In this post: A trip to the Amalfi coast inspired this beautiful summer tablescape, drawn from the colors and imagery of the Italian pottery found there.
Ask me where my favorite place on earth is and I’ll answer without skipping a beat. Hands down it’s the Amalfi Coast. So I decided to do a late summer tablescape inspired by my beloved Positano.
One of the most notable aspects of the region is the vibrant colors of the Italian pottery, mimicked in this floral arrangement via blue hydrangea and yellow sunflowers.
The tone of the setting was influenced by the ubiquitous Italian ceramics found in tiling and pottery throughout the coast. Vintage blue and white placemats are from an old Ralph Lauren cottage home collection and the napkins feature a delicate blue ruffled linen layered over an embroidered white napkin. (See resource below.)
Patterns are mixed, both for a layer of complexity and to best communicate the feeling of the area.
This hand painted ceramic urn was purchased in Positano from a wonderful artisan.
A view from the side reveals the layered napkins, tucked into a festive napkin ring.
Lemons are placed in an antique Dresden bowl, a nod to the citrus ever-present along the coast, that flavors everything from pasta to gelato.
Looped through the handle of the white vase is a scarf from Dolce and Gabbana’s Maiolica Limoni collection.
The mixed plates are Italian, with lemon adorned salad plates laced between dinner plate and mug. A close-up of the plate stack shows rustic rattan chargers.
The cheery floral arrangement would make anyone smile.
A closer look at the vibrant mix sweeps you away to the wonderful coast. Any Amalfi setting would not be complete without Limoncello and fresh Italian bread.
Italian Pottery Tablescape Source List – Click on the items below for direct links to the products. Where actual items were no longer available, I’ve provided similar options. (This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.)
- Rattan chargers
- Italian dinner plates
- Citrus salad plates
- Blue ruffled napkin
- White embroidered napkin
- First Love flatware
- Glen plaid crystal goblets
- Cobalt blue tumblers
- Gold birdbath salt cellar
- White Tuscan vase
- Italian hand painted urn
- Blue mercury glass candlesticks
- Blue glittered pillar candles
- Silver washed candlesticks
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like these (click on the links or photos):
Simple Tuscan Tablescape | Mason Jar Centerpiece | Red, White and Blue Table
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Cynthia Weber @ A Button Tufted Life... says
Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at 6:00 amClapping!…
What a wonderful table to sit and enjoy good food and friends! I love how you have layered everything. It does indeed capture the colourful, whimsical nature of the area you love so much!!
Cheers!
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at 11:04 amThank you Cynthia! It’s easy to do the ones that really resonate with you, isn’t it?… 🙂
Dawn says
Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at 9:55 amWhat a beautiful table setting. It looks great for fall or anytime of the year. You sure have the decorating knack 🙂 Pinning!!
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at 11:03 amThanks Dawn!!
Patti says
Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at 11:39 amLory,
This is sooo beautiful. I’ve been to Florence and places in the region and Rome however, we are talking about a trip to the Amalfi coast next. I can’t wait!!
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at 12:07 pmThank you Patti! Omg, you must! You will love it… 🙂
Britni says
Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at 11:44 amThose colors are absolutely gorgeous, love it!
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at 12:07 pmThanks Britni!!
Sharon Hines says
Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at 11:52 amI love everything about this table setting! And the floral arrangement is without a doubt the “wow” factor. Beautiful!
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at 12:06 pmThank you so much, Sharon!!
Lee says
Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 1:20 amWhat a delightful tablescape, full of the colours of Amalfi. I have been to Italy but not Positano, I hope to go back again one day as a friend of my husbands has a holiday place in Positano. Is that Limoncello I see in the bottle? You have inspired me to have a lovely spring lunch for my girlfriends and dress up the table.
Your china is gorgeous, I used to have a lot of blue and yellow but when we downsized house gave a lot away. I have still got my collection of china plates, possibly when I do up my kitchen and create a little butlers pantry I can put them on the wall.
