The Sydney Morning Herald logo
Advertisement

True blue summer table style

Sarah Wormwell

Table dressing: inky, watery blues work for hot sunny days.
Table dressing: inky, watery blues work for hot sunny days.Anliette Chen

The all-white perfectly matched dinner set is very last century. "In the same way we no longer dress head-to-toe in one label, neither should our table styling be uniform," says brand experience director for luxury fashion, art and philanthropic organisations, Marcus Longinotti. "The modern tablescape should be styled with visual drama, to create interest and reflect the individuality of the host."

Creating a fun, summer table is a case study in colour contrast. Blue is opposite orange on the colour wheel, which makes warm hued foods "pop". Blue is also quintessentially Australian, with many artists and designers referencing our oceans and skies in their latest collections.

"A sea-inspired table of hand-painted plates, ignites joy and resonates with Australia's profound love for the coast," says of creative director of Alex and Trahanas, Heleena Trahanas. While Noosa-based ceramicist Kim Wallace applies two different blue glazes to create a depth of colour evoking a summer sky - from clear brilliance to moody thunderstorm.

Joy Smithers, of Batch Ceramics, who has been supplying high-end restaurants with her specialist pieces for almost three decades, says her hand-painted glazes create a subtle texture, unique to each piece.

Advertisement

"Modern Australian food is hugely diverse, so ceramics must work for all influences; matt glazes that show the brush mark add subtle interest, and make the food the star of the show," she says.

Photo: ANLIETTE

Clockwise from top

Resin moon cheese platter, $420, dinosaurdesigns.com.au

Oval spice dish in ink, $19.95, batchceramics.com.au

Advertisement

Handpainted check, $55, bridgetbodenhamceramics.bigcartel.com

Medium beetle bowl, $200, dinosaurdesigns.com.au

Pouring bowl, $39.95, batchceramics.com.au

Splash side plate, $30, tigmitrading.com

Octopus aperitivo plate, $120, alexandtrahanas.com

Advertisement

Face dinner plate, $80, alexandtrahanas.com

Apulian dish, $40, alexandtrahanas.com

Riverstone butter plate, $55, dinosaurdesigns.com.au

Pebble dinner plate, $55, kwceramics.com.au

Credits

Advertisement

Food: thecaterersydney.com.au

Flowers: Outside This Room

Photography: Anliette Chen

Styling: Marcus Longinotti/Sarah Wormwell

Words: Sarah Wormwell

The best recipes from Australia's leading chefs straight to your inbox.

Sign up

From our partners

Advertisement
Advertisement