Med Tan’s striking color choice for her tablescape earned her a few followers on Instagram. She chose to embrace loud, happy colors and prints over the monochromatic themes that became so popular among Filipino homeowners during the pandemic lockdowns.
“Color sets the mood, di ba? Do not be afraid to use it. It plays a vital role in a person’s frame of mind. It can sway thinking and cause reactions. I love using cheerful colors. After all, the reason people dine together is to create happy memories around the table,” Tan said.
She discovered the joys of tablescaping by accident. She asked her friend, Margot Uy (@makeartfromtheheartph on Facebook and Instagram), to help her set up a Filipino-themed Christmas dining table to impress balikbayan visitors in 2019. Uy discovered the treasures Tan had in her cupboards and took items from her Christmas tree.
Escape from reality
is often featured in Tan’s table settings.
“I didn’t even recognize my own table! I still remember what she told me, ‘Think outside the box, use what you have,” Tan said.
She found time to test her hand at tablescaping during the lockdowns. That’s when she thought of making ordinary meal times into extraordinary events.
“Setting up the table became my escape from reality and alleviated my fear of the unknown during those dark times,” she said.
Tan posts her tablescapes on Instagram (@itstartedwithaplate). It has since become her love language. Tan says that her mother-in-law often sends her a message asking if her in-laws could eat in their home, promising to bring the food. Tan only has to set the table.
Tan’s tablescape starts with her plates, hence her Instagram handle. The accessories are always based on her plates. She has amassed quite a few and she has lost count of how many sets she has.
Tan has the most interesting plates. She sources them from different places, including Rustan’s, Crate & Barrel, West Elm, Williams Sonoma and vintage sellers. Locally, she buys plates from renowned pottery artist Ugu Bigyan.
Other collectors will surely drool at Tan’s collection. On her table, you will often spot the popular Bordallo Pinheiro Green Cabbage and Maria Flor plates.
Tan uses plates to express her political stance, too. She used pink rose patterns to show where her allegiance lies. She found solace from the Haddon Hall collection of Minton after the election results—the iconic floral design sat proudly on top of a locally woven placemat.
Tan also decorated her table in blue and white to show support for Ukraine. She used another plate printed with an English bulldog sitting on books to celebrate her dog’s first birthday. When they are craving Japanese or Korean, she decorates her table accordingly, too.
Non-negotiable
There are always Filipino elements in her designs. It is her non-negotiable. Her current favorites are the handwoven placemats, runners and napkins that she sourced from different provinces through Likhang Balai and Zarah Juan.
Her tabletop accessories like the lamps and vases are from C&C (@candc.ph).
“I am also a fan of this clay artist in Tiaong, Quezon,” she said. “I’m amazed by our Filipino artisans, their craftsmanship is world-class.”
Her favorite moments are when friends overseas send her messages, asking where she gets her local items. It’s a proud Filipino moment for her.
She doesn’t follow any rules and she likes to experiment. But some details are constants. Fresh flowers are also a must because they update and transform the table’s look, she said. They also don’t have to be bought. She uses what she finds in her garden and even from her neighbor’s. Alternately, she uses leaves and houseplants in her decor.
“I like using candles. Placing the salad, fruits and charcuterie board on the table is also a favorite practice. They add color and life to my tablescape,” she said.
Tan uses just about everything including soju and wine bottles, pitchers and lamps. The best accessories are the ones you can spot around you, she said.
On top of the loud colors, she also likes to use tablecloths with just as glaring prints. She uses solid-colored placemats and dinnerware to balance them out.
“It is the safest way to simplify the look. Placing a table napkin on top of the dishes or in between the dinner and salad plates will also help,” she said.
Tan’s tablescapes are not just a design goal. It’s also a way of getting to know the woman who loves colors.