Avenida Home works with illustrators and artists to put their designs onto things you actually use every day: trays, serving boards, table linen and throws. This guide walks through the range piece by piece, with practical ideas for where each one earns its keep in the kitchen, the sitting room and the bedroom.
What you are buying
The trays are handmade in Sweden from FSC-certified birch veneer, with a heat-resistant, food-safe laminated surface that wipes clean. That last point matters more than it sounds: you can put down a hot mug or a plate of buttery toast without worrying, and a damp cloth deals with the aftermath. The serving boards are birch too, handmade in Sweden with a natural finish on the reverse, and are food safe.
On the textile side, the tablecloths and napkins are linen, which looks relaxed and natural on the table. The point of all of it is the artwork: each piece carries an artist's illustration, so even a tray left leaning against the wall looks like it belongs there.
Choosing a tray by size
The trays come in several shapes, and picking the right one is mostly about what you will put on it.
- 11cm round: the Illustrated Birch Wood Mini Tray works as a coaster for a drink, a catch-all for rings by the bed, or a home for coins and keys on a desk. It also makes an easy gift.
- 20 x 20cm: the Anne Bentley Birch Wood Small Square Tray carries Anne Bentley's quiet, understated artwork and is just right for a coffee and a biscuit, or a snack on the sofa.
- 32 x 32cm: the Illustrated Birch Wood Square Tray is big enough for sandwiches, a round of drinks or afternoon tea for two.
- Narrow: the Illustrated Birch Wood Narrow Tray is slim enough for a windowsill or mantelpiece. Group a few candles on it and the wax stays off the paintwork.
Round trays are also available in three sizes, depending on the design, for drinks, snacks or display on a coffee table or dresser.
Serving boards for cheese and nibbles
A board that looks good is one you will reach for. The Farmyard Cockerel Birch Serving Board is made for cheese, charcuterie or appetisers, and the cheerful cockerel brings a bit of countryside warmth to a kitchen table. Between meals, prop it against the splashback or on an open shelf rather than hiding it in a cupboard. If you like the idea, Avenida Home also makes serving boards with the French artist Nathalie Lété, which we cover in a separate post.
Dressing the table
Start with the Illustrated Linen Tablecloth, printed on 100% linen. The Zebra design is by PATCH NYC, adapted from vintage wildlife prints, with zebra-inspired patterns and diamond motifs. A patterned cloth does a lot of work, so keep the plates plain and let it lead.
If you would rather show off a wooden table, use the Illustrated Heat-Resistant Table Mats instead. They are larger than a standard placemat (38 x 29cm for the rectangles, 34cm across for the round Egyptian Sun Cat mats) and are sold individually, so you can buy a matching set or mix designs around the table. The 10 x 10cm coasters work the same way, with a cork or baize back, and are made in the UK.
Finish with the Karen Mabon Linen Napkins. Karen Mabon is known for bold colour and narrative detail, and in her Cats Café design every napkin carries the same illustration with a different coloured border, which makes it easy to tell whose is whose at a long lunch.
A throw for the sofa or bed
The Danielle Kroll Frog Square Linen Throw was created with the New York artist Danielle Kroll, whose work is colourful, nature-inspired and hand-drawn. Her frogs hop between lily pads in pink, green and blue. Fold it over the arm of a neutral sofa, drape it across the end of a bed, or hang it over a chair back. Pick out one of its colours in a cushion nearby and the whole corner pulls together.
You can see everything we stock from the brand in our Avenida Home collection, or browse the wider kitchen and tableware range for pieces to go with it. If you are near us in Somerset, come in and see the trays and linens in person; otherwise, get in touch and the team will happily help you choose.
