Welcome to the 824th Tablescape Thursday! Busy day here today, as workmen have been arriving this morning to get started on replacing/repairing the sheetrock that was damaged recently when the hose to my icemaker decided to spring a leak behind the refrigerator. Now that the floors are all refinished, they will be working in both the kitchen and the basement. I can’t wait to see it all finished and completed, which should be done in about a week.
I received a most welcome email yesterday from Elena, perfect timing for this week’s Tablescape Thursday! Elena said, “This table was inspired by your “Use what you have” mantra. When I was a kid, my parents had a great (I thought) monkey statue in our sun room. It is now in our den, but everyone hates it! LOL!!! Elvis Presley had a few of these in the jungle room in Graceland, but most people think he’s a little scary!!!!!”
“Anyway, when we were in an antique shop, we came across a wonderful zebra statue I just HAD to have—a friend for my monkey!!! LOL!!! Over the years we have added some elephants and other wild animals to the collection, so I thought a safari themed table would be great.”
Oh my gosh, I love Elena’s sense of humor! She and I think so much alike, I would be shopping for friends for Mr. Monkey, too. Hahaha! And the zebra she found, he is awesome! Ever since I went on a “safari” in Kenya a few years back, I love anything that hints of safari and the wonderful animals you see during a trip to Africa. I would love to go back one day!
Elena shared, “The fabric square in the center is a scarf. The elephant vases were from Pier One years ago, and I added binoculars, a globe and a vintage camera. I actually have quite a bit more elephant statues, rhino bookends, some wooden carvings and more, but I would need to add at least one extra leaf to the table to fit some of those! I also have a long leopard print scarf with fringe that would work on a longer table.” Elena, we definitely need a second safari table, would love to see how you use the other pieces in your collection in another table!
I love that Elena chose a black tablecloth for this table setting! It creates such a beautifully dramatic background and contrasts so nicely with the dinnerware. Elena said, “The tablecloth was relatively inexpensive, and I really needed something I can wash and dry easily to use the dining room more often. I purchased several colors.” (Tablecloth is available in 22 colors here: Tablecloth for Parties, Table Settings.)
The dinnerware Elena used for her safari themed table is Tropical Jungle by Siddhia Hutchinson and is stamped: Andrea by Sadek. Elena said, “I found the salad plates on eBay, and while searching for them, I found a few large, what I thought were platters that were by the same artist. I liked them SO much, I was willing to pay the price for a set of chargers IF they all looked good together. Well, I purchased a pair relatively inexpensive, and they looked great, but when I turned them over, I found they were NOT food safe. UGH!!!! I really don’t want to take any chances, so I went on Amazon and purchased round raffia chargers to use instead. Less expensive, they go with SO many themes, and I can definitely use them outdoors in summer!” (Raffia Chargers are available here: Raffia Chargers.)
Love the colors in this dinnerware!
I wonder if these are the chargers that Elena mentioned being labeled as not food safe? Personally, I think I would still use them as chargers since the food won’t actually be touching them. They are beautiful and they look so perfect with the plates!
Love, love, love these plates! About the napkins, Elena said, “I wanted palm tree or bamboo napkins, but the only ones I could find ship from China and I did not want to wait. I like the colorful ones I chose instead—they pick up colors from the salad plates and will look good either outdoors or in the fall, also!” (Napkins are available here: Colorful Cloth Napkins.)
Bamboo flatware is so perfect for a safari-themed table, and I love how it looks with the raffia chargers and the colors in the dinnerware! (Faux Bamboo flatware is available here: Bamboo Flatware.)
The real star of the show is this guy, though! Wow! What a beautiful piece, and he’s absolutely perfect in this safari themed table.
I love the globe, the binoculars, the camera—perfect for a photographic safari!
Love the bird’s eye view from above!
Thanks so much to Elena for sharing this wonderful safari-themed table setting! I love everything about it! Looking forward to seeing all the beautiful tables linked below this week! I hope you have a wonderful 4th of July!
Tablescape Thursday
If you are participating in Tablescape Thursday, please be sure to add your permalink below, and not your general blog address. To get your permalink, click on your post name, then copy and paste the address showing in the address bar, into the “url” box when you link up. You’ll need to include a link in your post back to the party to link up and participate. That’s so visitors to your blog will be able to find the party and the other Tablescape Thursday participants. Requiring a link back also prevents businesses and scammers from linking up to sell their products. Please, don’t add your post name/blog name ALL IN CAPS…it tends to create big spaces between the rows of links. Please do not link up table settings that were just recently shared in the last few weeks for Tablescape Thursday.
