are fresher, more pert, and usually cheaper when you buy in season. If you live in the country or you visit the country a lot, go and pick wild flowers if available. I do this most weekends. I like to use one to three types of flowers on a table, as any more in the mix makes it too busy. A lot of the time I just use one variety, even if it’s just a simple bluebell in spring, because it makes a beautiful impact.
