Depending on your event or the season, gather a world of pieces to make it a land of magic. Look around you, I prefer finding as much from nature as possible. Take a walk and collect what you find. Leaves, acorns, pinecones, branches and beyond. Walk through your home and pick out the little bits of your world. Maybe that book on your mantle, the pretty tea box you saved or some old photographs (or other antique pieces). There is always a place for all that nonsensical stuff by the sweet natured desserts.
We did just that at Evolve Home, and found a universe of beauty to play with.
The shop carries everything from decorative nicknacks to beautiful pieces of furniture, seasonal pieces, and an entire corner of chalkboard paint. They support local artists and their pieces are diverse in style to suit all tastes.
Consider shopping local this Saturday and stopping by Evolve Home for some Christmas decor (let's talk about those striped candles.)
My tips to getting the cluttered look right:
Once you gather all your pieces, set a basic structure. Imagine yourself building a house. You need a solid foundation through the edges of your arrangement; the sturdy things that will keep it all together and frame the collection. From there start to build up. Adding height adds dimension. Break your arrangement into parts, create that dimension in the overall picture and then start to look deeper into the details. Let each corner become it's own world where you repeat the same rules of building structure and adding dimension, keeping color in mind as well. Repetition and contrast, in shape and color will add more to the arrangement as a whole. Within this keep your theme in mind but stray just far enough to make it interesting and engaging. Pretty soon people will be trying to figure out where the desserts actually are.
In terms of what's edible, add beautiful touches to your pies and cakes. Be sure to add some variety as well, add a fruit plate for those who might not be in the mood for the decadence of the sugarier treats. Maybe try adding some local or especially interesting treats like chocolates or arrange your bread at the table.
Find one dessert you especially want to highlight and give it that extra boost. Use a stemmed cake plate but don't stop there, place it on a throne of it's own.
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Photography by Candice Hackett
Styling by Sarah Kyle
All decorative pieces c/o Evolve Home
Chalk art print by Renae of Colour & Dust
These photos are crazy incredible. I could just save some of them and have them as my desktop background, even. They are beautiful, you did a fantastic job styling all the food, it looks so good! Hope you had a nice thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteOkay seriously.. this is a beautiful table of dessert!!! Makes me want to dive in.. or not at all and just stare at how beautiful it is haha
ReplyDeleteYou do this "cluttered" look so well. are you going to the book signing next week for rustic joyful food?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous tables cape! You are a great decorator!
ReplyDelete24 blackbirds chocolate is the BEST! I love that sign to, I definitely need that for my kitchen.
ReplyDeletewhat a cute setup!
ReplyDeletemissy
popofstyle.com
Amazing table scape! Love it!
ReplyDeleteWow, wow, WOW! This is absolutely stunning. <3
ReplyDeleteYour picture are magazine worthy and always make me hungry:) Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteEverything looks so perfect! And your photos are terrific! I love this!
ReplyDeleteThis is so incredibly beautiful. I'd love to have the space to be able to do this in my future house. Having proper entertaining space is so important I think!
ReplyDeleteKatie <3
Wow! This is beautiful! I really struggle with things looking cluttered so I appreciate the tips!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this set-up. It looks incredibly classy!
ReplyDeleteThat signage is the best and oh so true! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLove the cute sign-- and the photography is beautiful and dark.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful! And those desserts are works of art on their own!
ReplyDeleteSuch amazing photos, the decorations are awesome and so creative. Such beauty
ReplyDeleteYour photos are incredible! I need to figure out how to decorate without clutter as well :)
ReplyDeleteThis is so pretty! I love the fall colors and the desserts look delicious!
ReplyDeleteSo pretty!! You are a great photographer!
ReplyDeleteWow everything looks gorgeous! Not sure I could pull off the cluttered look as well as you. But I sure will try now. ��
ReplyDeletegorgeous! I wish I was that creative ;o)
ReplyDeleteI love twenty-four blackbirds chocolate! Your tabletop styling and photography skills are just so beautiful - I'm so inspired by your site!
ReplyDeleteThese photos and setup are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThese pictures are amazing!
ReplyDeleteWoah these pictures are incredible!
ReplyDelete