How did we evolve as diners from Medieval revelers using the tablecloth as a communal napkin to creating elaborate table settings with layers of linens, chargers, and up to seven pieces of flatware? How did we shift from wiping our hands on dough like the Romans to mastering 25 different ways to fold a napkin? We take a style detour into history.

Part 2 of film images commissioned by Tortuga Forma. Helena Goñi approaches still objects as though they were human subjects. The objects look the camera directly in the eye without flinching. Other times, they hide themselves in the shadows of a cyanotype or within a domestic scene. 

 

Color and patterns brings immediate warmth into the home. It's easy to default to whites and beiges but there are ways to weave in joyful moments of color - even for the self described minimalist.

A Tortuga Forma commission of still-life images shot in film by Helena Goñi. The notion of time and timelessness gives contour to our lives. We are constantly bounded by time and deadlines, so we wondered what might happen if we created an open-ended time frame for documenting our world of objects and the world outside.

We return to a slower way of living, letting the sun and the wind dry our laundry. Travel to Tuscany through a short film about slowing down and giving in. 

Molly Fitzpatrick is the founder of DITTOHOUSE and a dear collaborator who has brought TF’s very first textile collection to life. From afar, we were drawn to her vibrating prints, her unflinching use of color, and her deep reverence for textile history.

Chef and food stylist Halley Zelicoff arranges sumptuous platters, each starting with a simple but carefully chosen ceramic dish. Inside a 21 x 33" workspace (her kitchen countertop), she makes food come alive on the plate.

As we spot signs of early spring's arrival, it's time to pay attention to your indoor plants' changing needs. For one, the days are getting longer so position your plants farther away from windows to capture indirect sunlight.

Footed bowls have stood the test of time as a household staple for centuries. The addition of a pedestal-like base elevates the vessel above the table level and place importance on the bowl's contents.