Lee 🙂
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 1:54 amThanks Lee! Yes, one of these days I’ll do a post on my actual visit to Positano. Truly my favorite place I have ever visited! And yes, it’s limoncello… 🙂
Linda says
Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 8:04 amWith the lemons and blue accents, I totally see (and smell) the Amalfi influence. Your table is stunning, very pretty but comfortable at the same time. That is always my favorite kind.
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 8:46 amThank you Linda! This one really had my heart in it… 🙂
Christine says
Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 8:13 amLove the combination of dishes and colors you used..just stunning!
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 8:47 amThanks Christine! It’s always funny when the dishes don’t actually go together if you hold them next to each other, but once put in a setting they meld… 🙂
Rosie M. says
Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 11:18 amOh, Lori, this is one of the prettiest tablescapes I have ever seen. It is light, airy, welcoming and truly showcases all your lovely mementos of Italy. I love all of it and am hard put to say which is my favorite element. Your glassware complementing the plaid of your placemats; your cheerful blue and yellow color combination; your Italian pottery dishes: it’s all perfect. Bravo!! Rosie @ The Magic Hutch
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 11:48 amWhat a wonderful comment!! That means so much to me… 🙂
Carlyn says
Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 1:45 pmYour table is absolutely exquisite. I fell in love with your urn and those flowers, gorgeous. Thank you for sharing. It is inspirational.
Carolyn
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 3:26 pmThank you so much, Carolyn!
Pam says
Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 2:55 pmGlad you have great memories of your vacations. The color of blue and yellow are so prominent in this tablscape. Your lovely stack of china so well represents tiles from that region. A very beautiful representation of this gorgeous place!
Thanks for sharing!
Pam
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 3:27 pmThank you, Pam! And thanks for stopping by… 🙂
Bev says
Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 6:27 pmBeautiful…those lemon plates are great.
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 6:38 pmThanks! And yes, aren’t they fun? 🙂
Linderhof says
Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 6:58 pmA beautful table! We, too, love Positano — we had a grand villa 200 steps above the cathedral (and 96 steps down from the street) — and the most beautiful view when we had our morning coffees. Oh, and the food and I got to cook as well. It was a lovely stay and by the time we left we felt almost like natives!
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Friday, August 29, 2014 at 10:11 amThank you! Yes, it is a wonderful place and I’m sure I’ll do a post soon of my travel photos… 🙂
Elena says
Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 8:13 pmLovely tablescape, just lovely. You have captured the essence of Positano. Hubby and I have vacationed twice in Positano–absolutely loved it. I am in love with everything Italian, especially Florence and Venice. But the Amalfi Coast is very, very special. Have a great day.
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Friday, August 29, 2014 at 10:14 amThanks Elena! We were in both Florence and Venice this year, as my daughter was studying in Florence. I always love the Italian cities, but my heart still belongs to the coast… 😉 (Also love the south of France and hope to do my first trip to Greece next year).
Marigene says
Monday, September 1, 2014 at 8:18 pmThis is one of my all time favorite tables…it is delightful. Thanks for sharing.
Have a great week, Lory.
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Monday, September 1, 2014 at 8:32 pmThanks for such a nice comment and for visiting, Marigene… 🙂
Cathy Farquhar says
Monday, September 1, 2014 at 9:50 pmLory what a refreshing and wonderful table. You had me with the first photo and it got better as I continued. Yellow is such a cheery color and you made it all pop.
Cathy <:)
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at 6:41 amThank you Cathy! This one was really fun for me… 🙂
Pat says
Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at 8:06 pmLory,
Absolutely breathtaking tablescape, dear one!!!
I L O V E Sunflowers. . .and this bouquet has captured my heart!
Love the use of lemons, Limoncello and Italian bread within your tablescape.
The pattern and artistry of the dinnerware is exquisite!!!
Cheery, refined elegance!
Fondly,
Pat
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at 8:28 pmAw, thank you for such a wonderful comment, Pat!
Candy S says
Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 7:36 pmLovely table, I love the sunflowers and hydrangeas together in a centerpiece.
