The $25 tablescape challenge: Cindy Chau's sugared fruit centrepiece is a scene-stealing still life
Plus, how to DIY those dramatic candle shapes
This season, we asked three creatives to show us some budget-friendly ways to deck our holiday dinner tables. They could use the servingware and table linens they already had — and any food that was going to be part of their feast — but they could only spend $25 on the rest. This sparkling tablescape from photographer, designer and event coordinator Cindy Chau proves that you can pick up almost everything you need for a festive scene at your local grocer.
Sugared fruit is the centre of attention in this tablescape inspired by Renaissance still life paintings. Chau spent most of her $25 on fresh fruit. She upcycled empty wine bottles and put a literal twist on some thrifted taper candles to come in just under budget. Here's how to replicate this look at home, even if you're not using the same fruit.
Materials:
- 1 grapefruit - $1.25
- 2 repurposed wine bottles - free
- 2 thrifted candles - $4
- 1 bag of green grapes - $7
- 1 package of rambutan - $5
- 2 pears - $1.50
- 3 mandarin oranges - $3.30
- 2½ cups of white sugar - approx. $0.75 (already had in the pantry)
- 2 egg whites approx. - $0.66 (already in the fridge)
Total $23.46
Here's how Chau said it all came together:
My concept for this tablescape was to integrate both my Asian roots and Western art into a cohesive aesthetic. I used fresh fruit to create a colourful centrepiece inspired by Renaissance still life paintings.
Most of the items for this tablescape can be purchased at your local Chinatown or Asian grocer. To sugar the fruit, I whisked two egg whites, dunked the pieces of fruit into the egg whites, then dipped them into a bowl full of white sugar and placed them directly onto the tablecloth. I reused empty wine bottles as candle holders to add height to the table and enhance the still life look. To give the taper candles a custom shape, I simply soaked them in warm water in the sink for 15 minutes, and once they were malleable, I twisted them into a fun design.
