Tabletop Challenge...Part One

photo- weddingwire

Do you love before and afters? I do! I also love high end home decor re-created on a realistic budget for everyday folks. This month is Tabletop Challenge! I am going to re-create designer table scapes in several different decor themes. My challenge is to keep my "re-creations" budget friendly, but still have that WOW factor. Part One of the Tabletop Challenge I will introduce the first four Tabletop Challenges; Formal, Garden Party, Beach and Modern Table Scapes. The following week I will explain all of the DIY projects that will help make everything easy and affordable.

Week three will be Part Two of the Tabletop Challenge, four more challenges; Cottagecore, Farmhouse, French Country and a Surprise Tabletop. The fourth week, I will post the last four Tabletop Challenge DIY Part Two project how to's.

So stay tuned, every week will be a new adventure!

First Tabletop Challenge: Formal Eggplant & Mustard

inspo photo- secretwindowfloral.com

Ok, this is a little over the top, but oh my goodness...the colors, the texture, the flowers! This WOW table can be achieved on a lower scale and on a realistic budget. And I am going to accept the challenge for my first table scape! Note: A floral centerpiece this size created by a professional, would be well over $300.

Here is my downsized version!

This was a really fun table scape to start off the Tabletop Challenge! I re-created the basic color scheme with florals and succulents, but in a different way. I think it gives off the same vibe, "Formal". The base for this tabletop is the eggplant & mustard color combination. Finding a yellow tablecloth that wasn't too garish was my first goal, a yellow shade leaning on the gold side, more muted, rather than a neon. I settled on this damask poly tablecloth I think it drapes nicely and the price was good too. There are so many shades of purple, I chose blue/purple napkins and avoided the pink/purples.

Then I added layered white square plates, from my own cupboard. My plates are not the same color as the "inspo" photo, but the same sleek shape. I think they will do, they give a lighter look to the table scape. In hind sight, maybe I should have placed the napkins on top of the plates to bring in more of the purple tones. The purple goblets are fun, and add more eggplant shades to the table scape.

Michaels happened to be having their summer floral sale, 70% off, so I ran with it! Fresh flowers would have been way over my budget, so silk flowers it is. I studied the flower arrangement and tried to break it down into layers and found it a little more doable. I am not a floral designer, I envy those with the skills to create unique floral arrangements, but I enjoyed the process. You can too! I worked from the inside out, trimming and arranging. See step by step instructions on this arrangement in next week's DIY Blog. I added fresh, yellow alstroemerias from my grocery store to each side of the arrangement, then added faux succulents for filler, to mirror the original photo.

Finally, a party favor of a simple cupcake in a die cut cupcake paper, topped with a purple succulent. (party favor optional) I always feel there should be a party favor for a dinner party.

There you have it! It was intimidating at first, then I broke it down into steps.

Eggplant & Mustard Breakdown:

Table Cloth-$21.99 (AMZ)

Napkins-$10.99. (AMZ)

Floral & large succulents- $52.24 (Micheals)

Purple Goblets set/6- $28.00 (AMZ)

Square Plates- My cupboard- Target purchased years ago

Succulents in buckets- 4/$5.00 each Randi K. Collection

silverware - my cupboard, a Target purchase years ago

Total: $133.22

*Many times pre-made cloth napkin sets are less expensive than sewing napkins yourself.

Do your research first.

Second Tabletop Challenge: Garden Party

Yummy peaches and pinks!

This garden party says...

let's stay and catch up!

Note: This gorgeous Garden Party Table according to resources posted,

has a $800+ value including fresh

flowers & garland

inspo photo- camillestyles here

.

Giggle Juice

Cocktail

🥂🌺🌸🌷Recipe next week's DIY Blog

It is a full blown garden party

when the bubbly comes out!

photo-kitchenfunwithmy3sons

Garden Tabletop Re-creation

I found this table setting so inviting! Maybe I have read too many Jane Austin novels, but garden parties and dining in garden retreats, has been a part of daily life and special occasions for centuries. Again, Michaels summer sale had silk flowers 70% off! Game changer! The silk blossoms are so realistic now! Fresh peonies and roses would have been way out of my budget, so I am loving this. Looking at the re-creation, it is simply beautiful! The fabric runner is made of mesh sold by the roll in the wedding isle at Michaels, I used just a portion of it, cut to fit my 6ft table and tasseled the ends. Check out next week's DIY Blog and learn how to make this table runner and luscious centerpiece.

Notice my stoneware is not Anthropologie or Williams-Sonoma, you don't have to go high end to accomplish a sophisticated look. I found these garden green plates at Lowes! My other choice were clear green, glass plates to add that pop of green for the place setting, but they were actually more expensive and these plates from Lowes are a much better match. They remind of Majolica Pottery. The napkins are from my own cupboard, classic white cotton. The peach champagne coupes are actually acrylic, Acrylic glassware is great for outdoor settings. I love how they add that pop of elegance.

Finally I added Rose shaped candies to the top of the napkins, to add a pop of pink as shown in the "inspo" photo. The rose shaped candies are Turkish gummy like treats, they taste like honey, and compliment the pink bubbly!🌺🥂

Garden Tabletop Breakdown:

DIY White Table runner- $3.00 (Michaels)

Champagne Coupe Glasses Set/8- $28.00 (AMZ)

Floral- $28.77 (Michaels)

Eucalyptus Runner-$16.99 (Michaels)

Green Garden Plates- set/6 $25.00 (Lowes)

Burlap Table Cloth- My cupboard

Votives- my cupboard

Total: $101.76

Party Favor Candy Rose Turkish Delights- $15.00 (AMZ) *optional

*you can use chargers for the plate color instead, or reverse your colors, white plates with garden green napkins, may save on your budget. Also there are some beautiful paper napkins available on the market today, perfect for garden tea time!

Third Tabletop Challenge: Beach

photo- RobynVanDykePhotography

Thalassophile here! (A beach lover!)

I love the aqua and pops of red color combination for this Beach themed table!

Of course my re-creation will be on a much smaller scale, but the goal is to have the same sophisticated Beachy feel!

The inspo photo is of a lovely Wedding created by an event plannner thepropersetting.com

sourcing expenditures was not available.