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 8:10 pmThank you Candy!
sweet violets says
Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 12:48 pmOh, you have captured the spirit of the Italian dinner table………good food, good friends and lotsa cheer!!! This is such a happy table…..you’ve inspired me!!!
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 7:32 pmThanks so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed… 🙂 Thanks for visiting!!
Christine at Must Love Home says
Thursday, January 21, 2016 at 10:36 amWhat a gorgeous table! It makes me happy to just to look at it! Yellow and blue are such a pretty combination:) Thank you for sharing – Christine at Must Love Home
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Thursday, January 21, 2016 at 6:52 pmThank you, Christine! Like Susan, I was inspired by a trip to Positano, one of my favorite places on earth. It’s definitely my happy place… 🙂 Thanks for visiting!
Liz @ Infuse With Liz says
Thursday, January 21, 2016 at 12:11 pmOh this is amazing. I love the dishes and your hand painted urn. The mix of blues and the yellows are a favorite color mix of mine! Your center arrangement is gorgeous- very joyful to me! I’m so glad to see a colorful setting- makes me happy. I can only dream to ever be over there in Italy…maybe some day!
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Thursday, January 21, 2016 at 6:53 pmAh, to be in Italy! I wish I was there now (instead of bracing for the snow here… ;-)). Yes, it’s definitely a happy color feeling. Thanks for the kind words and, as always, for taking the time to comment!!
Entertaining Women says
Friday, January 22, 2016 at 12:50 amI have a large bread board painted by the artist at Ceramiche Positano. It reminds me of your lovely jar/vase. The colors of the Amalfi coast really do capture your mind and heart. We stayed in Sorrento, but spent a good deal of time along the Amalfi Coast. Positano is indeed infectious. Your table is inspiring. Thanks for inviting us for a peek. Cherry Kay
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Friday, January 22, 2016 at 2:30 pmAh, and now you making me want to tear through my photos to see the name of the shop where I purchased the vase… 😉 I know I took pics in there. I love Sorrento, as well! In fact I have a post on Sorrento. You can see that one here: https://designthusiasm.com/savoring-sorrento/ It’s definitely one of my favorite parts of the world, along with the South of France.
Linda says
Sunday, January 24, 2016 at 8:37 amAny of us who have been to the Amalfi coast can appreciate this table. I can close my eyes and smell the air, taste the flavors and feel the warmth of color. Thank you for taking me there for just a little visit.
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Sunday, January 24, 2016 at 10:08 pmAh, my pleasure, Linda! It’s a delight for all of us to share the memories, isn’t it? 🙂
Maria says
Thursday, June 23, 2016 at 9:54 pmLory, your lemon tablescapes are just amazing. My favorite remains the one you did for Father’s Day a while back, but this one is a close second. The blues here do put you in mind of the sea. I’ve been to Italy three times, but we haven’t been to the Amalfi Coast yet. It sounds like I need to move it to the top of my bucket list. Love those napkin rings!
Lory at Designthusiasm says
Saturday, June 25, 2016 at 7:32 pmOh my goodness, the Amalfi Coast is a must! Definitely my favorite trip ever… 🙂 Very easy to be inspired by such a trip. Thanks so much for stopping by and for the kind words!!
Chloe Crabtree says
Thursday, August 11, 2016 at 6:15 pmLory, I am working my way through your blog and old posts. I would love to have the time to comment on all of them, this is one really beautiful table! I would love to come to dine with you at this lovely table! I really appreciate all of the trouble you go to in styling your lovely tables.
Lory at Designthusiasm says
Saturday, August 13, 2016 at 11:31 amThank you so much, Chloe! It’s actually fun to look back at old posts, isn’t it? Except I always want to re-do my photos when I look back… 😉 Glad you are enjoying and thanks for taking the time to comment. I really need to carve out some time for that myself. It’s a work in progress… lol.
Sandra says
Thursday, March 9, 2017 at 1:32 pmI’ve drooled over Italian ceramics for a long time and these are perfect on this table. This is beautiful for late summer or all of the spring season. Thanks for sharing your creativity!