Last week, I spent some time brainstorming an elegant Spring place setting. I was giving a lecture on Easter entertaining and wanted to show a range of place settings from casual to upscale traditional. For the upscale setting, I included a menu card and was trying to come up with a way to add a little sparkle and pizazz to it. The color palette was pink and gold and so I considered what gold accents I might already have on hand to dress up and complement the card. Not long after, I came up with this:
a vintage brooch dresses up a menu card (rentals pictured are from DC Rental)
I tied satin pink ribbon to a vintage brooch and attached it to the menu card to give it a little interest. I love the idea of re-using items that you already have in new and interesting ways when entertaining. Apparently, I am not the only one!
I absolutely adore this tablescape featured on 100 Layer Cake that uses second-hand clip on earrings as place cards. Gorgeous!
clip on earrings as place card holders (via 100 Layer Cake)
Baubled place cards via 100 Layer Cake
Another clever way to dress up one’s table is to drape costume jewelry necklaces — rhinestones or pearls work great — on a chandelier, candelabra, or vase or to weave them strategically through votives on a runner. The key is taking time to arrange the pieces until they complement and blend in with the existing setting.
Rhinestones draped on candlesticks create an elegant table (via Better Homes & Gardens)
What ways have you dressed up your table using uncommon goods in your home?
I am loving the look of double placemats these days. They are a nice alternative to runners while still providing a pop of color and texture to a table.
Stores are carrying double placemats more and more these days, but if you don’t see them in stock, you can always take a regular runner and turn it crosswise on the table.
I made double placemats for my Thanksgiving table last week. So easy! Standard runners are 16″ wide, but I made mine 18″ to make sure they covered the width of the charger.
Easy DIY double placemats for my Thanksgiving table
These neutral double placemats from CB2 are fabulous and would work with almost any decor.
Thanksgiving is just days away. If life has kept you running a mile-a-minute and you’ve not had a chance to focus on your Thanksgiving tablescape, try this simple votive idea on for size.
A votive wrapped with vibrant fall leaves and tied with twine can make a nice addition to a buffet or dining table this Thanksgiving.
My absolute, all-time favorite board game is Scrabble. It’s a little like golf for me — I am terrible at it but it never stops me from wanting to play again, and again, and again.
So I was tickled pink when I saw this clever idea on the LA Style Unveiled Blog recently for Scrabble Tile Placecards. Are they not fabulous? Perfect for a game night dinner, engagement party, or a rehearsal dinner, the placecards would be a whimsical addition to any table setting.
Scrabble Tile Placecards as seen on Los Angeles Style Unveiled
Scrabble tiles and trays can be purchased as replacement pieces so you don’t have to buy the full game itself ten times over. For a large event where you’re using lots of the Scrabble placecards, I’d suggest affixing the tiles to the tray with double-sided tape to keep them secure, otherwise they are bound to get bumped off.
Looking for a way to add a little punch to the tablescape at your next party? Try a tablecloth embellished with magnet-fitted flowers, a craft courtesy of Martha Stewart. The magnets allow for changing out the flowers according to the season, color, or theme of your soiree. I could see this feminine tablecloth working very well at a bridal shower or afternoon tea.
Whether its decaf, half-caf, or full test, coffee is a near ubiquitous part of entertaining. Part One in this series on coffee focused on serveware for coffee, particularly carafes and pots. Part Two continues with another essential: the cream and sugar set.
Everyone takes their coffee a slightly different way and I find it helpful to offer guests a variety of choices and allow them to fix their coffee they way that they prefer.
I generally offer half and half, as well as skim milk. This requires two creamers, of course, and for this I look for creamer sets in graduated sizes. I use a smaller one for cream and a larger one for milk. (Williams-Sonoma used to carry a perfect set of creamers in three sizes; the stores carry only one size now but the Williams-Sonoma Outlets may still carry the graduated set.)
Personally, I am not a fan of flavored creams and do not serve those. Nor do I serve powdered cream, but do keep some on hand for guests who may request it.
And then, there is the sugar. An entire post could be dedicated to this but I am not sure we want the series to go on interminably! So here are a few ideas with respect to sugar and sweetener.
For sugar, I like to serve demerara (also called turbinado) sugar. Most grocery stores will sell it but if yours does not, check a gourmet grocer like Dean & Deluca or Balducci’s. I also have regular sugar on hand for guests who don’t like raw sugar, though recently I have only been stocking organic sugar in my cupboard so that will have to do!
Many of my friends are very calorie conscious and often prefer sugar substitute to sugar itself. Because of that, I usually offer Splenda and other sugar substitutes along with the sugar. My husband prefers Splenda so we buy it buy the bagful and regularly fill a sugar container full of it. For other sweeteners, I like to buy the packets in bulk and serve them in a container like what you might see at a restaurant. This one from Container Store has worked well for me.
Glass Sugar Packet Holder from Container Store
What follows is an assortment of cream and sugar sets which represent both modern and more traditional options.
