Our favorite part about StainTalk is getting to hear everyone’s stories and experiences. We thought we’d continue building a community of cleaning heroes with our newest feature, where we talk to people just like you, from across the country. Think we should interview you? Send us an email at info@staintalk.com
Our first featured interviewee is blogger Susan Nowell, who runs My Place to Yours. Susan’s love of vintage linens, historical restoration and tablescaping is beautifully illustrated in her blog with pictures and step-by-step guides. And don’t forget to visit Susan’s Etsy shop, where you can purchase some of her beautifully restored linens. On to the questions!
How did you become interested in tablescaping? What’s your advice for anyone who shares your passion?
My advice should probably be DON’T! because I’ll be honest and tell you that, if you’re not careful, tablescaping can be extremely addictive! However – and this is really important – it doesn’t have to be expensive! More about that in a minute…
I’m not sure when I first heard the word “tablescape,” but for as long as I can remember I’ve loved planning theme-related events. It’s so easy to plan when you get to have a one-track mind! For someone just learning to tablescape, here’s a piece of advice: start with a topical theme and work from there; it helps you stay focused. Here are some examples:
Topical themes: Beach; Cowboy; Birdhouses; Sunflowers; Baseball; Movies
Color combination themes: Black and white; Red, white and blue; Blue and white; Blue and yellow; Fall colors
Style themes: Shabby Chic; Country; Retro; Elegant, Whimsical, Italian, Asian
Besides starting with a theme, my very best advice to a new tablescaper is to invest in a set of white (or off-white) dishes. They don’t have to be expensive. I have both a set of white Gibson “Claremont” dishes I bought on sale for $20 at Big Lots and a pricier set of creamy-white Mikasa “Italian Countryside,” and I use them both – equally. A set of clear glasses/goblets is also helpful, and they don’t have to cost a lot either. One of my very favorite sets of everyday goblets came from Dollar Tree — $1 apiece! Add in your everyday flatware, and you’re well on your way to setting a nice table.
In addition to the dishes, table linens add a layer of color and texture to a tablescape. Although it’s usually hit-and-miss, thrift stores can be an excellent source of linens. I’ve occasionally found brand new placemats and napkins for pennies on the dollar compared to retail stores. I love that! I’ve also found great vintage linens. Dollar Tree sometimes has nice placemat options, too. And auctions… probably my very favorite source for linens. No matter where you find them, when you’re just starting tablescaping, it’s a good idea to put together a collection of coordinated colors so you can mix and match.
There’s a section on my blog, My Place to Yours, called How To: Tablescapes. One particular post talks about tablescaping on a budget. Unless you have unlimited resources, choosing to tablescape economically is a decision you’ll be wise to make early on!
What has been your best antique or linen “find?” Where and how did you come across it?
Oh, my goodness. I’ve been really fortunate to stumble upon some fantastic “finds” through the years. I have a stunning set of 8 huge monogrammed damask napkins that once belonged to the wife of a member of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. And just a few months ago, while going through a box of linens I bought for virtually “nothing,” I came across a damask napkin with a coat of arms design woven into it and a hand-stitched royal monogram – and two dozen additional napkins with the same coat of arms. I’m still researching them, but it seems they’re at least a century-and-a-half old.
I guess, though, I’d have to say that my old house is probably my best antique “find.” It was built in 1907, and in over 100 years we are only the third family to live in it. We were acquainted with the former owners (but had never been in the house), and after the husband died and the wife moved to a nursing home, I learned that the house was for sale. It was in a tremendous state of disrepair, but thanks to my degree in Interior Design and my husband’s background in construction, we were able to see beautiful potential. It didn’t take long before the house captured our hearts. We spent nine months making it habitable, and we’ve now lived in it for five years — and we still love it!
A great tablescape works best in a neat house. What are your favorite cleaning tips?
Well, now you’ve gone to meddling, as we say in the South! Quite honestly, cleaning is not my favorite thing to do. I love my house to BE clean, but I wish I could just blink and have it done. There are soooo many things I’d rather be doing besides cleaning, so I guess I have to say that my best cleaning tip is JUST DO IT! Seriously, when you see something that needs to be done, do it – right then! A little bit every day is a lot easier than letting things get out of hand. I’m a grown woman, for heaven’s sake – and sometimes I still struggle with taking my own advice… even though I know it works!
But when it comes to doing a tablescape for a blog – and not a dinner party – my VERY favorite “cleaning” tip is: watch your camera angles! What the camera doesn’t see… How’s that for transparency?
You live in an old house. What has been your biggest cleaning challenge since moving in?
The key words are “since moving in” — because if you’d simply asked about the biggest challenge, I’d have a really hard time deciding. You wouldn’t believe the gunk we dealt with before moving in! But since moving in I can easily say that my biggest cleaning challenge has been — and continues to be — dust. COAL dust. 100+-year-old coal dust. In most areas we’ve managed to get it under control, but there are still a couple of places where it sifts itself out of the ceiling and right onto my light-colored painted window ledges. Although we’ve never used our coal-burning fireplace (and hope to convert it to gas one day), the black, oily residue of coal dust continues… It’s a constant struggle.
How do you motivate your family to help you around the house?
I don’t have to. We’re empty nesters now, and we both just do what has to be done. Depending on who is busiest that day, the other one picks up the slack. Yes, I know how fortunate I am! When the children were young, though, I invented games. Even little ones can put a sock on their hand and “clean” the baseboards. They think it’s fun, and a little less dirt (even if not perfect) is always a good thing!
If you could invent any cleaning product that doesn’t exist, what would it be?
Well, I don’t know if this exists or not – if it does, someone please tell me! – but I’m not aware of any product for home cleaning of vintage silk or wool. Of course, I use Carbona Stain Devils to clean specific stains on other fabrics; and I use Restoration Linen Cleaner (and sell it in my Etsy shop) for cleaning storage stains on cotton and linen fabrics, but I have some silk and wool pieces that are stained – and I’m afraid to clean them.
You mentioned you’ve known about Carbona for over a dozen years. How did you discover us?
Well, one day I was driving in the car and listening to the radio. I don’t remember exactly, but I remember hearing an ad saying that every stain fell into one of ten categories. (I believe that’s now been revised to nine.) I thought, “Well, that makes sense!” — and I hoped it was true! That’s when I gave Carbona Stain Devils a run for their money on ink (from a pen leaked in the pocket of my husband’s white dress shirt) and mustard. I was converted immediately and bought several more formulations to have on hand. And yes, that was 12+ years ago!
It’s been fun joining Stain Talk for this interview – and I appreciate the feature. I hope your readers will stop by My Place to Yours for more tablescaping and vintage linen fun!
Blog: www.myplacetoyours.blogspot.com
Etsy shop: www.myplacetoyours.etsy.com
eMail: myplacetoyours@gmail.com
