Hey Everyone! Thanks for your comments, texts, and facebook messages yesterday. I can’t tell you how much it means to know that other people are starting to believe in our dream just as much as we do!
Wednesday through Saturday last week Tim and I worked on a commercial together. Generally, I wouldn’t have much to share from a commercial shoot but this particular production called for our art crew to create a dining room/kitchen, a very special dining room/kitchen. We weren’t just decorating some space that already existed, but instead, we had to build a set in a studio. My role had nothing to do with the construction of the set, but rather I was charged with the task of finding and buying all the décor for the space!
The whole idea was to make this space look like Mother Nature’s home. To me that meant I needed tons of plants, floral motifs, natural finishes, soft touches, feminine features, and frilly accents. The ad agency was clear on the fact that they wanted lots of pink, some sort of dining chair covers, and a collected dinnerware feel among other things. So, here’s how it turned out.
There are many things that you do for a production set that you would never do in real life- flanking a dining chair with free floating plants being one of them (see above)! J In pictures this looks a little silly, but on camera these plants don’t seem strange and they play an important role in the commercial (hopefully I can post a video of the commercial later so you can see what I mean).
When you are dressing a table for a special event remember that adding a bunch of layers will serve to add interest and create a beautiful setting. For this table setting the ad agency wanted to have vintage/collected pieces but didn’t want everything as a whole to look too old. I achieved a nice balance by pairing vintage tea cups and hankies (which I used as napkins) with plates that boasted a more comtemporary floral pattern. I also used bright colors to keep the setting from feeling too old. Adding tons of bright, yummy food also gave the set up a very fresh feel.
I found this hutch (below) at a local thrift store and immediately felt that it had to be on set. I love it’s chippy pink paint and green handles. It was the perfect piece to fill with fun accessories to add interest to the set. Once again, I tried to combine some vintage pieces with more current items. PS- I think someone else has been reading Ashley Ann’s blog because I found this paint by number floral picture ready to be displayed. Once again perfectly pink for the set!
I mentioned before that the ad agency really liked the idea of having chair covers of some sort. Well I tried to think of something that wouldn’t involve sewing (beause I didn’t have that kind of time) but still be very charming and achieve the desired effect. After a few minutes I decided I would use scarves- you can find them in all sorts of colors and patterns, they’re already sewn, and they aren’t too expensive. Of course if you like to sew you make these for next to nothing and have a million style/pattern possibilities.
Tim was in charge of finding a vintage stove top. No sooner was he given the task and he had found the perfect one on Craiglist and immediately went to pick it up. It was originally green before he painted it the perfect pink for our set. Isn’t that awesome! I’d totally rock that stove top in my kitchen! And isn’t that tea pot on top of the burner gorgeous!!???
Here are a few more of my favorite pics.
Finally, here’s a source list for all this stuff if you’re interested.
Table cloth- Target (actually a shower curtain)- $20
Chargers- Pier 1 ( I had to pray paint them) $6 each
Pink Glasses- Anthropoloie- $8 each
Large plates- Target ( part of a set)- $60 for 4 place settings
Small plates- Anthropologie- $12 each
Small bowls- Anthropologie- $8 each
Scarves/Chair Covers- Target- $10 each
Tea Cups- Flea Markets- $3- $10
Vintage Hankies as Napkins- Flea Markets- $1- $5
So what do you think of this feminine, frilly, and very pink design?
More fun stuff coming to you tomorrow! Thanks for reading!
Wow, that is absolutely gorgeous! You are so talented. I stumbled upon your blog through pinterest (lacey dresser), and I’m loving it. I’m not talented at all with creating designs, but I love and appreciate those who are! Thanks for sharing!
Oh my gosh I LOVE it! It could totally be my grown up self, little girl play room. I can see having my girlfriends over for tea and talk. No boys allowed!
AMAZING!!!!! You are extremely talented and have a god given gift to make things pretty! Love love love this!
Not sure about Mother Nature (I think I picture more serene greens, less clutter for that) but I think it’s perfect for a tea shop!
This was such an interesting post to read and what a fabulous assignment. I could totally get into doing this for a living.
I can’t wait to see the commercial! Thanks so much for giving us a peek at what happens behind the camera of commercials. I never thought about all the work that goes on before the shoot.
I am in love with it! I would love to know where you picked up that beautiful tea pot on the stove.
I am wondering what kind of commercial it was for! You did great as always!! It is always so fun to see what you create! I bet it was fun shopping for it… that would be my favorite part!!!
My favorite part is the paint by number.
Totally Stellar and Stunning and WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOOVE IT!!!!!!