Interior designer Eileen Kathryn Boyd waved her chicness wand over her latest tablescape creation in honor of the annual Pink Aid Charity event. The mission of this respected organization is to help underserved breast cancer patients survive treatment with support and dignity, to provide screening and financial assistance to those in need, and to empower breast cancer survivors to heal by helping and inspiring others. This year’s Pink-A-Cabana theme evoked tropical, open-air motifs from each table, and Eileen dialed the nature vibes WAY UP with a little help from one of our luxurious linens, Beachy Head. Here, Eileen takes us through her tablescape creative process from concept to creation.
The idea started with the concept of an En Plein Air dining experience. Less formal, no rules and an opportunity to take more risks while having a little fun! I still wanted the tablescape to be visually inspiring, a feast for the eyes, so guests get excited about being treated to something special. In my studio I had the most beautiful, highly textured S.Harris linen memo floating around. It’s universally fabulous—the weight, the color and the feel in your hand—you can dress it up or down like your favorite pair of classic jeans. It's the type of fabric that looks amazing paired with anything you dream up. So I designed a gorgeous paneled table skirt using this textured linen fabric to set the tone of my table. Then I trimmed it in a crisp, white grosgrain for added interest. That’s where it all started—It’s the pairing of these textures and tones that make it pop and look so great!
Designing a tablescape is not unlike designing an interior. The process almost always starts with an inspirational color or pattern that my team and I build with complementary components—hard and soft, textured and smooth, pops of color and subdued neutrals, and grounded with a touch of nature to bring in the organic element.
Texture is an important consideration and can really stand out with all the other layering that happens on a tablescape. With this project I wanted to design a table skirt that would appeal to any aesthetic. Anyone could imagine and create a tabletop scheme that would pair beautifully with this fabric. The soft luster of a plate, the polished sheen of metal flatware makes the texture of this nubby linen fabric look amazing. To accompany the adjacent textures, I designed a cerused wood topper to sit over the table skirt, the character of the wood grain added another organic ingredient to the surface that makes the laser cut placemats and floral print of the salad plates look extra tempting.
S. Harris has unique and extraordinary color offerings throughout their fabric collections. Even their neutrals have wonderful hues in a cascade of shades. I love the quality, the hand of their fabrics and the prints are just special. They step out with their use of color and pattern and truly make a statement.
