Today, I’m sharing a coastal buffet table to accompany the Don’t Be Crabby sea life tablescape, featured in July’s Alfresco Blog Hop.
If you’ve been wondering why you haven’t heard from me of late, it’s because I was off on a Incredible Iceland Adventure! I can’t wait to share the fabulous pictures of waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes, whales and more. But, first I need to regroup, catch-up on domestic matters and readjust to not having 20 hours of daylight.
While I was in Iceland, I didn’t take a computer or have access to my blog. That’s why your comments went unanswered until Monday. I also got all mixed up on calendar dates and accidentally set Don’t Be Crabby Coastal Table on the Covered Porch to publish a week before the blog hop!
Unlike the Don’t Be Crabby tablescape, the coastal buffet table is Not So Crabby with a lobster, whale, and even a boat and lighthouse.
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A Coastal Buffet Table Starts with a Fishnet
I gave you this peek of the Not So Crabby coastal buffet table at the end of Don’t Be Crabby Coastal Tablescape.
To start, I spread a large fishnet over the buffet, which is actually an antique wallpaper hanger table.
When I saw it at a local shop, I just couldn’t stop thinking about it. But, it was rather expensive. Happily, hubby made it my birthday gift.
We brought home the nine-foot table and I immediately applied a marine-grade polyurethane — since it spends months outdoors on the covered porch. Every spring and fall I use beeswax on the wood to keep it from drying out.
Several of my friends have threatened to steal it off the porch when we are out-of-town LOL!
Because the wallpaper table collapses and even folds in half, it’s easy to bring into the garage to store in the winter months. I often set it up in the game room to display my Department 56 North Pole Village. See it in A Tour of the Magical North Pole.
Whatever Floats Your Boat
Starting on the left side of the coastal buffet table, is this large metal boat with rope handles. I usually fill it with ice and bottles of wine and beer, or carafes of ice tea and infused water.
Sitting next to the boat ice “bucket” is an anchor candle holder I’ve had since college. The iron anchor was a gift from my big sis, when I was initiated into the sorority. Anchors are our symbol.
I’ve tossed a crab boil towel over the side of the boat for handy use.
The towel is from Anthropologie, and matches the cocktail napkins used in the Don’t Be Crabby tablescape.
Buffet Table Provides Elbow Room
The round glass table on the porch seats five. But, it’s a more comfortable fit for just four — when the table is set for a meal. Still, that leaves little to no room for food and drinks.
That’s when the side wallpaper table works out perfectly for serving. The coastal buffet table is conveniently placed right behind the dining table, with easy access to the grill (under the adjacent pergola) and kitchen.
Set out on the coastal buffet table are numerous serving pieces and table accessories. In the back is a grey utensil caddy (Home Goods). It was one of the three items I selected during last year’s Favorite Things Party, Breakfast at Tiffany’s Brunch.
The little bowl is part of the same Nantucket dish pattern (Kohl’s), featured in the Don’t Be Crabby tablescape. I usually use it to hold sliced lemons. Do you have any coastal motif tableware or serving pieces?
Also from the Nantucket collection is this ceramic crab bucket. Here, I have it holding extra large blue and white checked napkins with coral rings (Home Goods). They come in handy when eating king crab legs or other shelled seafood. Usually, the bucket gets moved to the table to hold empty shells.
Very versatile for a variety of purposes is this large seashell bowl. Sometimes I use it as a table centerpiece. Often, the seashell is a server for salad, corn-on-the-cob, or steamed mussels. Filled with ice, the bowl looks pretty topped with cocktail shrimp and lemons.
Another versatile served is the covered lobster bowl. For a meal of king crab legs, it usually holds a rice dish. Other times, it may hold a slaw or fruit salad.
A Whale of a Basket
Here is the Moby Dick whale basket many readers spotted in the background of the Don’t Be Crabby post. Finding him was pure serendipity.
I was across town for a doctor’s appointment and had to time to kill. There he was in Tuesday Mornings‘ front window. I went inside thinking, “it’s OK Debbee, it’ll be too expensive.” Moby was the only one they had, and he was marked down to $25. Storage be darned, home he came! Moby “winters” in the garage with the boat and wallpaper table.
Although awkward to store, the three-part lobster serving dish is one of my favorites from the Nantucket collection. He’s great for holding a crab or lobster spread, sauces or hors d’oeuvres.
Most of the season, he and most of the tableware are inside as Kitchen Coastal Decor for Summer.
Remember the lobster’s fellow crustacean server from the Don’t Be Crabby post?
