![](https://media.organized-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/natural-pigment-dyed-easter-eggs-diy-by-david-stark-lined-in-cartons-1536x1066.jpg)
For Easter this year, NYC event designer David Stark is skipping the standard palette of pale pinks, yellows, and greens and opting instead for a moody, jewel-toned tablescape. The best part? He’s managed to go dark au naturel by dyeing a mix of white and brown eggs using only fruits and vegetables, set against a backdrop of dark blue linens, painted egg cartons, and pewter-hued plates.
Photography by Corrie Hogg of David Stark Design for Remodelista.
Finished Product
![The David Stark team paired their DIY dyed egg runner with plates from World Market, flatware from CB2, and blue linen napkins from Canvas Home.](https://media.organized-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/natural-pigment-dyed-easter-eggs-diy-by-david-stark-lined-in-cartons-733x1100.jpg)
The Process
![The team skipped the artificial dye and opted for beets, grape juice, and red cabbage instead. (The worn wood cutting board and zinc table are from Prop Workshop in NYC.)](https://media.organized-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/natural-pigment-dyed-easter-eggs-diy-by-david-stark-supplies-beets-cabbage-733x1100.jpg)
Supplies:
- Brown and white eggs
- Red cabbage
- Beets
- Grape juice
- White vinegar
- Jars or lidded bowls
![Though not required, a tea strainer and baking rack will come in handy for plucking the eggs out of the dye and letting them dry.](https://media.organized-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/natural-pigment-dyed-easter-eggs-diy-by-david-stark-process-1-733x489.jpg)
Dying Eggs with Cabbage and Beets
Step 1: Hard boil your eggs (this should take from 10 to 12 minutes).
Step 2: Chop your vegetables to yield a cup and boil them in two cups of water and cook until tender. Drain the water and save in a jar or other container with a lid.
Step 3: Once the liquid has cooled, stir in one tablespoon of white vinegar.
Step 4: Carefully lower your eggs into the dye. For a light stain, soak the eggs for 30 minutes. For a dark stain, soak overnight.
![By using both brown and white eggs and varying their time in the dye, David’s team produced myriad color variations using only three dyes.](https://media.organized-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/natural-pigment-dyed-easter-eggs-diy-by-david-stark-1-733x1100.jpg)
Dying Eggs with Grape Juice
Step 1: Hard boil your eggs (this should take from 10 to 12 minutes).
Step 2: Mix one tablespoon of white vinegar with two cups of grape juice in a jar or container with a lid.
Step 3: Carefully lower your eggs into the dye. Again, vary soaking times for a lighter or darker stain.
Note: Try mixing dyes for more variation; David’s team used a combination of beet and grape dyes for some of the eggs shown here.
![Soak the eggs overnight for deep jewel tones.](https://media.organized-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/natural-pigment-dyed-easter-eggs-diy-by-david-stark-green-733x1100.jpg)
“The marbling and variation in color is natural and a little unpredictable, so have fun experimenting,” said David.
![David and team displayed their eggs—60 in all—in blue-dyed cartons as a runner down the center of the table. Use standard egg cartons with the tops removed, or source a three-deep tray like the one shown here from Egg Cartons.](https://media.organized-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/natural-pigment-dyed-easter-eggs-diy-by-david-stark-place-setting-733x1100.jpg)
![David’s team used a white gel pen to turn eggs into edible place cards.](https://media.organized-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/natural-pigment-dyed-easter-eggs-diy-by-david-stark-place-card-2-733x1100.jpg)
![The finished tablescape includes Kartio drinking glasses from Burkelman, a salt dish from Bomisch, and a dark blue tablecloth from Gray Line Linen. The knobby blue drinking glasses are vintage.](https://media.organized-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/natural-pigment-dyed-easter-eggs-diy-by-david-stark-runner-down-table-setting-733x1100.jpg)
![A simple arrangement of blue viburnum berries anchors the buffet table. The cake stand is from Sur La Table, the hand-carved wooden spoons are from Bomisch, and the striped coffee cups are from Anthropologie.](https://media.organized-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/dark-blue-natural-decor-easter-bruch-table-733x1100.jpg)
![The Fashion Chef in Brooklyn developed the menu: a tomato and chive frittata, fruit salad of berries, figs, and blood oranges with lemon juice and honey, and a salad of mâche rosettes.](https://media.organized-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/natural-pigment-dyed-easter-eggs-diy-by-david-stark-easter-brunch-1-733x1100.jpg)
See more Remodelista collaborative Easter tablescapes here:
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