Our colourful table decorations for spring are here - and they tell a story

When the first buds burst outside and the air smells of new beginnings, a new season also begins on our tables. This was precisely the idea behind our current table concept: a colourful spring table that picks up on the diversity of nature - and tells a very personal story at the same time.

For Irka's mum Karla, a moment like this begins with a quiet ritual: she opens the drawer, takes the faience crockery out of the cupboard and looks lovingly at the fine porcelain from Strasbourg - a gift from her aunt that she only uncovers on special occasions. The hand-painted faience plates bear traces of time, touch and lived life. And that is exactly what Karla loves so much: that each piece not only radiates beauty, but also preserves history. What many people don't know: Karla is a ceramist herself - she produces ceramics under her own label. The Limetree fine ceramics in her studio in Thuringia. The Yoki bowls on this table come from her hand.

Our colourful table decorations for spring are pure joie de vivre: ranunculus, hyacinths, helleborus and cowslip, combined with high-quality linen napkins in wisteria purple, antique pink glasses and shiny silver cutlery. Everything seems to have been arranged at random - and yet you can feel it with every move: someone has set the table with love. For the family. For spring. For themselves.

In this article, we invite you to immerse yourself in this world. We tell you about floral colourfulness, French craftsmanship and Saturdays at the flea market in Alsace - always in search of the magic that arises when you combine things with meaning in a new way. Perhaps you too will feel like setting the next table with old stories and new ideas?

Karla's aunt, Strasbourg & an inherited treasure

What is Fayencerie - and why is it so special?

The term „Fayencerie“ is derived from the Italian place Faenza a town in Emilia-Romagna that was famous in the late Middle Ages and early modern period for its high-quality, colourful glazed ceramics.

The Italian name „maiolica di Faenza“ became in France „faïence“, in German to „Faience“. The workshops in Faenza thus gave their name to the entire technique - even if French faience has differed significantly in style from Italian faience since the 17th century.

In contrast to classic porcelain, faience is made of softer clay, which is coated with a white, opaque glaze and then painted by hand. The region around Strasbourg is particularly well known, specifically Lunéville-Saint-Clément. The manufactory there is one of the last to still practise this art today. Characteristic are the slightly irregular shapes, the charming sheen and the delicate floral and natural motifs - each line a brushstroke, each colour a decision.

Anyone interested in faience can sometimes find real treasures at French flea markets - especially in Alsace, where this craftsmanship is deeply rooted. Alternatively, it is worth taking a look at today's collection from Terres d'Est - Fayencerie Lunéville, which continues the traditional patterns and interprets them in a modern way.

A riot of colour with style: how to create harmonious, colourful table decorations

The flower selection: Spring flowers with character

Flowers tell stories - especially in spring. They bring colour, fragrance and movement to the table. And if you choose them with sensitivity, they don't look like decoration, but like little personalities that breathe life into the arrangement.

We opted for a combination that looks as if the garden itself had conjured it up on the table: relaxed, light, with small imperfections - and yet full of expression.

The protagonists on the table

• Helleborus (Christmas roses): Their elegant flowers in deep purple and delicate green lend depth and noblesse to the decoration. They are quiet - which is precisely why they are so effective.
• Ranunculus: With their densely double flowers, they are the cheerful stars of spring. Their colours range from apricot to rosé to bright pink - and they bring softness to any composition.
• Hyacinths & grape hyacinthsThey smell of spring and, with their cool blue and purple tones, provide a delicate contrast to the warm colours of the ranunculus.
• Tulips: As classics, they are a must - we favour varieties with special shapes and colours: parrot-like flowers, bright reds.
• Cowslip & Cornell cherryThey provide structure. The Kornell cherry, with its miniature yellow blossoms, brings a wild, untamed energy - while the cowslips appear delicate and down-to-earth, almost as if picked at random.

Flowers by feel - not by floristry rules

The arrangements must not look „done“. It's not about symmetry, but about the interplay, the movement, the gesture. The flowers should lean towards the china, peek out from between the glasses, flirt with the cutlery.

This liveliness is created if you dare to cut the stem at an angle. If you lean one flower a little too far outwards. When you're not looking for the perfect bouquet - but for the feeling of spring.

The floral highlights are not placed in classic glass vases, but in a modern Yoki bowl made of white ceramic. It allows a loose, almost floating arrangement - just like the Japanese art of flower arranging. This type of presentation brings lightness and gives each flower space to take effect.

What you should look out for at the flea market

A visit to a flea market in Alsace is not a shopping trip - it's a little journey into the past. To find real treasures, it's worth strolling through the rows with open eyes and a little knowledge: