A new concept store has opened its doors to Sydney art lovers, interior design enthusiasts and home entertaining aficionados alike, as the trend for lushly laden tables continues.
Carolyn Dorrian in her new Double Bay store
More than just a shop for stunning handmade tablewares, the Mrs Tablescape store in Sydney’s eastern suburbs is an interactive gallery of objets d’art: whimsical, practical, and daring. The retail space will further function as an arts hub with themed exhibitions, exclusive product releases and workshops in tablescaping, ceramics, linen stitching and more.
Never one to shy away from the limelight, Mrs Tablescape’s unapologetically maximalist approach equals a no-holds-barred approach when it comes to all things tablescaping. Founder Carolyn Dorrian lovingly curates every item from far flung corners of the globe. Not only is there an in-house ceramicist to hand make the wares, there’s also an in-house painter on the books.
“My philosophy is based on bringing beauty and joy into daily life,” says Carolyn, a lawyer of 11 years who hasn’t looked back since turning tablescaping into her passion (and second career) post-COVID. And what was an online-only store now has its own shopfront in Double Bay.
“I believe art has the most impact when it’s enjoyed in tangible ways – and there’s no better way to incorporate it than through the practice of tablescaping. You make memories around the table with your loved ones. Every moment is savoured with all your senses – touch, smell, sight, taste. The table is really the heart of the home and when we elevate it, we celebrate life itself.”
Designed and built by Mrs Tablescape herself with the help of her family, the concept store pays homage to Carolyn’s love of organic shapes and high art inspired by Parisian interior designer Pierre Yovanovitch.
Beginning with leading Dada and Surrealist artist John Cocteau, Mrs Tablescape will unveil a different artist and theme every month in store and release a limited set of hand painted tablewares to match the artist. On top of exhibiting general lifestyle art, Mrs Tablescape will be showcasing deconstructed fashion art plates dedicated to the latest and greatest fashion icons.
“We have an amazing lineup of artwork and artists in the wings,” says Carolyn. “Our monthly art exhibition will also feature many local up and coming artists. I’m very excited about the Beauty and the Beast themed exhibition that we have in the works! We want visitors to come in and experience the full spectrum of what we have to offer whether it’s enjoying some art or learning something new at a workshop. My hope is that Mrs Tablescape will become an active part of the arts and culture community for many years to come.”
7 tablescaping trends predicted to pop up everywhere in 2022
A new year requires a total reset and the dining table is the perfect place to start your design overhaul. But why make over your table instead of your bedroom, one might ask?
“With a table you have many objects and colours to be creative with and working with a lot of options adds to the joyous atmosphere when spending time with friends, family or guests. The table embodies these cherished moments and is a focal point of the home,” says Mrs Tablescape founder Carolyn Dorrian.
“The table used to be underappreciated but COVID has made us realise what a workhorse it is. It’s where kids do homework, it doubles as an office desk, it’s a place to relax over a glass of wine, and it’s also a huge fashion statement for dinner parties big and small. No wonder the tablescaping phenomenon has well and truly taken off!”
Here are Carolyn’s tablescaping predictions for 2022 and beyond:
Revival of the placemat and tablecloth
They look nothing like the much-maligned vinyl or plastic fruit bowl emblazoned sheets that get hidden under your dinner plate – modern placemats are now much trendier and still very useful for protecting your table from spills and scratches. You can eat on them and put them away instead of changing the whole tablecloth.
Practical considerations aside, placemats and tablecloths add warmth and texture to a table, can be mixed and matched to suit your needs and come in all sorts of fun shapes and colours. Once you start using them again, you’ll wonder why you ever stopped!
People want a sense of nostalgia on their tables
Formal entertaining may have waned but more and more sets of china are showing up on social media’s most stylish tablescapes – and for good reason. 2022 will see a continuation of this nostalgic trend as memories of loved ones are evoked through use of Granny’s best crockery. This wistful return to the past is super comforting and best of all, vintage and vintage-style tablewares are affordable, eco-friendly, and if looked after well, will last for ages. They don’t make them like they used to!
Be yourself to feel truly at home
Science has established that clear links exist between the environment you inhabit and your mental health. Feeling at home is all about finding the things that really speak to you and creating an environment that reflects that. It feels good to show off who you are! Taking time to put the finishing touches on a lavish spread is soothing for the soul, and results in a feast for the eyes too. So go ahead and cover the walls with photos, hang that piece of art you found on holiday. Collect as many throw cushions as you like, minimalism be damned.
When you give yourself permission to be who you are, you can start to enjoy the freedoms that come with self-expression, whether it’s through a good wardrobe or a well-dressed table. After all, la dolce vitais about having the confidence to enjoy all the good things in life with total abandon. Curating every aspect of your home to make it comfortable and beautiful for you is a must to live well.
People want to transform their tables into a destination
At the height of COVID when much of the world was housebound, imaginations within the four walls of many homes soared to exotic locales, keen to escape the monotony and boredom of everyday life. In 2022, as we all become used to the new normal of a post-pandemic world, the trend of using dining tables and food as a fun form of escapism remains.
As travel disruptions throw holiday plans up in the air, it’s still highly desirable to transform dining tables into entire destinations. Think Amalfi in the summer with its crystal blue waters and lemon scented air brought to life via rustic painted crockery and richly-dyed linens. Or whisk yourself off to Marrakech with boldly printed napkins, tall candles and delicate cups of mint tea. The sky’s the limit when it comes to where you want to be taken to next.
Maximalism is back – minimalism is out
2022 is the year to turf out the minimalism trend. Visually rich maximalist homes and tables are spaces to showcase beloved heirloom treasures and lay out aspects of your personality, culture and family history. You don’t have to confine yourself to a bland palette of neutrals and natural finishes if that doesn’t suit you. A maximalist table will have a cohesive theme, but contain all the extras of a lushly laid out table – linens, plates, glasses, candles and more. It will have colour, height and texture.
70s patterns are making a comeback
The 70s gave us macramé, rattan, houseplants and a sometimes a hideous mishmash of clashing brown and orange prints. The playful eclecticism of the era meant the people of the time were unafraid to bring together elements from other eras that inspired them, even if it didn’t always work. A special emphasis on warm colours, soft geometric shapes, swirling patterns and curved edges defined the 70s and its these crucial aspects that are making a comeback in 2022.
That sense of nostalgia that drives the desire to reincorporate old fashioned staples like placemats and tablecloths and bring back retro patterns and colours is the same force behind the restoration of vintage and vintage-look pieces to family heirloom status. 2022 will be a year of mindful consumption, where mass manufactured products are rejected in favour of hand-made pieces that are one-of-a-kind.
A newfound appreciation for the emotional qualities behind every piece will spark joy as we find space for lovingly repurposed vintage pieces in our homes. Fine bone china, crystal and tablewares gilt with gold and silver grace our tables, similar to the tables our grandparents and their parents once sat down at. We’ve finally come full circle and embraced these unique treasures from the past.
–Mrs Tablescape is the home of all the layers of your table. Founder Carolyn Dorrian, a former lawyer, has always loved to create unique table settings for her family and friends. With the increased requirement to stay at home due to lockdowns, she found herself escaping to the vintage yet contemporary world of tablescaping and table setting. Follow her on Instagram.
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