Aren’t they a dynamic duo?
Beacon of Light
Although I have overhead lights on a dimmer, most of the time I light candles in the evening on the porch.
This is one of two large grey wood and white metal lanterns decorating the porch (At Home). Do you have one in your area? It’s defined as a home decor superstore. I had been eyeing pricey Pottery Barn lanterns when I spotted these at just 25% of the cost!
I filled the bottoms around the candles with sand and seashells. Here’s the second, larger lantern that sits on the floor in a corner. I like that you can see it from the kitchen dining area inside.
Not the best picture as no matter what time of day I tried, there was always a lot of glare.
Sitting on a side table, is this little lighthouse lantern.
My deck had just been finished the day I went shopping for the first time At Home with two friends. I had so much stuff, they had to help me push two loaded carts around the store!
Dropping Anchor
On the right-hand side of the coastal buffet table are a few more accessories and decor pieces. That includes a nautical paper napkin holder (Home Goods). Eating shellfish is messy, so you can never have enough napkins!
I’m constantly picking up themed paper products when they are on clearance for the next year’s season or holiday. They make nice hostess gifts too.
Included in a hotel gift bag for an out-0f-town, yacht club wedding, was this cute seahorse bottle opener.
And, the bottle filled with shells was a birthday gift. M always gives me something that ties into one of my theme passions — peacocks, bees, or other tableware collections.
Holding sugar packets for those who like to sweeten their tea or coffee is this lighthouse lidded jar (Marshall’s). It usually sits next to my coffee station on the kitchen counter. Even though the lighthouse jars came in three different sizes and color combinations, I resisted and only bought the one.
Every time I see something nautical or coastal I’m tempted to buy it for my sister’s waterfront home in Charleston. But, B has even less storage space than I do.
So, I was thrilled when she asked me to make her the DIY Anchors Aweigh Sailboat Wreath.
Alfresco Tablescape Blog Hop, The Sequel
Hope you’ve enjoyed seeing my Not So Crabby coastal buffet table and Don’t Be Crabby tablescape. Do you set a coastal or alfresco table during the summer?
Hosted by Chloe of Celebrate & Decorate, twenty bloggers share their alfresco styled tablescapes. Ariel also created a table with the Kate Spade lobster tablecloth I used in Don’t Be Crabby. Mary set a nautical table for two on her boat. And Ann used a unseaworthy row boat for her darling Life is a Boat of Cherries alfresco meal.
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Friday
Rita’s bee theme tablescape has me thinking of driving to West Virginia to pilfer! Seriously Rita, better lock your doors LOL!
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I regularly participate in: Metamorphous Monday, Share Your Style, Tablescape Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things, Saturday Sparks, Happiness is Homemade, and Love Your Creativity.
Debbee, welcome back (20 hrs of daylight, wow!). I really enjoyed this 2 part coastal crabby themed dinner and buffet layout. I do have a few versatile pieces to create coastal/nautical/ beachy looks, but nothing so cohesive as what you have here! And I totally get the hard to store comment with the big things. I am totally in love with that napkin holder with monkey knot weight!! There are tons of great pieces used here though, not to mention that table. I’d be one of your friends who’d threaten to take it off the porch too!
I get so into a tablescape theme I can’t bee stopped! I’m wondering if there is a support group for that? The storage issue is presently keeping me in check. Have you ever come across a vintage wallpaper table? I did a little research and I guess they are hard to find (because they are not made of quality wood, and took a lot of wear and tear). I think it’d make a great sofa table for a really long sectional.
I”m thinking of buying lobster pots. Before too long the Georgia mountains will be meeting up with the Atlantic. All this rain we are experiencing is more than I can handle. After all, how many rain boots can one have? Different colors, florals etc. It’s whats on the shopping list these days. Creek in the back of the property a raging river. Your whale is really what I need (fabulous) along with assorted crab dishes. Made lobster rolls last week for friends. Who doesn’t like to sit around a table with crustaceans?
I can hardly wait to see the pictures from the land of the midnight sun and Vikings. T. and family came back saying no place like it. They want to go back. I will now put on my waders, grab a fly rod and see what the daily catch is at the grocery store. Maybe crab?
All this rain with flooding on the east coast and horrific fires out west… Seeing the dramatic retreat of glaciers in Iceland and Alaska really gives you pause about global warming. I hope you dry out soon.
Love all this water themed stuff! And I get compliments on my wreath almost everyday! B
It’s ironic I have all this tableware when you’re the one living on the water with a boat! Maybe on a future visit we can put a tablescape together on the boat for the blog?
I really enjoyed this 2-part coastal crabby themed dinner party/buffet. I especially love that wallpaper table (I have never heard of them before) and the lobster tablecloth is just too cute! I have a few of the same pieces from the Kohl’s Sonoma collection that you have, and have used them for several seafood boil parties with friends and family. You have inspired me to get them out again this summer.
So glad you enjoyed it Lauri! I had never heard of the wallpaper table before either; it was such a great find. That’s so neat you have the same Kohl’s pattern — do you have any pieces I don’t?
What a great buffet table! Now you’ve got me craving crab!! :) Love that whale container.
He seems to be everyone’s favorite. So glad I happened by Tuesday Morning that day!
Hi Debbee, I have been a quiet admirer of yours for quite a while. I so enjoy your blog and all of your decorating photos and ideas. Having a cottage on Cape Cod, this is one of my favorites. However, I have to tell you that I am an elementary school librarian, and I do a unit on Alice in Wonderland with our 5th graders. I spend about three months sharing the book and the life and times of Charles Dodgson/Lewis Carroll. At the end of the unit, I have an “Unbirthday Party” to celebrate with the children. Every Halloween, I dress as one of the characters from the book. Although I’m often the Queen of Hearts, I think that I’ll be the Mad Hatter this year. We are kindred spirits…Thank you for all of the inspiration that I receive from your sharing!!! (Just for fun, I’m putting my professional blog address for you. I take the summer off, and I’ll start posting again this week.)
Hi Marjorie, it’s so very nice to hear from you! I love reading comments, hearing what you like, and getting to know you. You live in such a beautiful place, and have a wonderful profession. It was really neat hearing about the Wonderland book unit, and Unbirthday Party! Please do share pix from this year’s party and you in costume to buzz@debbeesbuzz.com — I’d love to see them! There are still more Wonderland posts to come on the menu, gift exchange, etc. Just don’t want folks to overdose on Alice!
So adorable and so coastal, Debbee! Love the lanterns you shared, too! Right up my alley! ;-) Hope to see you at Tuesday Turn About tomorrow!
Glad you enjoyed the table Julie. I’ve had those lanterns for a number of years now, and they’ve held up nicely. And a really good value too!
Fantastic coastal tablescape to greet your guests. I would be delighted to be invited to a party decorated like yours. Happy summer, Kippi
Thanks so much Kippi — and if you’re ever in Pittsburgh, stop on by!
Hi Debbee!
What a fun coastal buffet! I love that napkin holder and crab bucket! Seafood feasts are my favorite and this theme fits perfectly. I would love for you to share aft Homestyle Gathering.
Glad you enjoyed having a virtual seat at the table Kim! I’ll check out the linkup party.
Hi Debbee!
I’m dropping back by to let you know that you’re one of my features this week at Homestyle Gathering! Thanks so much for joining everyone and linking up! I hope you have a great day!
>>> Kim
Wow Kim, that’s terrific — thanks for the feature. It’s fun to find a great new linkup party too. Thanks for hosting and the invite.
Omg, can I come and shop your house? :-) I love all the fun pieces you have and it all goes together to make a beautiful buffet. I would love to see a tropical spread someday too.
Hi ya Erlene, hope you are having a great summer. I’ve collected my tableware over a quite a long time. And, sometimes I forget what I have once the seasonal stuff is packed away. Gotta go digging now for the tropical tableware I acquired last year — just need to remember where I stashed it LOL!
I love, love, love your décor. The pieces are amazing and the coastal table is so pretty. I’ll be featuring you on my Sunday’s Best linkup. Thanks for sharing on Sunday’s Best.
Wow Rhonda, that’s great — especially since I just discovered your fun party! You might also enjoy this follow-up post; Kitchen Coastal Decor for Summer, Part 1. Working on Part 2 today!
What a beautiful and inviting table! I love all things coastal, so this really appeals to me, I also happen to have that exact same whale basket, although mine did not come with the metal dish inserted. You are giving me ideas.
Everyone loves that whale basket Pattie, did you also find yours at Tuesday Morning? I’m sitting on the porch right now and the basket is currently holding flatware rolled up in napkins. Delighted to hear you enjoyed the buffet.
Wow, wow, wow, I just looked at your Don’t be Crabby tablescape, also. Your buffet table and tablescape are amazing.
Really nice to hear Allyson; thanks! Hoping to serve a few more meals with the setting and buffet as we are anticipating family visitors later this month.