In the time I have owned Nell Hill’s, I have been so fortunate to meet the most amazing designers and artists around Kansas City (and beyond). I find so much inspiration from talking with like-minded creatives about style and design. One of these talented souls is local tablescape artist Suzanne Zingg. If you follow her on Instagram (if you don’t, you should!) you know she makes stunning and unique tabletop designs right in her own home, and she often features goodies she has picked up here at the shop! A couple months ago I had the pleasure of sitting down with her to chat and one thing led to another and an idea was born! Turns out we are both big fans of plaid (obviously) and the book/TV series “Outlander”. For those unfamiliar, “Outlander” by Diana Gabaldon is the story of an Englishwoman from the 1940s who gets transported the 1700s Scotland Highlands. While the storyline is quite exciting, the true beauty lies in the landscape and design of the setting. We decided to collaborate and bring the rustic elegance of the Scottish countryside to a table here to Nell Hill’s!
After our initial talk, I was so excited to start searching for items to bring into the shop for Suzanne to play with! This look could have very easily led to tartan overload (I say that like it’s a bad thing), so we knew we had to bring in other elements to provide balance and the feeling of the idyllic country setting without being overly literal. To achieve this, we used pheasant accessories and incorporated stags; the animal imagery is important to the overall vision and represents the importance of the land and all it provided during the time period we were looking to recreate. Of course, we had to use a spot of plaid, and this neutral tartan throw blanket is the perfect touch to this bucolic table.
To achieve a sophisticated yet wild feel to the look, we mix and matched natural elements like wood, glass and pottery with more polished textures like copper, silver and porcelain. Suzanne has a great eye for balance when it comes to setting a table and seeing what she achieved with the product is truly stunning! The display she created brings to mind an elegant yet lively evening feast that I can imagine enjoying with Clan MacKenzie, full of great conversation and even better food (thanks, Mrs. Fitz!). I love when a table can transport you to a different time and place! Now, if only we could figure out how to transport Jamie to our table! 😉
We have many elements for this look that haven’t even make it to the table yet! With stalks of wheat, metal chargers and plenty more plaid waiting in the wings, this look can be transformed into a display fit for any home – and just in time for Thanksgiving. How would you dress up an Outlander-inspired table? Let me know in the comments! Until next time – Happy Decorating!