Table Setting: Black on Black

The bright mirror polished shine of an Alessi centerpiece always makes me want to build a black table. This piece was new for 2015, the Alessi Bark centerpiece, also available in white and black. I really like this as a fruit holder  but it looks stunning with anything, or nothing.

Pairing a tablerunner with a contrasting placemat is a great way to add interest to a setting, and using texture as a contrast is one of my favorite ways to achieve this look. Here we have the loose, open weave of the Chilewich Lattice tablerunner in Caviar contrasted with the tight striped pattern of their Multi-Stripe table mats in  Granite.

I used the black Teema salad plate to break up and highlight the black and white pattern of the Taika tableware. The dark tablemats also create great contrast with the Taika plates. I could have added a pop of color with the napkins here but I went for the black cotton satin-finish Garnier-Thiebaut confettis napkin. Keeping the palette greyscale ups the drama of the table, creating a severe style where the interest comes in with the stainless steel accents. 

The grey Italian ceramic top of the table here provides an ideal base for this setting, this is the Barlow Tyrie Cayman dining table in Ash.

 That said, I love the pop of the oranges in the center. 

This table features the David Mellor Chelsea flatware, a wonderfully versatile style that is especially well suited to contemporary settings. The teapot is the beautiful Alessi Cha kettle, designed to move seamlessly from stovetop to table, with matching creamer and sugar pot.

The water carafe is a cleverly designed offering from the Danish brand Menu, which will be available on our website soon!

The little ceramic Taika spoons are the key to this table for me, this is the small accent that takes the table to the next level. 

-Meghan

Didriks is an independent, locally owned tableware and home furnishings store located on Observatory Hill in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and at The Mill at Newton Lower Falls.