Unpacking the Dining Table: A Showcase of Personal Belongings and Artistic Pursuits
When we think of dining tables, we often imagine a place for meals and gatherings. However, these surfaces can hold much more than just dining ware. They can be a reflection of personal tastes, artistic endeavors, and cherished memories. Let’s explore the contents of a dining table through a unique perspective and see what stories they tell.
Updating Your Dining Set
The key to updating your dining set is not just about the furniture but also the textures and paint colors that reflect current trends. Refreshing your dining table and seats can be achieved with simple changes like a new coat of paint or a fresh texture. Consider a platform dining table, which often features a wide, naturally round tabletop supported by a single solid leg. More contemporary alternatives might sit on two legs, making them stylish and practical for living rooms. These pieces not only enhance the aesthetic of your home but also offer a functional space for both dining and casual conversations.
A Personal Browse: My Dining Room Table
On my dining room table, there is a tapestry place mat, a napkin holder adorned with butterflies, a green marble disk with a salt shaker, a pepper grinder, a sugar shaker, and a small bowl from Korea. This bowl was bought by my father during World War II when he was stationed in Korea, making it a historical and sentimental piece. I also keep a fake sugar packet in the same bowl for convenience. There’s a lamp that adds a touch of elegance to the space.
My beloved chubby tabby cat loves to lounge on my dining room table. To protect the table, I leave a protective pad in place with a tablecloth draped over it year-round. Centered on the table sits a beautiful art sculpture, crafted from a metal figurine with gold-plated wire and beaded branches, flowers, and leaves elegantly arching in several directions. The sculpture is strategically placed on a lovely double-layered wood base, designed to blend seamlessly with the table’s aesthetics. My husband purchased this piece of artwork from a Thai woman who sold her artwork in a nearby Asian store. It served as a birthday gift to me.
Tragically, a few years after receiving the sculpture, the artist was murdered by her estranged husband. This piece now holds a special memory and a story of both beauty and loss.
A Creative Haven: My Painting Area
My dining table also functions as a workspace for my artistic pursuits. There are two large paint boards with watercolor paper taped to them, each holding an assortment of tubes of paint. My brushes are housed in an old USWest mug with a broken handle, and I have several water containers nearby. A live still life featuring lemons, pears, and a butternut squash sits on the table, serving as my subject matter for light reflecting off round surfaces. I’m also working on a painting of a squash and have several half-pan watercolors that I need to clean out. An Urban Sketching sketchbook sits open, ready for me to draw or paint in, and several boxes of Tombow Pens, Micron pens, and a box of Kleenex lie close at hand. Instead of paper towels, I use a roll of bamboo towels as they are more eco-friendly.
While these items are there, I often find myself basking in the peace and creativity they bring to my life. There are items buried under these things, but they are the visible layers of my artistic setup.
A Special Note
Why am I not snapping a picture of everything? It’s purely due to embarrassment, as the layers of items on my table are so varied and chaotic. However, if you can imagine, it is a world of creativity and memorabilia encased within this space.
I eat on the couch in my home, and my dining table is a makeshift station for art and memories. However, it reflects the diverse and multifaceted nature of life in my home.
No Pictures... I’ll tell you about it, but I’m too embarrassed to snap a pic of it.
Why are they there? Because there’s no place else for me to paint. I eat sitting on the couch. My 'Dining Table' is a card table.
Conclusion
As we explore the dining table through the lens of this personal narrative, we can see that it is more than just a place to eat. It is a canvas for memory, creativity, and daily life. Whether it’s a platform dining table or a card table, the contents can tell diverse stories. So, next time you sit down for a meal, take a moment to look around your dining table and see what memories and stories it holds.
For more related information, visit La Maison Chic.