Be sure to stay tuned for additional posts in this coffee series where we’ll focus on coffee accessories, machines, and more!
Cream and Sugar Sets
For informal entertaining the cream and sugar set is a particularly nice way to insert color and personality into your tablescape. This one from NOVICA is made by Thai artists using traditional Thai ceramic processes.
Celadon ceramic sugar bowl and creamer, 'Botanical Heaven' from NOVICA
This artful set from HORNE would add a modern twist to any table.
Milky Major & Sugary Soldier Set by Jorine Oosterhoff, available at HORNE
This embossed cream and sugar set would make a nice addition to a family’s everyday table.
There’s nothing more enjoyable than an outdoor summertime feast with friends. When setting your patio table, consider adding lovely, functional tablecloth weights to your tablecloth to prevent the wind from blowing it away.
Weighted Tablecloths, as featured on Martha Stewart
I love using cloth cocktail napkins when I throw a party. Set alongside appetizer plates and glasses on the bar, the small napkins are a great way to tie in the color or motif of one’s party. Cloth cocktail napkins are not only a nice touch for guests (who wouldn’t prefer cloth to paper when dabbing one’s lips?!), but they are also a small way to show care for our environment. Instead of throwing paper napkins away into the trash after a party, all the host has to do is toss the cloth cocktail napkins in the washer to be cleaned for the next use.
A standard cocktail or tea napkin is 12″ x 12″ before folding. There are some lovely choices for a host to consider, all available through a variety of stores. Here are a few that I like:
Leontine Linens RIley Cocktail Napkins
Williams-Sonoma White Monogrammed Hotel Cocktail Napkins
Set of Six Toasts Cocktail Napkins from Geary's
Crochet tea napkins available at Neiman Marcus
Roxie Print Cocktail Napkins from Crate & Barrel
As a general practice, using cloth napkins at home not just when entertaining is an important way to limit trash/waste generated in the house. Be sure to check out part one of this post that discussed using napkin rings and cloth napkins as one eco-chic way to entertain.
I’ve always loved using fabric napkins. Somehow using linen over paper makes even the simplest meal so much more civilized.
Many a day when working in corporate america, I would pack a set of flatware and a linen napkin in my lunch bag. Doing so reminded me of the importance of pausing and enjoying a meal (which is so hard to do with the hurried pace at which so many of us live) and made even a modest sandwich or salad taste like a treat.
I also prefer using fabric napkins to paper ones at home for weeknight dinners and often keep them in napkin rings. I am not always a fan of napkin rings, but there are some beautiful ones out there and they actually serve a very practical purpose — one that is rooted in history.
“Before the washing machine and dryer eased and enhanced our lives, fabric napkins were laundered by hand. To conserve time and energy, at family meals napkins were enclosed in a personal ring, often made of silver, an accessory that identified the napkin for reuse.”
With increasing attention on sustainable living and eco-sensitive practices, even the smallest change we make in our household can have a big effect on our world at large. Why not consider using fabric rather than paper napkins for dinner? Select a unique napkin ring for each family member to help distinguish whose napkin is whose. (Just don’t forget to wash the napkins regularly!)
Use a mixed-and-matched set of napkin rings or have a set monogrammed with the initials of each family member.
These are perfect for identifying whose napkin is whose; I adore the chalkboard element!
Chalkboard Napkin Rings from MoMA Store
For the luxurious home table, incorporate these into your mix-and-match napkin set.
Villa Palladio Napkin Rings from Geary's
Inspired by nature, these pearl shell napkin rings from Crate & Barrel come in three different colors, making it easier to assign one napkin ring to each family member.
Pearl Shell Napkin Rings from Crate & Barrel
I love Kim Seybert’s designs and these coral napkin rings (available in a variety of colors) are a perfect way to reflect the popular coral trend:
Kim Seybert's Coral Branch Napkin Rings
Let’s face it, any of the choices from L’Objet would be a fabulous addition to any table, but here’s a sampling available through Neiman Marcus:
Gold-plated napkin rings from L'Objet, available at Neiman Marcus
Monique Lhuillier, known for her stunning wedding gown collections that have graced the likes of Katie Holmes and Angelina Jolie, recently introduced a line of dinnerware, stemware, giftware, and flatware. In a collaboration with Royal Doulton, the designer has created beautiful pieces with modern elegance that any new bride or seasoned entertainer would love.
My favorite of the dinnerware collection is the Point d’esprit design. There’s a stunning simplicity to it which also makes it a great candidate for mixing and matching with other pieces.
Pointe d'esprit Dinnerware from Monique Lhuillier
Lhuillier’s Atelier Blanc Crystal is also gorgeous; any piece in the collection would make a cheerful wedding or housewarming gift.
Monique Lhuillier Atelier Blanc Crystal Giftware
For more about Monique Lhuillier, read an interview with the designer in the June 2009 issue of Bon Appetit where she shares her take on parties, food, and weddings.
