As a consummate homebody I believe that making everyday experiences at home makes for a more relaxing, cozy and special space to retreat and live. Setting a nice table and creating a pretty table design whether that is for an everyday meal or a special occasion like Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, New Years, a birthday, or having friends over makes things feel a little more festive and special. In my household every person has a birthday between Halloween and just after New Year’s including my parents as well. It also happens to be the busiest time of year for my business and my husband’s who makes peppermint bark which is a family affair where we are breaking up bark, boxing and labeling and shipping and participating in more markets too.

So when it comes time to celebrate, my favorite way is just a nice home cooked meal with a fancier than usual table. And while I appreciate beautiful things I also like things to be accessible and laid-back too. I’ve rounded up a handful of items from the Gather Goods Co online shop that make setting a beautiful table easy. All of these items are designed to be mixed and matched whether you want something colorful or a little more subdued and because this is one of my favorite things you’ll find lots of items to shop from not just what I’ve included here.

• A delicious, made in North Carolina, blackberry, orange and ginger shrub that you can add to sparkling water (with or without alcohol to make a fancy drink
• Elegant fluted glassware with a pretty pebbled texture
• A fun pink enamel tray for serving snacks on with a blue and green marbled pattern
• A retro cool flower vase to add a little funkiness to the table filled with foraged greenery from the yard
• A frosted glass candlestick holder
• Really pretty colorful linen napkins with contrasting trim are what takes the setting over the top, available in a variety of beautiful colors – tip: we use cloth napkins at every meal to save paper waste but don’t iron them. I’d iron them for a special occasion. 😉
• Dripless taper candles in a gorgeous dark blue hue, also available in a variety of colors – mixing and matching on a table looks especially cool
• Green ceramic plates with a beautiful matte feel and texture
• Beeswax pillars and tea lights make the most beautiful golden glow. Place them inside one of our colorful glassware pieces for an even cooler look that casts color onto the table.
• A green, recycled glass pitcher for water at the table
• Colorful glassware makes things really fun, with lots of unique colors you can mix and match here too, again these double as votive holders also
• Tasty non-alcoholic Brut that makes things feel a little fancier than usual. Sparkling juice works well here too.
• Pink ceramic plates for side dishes or your meal

You can find all of these items online at GatherGoodsCo.com or in-person at our downtown Cary, NC gift shop Wednesday-Saturday 11am-5pm (or anytime by appointment). Gather Goods Co is located at 417 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, NC 27511 and you can park right in front of the shop in our parking lot.