Tabletop

Take a look to see what won for Jersey, California, Texas, etc! We shopped every single state to find the best gifts.

You know who’s really good at shopping for things on Etsy? People who sell things on Etsy! After all, the countless craftspeople and artisans are the ones who make Etsy what it is. (In addition to all the other stuff they make, of course.) So we decided to ask a few of our favorite sellers for some of their best, most recent Etsy purchases. Because who knows the site better than they do? Here are a few of their favorite finds. “Linley of Matted Ink is one of my favorite makers.

Easter is one of those holidays that can send you down the literal rabbit hole on Pinterest — especially if you’re hosting the holiday at your house. Should you turn eggs into little bunnies to use as place card holders? How can you fold those napkins into bunny ears? Would it be impossible to make that cake that looks like a little bunny butt? As nice as they are, all of these Easter moments take time, craft skills, and money. If you’re short on any of that (we are!

The best kitchen stuff isn’t always the shiny new toy you just brought home from the store. Sometimes, it’s a tried-and-true piece that’s been with you a long, long time. The steady, good ol’ reliable thing that always gets the job done. The thing you’ve moved from apartment to apartment. The thing you’ve had forever. We polled Kitchn staffers to find what items have been in their kitchens since college.

Continuing the love-fest for all things British, we reached out to our Brit friends to see what kitchen brands we may be missing out on. Fortunately, thanks to the wonders of the world wide web and international shipping, most British and European brands are fairly accessible Stateside. But there are a few that are pretty rare over here. Here are the five brands that came up the most in our informal poll.

The party problem: You’re hosting Passover Seder and, as with any family affair, you’re worried about who’s going to sit where. You know your Uncle Irv is currently mad at Cousin Betty and you can’t run the risk of them ending up near each other. You want (no, need) to take the time to really think about the seating arrangements and assign them before anyone arrives.

It’s been no secret lately how much we love pegboards. We love them in a drawer to organize dishes; we really love them on a wall to hold, well, anything; and now, we love them on the table! Just look at this wedding table centerpiece from Fabulously Designed, a luxury flower and events company based in Las Vegas and Southern California. The idea is actually super simple (and affordable) to pull off: Have someone at your local hardware store cut a pegboard down to the length of your table.

The party problem: You’re throwing a Southern-themed brunch or dinner and aren’t quite sure how to set the table. The party trick: Use bandanas as napkins. We adore cloth napkins at the table, but we’re not blind to how much they can cost. It’s especially hard to justify when you want something fresh and colorful for a special occasion — it’s not exciting to drop $10 apiece on new napkins!

You guys! The martini glass is the worst! You don’t agree? Allow me to convince you. Although it looks plenty cool, there is one key design flaw that makes the martini glass totally impractical. It’s those angled walls that essentially direct the liquid right up and over the rim. Have you ever ordered a martini at a bar, settled up with the bartender, and then attempted to walk said drink from the counter to your table? It’s basically harder than balancing an egg on a spoon!

What does almost every yard have that all tables need? Pinecones! In our part of the country, we’re lousy with pinecones. If you don’t happen to have a yard full of ’em (and we don’t suggest stealing them from your neighbors), you can buy some at craft stores. No matter how you get them, it’s worth rounding up a bunch and using them for one — or all — of these cute crafts. Turn pinecones into votives for tiny tea lights.

Pinecones are one of the best fall decorations, and we’ve seen them every which way: painted, flocked, doused in glitter, rolled in peanut butter — you name it! Now, we’re seeing them bleached. That’s right … bleached! Think of this pale, Scandinavian-inspired look as the sleek, modern take on this traditional autumn decor classic. And we’re kind of loving it. There are at least three great things about this project. First, pinecones are free.

There are about a million different ways to set the dinner table, and any one of them can be considered correct depending on where in the world you are and what the menu looks like. A few things that are always pretty consistent: the knife blade should face the plate, the coffee spoon should sit horizontally above the plate and the water goblet should go in the upper righthand corner. Got that?

Serving pieces can be awkward to store. They come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes they are seasonally specific. For example, you need your red glass, gold-rimmed condiment tray out and at the ready the entire month of December, but the rest of the year it goes into hiding. That’s why I love this tiny cart, which is the perfect home for pieces on deck. Rotate pieces in and out: Similar to transitioning in a seasonal wardrobe, you can do the same with your dishware.

With summer nearly upon us, I realized I’ve been missing my picnic table. I had a great one that sat outside for years until my daughter decided to take it to college. Now I want it back! The timing is good, since she’s moving to a new place — she won’t have room in her little studio anyway, right? — plus, I’m planning a family reunion, and we’ll need the extra seating. After all, who wants to eat with a plate of food on their lap?

