It’s a brand new year at Sweet Pond Cottage. Each month has brought about change both inside and out. At times, it’s hard to believe all that’s been accomplished in a year, taking a blank canvas and creating a home, layer by meaningful layer. Sweet Pond Cottage has become more than just a destination, it’s a lifestyle.
I have a lot of big dreams for 2018, in addition to the design transformation, I’ll be sharing my passion for cooking, gardening and entertaining. Life can be so hectic, and in our current world climate, we all need a place to escape, a refuge. I hope that you will stop by often or follow us on Instagram for a little daily inspiration, and leave here with a warm, rosy sunset feeling.
I shared this before, but it really speaks to the heart of Sweet Pond Cottage.
“If I can put one touch of a rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God.” -Henry David Thoreau
Here’s to more rosy sunsets in 2018!
I’m kicking off the year with a fresh new series for Sweet Pond Cottage. It’s called “The Artful Table,” I’ll design a tablescape inspired by the corresponding month and share some entertaining tips that will help you create a memorable experience for your family and friends. I believe a successful evening is determined by how long everyone lingers at the table, encouraging conversation and creating memories.
For January, I wanted to use a wintery color palette, inspired by the snowy landscape at the Cottage a few weeks ago, grays, warm caramels, creams and whites set against burnished golds.
Establishing a color palette for your table allows you to create a cohesive feeling, the perfect starting point for the rest of the design.
Photo/ Vicki Gladle Bolick
Creamy whites were the only color used in the florals (inspired by winter), unfortunately, some of the flowers were a little delicate, and never quite made it to the Cottage. So I took the arrangement apart and begin again. I went for a deconstructed look and added some pheasant feathers and curly willow branches. The greenery used was eucalyptus, lemon leaf, ferns and mountain laurels, and you can always add greenery from the yard as additional filler. For informal settings, I think deconstructed always looks best.
Photo/ Vicki Gladle Bolick
I like to use unconventional items as tablecloths, for this wintery tablescape I used a fringed throw. It adds just the right amount of texture and a layer of visual warmth. You can even use fur throws, I used a fur throw once for an editorial piece that appeared in the Local Palate, perfect for a winter-inspired tablescape. And it’s an item most people have in their homes during the colder months.
Photo/ Vicki Gladle Bolick
Build in layers. Once you’ve established a color palette play around with dishes and tableware. I rarely use matched items, I think it creates a much more interesting table setting when you mix different pieces. I used plain white dinner plates and festive salad plates with a confetti pattern. Even the glassware is from different collections. Like our homes, our tablescapes should be an expression of what we collect, and how we live.
Photo/ Vicki Gladle Bolick
Adding organic touches such as pinecones or greenery to the tabletop gives the tablescape color and texture. January is the perfect month to repurpose bits of Christmas! 
Photo/ Vicki Gladle Bolick
Even if you buy an arrangement from a florist, use your own containers, and get creative. I used a vintage soup tureen as a vessel for the flowers, but really with a little imagination there are endless options, most you may already have in your home. Creating an unexpected yet personal touch.
Photo/ Vicki Gladle Bolick
I collect vintage linens from all over the world. The linen napkins pictured came from a trip to Florence, Italy and they have survived many dinners, any stains or signs of use a reminder of an evening well-spent. I always add something old to something new, creating a contrast between textures and styles.
Photo/ Vicki Gladle Bolick
My place cards were actually photos taken with an Instamatic camera of my guests when we were enjoying pre-dinner cocktails at the Cottage. I thought it would be a unique way to memorialize the day, and they could take the photo home with them as a keepsake. I had our Caretaker make some woodcuts for me, and I used them as place-card holders. It’s really the details that make the tablescape special, and I hope that you are inspired to create your own wintery tablescape with a little Sweet Pond Cottage style!
And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram here for daily inspiration!
Thanks for stopping by!
