Repurposing items for your tablescape: Multi-taskers may be in your kitchen cabinets!

Egg coddlers can find a new purpose as toothpick holders

With our last few blogs on repurposing vintage pieces (salt cellars to hold cream, knife rests as spoon rests) and a recent patio dinner with friends where our hostess used egg cups and custom-shaped plates for something other than their original intentions, we wondered what other serving ware mash-ups are out there?  

We suspect that many of you have employed a single-purpose accoutrement for another use. If so, we'd love to hear how you've been creative in expanding or resurrecting the role of an item for your tablescape!

We've noted in a previous blog that the salt cellar, long retired from its raison d'etre, has risen, like the Phoenix from the ashes, to the afternoon tea table as a pretty container for individual servings of lemon curd or clotted cream. In addition, we've a noted a new use for the knife rest. And while switching the knife rest to a spoon rest doesn't seem radical (what next. . . a fork rest!?), think how nice it will be when you and your guests are done stirring milk and/or sugar in your teacup and now have a beautiful and practical resting place for your teaspoon.

Fancy toothpick holders can elevate a charcuterie board

We discovered that we have kindred spirits in the "multi-task serving pieces practice" and - I should not be surprised -  it is with my birthday twin (and BTS partner), Pam.  Last week, when she and her husband hosted a small patio dinner gathering, she used fine china egg coddlers as toothpick holders. They raised the charcuterie board to new heights.

Dips and olives served in uniquely shaped serving dishes.

But that wasn't all! Dips and olives were displayed on stylish glass dishes that had irregular shapes, like mini, elongated boats. After an inquiry about these very unusual items, Pam brought one out from her cupboard. Without humus or other condiments, the true pattern was revealed:  these were originally corn-on-the-cob holders.

Cheese and pickle dishes originally made for holding corn-on-the-cob

Repurposing serving pieces not only adds charm to your tablescape but brings new life to many of those vintage items that remain forgotten at the back of your cupboard or cabinet. They can be pretty, practical and serve as a conversation piece.

Again, we'd be delighted to see what other multi-tasking items are out there in the vast world of tablescapes. If you'd like to share (photos welcomed!), please write in the comments section or send by email at barb@barbsteaservice.com.