Interior designer Ivy Pierce and artist Beth Hammack know that “got-to-have-it” feeling well: that thrill when you see something special and instantly connect with its beauty, craftsmanship or nature. You’ve got to have it.
Both ladies have highly curated collections—items procured from estate sales, quaint shops, travel and family—with design potential. Located in Hammack’s basket-adorned kitchen, this fall setting showcases such treasures. Each item was selected and displayed with care, and together, they present a curious “high-low” juxtaposition. Consider how formal silver pieces line the rustic tabletop, and fine porcelain plates are offset by woven placemats. A closer look reveals some interesting histories.
The china, with its delicate gold inlay, was produced by Hutschenreuther Selb Bavaria sometime between 1857 and 1920, according to the unique identifying stamp on the back. The silver pattern is a more recognizable and popular Wallace Grand Baroque. The distinctive serving pieces, which are sterling silver gilded in brass, have intricate Mayflower ships on top. They were purchased in Cape Cod and are poised here for that all-important job: serving favorite foods on Thanksgiving Day.
The walnut table with claw legs is Old English, circa 1880. Woven mid-century chairs surround it. Hammack noted that she never uses a tablecloth, as she loves the table’s organic nature. She also pointed out the silver stemmed wine glasses she found, already engraved with “JCH,” her husband’s initials. The Austrian handmade placemats resemble those Hammack always adored when dining at her mother’s home. Now she has a set of her own.
Warm neutrals in various textures are spotted throughout this setting. Arranged inside a wicker vase, the dried hydrangeas were plucked from Pierce’s own Limelight hydrangea bush at the end of the summer blooming season. The key to preserving them, she said, is to cut the green blooms before they turn pink and when the petals have that “paper-like” feel. Once cut, place them in water with one capful of bleach. Then, you can enjoy the blooms throughout the fall and winter.
The block-print ochre napkins are a perfect complement to the forged iron napkin rings, sourced from Ruby Lane. The rings’ rugged shape resembles bare tree branches, ideal imagery for the season. The French military bronze statue and assorted pumpkins break up the table setting’s formal symmetry while adding visual interest.
Each item could stand on its own; each prompts a story—a place, a time, a memory. However, the collectibles also blend beautifully together, making this table as captivating as a “got-to-have-it” moment. A sentimental and seasonal table, all set for loved ones: You’ve got to have it.
