Pinky Tobiano, host of TablelovebyPinky, partners with Williams-Sonoma Brands, including Pottery Barn and West Elm, to evoke cobalt blue coastline, rocky shores and vivid, fragrant lemons in newest masterpiece.
Chemist, TV host and “tablescape diva” Pinky Tobiano drew inspiration this time from Italy’s picturesque Amalfi Coast along the Sorrento peninsula to produce her latest high-profile table setting. Apart from its stunning cobalt blue coastline and mild climate, the locale, says Pinky, is an ideal holiday spot both for lovers on a honeymoon or for huge multi-generational families out on their annual get-together.
.Amalfi is also known for its own variant of lemons, which was developed as a cross between the local lemon and the bitter orange, making it sweeter, juicier and more aromatic than its regular counterpart. And this element figured in Pinky’s setup as well.
Pinky’s recent tablescape was the centerpiece of her exclusive shopping party with Williams–Sonoma Brands, namely Pottery Barn and West Elm, where she gets her tablescaping essentials and furniture.
Collaborating with West Elm is always a welcome development for Pinky, now tagged as the queen of tablescaping for her widely followed show TablelovebyPinky. And since West Elm offers new collections every season, it has become every tablescape artist’s dream and an indispensable partner.
To take her art to another level, Pinky used fresh lemons in her suspended tablescape. The citrusy aroma instantly filled the area, getting her guests all refreshed and excited to see and examine her latest creation up close.
Pinky used local lemons since Amalfi lemons are hard to find here in the Philippines. As a tablescape artist, it is necessary to be resourceful as well as flexible, she says.
For her base, Pinky picked West Elm’s beautiful and durable Keira expandable dining table for its cool walnut finish, which instantly made the centerpiece and flowers pop. The table is made of solid, kiln-dried acacia wood, which Pinky paired with West Elm’s outdoor slope woven dining chairs to give the set an al fresco feel.
Moving to her centerpiece, Pinky used bouquets of baby blue hydrangeas that tower over bright yellow lemons as glass vase fillers. Using West Elm’s pure foundation slim vase, she added small branches filled with olives to further evoke an Italian feel.
In true TableLovebyPinky fashion, Pinky used the most unlikely things as tablescape elements. She filled Aaron Probyn jiggers with baby’s breath to give the entire display an element of surprise. She also made use of a wooden divided tray full of hearty grains to make the setup more earthy.
To cap it off, she added lemons cut in half. She then squeezed one across the whole table for that extra olfactory treat.
West Elm is known for its unique, modern tabletop items that are versatile and a delight to use. For instance, she chose the Silver Metallic woven placemat as a perfect foil to the dining table’s warm wood finish.
She then placed the Kaloh stoneware dinner plates to add to the organic but modern feel. For some burst of color, she opted to pair them with the Aaron Probyn melamine plates.
To complete the look, Pinky chose the Horizon flute and red wine glasses, which have modern angles that make them resistant to breakage and chipping. Below these glasses are Stone coasters in chartreuse onyx that, she says, elevate the whole look and remind her of Amalfi’s rocky shores.
Pinky’s family and friends loved the themed tablescape she created for them. Her guests know that tablescaping is how she expresses her love and gratitude to them. In TableLovebyPinky, she says she always “loves doing tablescape ideas that surprise.”
Hence, when life gives you lemons, make a tablescape, Pinky declares.
It was also a first for TableLovebyPinky to host its first physical shopping party at William Sonoma Brands, located at West Elm Central Square Mall, BGC, since the pandemic started.
Guests who graced the tablescaping event included beauty queen Bianca Manalo, TV host Phoemela Barranda, actress-entrepreneur Yanna Asistio, Cornerstone’s Erickson Raymundo, actress Moi Bien, Chef Florabel Co-Yatco, make-up artist Bambbi Fuentes, lawyer Karen Jimeno, Gerry Sy, Petra Lim, Ruby Chua, Irene Montemayor, Mac Merla, Ann Murphy, Lara Villafuerte and Dong Ronquillo.
