Wednesday morning eye candy. We missed Elle Decor's Dining by Design event earlier this month, so we were pleased to see the Chron cover it in today's H&G section. In "Green Inspirations for Holiday Table Decor," writer Susan Fornoff focuses on the eco-friendly ideas the designers came up with.
The space pictured above (in the large photo) features reclaimed and recycled redwood stumps/seats, while the table base consists of a pair of eucalyptus stumps. Sheets of redwood serve as partitions and the "carpet" is actually a thick layer of sod.

White pebbles act as an organic table covering.

At first glance, this looks like a traditional table, but notice that the utensils are all lined up on the right of the plates a perfect update for those of us who can never remember which side the forks should be on.

The ultimate in texture: A flokati tablecloth.
For more details on the above tables and to view additional photos check out the Chronicle article.
Images: Eric Luse for the SF Chronicle
Flokati tablecloth? Gross. And I can't stop imagining glasses of red wine toppling over on the bumpy base of white pebbles. And while I love the look of the redwood stump seats, but for a holiday dinner party, I'd prefer something a little more comfy for my guests. These are visually interesting but rather impractical ideas. Awesome chandelier in the first pic, though!
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what's so GROSS about a flokati table cloth?
If, it feels good lying on one or underfoot why not...?
The guests who dined on it were very much amused by it and kept playing with it all thru dinner; one even enquired about purchasing one, so I've heard....
Sadly, in the picture you can't see the hand shaped chairs or the funky chandelier... I guess you had to be there to appreciate the composition.
As for any of it being practical, well, that's clearly NOT the point. It's a FANTASY fundraiser for the well-heeled that can afford to have their tablecloths vacuumed and fluffed, their pebbles buffed til they shine like pearls, before the guests arrive for dinner.
Alas, my heels aren't well as I'm but a working stiff so, I wouldn't have most of what I saw in my own home since I lack the army of servants required to maintain most of it in pristine condition... off to Target I go for practical place settings...
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