A Colorful Island Tablescape

Making Your Island Beautifully Useful:

An Island or Worktable in your kitchen should do more than be a food prep table, quick meal dining surface or catch all for clutter.  Your kitchen island can be a surface to decorate and add beauty to your kitchen as well as serving as a wonderful buffet surface for entertaining.

I recently visited one of my favorite local home decor and gift shops. The Olde Millhouse Shoppe, just opened the historic old home next to the mill as a decor showcase.  I was thrilled to see this country kitchen so beautifully staged with colorful dishes and clever design details.

This kitchen is full of dishes and goodies to buy, but I also thought that it could give us many wonderful idea about decorating an island.

One thing I noticed right away was that almost every inch of this L-shaped island was filled. Also the use of a limited color scheme and repeated elements keeps our eyes going from one detail to another. There is so much interest here! The dishes used on the island are very reasonably priced, too!

Using red, green and yellow as the primary colors in the  islandscape, keeps this detailed packed island from looking too busy. Don't you just love the pineapple flatware?

Think outside the box by using something in an unexpected way for a big statement. A tiered plate stand is used to stack complimentary tea pots. This not only is very appealing but gives height to the island arrangement.

Bringing different heights to an island by using little tables, plate stands and shelves can be so much more visually pleasing than everything on the same level.  Staggering heights one of my favorite decorating tips.

Using an object de arte, or a fun unexpected piece, like this fabulous coffee mill, can be the Wow factor of your islandscape. For years I had a huge round white birdhouse on a tall architectural pillar on the island in my kitchen. It got so may compliments!

Using greens as "filler" and "fluff" will take your island from plain to full and lush. This is another tip I find so useful.

Don't forget a pretty runner, placemats, unexpected elements and small details. Plate holders, large bowls, flatware tied together with a coordinating ribbon are just some fun ideas you can use too!

This beautifully decorated island is full of basic lessons we can study and learn to use in our own homes.

A very special thank you to The Olde Millhouse Shoppe. There are so many beautifully put together tablescapes, rooms and unique home decor.  You can visit them and shop on-line by clicking  HERE.

I am joining Susan at Between Naps On The Porch for Tablescape Thursday. There is so much talent and creativity going on over there. Check out all the inspirational Tablescapes!