Tag: royal crown derby mikado

Tabletop Tuesday – Mikado Modern

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Have we got a tabletop for you on the second installation of our Tabletop Tuesday series! The colors, textures and patterns all blend to create an absolutely delectable setting, which will be ideal for any springtime gatherings from Easter and beyond. Today, we’re pleased to share our “Mikado Modern” tablescape with you..

For this tablescape, we turned to what has become a favorite collection of ours, initially introduced a few years ago by Royal Crown Derby, the Mikado collection. Mikado is an updated, contemporary take on a traditional pattern, first introduce in 1894. The individual pieces tell the story of the beloved opera, The Mikado. Respecting its past, yet appropriate for today’s modern lifestyle, is what we love about this pattern. The bright colors solicit feelings of fresh blooms, crisp spring air and bright sunny walks.

For this tablescape’s floral element, we were able to partner again with Erin Weston of Weston Farms. The timing could not be more perfect for us to incorporate the Japanese magnolia blooms, forsythia and redbuds, all combined with Weston Farms’ fantastic magnolias.

Our antique, French table provided a perfect backdrop for our table setting once again.

A lovely Le Jacard Francais runner was the base of our setting.

The RCD Mikado, in a lavender colorway is the base of our place setting.

We then layered the settiing with a turquoise salad plate and a lime bread and butter plate.

This cutlery is what we have at home and, to us, the ivory evokes the feel of a bygone era.

Clear, stemless glasses for the wine and water were chosen, so as not to compete with all the color we already have going on in our tablescape.

For the main centerpiece, Erin put the RCB Mikado canister in blue to use as a vase. It was then coupled with some blue and white ware with a variety of spring blooms

We even incorporated this beautiful crystal votive, in Green Calcite, by Tish Mills of Harmonious Living  and paired it with only the Stamens and Carpels of the magnolia blossoms.

Next, to celebrate the Asian feeling of the china, we added my favorite 3 Emperors bejeweled by Eric Cortina.

In the end, the table appears set for a king, or at least anyone celebrating the upcoming Easter holiday, or any spring occasion!

The full Mikado collection can be viewed here – the color combinations are absolutely fantastic!!

Will you be incorporating any Mikado pieces into your Easter and spring-themed tablescapes?!? We’d love to hear how you incorporate color and we hope we’ve inspired you to think a bit outside the box with your upcoming tablescapes!

Photos by Rustic White Photography.

Four Reasons to Register your Wedding Gifts with steve mckenzie’s

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Get engaged over the holidays? First of all… Congrats! Second, where will you register?!? It’s a question you’ll hear a lot between now and the big day, and deservedly so. Your loved ones want to gift you with that something special, when each time you see it, you think of them.

We encourage you to give your loved ones an opportunity to gift you with items you’ll treasure forever, things you can’t find in a big box store – all while shopping small and local. Register with steve mckenzie’s!

Gien earthenware
Gien Pont aux Choux in Taupe

Why? Here are four reasons we think you’ll be just as head-over-heels for steve mckenzie’s wedding registry as you are with your fiance:

  1. Unique offerings – steve mckenzie’s carries items you won’t see at every chain store. Everything we offer is painstakingly selected by Steve and Jill McKenzie, our own husband and wife team with loads of homemaking and entertaining experience.

    An assortment of R. Wood Pottery, handmade in Athens, GA.
    An assortment of R. Wood Pottery, handmade in Athens, GA.
  2. People LOVE to give special gifts – We make it easy for you to select truly special items for your registry, which your guests will love gifting! steve mckenzie’s offers so much more than tableware – let your loved ones give something as unique as you and your fiance for your big celebration!

    A smaller-scale original work of art by Steve McKenzie - ideal for beginning your family's collection.
    A smaller-scale original work of art by Steve McKenzie – ideal for beginning your family’s collection.
  3. One of a kind art gifts – Our team spends a lot of time creating and curating original artworks that would help to make any house feel like a home. Pick pieces you’ll love forever and add them to your registry. Even small works of art can be the jumping off point for your home’s design. Give someone an opportunity to give your new family the gift of art.
  4. It’s easy! – Registering and shopping registries with steve mckenzie’s is so simple! You’ll work with our team, who will help guide you through the registry process, selecting items you’ll use – and possibly pass down for generations. When it’s time to shop, your guests are welcome to peruse our store, or simply call in to place an order. steve mckenzie’s offers complimentary gift wrapping, and has even been known to make hand deliveries.

    A classic mint julep cup by Match Pewter - use for cocktail hour, a petite vase, or even utensil holder for your buffet!
    A classic mint julep cup by Match Pewter – use for cocktail hour, a petite vase, or even utensil holder for your buffet!

We hope you’ll consider working with our team to create a truly unique registry for your upcoming wedding celebration. Please contact us today with any questions or to get started!

How to Add Color… Effortlessly

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So many of our design clients come to us looking to add a splash of color to their space. Many of these people have fantastic taste and collections of timeless pieces that will easily fit into a new design. However, these savvy folks always shy away from color… Why?

add color

It seems like many people understand the value of starting with a neutral base for any space. And while we think neutrals are a necessity, we also believe in adding personality, drama and even a bit of pizzazz with some very bold color. Be it in an amazingly bright wallpaper, a brilliant hued upholstery job, or funky custom pillows with contrast piping, there are unlimited ways to effortlessly add splashes of color to your neutral spaces!

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Petite glass vases, like these hand blown pieces by Blenko, available in a rainbow of colors and sizes at steve mckenzie’s. And don’t forget what an impact a few cut flowers, or even a bit of greenery can add to a space. Not only does it add color, it also adds the perfect soft touch.

TC45

These vintage surplus pillows from All Souls Mercantile are sure to add the perfect subtle touch of color. They’d be ideal in a lake house, or space with a bit of western flare. But, don’t let our ideas limit you – there are so many ways these pieces can add personality to a design!

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Your tabletop will truly come to life with a bright napkin, bit of colorful Royal Crown Derby china by Mikado and even a vibrantly colored acrylic glass, which is just as durable as it is attractive!

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The team here at steve mckenzie’s are rockstars at textile pairings, and creating memorable pillow arrangements, thanks to colorful fabrics and trims. If you’s like to achieve a similar look, but don’t quite know where to start, reach out to our team today!

Now, who needs a pair of shades to give their eyes a rest after enjoying such a color rich post?!?