Now that Thanksgiving is over, you might be able to hang up your hostess apron for a little while (unless, of course, your home is the December holiday headquarters as well). That also means you can return the fine china to its home in storage. But this year, instead of using that same old cardboard box and a few pieces of newspaper, it’s time to really protect your plates and make sure they are safely stored until they next grace the table. Here are seven tips to keep in mind.

It’s one thing to do the Thanksgiving menu on a budget; it’s another thing to set a beautiful table. Can you host 10 people for dinner and set a gorgeous seasonal table while on a budget? Certainly! And you don’t even have to be particularly crafty. For this budget Thanksgiving table, I worked with Chelsea Mohrman, the blogger and stylist behind Farm Fresh Therapy. Here’s how she cleverly set a beautiful table with just a few simple things.

Everybody knows that pizza is the moving-day meal of choice — pizza shops are everywhere, open continuously, and deliver. Bonus: You don’t need plates or silverware to eat pizza, and everyone loves it! But what about the first morning in your new place? If your boxes haven’t arrived yet or you just haven’t gotten around to unpacking (moving day was stressful enough!), you’ll need some basic-as-it-gets kitchen supplies so you don’t have to turn to takeout.

Who cooks and eats here: Jade and Toby Keller, son Cy, and dog Dot Where: Chiang Mai, Thailand See Jade’s Kitchen: Jade’s Thai Kitchen in Chiang Mai As we read yesterday, when Jade and Toby moved to Thailand over four years ago, they thought they might stay for one or two years. Since then they’ve come to feel so at home in their new country, they have no plans to go anywhere.

Hush. Do you hear that? It’s the sound of all other holiday tables bowing down to the glory that is this Thanksgiving table from Apartment 34. In case it’s not obvious, here are three things we love about this table (and totally plan on stealing for ourselves at some point this holiday season). This is mix-and-match at its finest! If you look closely, you’ll notice that every place setting is a little different.

With just one week to go until Halloween, we’ve got a simple (and edible!) decoration that you’ve got to try. Whether you’re hosting a party or just hanging out at home with your family, this sweet DIY creation is perfect for adding a little holiday flair to your tabletop. Plus, who doesn’t love decorations that also make a delicious snack?! And it’s easy. Even if you’re not a DIY-er, you’ve totally got this one.

Frances Palmer is a well-known ceramist whose beautiful pots, plates and vases have graced the pages of Martha Stewart Living, Elle Decor, and Vogue. While pottery is clearly her calling, she’s also a cook and a gardener and a passionate advocate of the handmade life. Read on for her take on what’s essential to be a happy and successful cook! I learned to cook from my mother when I was very young.

The holidays are gone and winter is here to stay, at least for a while, until spring blooms appear in a few months. So, why not embrace this peaceful season and its hues? This beautiful, rustic table setting really captures the feeling of the season, and it’s also laid-back and relaxed enough to not feel fussy. What I love most about this tablescape is its warmth. Winter’s palette can be quite bleak if not warmed up and softened with natural bark tones.

Do you remember these rosemary wreath place cards? Now the ladies of Spoon Fork Bacon have tweaked that idea once again, and this time it’s even easier! To make these place cards, you only need cards, a hole punch, and about five-to-six-inch long sprigs of rosemary. I love how simple and pretty this is, particularly with the way they’ve styled it above, tucked into a folded napkin. This is definitely motivation for me to get another rosemary plant.

You put a lot of love and care into preparing a meal, so why not eat that meal off a plate that’s been just as lovingly created? That is precisely what’s so special about handmade dinnerware, and I just love the collection from San Luis Obispo-based potter Christine Silbaugh.Back Bay Pottery 1 Small Oval Platter, Choose Your Color, $18 2 Small Oval Dishes, Set of Two, $34 3 Deep Dinner Plates, Set of Two, $48 4 Porcelain Pears Sugar and Creamer Set, $79.

My family is firmly in the 99% (and probably the lower half of 99% at that) and yet there is a set of china and sliver that has been passed down a few generations that will one day come to me. I’m lucky because I think the china pattern is pretty and I love the silver pattern. But this is not always the case. Inheriting your grandmother’s china can either be a delight or a burden, depending on a lot of factors.

These glasses were without a doubt one of the best finds ever. A set of eight of them were unearthed from the dusty recesses of a high cupboard in a former apartment. With no way to track them back to the original owners, they have graced our table ever since and proven surprisingly versatile.I’m fairly certain that these were originally cocktail glasses of the 3-Martini-LunchThese glasses are also a nice shape for serving scoops of sorbet or little pot de crèmes.

Prettier than plain cloth napkins, these ombre dyed napkins add a lot of style to the table and are a snap to make.Emily of the blog Once Wed bought thrift store linen napkins and dipped them in small bowls of water mixed with a tiny bit of fabric dye. She started with a small amount of dye, dipped the napkins halfway in, then added a little more dye to the water to darken it, and repeated the process. The results are delicate, colorful and completely unique.

