There's a particular kind of table that I gravitate to, it feels effortlessly put together. Not because everything matches, far from it, but because nothing is trying too hard. A mix of textures, materials and eras, things you love - something that was handed down, a new discovery that excites you. It's the opposite of a matching set, and it's much more interesting.
Here's how we think about it.
Start with something handmade
Handmade ceramics are the anchor. Their slight irregularities (a rim that isn't quite round, a glaze that pools differently on each piece) give a table warmth and character. Stack, mix and match - a stoneware dinner plate with a side plate and a small scallop-edged dish on top, and you already have something worth looking at before the food arrives.
The key is to keep the palette quiet. Natural, sandy, speckled tones work with almost everything.
Add something that catches the light
This is where glass and metal earn their place. A hammered goblet glass, whether in a soft green tint or clear, picks up the light in a way that feels almost alive. Pair it with a polished stainless steel beaker or jug and you have a combination that feels both modern and timeless. The reflective surfaces play off the matte ceramics beautifully.
Don't be afraid of stainless steel on a table, we're completely obsessed with it's beauty, but also it's practicality. A well-made steel jug has the same confidence as a piece of silverware. It just happens to be indestructible and dishwasher safe.
Bring in a textile with character
A napkin does more work than people give it credit for. A woven plaid or checked linen napkin, especially one with a bit of colour, adds pattern without noise. Fold it loosely under the cutlery rather than origami-ing it into a shape, and it looks relaxed and intentional at the same time.
The texture of a woven cloth also softens a table that might otherwise feel too hard-edged with all that glass and steel.
Let function be part of the styling
A stainless steel thali tray in the centre of the table isn't just practical. It's a invitation to get stuck in. Fill the compartments with olives, a wedge of cheese, some bread, a handful of nuts and dip. It does the job of a sharing board but looks completely different from anything else on the table, and that contrast is exactly the point.
Always add a little nature
A vase, or in this case a stainless steel jug filled with beautiful cuttings from a friend's garden is the living tie that pulls everything together. Colour, scent, a play with height and texture, this element brings another dimension to the table and can easily be achieved with foraged foliage.
The rule (if there is one)
Vary the material, but keep the mood consistent. Handmade, personal, a little worn-in. Nothing too precious, nothing too perfect. The table should look like it was laid by someone who loves beautiful things but isn't precious about them.
That's the table worth sitting at.
Shop the pieces featured: Hammered Goblet Glass · Stainless Steel Jug · Stainless Steel Beakers · Plaid Cotton Napkins · Stainless Steel Thali Tray · Speckled Stoneware Plates · Fern Taylor Grain Dish