Easter means something different to each of us, but its universal themes of renewal, fertility, nature and the continuity of life remain a time-honoured cause for celebration with family and friends (and of course, to eat copious amounts of chocolate). The festival also ignites creativity: a beautifully set table, handmade crafts and conversation-starting displays bring a fresh, seasonal charm to your home. While bunnies and eggs the ancient customary symbols of Easter - will always have a place on the decorating checklist, the mood has turned from pastels and buntings to a more authentic, serene aesthetic inspired by natural curiosities, desaturated colours, personalised vignettes and the spirit of hunting and gathering.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1373620744/1680552866/articles/T28y0w5zi1680595029425/2955125565.jpg]
Set the scene
Following hot on the heels of Christmas, Easter is the next big festive holiday to gather family and friends around the table. Take the opportunity and express your creativity with nature as your muse.
* An old, scrubbed farmhouse table (unadorned without a tablecloth) is the backdrop for a tranquil, rough-edged setting of off-white crockery, vintage silver cutlery, linen with its distinctively pleasing weight and an evocative, textural centrepiece consisting of discarded nests, freshly picked farm flora, eggs and hand-carved bunny figurines.
* The neutral colour palette has been carefully considered and connects all the visual elements in a soothing, sophisticated whole.
* Instead of artificially bright dyed eggs, this display uses delicate freckled quail eggs and duck eggs with their beautiful soft shades of blue, green and chalky white.
* Hand-carved wooden bunnies are tucked in among the nests and fynbos (wild flora) as an ode to the spirit of spring, and are symbolic of Easter.
* Linen napkins in denim blue have been used as place mats and embellished with rustic stitching in contrasting white (which can be done by hand or with a sewing machine).
* Black garden twine is wrapped around linen napkins with a guinea-fowl feather tucked in as a pastoral flourish.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1373620744/1680552866/articles/T28y0w5zi1680595029425/5591088951.jpg]
Over easy
Eggs, so inextricably linked with Easter celebrations, can be displayed in a variety of creative ways. The colours and patterns on these duck and quail eggs are undeniably pretty and have inspired a presentation in an old African mancala vessel, traditionally used to play a game with seedpods.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1373620744/1680552866/articles/T28y0w5zi1680595029425/2018198189.jpg]
Hare raising
Symbolic of spring and renewal - not to mention universally appealing - bunnies are central to an Easter table centrepiece design.
* This hand-carved bunny is full of character and delightfully 'at home' among the nests and tangled greenery that, in combination, evoke a charming woodland feel.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1373620744/1680552866/articles/T28y0w5zi1680595029425/muTCAxEco1680595397596.jpg]
Hunter, gatherer
The lure of the peculiar is impossible to resist, which would explain our ongoing obsession with the 'old curiosity shop' aesthetic. Here, a tabletop is artfully composed of natural ephemera, antique industrial items, handmade crafts and homeware designed to express a vintage vibe-all fashioned around, of course, eggs and rabbits.
* Wooden bunnies, unusu...
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1373620744/1680552866/articles/T28y0w5zi1680595029425/2955125565.jpg]
Set the scene
Following hot on the heels of Christmas, Easter is the next big festive holiday to gather family and friends around the table. Take the opportunity and express your creativity with nature as your muse.
* An old, scrubbed farmhouse table (unadorned without a tablecloth) is the backdrop for a tranquil, rough-edged setting of off-white crockery, vintage silver cutlery, linen with its distinctively pleasing weight and an evocative, textural centrepiece consisting of discarded nests, freshly picked farm flora, eggs and hand-carved bunny figurines.
* The neutral colour palette has been carefully considered and connects all the visual elements in a soothing, sophisticated whole.
* Instead of artificially bright dyed eggs, this display uses delicate freckled quail eggs and duck eggs with their beautiful soft shades of blue, green and chalky white.
* Hand-carved wooden bunnies are tucked in among the nests and fynbos (wild flora) as an ode to the spirit of spring, and are symbolic of Easter.
* Linen napkins in denim blue have been used as place mats and embellished with rustic stitching in contrasting white (which can be done by hand or with a sewing machine).
* Black garden twine is wrapped around linen napkins with a guinea-fowl feather tucked in as a pastoral flourish.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1373620744/1680552866/articles/T28y0w5zi1680595029425/5591088951.jpg]
Over easy
Eggs, so inextricably linked with Easter celebrations, can be displayed in a variety of creative ways. The colours and patterns on these duck and quail eggs are undeniably pretty and have inspired a presentation in an old African mancala vessel, traditionally used to play a game with seedpods.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1373620744/1680552866/articles/T28y0w5zi1680595029425/2018198189.jpg]
Hare raising
Symbolic of spring and renewal - not to mention universally appealing - bunnies are central to an Easter table centrepiece design.
* This hand-carved bunny is full of character and delightfully 'at home' among the nests and tangled greenery that, in combination, evoke a charming woodland feel.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1373620744/1680552866/articles/T28y0w5zi1680595029425/muTCAxEco1680595397596.jpg]
Hunter, gatherer
The lure of the peculiar is impossible to resist, which would explain our ongoing obsession with the 'old curiosity shop' aesthetic. Here, a tabletop is artfully composed of natural ephemera, antique industrial items, handmade crafts and homeware designed to express a vintage vibe-all fashioned around, of course, eggs and rabbits.
* Wooden bunnies, unusu...
You're reading a preview of
South African Garden And Home (Digital) - 1 Issue, April 2023