[tweetmeme]Setting a modern Mediterranean tablescape.  Mediterranean cuisine and architecture have always been very popular and we wanted to step away from anything too traditional and present newbies with a table inspiration as fresh as a seaside breeze.

David Braddy and Jodi Murphy set a modern Mediterranean table anyone can recreate using an affordable mix of ceramic plates and beachy pieces from Bloomingdale’s Stanford. Start with a shimmery blue table runner layered with white placemats that look like the bubbling foam of a breaking wave. Choose plates with interesting textures or designs in bright sunny colors – here David and Jodi used a citrus orange plate as a charger with a deeper orange napkin folded in thirds. It’s draped casually off the charger and table’s edge. Add a square blue striped plate topped with a crisp white salad plate featuring a bold starfish graphic. A collection of glassware adds interest and small rectangular dishes allow the salt to seem like a fine sandy beach.

Have fun with a centerpiece filling a white container with orange, white and bluish flowers mixed with fresh lemons and seashells. Let the shells spill out casually across the entire table as though they’ve been washed ashore. Add lots of beach glass and votives for just the right amount of sparkle.

Don’t be afraid to make a statement. Feel free to mix and match china, pull in pieces of nature and tie everything together by choosing a consistent color scheme. In this seaside tablescape, blue and white are the base colors with a splash of orange for vibrancy. It’s fresh…fantastic…and one that will totally WOW your guests!

Resources:
David Braddy
Vine-agra, Inc – Custom Florals
www.vine-agra.com

Jodi Murphy
Gentry Magazine
www.gentrymagazine.com

Bloomingdale’s Stanford
1 Stanford Shopping Center
Palo Alto, CA 94304

You’ll find these in Tabletop:
Block Starfish Dessert Plates – $11.50 ea.
Bloomingdale’s Orange Plates – $15 ea.
Bloomingdale’s Blue Striped Plates – $12 ea.
Bloomingdale’s Fish Tumblers – $13.99 ea.
Speckled Goblet – $8 ea.
Martini Glass – $9.99 ea.
White Placemats – $8.50 ea.
Fontessa Mini White Trays (for salt) – $3.75 ea.
Cambridge Stainless – Service for Eight – $150
Napkins: Cost Plus (No longer available)
Shells: Cost Plus
Beach Glass: Target
Votives: IKEA