No matter what disasters might have happened in the kitchen, presenting dishes on basic white platters like these are the coup de resistance for a perfect meal. From roast turkey to roast vegetables, all foods look good on white. Even better, these platters do the job without breaking the bank.• Cuatro Serving Platters, $1.95 – $14.95 from CB2 – These simple rectangular trays would transition smoothly from cocktail hour to dinner table.• 365+ Serving Plate, $12.

Q: I had amazing French onion soup the other night, and I am excited to add it to my winter soup rotation, but need to find a couple of oven-safe bowls for the critical cheese-melting step.I found the Le Creuset ones, but I would prefer not to spend $20 for each bowl. Nothing else that I’ve seen that is oven-safe has a handle, which seems like it would be super convenient. Any suggestions?

Napkin rings just say “fancy” to us! They add a touch of class to any table and make even a simple dinner party feel extra special. Don’t you think? We’re loving these easy do-it-yourself napkin rings from Martha Stewart.We think these paper and ribbon ones from Martha Stewart are an excellent stand-in if you don’t own your own set of matching napkin rings (like us!).

We’re thinking about throwing a few small get togethers between January and February and we’re thinking cupcakes would be much easier than baking an entire cake (less clean up, less fuss!). Problem is, we’re trying to figure out the best way to serve the cupcakes.We came across a few cupcake stands that would do the trick. We only managed to find one that seemed to be neutral in its design and we found that to be pretty surprising.

Q: I’m planning to upgrade from the homely dish set that I bought as a college student ($12 at Goodwill, so I feel I’ve gotten my money’s worth out of them by now). I’m drawn by the clean-cut look of square plates, but I am wondering if there is a trade-off in functionality. Will they be a pain to put into cupboards or the dishwasher? Will dinners look undersized on a plate with all that extra real estate on the corners?

Over the past year I acquired several ceramic pieces of servingware that I really treasure. They’re fluid, organic, and unique. Well, I just realized that they were made by the same artisans: Mud Studio, in South Africa. Here’s a look at few more of Mud Studio’s organic, handmade pieces. Mud Studio is a small company in South Africa (and is not to be confused with Mud Australia, which is another ceramics company we like very much).

When I first became serious about wine, I really noticed the difference that a good glass made to my appreciation of the wine. At that time the choice of wine glass was pretty polarized. Either I spent a great deal of money (more than I could afford) or I had to be content with an industrial, heavy, thick-lipped glass. There was very little to choose from in between.Today, I can still spend a lot of money on a great glass, but I can also get a really good wine glass for a modest spend.

Are good wineglasses worth the money? Does a good wineglass enhance the wine? Should you use different glassware for red, white and sparkling wines? Are all good wineglasses expensive?In my opinion, the wineglass matters. However, as with wine itself, there are many opinions about wineglasses, and, as expected, a great deal of snobbery. From my experience tasting wine professionally for many years, here are a few of my thoughts on what really matters in a wineglass.

We received a question from a reader asking about the most useful and essential serving pieces. Carrie said that she just inherited a set of fine china, but the set (as well as her everyday Fiestaware) has no serving pieces. If you’re in the market for serving pieces, like Carrie, what should you get? Here are our picks for the most useful, basic, and essential serving dishes, and we’d love to hear your take on this as well.

We tend to associate carafes with Parisian street cafés and shmancy high end dining, but they can have a place at home, too! Serving wine, juice, or even just plain water out of a carafe is an easy way to add a touch of elegance to a dinner party. Here are a few we’re currently coveting…• Cora Carafe from CB2, $9.95 – hand-blown glass and a sleek modern design (via Black Eiffel).

The first time we saw a stocky pair of salad hands sticking out of a friend’s salad bowl, we were not impressed. They look like bear claws, frankly. But over the years, we’ve noticed we tend to toss salads with our bare hands—so much more efficient than trying to use traditional tongs. We can really dig down into the bowl to get the dressing and ingredients perfectly combined.

We just came across Tomas Kral’s portfolio of kitchen tool designs, and we love his practical yet whimsical sensibility. Take a look at five designs that have real potential for use in the kitchen!We love looking at designers’ portfolios and prototypes for new kitchen gadgets, but we’re often left a little cold by the lack of potential for really practical applications. They may look cool, but they’re not going to work in a real kitchen.

With Thanksgiving nipping at our heels, it’s a good time to remember all the things that help make a meal a great meal. Here’s one I learned from both my mother and my husband: warm plates make a huge difference.I’ll admit that I don’t warm the plates every time I serve someone food, but when it feels special, I always try to give them a little kiss of warmth. Here are a few ways of doing it.

Like a well-stocked bakery entices the passing sweets addict, the doublewide storefront of Kamei Restaurant Supply beckons kitchen junkies inside.With its unparalleled selection, this is one of the best kitchen supply stores in the city. It’s really two stores in one. There are rows of commercial goods like hotel pans, industrial stockpots and plain white, deep soup bowls.