Simple

Simple

Coffee Table Alternative

We stayed with a friend in NYC this weekend at her elegant apartment.  Instead of the usual coffee table, her living areas had large, upholstered ottomans.  Since ottomans don't provide a steady surface on which to place a drink, each ottoman was topped with a decorative tray.  This eliminated the need for coasters, which I'm always corralling and stacking on my coffee table.  

I searched online for decorative trays and my favorites were these boldly patterned trays by Madeline Weinrib (available at Barneys).   Unfortunately, they are beyond my budget, but have a look and see what you think: 



The black and cream chevron print is my favorite



A pretty fabulous black and cream Ikat print 


Even the plain, black tray from Barneys is pricey.

This had me thinking that maybe I could make my own tray.  Craft stores will probably carry unfinished wood square trays in the same shape as Madeline Weinrib's (I've seen them somewhere...) and maybe I could decoupage them in decorative paper.  My favorite papers are from PaperMojo:



Black and gold chevron print (currently sold out)



I love this brown and cream Japanese print


This bold black and cream print would be fun.


Another bold black and cream Japanese print



Black and gold print



Another Japanese print, this time in black and cream


Black and gold leaf print



Black and chestnut-brown


The same print in black and cream

Do you have any experience with decoupage?  I'm not sure this is much of hobby for anyone (other than John Derian), given all the technology available this days. If you have any tips, I'd love to hear them.


12 comments:

  1. Hi Deborah ~
    I hope you had a wonderful time in NYC. Tom and I were just up there a week ago. We are in Maine right now......really beautiful and not croweded. The trays from Madeline Weinrib are so stylish and graphic....love the chevron one best! In addition to decougpage, you could even paint your own using blue painter's tape.
    xoxo
    Loi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Loi - NYC was so much fun! There is nothing like Maine in summer though. I'm not sure I have the patience for all the taping it would take to paint a similar tray, but like the idea.
      Deborah

      Delete
  2. How beautiful. Hope you had fun in NYC. Are you going to share more from your trip?!!

    xo Terri

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Terri - I didn't take any photos in NYC (why, I don't know!). We spent the day Sunday at the US Open--great fun.
      Deborah

      Delete
  3. Martha Stewart's craft book has instructions for paper decoupage with a layer of laquer on top, if I remember correctly. Those trays are adorable. I'd love to see it if you decide to make one.

    Keri

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the tip, Keri. I'm going to check out that book.

      Delete
  4. Great idea! I do like the Chevron too! You have very good taste!
    I just looked at them at Barney's web site... cough cough!
    I've seen some nice trays at Zgallerie- their Songbird tray might catch your eye!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Liz - Thanks for the idea. I'm going to check out Zgallerie.
    Deborah

    ReplyDelete
  6. That ikat one really caught my eye. I have a few wooden pull out trays from our old 1950s kitchen cabinets and your post has given me some ideas, thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hey Deborah,
    Great to see another of your posts. I love the tray's available at Barney's, but even more I love the papers from MoJo's. I have never tried decoupage, but think the result would be fabulous. Finding the tray might be tricky. Good luck.
    b

    ReplyDelete
  8. I haven't decoupaged for some time. I know you can do it though; just be just to smooth out any wrinkles or ridges in the fabric/ or paper before the mod podge dries!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to comment. Your comments are part of what makes blogging worthwhile! In an effort to control spam, comments are moderated and word verification has been enabled. Apologies for any inconvenience.