Tablecloths that aren't granny like?
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Anonymous
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I'm hoping some people with a great eye for decorating can help me out. I have a really great dining room that's a mix of Hollywood Regency and traditional. I love absolutely everything about it and how stylish it is, but I can't get the tablecloth to look right. I'm not looking to make it too formal.
We have an antique Baker dining room table, so when we have dinner parties it needs pads and a table cloth. I just hate every table cloth I buy and try out. They all just look so dated. In magazines and design articles they put the dishes right on the table without a table cloth, but I can't do that. Any ideas? The room is dark gray with emerald green chairs and cobalt accents. What am I doing wrong? |
Anonymous
| I recommend the classic restaurant tablecloth. It won't detract from your decor since it just serves as a backdrop. You can get colors other than white. |
Anonymous
So floor length or half? What color do you think? Black? |
Anonymous
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What exactly are you seeing as dated? The color, pattern (or lack of pattern), the length?
I use lots of tablecloths, mostly linen ones from Russia, some plain cotton ones or antique/vintage ones with hand embroidery. We also use cloth placemats, which I think are more on trend right now, especially with a table runner. Would that work for you? |
Anonymous
| Check out tablecloths at Williams Sonoma. |
Anonymous
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Simple white linen hemstitch from WS.
John Robshaw or Les Indiennes - chic Indian block prints. Anthropologie. |
Anonymous
| +1 for Anthropologie. I haven't checked, but Serena & Lily might have good ones, too. |
Anonymous
| A black tablecloth is never a good idea. It shows every stain and bit of crumbs that fall. Also hard to launder well. |
Anonymous
| What do your dishes look like. Post a pic -- that will help. Do your chairs have any fabric at all? Post that as well. |
Anonymous
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Also, what is your budget and your tolerance for dry cleaning. Linen table cloths are great and timeless, but they pretty much need to be laundered professionally.
I usually go with a nondescript table cloth -- because your dishes and flower arrangements will be the focus of the table. I have purchased a few poly/cotton blends that look pretty good and are really easy to wash. I use those for my informal dinner parties. I save the linens for really big events. You have to be VERY selective in choosing a poly/cotton blend so that they don't look cheap. |
Anonymous
| Try placemats instead - round is nice |
Anonymous
| Yes placemats along with a runner, cloth napkins and a nice centerpiece would be best. If tablecloth is a must do crisp white |
Anonymous
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OP here. Just came back- all great suggestions! Thank you!
I currently have a white linen hemstitch tablecloth. I wash it monthly (we have monthly dinner parties) and don't mind ironing it. Do you think it should be floor length. Currently mine drapes around 8". I've thought about getting a tablecloth made for me that would fall to the floor. Anthropologies are a little too rustic for my table. It's also a very big table when I put the leaves in!! I worry about scratching my table with just place mats. I love the table, but it's high maintenance. I really hadn't thought of layering placemats over the table cloth though. I was thinking chargers, but placemats are a neat idea. Seat cushions of the chairs are https://www.etsy.com/listing/223183799/fabulous-windsor-smith-xu-garden-java The end chairs are emerald green wingback chairs. There is sort of an Asian theme. |
Anonymous
| Second Williams Sonoma. Try a runner on top of the tablecloth. Also no reason you can't use placemats - it's a table. We use our expensive Baker wood table every day with placemats. If it gets a few scratches that's okay. |
Anonymous
Thanks! I think I'll go there this weekend. I like the idea of a tablecloth with a runner a lot. |