EXQUISITE SPREADS

For PINKY TOBIANO, creating tablescapes with love makes the dining experience all the more joyful and unforgettable

- KAATHARINE LAMARES

Social engagements have been few in the past year, but it opened the way for people to be inventive in dining at home. From having exquisite tableware and cutlery to adding ornaments, table setups go beyond simply arranging them.

“Tablescaping is my form of art,” says chemist and entrepreneur Pinky Tobiano. “The table is my canvass and the flowers, plates, and other accessories are my watercolors.” As she loves entertaining family and friends, she treats every table setting as her next masterpiece.

With her signature maximalist style, Tobiano goes to great lengths in constructing her tables for get-togethers, themed parties, or simple dinners with friends. Doing Sunday brunches is her favorite. “It has been a tradition in my home… my children Pianne and Karrel are always excited,” she says. “I go over and beyond in all my tables, giving it a catharsis of joy in each masterpiece.”

TO THE EXTREME

Setting up tables entails thoughtful preparation and for Tobiano, she favors matching the personality of the table to the person she is honoring the dinner for. From here, she constructs a theme that dictates the content and the style of the tablescape.

Once the theme is finalized, she chooses the right color palette and adds the accessories such as name cards, menu cards, and natural elements like florals—fresh or dried ones.