I’m sure you know the saying, “It looks good on paper”. Like, if you are shopping for a house or a new man, and it has everything you’re looking for. But when you see the house or meet the man, there is just something missing. I know the feeling.
I recently ordered this tray from Pottery Barn. It looked perfect on paper.
It had the jute handles I was wanting. The rectangular shape was perfect. The wicker was the right color.
I wanted a tray just like my girl Ina. I wanted to carry meals to Mr. Autumn on game days just like Ina carries meals to Jeffrey. Except he is sitting on one of their fabulous porches reading the Wall Street Journal or writing another book at his desk. I wanted to fill it with her recipes that I had cooked to perfection.
And then it arrived. Whomp, whomp…… Everything is perfect except it is way. too. big. If I filled it with delicious foods from my oven, I wouldn’t be able to carry it. It is big enough for food to feed a family of ten – not us two empty-nesters.
It was too cumbersome to return. I didn’t want to deal with it. So, for a while it leaned against the wall in our sunroom.
But then I decided that I would not be defeated by my tray basket. No, it wouldn’t get me down.
I grabbed some of my vintage favorites and made a vignette for a centerpiece – except it covers three-fourths of the kitchen table.
One of the items I chose was a scale I bought at my grandfather’s estate auction. It’s so old that I just bet the paint is loaded with lead, but it has the perfect old scale patina.
Then I added my vintage half-gallon milk jugs. You saw them last here.
The last item I added was a little homemade basket filled with lavendar from my mother’s garden.
Can you smell it? Mmmmmmmmm, it smells so fresh.
There is a lot of space left that I could fill in, but then it would be too heavy to lift when it’s time to set the table for dinner. I just hope it looks okay because after all, it looked good on paper.
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Tell us about something you bought that was a disappointment when it arrived.
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Take care.
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I think it looks lovely! Nice that it is all displayed in a basket that you can move easily 🙂
Oh I love the look, it is fabulous. Your vignette is wonderful too, love that scale and the lavender. I bought a tole tray off ebay and the same thing. It is huge and way too big for anything. I can’t even find a place to hang it on the wall, so it just sits. Thanks tons for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty
I love the basket and the beautiful vignette of items that you created. I know it was a disappointment as it was too large; however, it is beautiful!
Dear 2 Seasons,
Darling trayscape, dear one!!! Pottery Barn has some fabulous items for home decor, but they don’t always give dimensions!!! I adore how you made a bad situation turn into a new treasured moment! The only thing I would add …a dishcloth or napkin to soften the hardscapes in your tray! I enjoyed your post!!!
Fondly,
Pat
I have seen that tray in the store and it has size on it’s side. It is charming as you have it however. I like your vintage scale too…fabulous patina there. I am off to PB outlet and a girls trip shopping next week. hugs, olive
Good solution to your problem of size. Your basket tray looks great with your vintage items and lavender. Love that color on your scale, by the way.
Mary Alice
Well, It’s really large, but it’s REALLY good lookin’. I’ll bet it would look good on an ottoman or coffee table, too.
Babs
Your new basket looks awesome but you’re right, it’s big! Sorry you can’t feed your hubby from it, but it does look great on the table with the items you chose (drooling over that scale!). I found your link at Marty’s party, thanks for sharing with us. Hugs ~ Mary
That is a HUGE tray. I love the way you created a vignette right in it! Perfect!
I’d be tempted to top a stack of old suitcases with the tray and call it a side table on the porch – it certainly is big!
My back cupboards are full of things that looked better on paper! Right off the top, a pair of lampshades come to mind. They looked perfect, but didn’t fit anything and now languish in a spare room closet.
Your tray is so pretty and I love how you have it decorated. I have one that is similar so I know what you mean about it being big. I use mine sometimes when I am harvesting a bunch of my herbs because it can hold all of them!!
Hi Janette! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog – I am following you also! I love your tray, but I do have a similar experience with PB. I ordered a table runner this spring, and man oh man, I could cover a lumberjack size table with that thing! I cut it in half and now I have two! (orobably isn’t an option with your basket tray though – ha ha!) Jane