Boho Jungle Chic Tablescape

Some pieces just make you smile the second you see them. For me, it’s this pair of vintage Italian ceramic monkeys I inherited from my mom nearly fifty years after she brought them home. Glazed a creamy white with the sweetest little faces and curly tails, they’re stamped simply “Italy” on the bottom. They’ve lived on bookshelves as bookends, perched on mantels, and now as the centerpiece of my cozy little brunch table for two.

 

I wanted the whole setting to feel like a sun-drenched jungle brunch that somehow stayed elegant. Artificial palm leaves serve as oversized placemats, layered over a faux burlap tablecloth and a tone-on-tone boho woven runner with playful fringe. The beige cloth napkins from PurpleEssences add that soft, natural texture I love.

  

The black square dinner plates act as a dramatic base for the 9-inch Fitz and Floyd “Manhattan Garden” salad plates. Those salad plates are pure joy—raised dimensional leaves in shades of green on a creamy beige ground, finished with a delicate braided rim. They make every dish look like it belongs in a garden. 

 My beloved Juliska “Little Monkey” Petit Singe Whitewash mugs (retired pattern, now shockingly expensive on replacement sites) sit ready for coffee or tea. Each one has the cutest embossed baby monkey peeking out—talk about tableware that makes you grin! 

For glassware, I mixed Mikasa “Park Lane” crystal wine glasses with amber stemmed water glasses that pop beautifully against all the greens and whites. 

 

Cordless black table lamps on either side of the monkeys cast a soft, flattering glow, while the rustic Creative Co-Op Stoneware, Reactive Glaze Pitcher behind them holds a faux candle and faux grasses for that extra layer of romantic, flicker-free light.

 

The monkeys themselves sit front and center, one with his tail curled, the other looking sweetly curious, as if they’re waiting for my guest to arrive. Every time I walk past the table I catch myself smiling. That’s the magic of a tablescape done right—it turns an ordinary meal into something memorable and turns inherited treasures into new family stories. 

 

What vintage or sentimental piece do you love pulling out for your own table? I’d love to hear in the comments! 

 

By the way, if the monkeys look familiar it’s because I have used them in the past in this "A Night in the Tropics" Tablescape and in the Jungle Nights Tablescape. I think it’s important to get as much joy out of our beloved things as possible. 

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This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday