With a room this ornate, the temptation could have been to match the setting with burgundy and gold. Pomegranate Dance brought some modern freshness, with its white base and flash of magenta. I love to mix and match across the collections, and these berry red napkins and placemats layered colour and pattern across the table, while still letting the plates from Thomas Goode India stand out. The delicate gold rims of the crystal glassware echoed the plates’ design.

I found roses at the market that perfectly matched the red and pink of the table linens. They never have the fullness of the English tea roses I so love, but I find reflexing them before a shoot or event gives that bountiful, multi-petalled shape. I used a ball of chicken wire, secured with flower tape into a bowl, to arrange them into a sculptural design, focusing on asymmetry and making sure the mechanics were completely concealed.

Given the print’s name, pomegranates were a must. Unlike the roses, they were in season at the market - I really do believe that freshness sparks off the table and can even be captured in photographs.

The candelabra of the Sheesh Mahal brought magnificent height to the table, so we played into that with a couple more pairs of 45cm taper candles. I always bring these over from the UK with me as they’re the only brand I’ve found that doesn’t drip!

It captures what I love most when I style tables: colour harmony, a pop of the unexpected and undulating movement across the setting.

Credits
Plates: Thomas Goode India
Glasses: Thomas Goode India
Candles: Candle Flair
Dress: Temperley London


Photographer: Hemant Jain
Styling Assistant: Gaurangani Singh of Lala Table