A slow Sunday table, set in ten minutes
A linen cloth, a few stems and the bowls you already have: setting a table that makes people stay.
Some of our best Sundays started with a table set in a hurry. You do not need matching plates or a centrepiece from a florist: a few honest pieces, and the patience to let the meal last.
Begin with a cloth
A washed linen tablecloth hides a worn table, muffles the noise of plates and never needs ironing. Let it fall unevenly; it looks better that way.
Mix, do not match
Hand-made bowls are never quite the same size, and that is the point. Mix two or three glazes in the same colour family and the table looks collected, not bought.
Keep the flowers low
A few stems in a small pitcher or bud vases let everyone see each other across the table. Add one candle, lit before the first guest arrives.
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