Design Inspiration

By Jean Campbell

How did we get from this...
To this?



-->Our inspiration comes from so many different places -- art direction and costumes from feature films, fashion magazines, museums, nature or just a fabulous color.
We are always on the lookout for great ideas and they can come anytime, anywhere.

That was exactly what happened as we were all brainstorming on a tabletop for a bridal event produced by the magazine, Your Wedding Day. After an initial meeting at the office, I was thumbing through a fashion magazine and came across the ad for Dior that you saw at the start of this blog post. The next day I brought it to the team and we instantly knew what do. We all loved the color and saw the tailored pleats of the dress re-imagined as a tabletop. And here are the results...
The event was outside and each tabletop was created within an area. We framed our creation with a black-and-white-striped canopy which allowed us to hang a chandelier of mirrors.

From there we built on the theme of reflection and mirrored images anchored by that vibrant green and a very tailored table linen.


As you can see, we raised the glass tabletop up above the tabletop so we could create a diorama under it. Roses and succulents mirrored each other in a checkerboard pattern. I love the way that both are almost the same shape but so different in how and where they grow and color.

The very symmetrical lines of the checkerboard reflected wildly in the mirror squares of the chandelier creating a kaleidoscope effect. So you had this very tailored look offset with the fragmented images of the table itself.

Here's a different angle of what I'm talking about.
Then add to this a black-and-white placesetting that introduced an entirely new set of lines, patterns and shapes. The best design is layered -- one visual element on another on another until the entire picture comes into focus.

The table skirting was dramatically laced up at each corner, adding an element of couture fashion. White leather pod seating and a stenciled floor helped emphasize and show off the table design. And stencils on the floor tied in the patterns of the mirror that hung behind the table. This same pattern was then used again on the placecards -- it was all about reflections and building on that theme layer by layer.

And the details... Jordan almonds in the same Kelly green were a beautiful, simple addition to the entire table.

It was about creating a feeling...

Of course the tabletop really didn't look like anything like the dress but the feeling the dress evoked was the same to me. It was lush, feminine and a bit of a showstopper. Not every bride would want a Kelly green, black and white wedding but to us it's all about being creative and having fun with design. The joy will translate into your event if you allow yourself and your imagination to let go.

Photos by Brilliant Studios LA