I like to think of my apartment as an atelier—not a studio, an atelier—which is no doubt part of the reason I find the photos of this dinner party so appealing. Held in a lofty, skylit artist's studio in East Nashville, Tennessee, the event was designed and styled by Jenn Elliot Blake of A Blog Named Scout for the latest print issue of Anthology Magazine. Complete with painter's drop cloths, splatter-painted brushes in earthenware jars, wild vines, and, of course, art on the walls, the whole scene is something we'd like to recreate.
Above: Jenn and painter Emily Leonard, whose studio this is, pulled together the dining table, with help from Emily's husband, Sloane, who actually built the table for the occasion. The rustic benches were rented from a nearby antique shop. The painter's drop cloth was left as is (paint and oil stains included) to anchor the setup. Photographs by Amy Dickerson for Anthology Magazine.
Above L: The studio is set in a mid-century industrial space; the paintings on display are Emily's own. Above R: New and old brushes in ceramic mugs are mingled with the floral centerpieces.
Above: Jenn gathered greenery from Emily's mother's garden: stems of Lenten roses, local vines, and bright green hellebores.
Above: Recreate Sloane's homemade table with Ikea's birch Norden Extendable Table, which seats eight to ten; $429. The accompanying Norden Bench is also made of birch; $69.99 each. Or create your own table from found parts: see DIY: An Old-Meets-New Dining Table (for under $125).
Above: A painter's Canvas Drop Cloth makes a great tablecloth as well as floor cloth; the 9-by-12-foot size is $26 from Gempler's. Original photography shot with the Canon EOS 5D Mark III digital SLR. The filmmaker's camera.
Above: The go-to water glasses: Ball's 8oz Quilted Crystal Jelly Mason Jars ($10.99 for 12) and 16 oz Wide Mouth Mason Jars ($12.99 for 12), both from Ace Hardware.
Above: From Clam Lab studios in Brooklyn, New York, the Pasta/Entrée Bowl in white stoneware is finished with a gloss white interior and satin exterior; $50 each.
Above: Source silverplated flatware in mismatched sets from flea markets, or consider Bygones Flatware Bundles, which include 10 pieces (choose from fork, knife, or spoon sets); currently on sale for $24 at Bhldn.
Above: Anthropologie's Latte Bowls introduce a dose of color to the table. They're also available in white and seven other colors; $20 for a set of four.
Above: For large parties, Ikea's Svalka White Wine Glasses are good to have on hand in multiples; $4.79 for a set of six. For more ideas, see our post, 10 Easy Pieces: Entertaining Essentials.
Above: A collection of Artist's Loft Marseille Brushes in various lengths, brush shapes, and fibers are available through Michaels. Photograph via Meredith Arnold.
Above: Create name tags by sourcing an inexpensive Flat Chip Paint Brush ($9.97 for a pack of 15 from The Home Depot) and splatter painting the handle. Then attach a name card using a Brass Thumb Tack ($4.51 for a pack of 200 from Amazon). Drawing paper works well as placemats. These display the menu, made using an old-fashioned plastic label maker (such as the Dymo Organizer Xpress, $9.79 from Walmart) and affixing the labels to a sturdy piece of cardboard—Jenn then overlaid the cardboard with paper and used colored pencil to create a menu rubbing.
Above: From Small Batch Productions on Etsy, the Linen Red Stripe Dish Towel is made from 100 percent linen and sewn in house; $22 each.
Ready to take the look to the next level? Drape yourself in one of these 7 Studio-Inspired Smocks and your furniture in Canvas Drop Cloths (as instant decor).