To encourage you to bring classic design and colour to your table this spring/summer, interiors expert and Spode brand ambassador, Jack Kinsey, has joined us once again to create the most beautiful tablescape.
In true Jack style, he has bought the floral prints of William Morris to life, taking inspiration from our Morris & Co. tableware and linens collection to create giant paper flower pendants and poppies to decorate his dining space.
Read on for the inspiration and a guide to creating the giant flowers yourself...
Laying a Morris & Co. spring table
Florals for spring? Always! Drench your table in the swirling leaves and dancing blooms of Morris & Co. with our nature-inspired collection featuring the heritage prints of William Morris in soft pink, green and yellow shades. Made for layering, this mix and match collection offers a fresh take on maximalism that’s hard to resist.
To begin, take inspiration from Jack and lay the foundations of your tablescape with the delicate trailing leaves of the Standen tablecloth, which pairs perfectly with the Strawberry Thief runner to draw the eye to the centre of your table. Next, for each setting, start with a pattern-filled Morris & Co. placemat, then add a dinner plate, top with a Strawberry Thief napkin, and layer on a side plate and bowl – interchanging the patterns where you can from one setting to the next to make each one unique. Finish each place setting with a teacup & saucer, cake fork and teaspoon.
Fill the centre of your table with the all-important serveware – three-tier cake stands for your savoury and sweet treats, a Honeysuckle Teapot brewed with your favourite loose leaf and a sugar pot and cream jug for the added extras.
If, like Jack, you want to bring your Morris & Co. tablescape to life with bold giant paper flower pendants and poppies, here’s how:
DIY Giant Flowers
What you’ll need:
Card
Pencil
Crepe paper
Hot glue gun
Plumbers pipe, painted green
Watercolour paints (optional)
Polystyrene ball
String
Scissors
Method:
Step 1: With the card, cut out a stencil in the shape of a giant petal.
Step 2: Using the stencil, cut out multiple petals from the crepe paper, creasing each one slightly to give a realistic look. If you wish, paint the tips of the petals with coloured watercolour paints.
Step 3: To create the seed pod for the centre of the flower, cover a polystyrene ball with crepe paper and wrap it in string, gluing it to keep it together. Fold another sheet of crepe paper into a thin rectangle, cut out short strips from the short side and dip the strips in coloured paint. Add some glue around the ball and wrap the crepe paper around it.
Step 4: Glue the edges of each petal to the edge of the ball, layering them until it forms a full flower.
Step 5: Finish the giant flower by gluing the plumber's pipe to the underside of the ball to create the ‘stem’. Repeat the steps for as many giant flowers as you need.
Top tips:
Jack made about 15 petals per flower with the size of his petal stencil
Paint the petals in different colours to create a vibrant setting
Once all your giant paper flowers are created, arrange them around your Morris & Co. tablescape, giving your guests the illusion of sitting within a William Morris flower meadow.
If you try this tablescape at home or follow Jack’s giant paper flower DIY, we would love to see. Tag us in your images on Social.
Create the look:
