Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Two Kitchen Tables

"Tabletops are the daily canvases upon which we sketch," writer/illustrator Leanne Shapton mused recently in her T Magazine blog column, We Three Things. She says: "A glance at someone’s coffee table, kitchen island or even computer desktop offers a revealing self-portrait: bookworm, neat freak, train wreck, mom."

It made me stop and look at my own tables. We now have two kitchen tables in our oversized dining room. (One table didn't seem to fill the disproportionate middle space.) I have no idea what all this clutter says about me, other than I'm, well, a clutterer.

So here are some iPhone snapshots of this little hub of our flat:

dining room
Decor books, magazines, a Farrow & Ball paint brochure...
dining room
A collection of my daughter's scissors (a new one bought every year for school); an old Chinese bakelite box for holding rubber bands and paperclips...
Dining Room
And painted bug pins in a bowl...
dining room
After I read Shapton's post, it reminded me that I had saved an old Elle magazine profile of her in one of my inspiration files. The story prompted me to buy her book, Was She Pretty?
Dining Room
Shapton blogs that her own tabletops "tell short stories of collection and compulsion." She adds: "What gets randomly, or precisely, set down can be read like tea leaves; our surfaces are anything but shallow."

So, what's on your tabletop? If you'll email me a photo (send to englishmuse at yahoo dot com), I'll post it here next week!


14 comments:

iva yaneva said...

I think it's charming to have quite a few things lying on your table :) I love to have things where I can see them (which can be a problem very often:)

I would love to send you a photo! I actually have two tables at home - one for eating (in the kitchen) and another one for work (or storage haha).

kimberj said...

My poor table has 3 separate sewing projects on it. If it were up to my hubs it would be clear and look like a magazine photo (boring?). There's always a piece of original art pottery of some sort plopped in the middle on a seasonal appropriate placemat or runner. Now ask me about my coffee table or the wet bar by his chair in the family room and then we have something to talk about, hmmmmmm :)

Pretty Zesty said...

Alas, I only can fit a coffee table in my apt. I still eat dinner like a college kid!

Louis Duke Photography said...

love it! it would be amazing to have people submit their own tabletops. it really tells a lot about people. fascinating.

Louis Duke Photography said...

love it! it would be amazing to have people submit their own tabletops. it really tells a lot about people. fascinating.

fernandflora said...

Ok! If my clutter looked nearly as beautiful and artistic as yours, I'd be pretty darn happy. Thanks for sharing.

Tina Tarnoff said...

Oh, Tina, your new place looks wonderful! You MUST show us more pictures. Please, I urge you to. We have such an inexcusably small table in our kitchen. It allows us to have only four people for dinner at a time, and it doesn't allow for clutter. And I love clutter! I ache for a long rustic wooden table that I could abuse! Kisses!

The homesteadingcottage said...

Recently became a new follower and so glad I found your lovely blog (: I look forward to coming back for future posts!

What lies visible on the tabletops doesn't mean you're a clutterer, it just means you’re creative and things are in motion (at least that's what I tell myself). I have to say, the idea of two kitchen tables intrigues me (: Oh, the extra space!

Michele
XOXO

Magdalena said...

Oh I just love two tables in the room. We keep our little French bistro table in our kitchen off in a corner, its from my first apartment and I just can't part with it. We eat on a rustic English gateleg antique table surrounded by mid century modern chrome chairs that is typically covered with lots of wine, computers, cheese, books, magazines, Paris House business and cupcakes..I have a big family and its a lived in kitchen. the other tables in our home and gardens are much less cluttered and a bit more 'styled'.

Vivi said...

Love this post!! Such a great "reading" of what our table tops reveal about us. Makes me want to pay closer attention by I visit others' homes... :)

Splenderosa said...

Oh, I completely agree about the tabletops. Except that when I'm alone everything is scattered about because I live there, you know? But, when I know I'm having guests the entire place looks like a set from a movie. What does this say about me? Too funny.

Elizabeth said...

Hello, I'm a new follower and I love your blog. I love the two tables and chairs. You can never have two many chairs in a home. Sitting down is rad, I reckon.

dee said...

I wouldn't dare...it's a filthy mess right now! But I'd love to switch tables. Yours is so colorful and pretty.

Anonymous said...

Oh my, I love your kitchen table!! And all those books and the lovely, homely (not messy) clutter. It reminds me of my home growing up (which sadly no longer exists except within my fond memories - my mum also passed away and the house had to be sold).

I've been a stalker of your blog for a few months now, but I thought I should finally start saying hello more. There's so much loveliness!

Miss B xx

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