Robin Flies South...

A blog about decorating and tablescaping with an emphasis on creativity and smart shopping over cash!

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Destined for the Tropics

This week Cuisine Kathleen's Let's Dish theme is "Destination".  Turns out, I just got back from a destination last week so now I have an excuse to share some pictures with you before I get to my tablescape. 

This trip was one of those bucket list items for avid golfers.  My husband and two of his good friends from high school got the chance to take on the links at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, Florida.  It's an easy three and half hour drive from our home just south of Jacksonville.  We stayed at the Marriot resort there and lived the good life for a few days.  While the men golfed, the wives did some shopping and relaxed at the beach and the pool (s). 


This is the atrium style lobby at the hotel.


This is right outside of the lobby.  It's just beautiful at night with colored lights.


There is lots of seating on the huge deck outside of the lobby including this firepit arrangement.


The beach club is just a short ride on the hotel shuttle and had a beautiful pool too.


I have to admit this was my favorite view of the whole trip!  Twin lobster tails and it was half price wine night at Pusser's Restaurant.  Perfect weather and a great place to spend time with good friends.

Ok, now on to the tablescape...Destination-The Tropics (otherwise known as my Dining Room)


When the time comes to put this house up for sale, I think this is the way I will "stage" my dining room table.  This fits the style of this house and most of  it was purchased before I ever thought about tablescaping. 


It started with this fabric I found at Old Time Pottery.  I finished the edges for a square tabletopper but here I folded it under to make a runner. 


These dishes are from Beall's Outlet, layered over a rattan charger.


I layered two napkins here.  The napkin ring is from Kohl's.


I found these cute placecards on clearance at JC Penney's.  It's just a small chalkboard attached to a clothespin.  These would be easy to make but I only paid $3 for a set of eight.


The glasses are from Pier One. 


The centerpiece consists of 2 sets of candleholders that have that tropical flavor.  The bamboo pair are from Marshall's.


My neighbor saw these pineapple candleholders in a thrift store and told me about them.  I went to see them the next Saturday and the whole store was half off.  Tip: let your friends and family know what tablescaping items you are hunting for so they can be on the look out too! 


These rattan vases are from Ross and I filled them with inexpensive ferns and palm leaves from Michael's and Dollar Tree.  I found the bamboo sticks at Ross but they were too tall.  My husband cut them down and now I have twice as many!


I added the taller green plant so there would be a height variation from the candles.



These salt and pepper shakers are from that same thrift store.  Someone had donated a whole collection of S & P shakers and I picked out several of them.


Once again, I have tried to vary my textures as well as my colors.


This theme is tailor made for my dining room furniture and accessories.




This was shot after dinner on our last night (post lobster consumption!).


Even if you can't get away, you can always fantasize with a tropical tablescape like I've shown you here! 

Don't forget to visit my sister's blog Creating Wonderful Spaces!

I will be dining under the palm trees at the following parties...


Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants
Open House Party at No Mininalist Here
Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters


























13 comments:

Debbie said...

Double score on this one! Not only do I love the destination (lobster tails most definitely included)and I think the table it inspired is pretty perfect too.

I'm going to be on the lookout for those plates at my Bealls. I can think of a dozen festive uses for them. I also love those little place cards. I would have snatched them up in a minute at that price. In lieu of that, I do agree that you can make them.

I think a table "scaped" like that would be beautiful attraction in a staged home. Great idea!

Debbie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
A Cottage in the Clouds said...

I really like this. I like ALL the elements you used. Very British Colonial. Looks great with your decor.

Kathe said...

I agree! This would be the perfect staged table if you were selling! I love the plates and your creative napkin rings. And I really love the layering of the placemats!

Alycia Nichols said...

Hi, Robin! Great tip! I try to let my friends & family know what I'm looking for, but they don't "get it" so it's a useless endeavor! That's OK, though. I think I hit the stores with enough regularity to cover it! :-) LOVE those candlesticks from Marshall's!!! I NEED those! I'm going to be out and about tomorrow, so I'll pop into a couple of the local Marshall's stores to see if they happen to have them. They would go so great with my dark bamboo flatware! One of my husband's nurses actually grows bamboo in his back yard! Can you believe that?!??!!! I've never seen bamboo in Kansas City!!! There's LOTS of it, and it's VERY tall. I'm guessing it's about 8-10 feet in height. I'm going to ask him if I can have some of it! Love the textures used with your placemats and chargers. Very cool! As for your vacay to Ponte Vedra, I am jealous as jealous can be! That's livin'!!! That lobster looks so good!!!!!!!! You say the group picture was taken right after you ate, so maybe you guys are all just holding each other up! :-) Thanks for sharing such cool photos!!!!

Chubby Chieque said...

HI Rob,
This is what I need now... Sweden is raining the whole Spring and summer. We are on the peak of summer but no sun or maybe just a cpl of hours a day.

I love the way you put your treasures together. My fave is the S&P shakers and of course, the pineapple candleholders. One of a kind.

TY a mill for sharing your ideas and surely am bringing back home.

Happy TS & GB
/CC from Stockholm

xinex said...

Oh how fun! I love having get togethers with friends, it is always a blast. And I love your tropical tablescape. It reminds me so much of the Philippines and Hawaii....Christine

Kathleen said...

You know I love those bargains! Those name tags are so cute! Love the table, very tropical indeed. GW find is great! You followed the theme beautifully.
Looks like you had a great time, and the lobster tails look amazing.
Thanks for taking the Destination Challenge at Let's Dish!

Sarah said...

I soooooo enjoyed your little get away to the tropics. This table whisk me right off to ocean breezes and sand between my toes. Your plates and chargers are very attractive with the runner and the plants. Great job!

FABBY'S LIVING said...

What a fabulous little get away with such gorgeous table and beautiful dishes, just perfect!! I love bargains like yours, you were lucky! Loving this tropical post. I'm late visitng, had no internet for 3 days almost. Enjoy your weekend.
FABBY

Cathy said...

Great job on the table! Don't you just love the husbands golf outing there is always great shopping around. Big Jim would die to get to play there.

Cathy <;)

Tammy at Tammy Loves Dishes said...

Love your tropics themed table. The plates really help to set the scene and I love those amber goblets! Your centerpiece is great. You gave some great tips, too. I have also had success with treasures found by friends while they are thrifting. Liked your tip about cutting down the bamboo, too.

Tricia said...

Wow, Robin, you really do have a lot of wonderful goodies to set a tropical table! I agree -- staging your table this way when you sell your house is perfect! I've been to Sawgrass once -- for a conference, so didn't see much of the area, alas. Thanks for visiting my table -- I'm late returning the favor, as I was out of town.