Front Row Seat: Gabrielle Amato, Founder of Table Two Studio
Photo: Gabrielle Amato
While Front Row Seat has never been literal, today's guest is someone whose next dinner party you'd certainly want a seat at. As the founder of Table Two Studio, Gabrielle Amato has made the art of entertaining feel both elegant and approachable. Through her thoughtfully designed collection of luxury paper plates and table linens, she has simplified hosting without sacrificing sophistication.
Although Table Two Studio is based in Charlotte, the brand continues to garner nationwide attention as the perfect alternative for hosts who would rather leave their grandmother's fine china safely tucked away. Instead, Gabrielle offers a luxurious option that delivers the same sense of occasion while giving hosts more time to enjoy their guests instead of worrying about cleanup.
Fresh off the success of her Fourth of July collection, I caught up with Gabrielle to learn the inspiration behind Table Two Studio, her secrets to effortless entertaining, and what readers can expect from her next collection.
What inspired you to launch Table Two Studio, and how did the idea first come to life?
Table Two Studio started with a personal shift in my life. After having my baby, I began rethinking how I hosted at home. I still wanted to bring people together and create meaningful moments, but I needed entertaining to feel realistic for this new season of life. I was looking for ways to elevate everyday hosting that felt effortless, thoughtful, and beautiful.
At the same time, I kept running into a practical challenge. I love a beautifully set table, but I don't have the space or the desire to store multiple sets of tableware for every occasion. I wanted pieces that were versatile, design-forward, and special enough to work for everything from a casual lunch to a holiday gathering.
With a background in brand marketing and e-commerce, I recognized a gap in the market. I couldn't find products that truly balanced convenience with elevated design in a way that reflected how people entertain today. Table Two Studio became my answer to that challenge. We create thoughtfully designed pieces that make hosting feel effortless without sacrificing style, no matter the occasion.
Photo: Table Two Studio
Hosting often comes with a long list of responsibilities, with creating the perfect tablescape being one of the biggest challenges for many hosts. How does Table Two Studio help make entertaining feel more effortless without sacrificing style?
Hosting comes with so many moving parts, and creating a beautiful table shouldn't be the thing that adds stress. At Table Two Studio, we wanted to give hosts an option that feels as elevated and thoughtful as traditional porcelain, but without the time-consuming cleanup. I have memories of my mom spending hours at the sink after holidays, handwashing china long after everyone else had gone home. As a newer mom myself, I don't always have the time or even the desire to do that.
We never set out to replace heirloom china or traditional dinnerware. We still love collecting and using those pieces for special occasions. Instead, we created something that fills the gap between everyday convenience and beautiful design. Our products allow hosts to create a polished, intentional tablescape, then spend less time cleaning up and more time enjoying the people around the table. If we can make entertaining feel a little easier while still helping people create memorable moments, we've accomplished exactly what we set out to do.
Many Front Row Charlotte readers enjoy entertaining at home, whether for intimate gatherings or larger celebrations. What are a few simple ways hosts can elevate their event and create a memorable experience for guests?
I am a huge fan of cordless lamps. They bring color and mood lighting into your tablescape and require no effort. Layer our plates on some rattan chargers with a linen napkin, and you're good to go!
Photo: Table Two Studio
Table Two Studio's Fourth of July collection was a hit with customers. What goes into creating a new collection, and what is the most exciting part of the design and development process for you?
Our design process always starts with a huge mood board where we compile everything from textures, patterns, and fabrics to examples of layering, which eventually gets boiled down into specific motifs that we brief our artist on. We then usually have a long working session where we design and redesign each plate together live. It’s really the best feeling when we start to see a cohesive scheme come together, which usually inspires us to create even more designs that we keep in the archive to pull from in the future!
As the founder of a growing lifestyle brand, what have been some of the biggest lessons you've learned along the way? What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs who are in the early stages of building their own brands?
Trust your gut. Making decisions based on our intuition and first instincts has proven to be the best course of action since we started.
Looking ahead, what's next for Table Two Studio, and what can customers expect from the brand in the future?
We have a very exciting second half of the year ahead. We're collaborating with several incredible designers and brands that share our love of thoughtful entertaining and beautiful design.
We're also thrilled to be launching two new collections this July: Al Fresco and Aperitivo. The Aperitivo Collection is inspired by the "girl dinner" trend and celebrates the joy of casual, beautifully styled gatherings. Both collections are designed to make entertaining feel effortless, elevated, and a little more fun which is exactly the direction we're continuing to take the brand.
