The table is set

Quick answer, please: What is the most important piece of furniture in a home?

If your answer is the dining table, then you know that it’s the one thing that brings family together during meals, at most three times a day.

The table is where the family members eat and pray together, share stories, discuss issues, and yes, argue and even fight. The fondest and most important memories are made at the table. 

Meals become more delicious when shared, yes, but I believe food tastes better when presented in an interesting way.

“Like a woman in a sleek pair of heels, so is a table that is properly dressed,” says J’adore Le Decor.

Fine. Are we simply talking dinnerware and silver and flowers? If you see how seven creative personalities—Chito Vijandre, Ricky Toledo, Tina Cuevas, Tessa Alindogan, Anton Barretto, Mia Borromeo and Kaye Tinga—presented tablescapes recently, you might believe what theologian Leonard Sweet said: “To come to the table is to learn about our real selves.”

Chito Vijandre & Ricky Toledo: Thinking outside the table

Couture master Chito Vijandre and lifestyle journalist Ricky Toledo make a team that is acknowledged as top fashion, art and culture mavens in the country.

Chito and Ricky always think outside the box—and this time, outside the table—as they present a setting for a weekend brunch in the countryside.

“The title of the vignette we presented was serendipitous, taken from the title of the book La Vie d’un Simple (The Life of the Simple) by Emile Guillaumin, which we found while looking around for pieces at Pottery Barn, explains the duo.

“We wanted a weekend getaway brunch in bed in a country home enjoying the simple pleasures away from the city life. It’s time to relax, wake up late, catch up on reading and precious time together.

“Nature is brought in through lush greenery and flowers taken from the garden, a color palette of neutrals and pastels, botanical patterns and the use of natural materials. The four-poster bed is in wood, the rugs in natural fibers, the fabrics in cotton and linen. Everything revolves around the bed, all within easy reach—from the champagne cooler on a stand to a three-tiered pastry etagere, which a couple can partake of, snuggled up in luxury,” they explain.

But for more serious but still relaxed dining, Chito and Ricky clarify that there’s the trunk at the foot of the bed used as a table setting while seated on throw pillows on the floor.

Tina Cuevas: Tuscany on her mind

One of Manila’s stylish women, Tina Cuevas famously transformed the old Sulo Hotel bought by her father into a modern boutique hotel.

It was his plan to compel Tina to come back to Manila after she reveled in sunny Spain for two decades. It was in Barcelona where her eye for interior design trends were sharpened as she engaged in an import/export furniture business based in Spain, and attended trade fairs in Europe and Asia.

For her tablescape at Pottery Barn, Tina was inspired by Tuscany, which is “more romantic than Barcelona,” she sighs.

“Bathed in the warm hues of a Tuscan sunset, this sea drift-colored dining table, complete with radiant sunflowers, elegant gold flatware, and striking blue dinnerware, beautifully encapsulates the timeless charm and rustic elegance of the Italian countryside, creating a harmonious and inviting tablescape,” she explains.

Tessa Alindogan: Effortless elegance

“It’s always a joy for me to set a table; it is another layer of expressing my creativity that will leave a tangible memory in each and every guest,” says Tessa Alindogan, renowned interior designer and painter.

“Personally, I feel that entertaining is all about the table setting. From casual get-togethers and elevated formal occasions, it’s the table setting that becomes the focal point of the occasion. 

 “My table setting is a reflection of my personal style. I love the metallic finish of the tableware I used from West Elm; I mixed them with the brass containers and a table sculpture, the faux tortoise adds a touch of fantasy and whimsy. Subtle nuances of color and texture work cohesively to showcase effortless elegance. 

“I opted to use the ethereal Sotto dining table. The glass top lends a dreamy effect. It makes everything seem light and balanced. Shimmery surfaces always lend a regal appeal. From simple gestures to grand-scale application, when everything is thoughtfully executed, the creative flair makes everything more festive.”

Anton Barretto: Al fresco entertaining

Anton Barretto’s table setting reminds me of the pyeongsang, which is omnipresent in Korean dramas—that wooden table where friends and neighbors congregate outside the home. But of course, his is a comfy and stylish version of it.

Anton calls himself “an interior stylist” and rightly so. “I chose to do an outdoor table setting inspired by the Turkish hand-painted plates and bowls of West Elm. The colors of the plate helped me choose elements to put around the table, a play of complementing and contrasting colors from the table runner, placemats napkins and candles. Lush botanicals freshen up the table and balance off the candle holders and candles of different heights.”

What makes Anton’s setting really comfortable is that the outdoor table is paired with a sofa and a bench.” Pops of muted colors from the throw pillows and throw on the sofa frame the table. Mixing materials adds depth and texture. Setting a table is always fun. Don’t be afraid to get creative and always reflect your personal style,” he advises.

Mia Borromeo: Kids can have afternoon tea, too!

“Inspired by a classic and timeless color combination that never goes out of style, I designed a tablescape for Afternoon Tea in Blue and White,” says Mia Borromeo, a retail marketing expert.

“Blue and white always give a crisp and elegant touch to the table. Fine blue and white arabesque and harlequin patterns from Pottery Barn's dinnerware collection mixed with heavy white marble cake stands and condiment servers create a nice contrast of textures. Hydrangeas in blue and white in an oversized blue and white ceramic pot with bird patterns add an organic touch.”

And look! Mia made sure to set a separate children's table right beside that plays on the blue and white theme with whimsical touches from the Pottery Barn Kids collection. “Pretty plates and glasses in aquamarine shades and miniature tea cups gilded with gold butterflies allow the little ones to enjoy a fun afternoon tea right next to the grownups.”

Kaye Tinga: Beauty and the beach

“My favorite getaway is a weekend in Batangas, where the only activity is eat, sleep, repeat,” says Kaye Tinga, Cultural Center of the Philippines president, who finds herself engaged in work 24/7.

“I wanted to bring that relaxed beach vibe to my tablescape at Pottery Barn, so I started with a sand-colored runner. Scattered corals and stone fish elements added a touch of the sea, with simple sustainable dried floral arrangements for a touch of color. 

“For each place setting, I used rustic-inspired dinner plates and linens. The final touch was a collection of flickering candles, casting a warm glow and creating the perfect ambiance for a chill, beach-inspired evening with friends,” explains Kaye, a Fordham-educated business expert who also understands the need for de-stressing.