Tips of the Trade: P.S. I Made This: 1 Table, 3 Ways

“Let’s be honest, we all get tired of our spaces after a while,” says Erica Domesek, founder of DIY lifestyle brand P.S. – I Made This, “But it doesn’t mean that you have to discard a piece of furniture. I often apply the same rules to design that I do to the world of DIY: reuse, reinvent, and repurpose. Having a great sense of design has to do with a willingness to mix and match, experiment, layer colors and texture, so I encourage people to step outside of their comfort zones,” she says. With this in mind, we asked Domesek to take one piece – a wicker console she scored on EBTH – and style it three ways. See how she transformed the table from a hallway accent to a Bloody Mary bar to a chic potting station.
“Console tables are amazing! Perhaps the most versatile pieces of furniture that exist. Whether behind a sofa, under a window, a dining room buffet, a patio garden, or a hallway moment, a console is a constant reminder that design is malleable. There’s a little bit of fashion and function going on in this entryway table. While it looks pretty with all of the layered textures and elements, it actually has some real functionality, with the lamps and throw blankets in the rattan tray, which I found on EBTH.”


EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Émile Gallé Art Nouveau Cameo Glass Vase, circa 1920

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Tiffany & Co. "Atlas" Crystal Vase

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Bohemian Style Iridescent Pulled Feather Art Glass Vase with Applied Leaves

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Leona Van Briggle for Rookwood Pottery Standard Glaze Bud Vase, 1900

“I love a hunt, I love discovering things. I often find myself getting lost on EBTH or the app for long periods of time. It’s the most magical black hole where antiques and storytelling come together. I can’t stay away! This blue and white vase by Baum Brothers was practically saying ‘bid on me!.’ All of the elements here work together. Navy and white are neutrals in my book.”

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Lynn Chase "Costa Azzurra" Porcelain Bowl, and Kangxi Style Vases

EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
Late Victorian Wicker Plant Stand, Late 19th/ Early 20th Century

EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
Schott Duran, Kimble Kimax, and Pyrex Scientific Glassware

EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
Southwestern Style Santa Clara Pueblo Blackware Pottery Vessels
“When you walk into a house, having fresh flowers makes you feel happy: plain and simple. I usually pick up a classic white orchid at Whole Foods for $20, but they come in cheap containers, so putting it in this blue and white china planter that I found on EBTH steps it up big time. The photograph of my fiancé and me is my all-time favorite picture of us. For me, it’s the most important thing on the console. All of the other items that helped to build the tablescape are things that make me happy: my favorite candle, a gorgeous collection of vases (lots of blue in our home), and a fun pop of color with red and white bone boxes, filled with playing cards and matches.”


EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
Kimble Kimax Volumetric Flasks, Pyrex Beakers and Funnels

EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
Blown Latticino Art Glass Cornucopia Vase, Mid to Late 20th Century

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Waterford Crystal Footed Vase, Late 20th Century

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Southwestern Earthenware Pottery Including Santa Clara Blackware

“Having a casual wicker table as my foundation allowed me to play with more elevated pieces for this Bloody Mary bar, such as blue and white china, and even little crystal goblets. To offset the beachy vibe, I used the china vases for traditional pops of color. I love paying attention to the details when I entertain, and having a variety of charming vessels to hold food and beverages makes all the difference. Here, I displayed the celery in the vase, which is unexpected and a tad quirky, which I adore!”

EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
Kimble Kimax USA Volumetric Flasks with Cork Stoppers

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Nancy Chilly Navajo Art Pottery Earthenware Vases

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Tannia Smith Navajo Art Pottery Vase

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Simon Pearce Koi-Painted Earthenware Vase and Other Chinese Porcelain Bowls
“Speaking of quirky, using these tiny vintage silver boats (originally a cream and sugar set that I discovered on EBTH) for pickles and olives adds a touch of whimsy that guests are sure to love.”


EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Lalique "Claude" Crystal Bud Vase Designed by Marie Claude Lalique

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
June Krutza Wheel-Thrown Stoneware Vases, Late 20th Century

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Diedra Antonio Acoma Pueblo Earthenware Vase

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Royal Copenhagen Ceramic Plates with Others

“There’s something about cut crystal that just screams chic, so I fell in love with this Tiffany & Co. decanter that I saw on the site. Decantering alcohol into a classy vintage piece is something that makes you and your guests feel like you’re celebrating, even if it’s just a regular Sunday afternoon. Who says you need to wait for something big to break out the good china and crystal? I believe you should use beautiful things as much as possible. You only live once!”

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Japanese Ceramic Hand-Painted Blue Vase, 20th Century

EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
Blown Glass Footed Vase with Spiral Caning

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
June Krutza Wheel-Thrown Stoneware Vases, Late 20th Century

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Kathy Veverka Carved Stoneware Art Pottery Vase
“I fell in love with these planters as soon as I found them on EBTH. They remind me of some plush estate on the East Coast, or maybe even in Europe. Either way, I knew they had to be mine. The hue of the glaze is so striking I didn’t want to have a contrasting color, so I decided to fill them with fresh rosemary plants and put them under a potting station. Going all green is regal and feels right.”


EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
Japanese Hand-Painted Satsuma Style Vase

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Blown Green and White Cased Glass Vase, Late 20th to 21st Century

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Blue Abstract Glazed Pottery Vase

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Raku Wheel Thrown Amphora Vase with Metal Stand

“I like to think that plant lady is the new cat lady! The foundation for your plants and gardening supplies doesn’t have to be a dumping station; let it be a real focal point for fresh garden moments. The size of the table can range from small to large, but it’s more about how you’re utilizing it. From herbs to plants and flowers, they all add extra life into a space.”

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Laura Klein for Ephraim Pottery "Grapes of Wrath" Faience Glaze Ceramic Vase

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Modernist Asymmetric Ceramic Vase

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Glazed Ceramic Candle Holders and Vase

EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
Dierk Van Keppel for Rock Cottage Glassworks Blown Glass Vase, 2004
I recommend trying to keep a potting station clean and somewhat staged, with working elements to one side You don’t need a green thumb to have one of these, just invest in really gorgeous planters, and find plants that don’t require too much attention.”


EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Signed Art Pottery Vase

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Talavera and Other Spanish Faïence Tableware, Late 20th Century

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Nata Zaranka Friends Gourd-Shaped Pottery Vases

EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
French Provincial Style Cedar-Lined Wood Lift-Lid Storage Bench

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Decorative Textured Ceramic Vases, Contemporary

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Cast Metal Bud Vase, Late 20th Century

EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
Mocha Brown Blown Glass Handkerchief Vase with Embedded Mica Decoration

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash