The picturesque Amalfi Coast on Italy’s Sorrento Peninsula is a place that chemist and TV presenter Pinky Tobiano dreamed up as the perfect vacation spot for her favorite people. Known for its stunning coastline that sits beautifully on the cobalt blue Tyrrhenian Sea, Amalfi has a mild climate perfect for gatherings.
Pinky Tobiano – the queen of tablescaping.
Aside from its natural and cultural wonders, Amalfi is also known for its own variety of lemon – a cross between the local lemon and bitter orange, making it sweeter, juicier and more flavorful than the regular lemon.
Tobiano’s latest tablescape is the centerpiece of her exclusive shopping party with Williams-Sonoma brands in the Philippines, where she sources her tableware and furniture essentials from WSI brands like Pottery Barn and West Elm.
Collaborating with West Elm is always a no-brainer for Pinky, who is now considered the queen of tablescaping for her critically acclaimed ‘TablelovebyPinky’.
West Elm has new collections every season, an artist’s dream for every tablescape. Inspired by how the Amalfi lemon satisfies the senses, Tobiano came up with a great idea for a very special table.
Using fresh lemons in her hanging tablescape, she took her art to another level. The lemony aroma immediately filled the area, refreshing and making her guests happy to head down to the table below.
However, for this event Tobiano used local lemons as Amalfi lemons are hard to find here in the Philippines. As a tablescape artist, you must be imaginative and adaptable.
As a base, she chose West Elm’s beautiful and durable Keira extendable dining table for its cool walnut finish that will no doubt make the centerpiece and flowers pop. The table is crafted from solid kiln-dried acacia wood, which she paired with West Elm’s Outdoor Slope Woven Dining Chairs to give the set a bit of a fresh and al fresco feel.
Moving on to her centerpiece, Tobiano used bouquets of baby blue hydrangeas towering over bright yellow lemons as glass vase fillers. Using West Elm’s Pure Foundation Slim Vase, she added small branches filled with olives to evoke an Italian flair.
The table setting artist used the atmosphere and colors of the Amalfi Coast and its local lemons to create a refreshing set.
In true TableLovebyPinky fashion, she used the most unlikely of things as elements of the tablescape. She filled Aaron Probyn Jiggers with baby breath to create an element of surprise. She also used a divided wooden tray full of hearty grains to give the setup a more down-to-earth feel.
To top it off, she added halved lemons and squeezed one all over the table for that extra olfactory treat.
West Elm is also known for its unique, contemporary tableware. Tobiano chose the Silver Metallic Woven Placemat as a stark contrast to the warm wood finish of the dining table. She also used the Kaoh Stoneware Dinner Plates paired with Aaron Probyn Melamine Plates for that pop of color.
Completing the dining set is the Horizon flute and red wine glasses, set on stone coasters in Chartreuse Onyx.
Tobiano’s family and friends loved the themed tablescape she created for them. Her guests know that she uses tablecloths to express her love and gratitude for them all.