Oh how fun!! Elena has done it again, and you’re right – I love her sense of humor! The zebra is beautiful and the color scheme is perfectly safari! Love those salad plates too. Thanks to both of you for the inspiration! And thanks for hosting. I can’t wait to see your finished kitchen either!
Thank You Barbara! At first I thought the colors were too much for my dining room, but I am beginning to really like it!!
Wow, love this tablescape! Too bad no one loves the monkey but Elena, I love him and love the partner she got for him in the Zebra! Ha, yes Elvis Presley has a few monkey’s at Graceland. I was blessed to visit Graceland in 2019. Susan, you would love the den at Graceland, even the furniture is a jungle theme. The press dubbed it the “Jungle Room” but for Elvis it was just the den. He also has a money down in the TV room in the basement. I think they are fun. Fun note, Elvis had a pet monkey that would get in all kinds of trouble, especially for looking up the ladies dresses. Haha Hope all goes well with the house fixes/improvements! Hugs, Brenda
Thank You Brenda! Every time someone complains about my monkey I inform them that Elvis had the same one in the jungle room and they look at me like I am insane. I think it’s a generational thing!!!!!
Everything on the table is beautiful, I especially love that globe
Thank You so much! I believe the globe was from TJMaxx several years ago.
What a gorgeous table! Tables with lots of color tend to be favorites for me, and this one is just so pretty. Many thanks to Elena and you, Susan, for sharing it.
And, for what it’s worth, to my eyes that monkey statue is fabulous!!
Thank You Ann! I love my monkey and can’t understand why everyone thinks it’s scary!!!
I am “WILD” about this tablescape!!! Well done!!(and…I have the large version of that vase from Pier 1…) BooHoo…i Miss “that” store… ❤️. franki
Thank you Franki, I LOVE that, LOL…..OMG I have the large vase also! Actually it’s HUGE………I wanted to put it on the landing behind the table but no one was around to help me lift it!!!
Well done Elena. I love the zebra. Is the monkey marble? I have had to move a ton of stuff in my garage because I am getting some work done. I came across a ceramic bathroom set that was yellow with tiger stripes. So help me, I don’t remember buying them. LOL Oh, the themes we have had over the years, and the things we gave away and regretted. I had to stop thrift shopping because I loved everything and hated to see grandma’s collections separated. BTW My uncle had a pet monkey many years ago. Not a good pet.
I have heard that about monkeys! No, mine is ceramic. How it did not get broken over several moves I don’t know! Oh My! There are SO many things I wish I did not get rid of, especially since I got into tablescapes !!! Mostly fabrics that would have made great tablecloths or runners………HHhhmmmm, I think I did save some great paisley fabric……..may be on my next table scape! LOL!!!
A great theme tablescape! Very clever! Kudos to Elena!
Thanks so much Maureen!!! I had fun putting it together!
Elena, such a creative table. Mr. Zebra really steals the show, doesn’t he? Lucky Mr. Monkey needed a friend, lol.
There are so many elements that I like, but the original chargers with the bamboo edge are “purrfect” with the salad plates. And even though I love the idea of palm tree napkins, these napkins worked out great. The color complements the salad plates and they bring texture and brightness to the table. The bamboo flatware you found is so cute and is very affordable! Thank you for that tip. The layered scarf brings interest and the touristy items like the camera and binoculars really sell the theme. Very cute table. Thanks for sharing it with us.
I agree with Susan though. We need a second safari table with some of the other items you mentioned. 😀
Thank you so much Pam………I maybe working on that extension this weekend, stay tuned!!!!!!
Very interesting tablescape. I so want to plop a few tall fern stems in those vases..long enough that only the stems would be in the way of viewing each other. Sort of demands some exotic foods, for a very lively table conversation.
OOOhhhhh, I love the idea of greenery in the vases! OMG I have some silk bird of paradise I HAVE to try out!!!!! One of the Easter table I did had huge silk arrangements in antique depression glass vases………I just removed them prior to everyone sitting down and it worked out great. I have thought about extending the theme to the server in the dining room, or bar outside under the pavilion but it never dawned on me to taylor the menu to the theme as well!!!! Food for thought, LOL!!!!!!
I lovw your safari table setting and your inspirational monkey and zebra are adorable . Your pieces all come together so well and I really love the whole look. Thank you for posting here to inspire the rest of us. This website always brings the joy.
Thank you SO much Rose!!! It’s so nice when others appreciate what takes time and effort to put together!
Hello again , was out running errands today and came across monkey lamps at my local Winners . Wanted to post a photo of them here but not sure how to do that. They look very similat to your safari monkey .If you are interested and can explain a simple way for me to forward the two photos -one monkey is white the other gold will happily oblige.
Hi Rose, you can email them to [email protected] .
Unfortunately, there’s not a way to post one in the comments section.