A Table by the Door
“A quiet moment. A soft landing place. A still life for the everyday.”
When I come in, I’m always met by this small table — never styled to impress, but always holding something I love: a chipped statue, some kind of floral arrangement in a wide-mouthed glass demijohn found at a house clearance. Heavy, open, and slightly green, it catches the light in a way that makes it feel more like sculpture than storage. It changes with the seasons and always seems to reflect what’s happening in my head. It’s a kind of pause — a way to say, *this is your home, take a breath.*
Create Your Own Still Life
A still life doesn’t have to be grand. Just layered. Personal. Slightly accidental.
Here’s how to build one in five objects:
Anchor object
Choose something with presence — a statue, a vase, a figurine, or a sculptural tin.
(I used a vintage Madonna with a chipped base — she brings gravity and grace.).
Soft Layer
Place a base of vintage fabric or something naturally worn — ticking stripe, antique napkin, or even a bit of muslin.
Natural Element
Add life — dried hydrangeas, wild parsley, a posy in a bottle.
Stack or Lean
Give it height or a story — lean a postcard, stack a couple of books, or balance a frame against the wall..
Personal Trace
Tuck in something small — a shell, a thimble, a thread card, a matchbox. It doesn’t matter what it is. It just matters that it’s yours..