Posts Labeled ‘tabletop’

November 10th, 2010

A Registry Must: The versatility of white china

One of things I always mention to brides when they are registering is to add white dishware and serveware to their registry list. Oftentimes couples pick patterned dishware that doesn’t end up matching their new apartment or that just doesn’t fit their taste years later.

White dishware never goes out of style and is so versatile. These tablescapes below show how a white plate can be a simple building block for a beautiful table. It doesn’t take much to make the white pop — many times just a bright leaf, a patterned tablecloth, or a beautiful napkin does the trick perfectly.

design by Phoebe Howard

design by Phoebe Howard, featured on House Beautiful

design by Victoria Amory

design by Victoria Amory, featured on House Beautiful

design by Martha Angus

design by Martha Angus, featured on House Beautiful

A fall leaf provides a pop of color to white dinnerware

A fall leaf provides a pop of color to white dinnerware; featured on Celebrations.com

this fall tablescape featured in Country Living uses white dinnerware as a foundation

this fall tablescape featured in Country Living uses white dinnerware as a foundation

An Easter table features white plates and neutral linens with a pop of pink

March 10th, 2010

Bauble-icious! Using gems to create a stunning tablescape

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

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)

clip on earrings as place card holders (via 100 Layer Cake)

Baubled place cards 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)

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?

November 30th, 2009

Double the Fun with Double Placemats

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

Easy DIY double placemats for my Thanksgiving table

These neutral double placemats from CB2 are fabulous and would work with almost any decor.

duo linen placemat for two, from CB2

duo linen placemat for two, from CB2

November 23rd, 2009

Leaf + Votive + Twine = Lovely Last Minute Thanksgiving 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.

lovely leaf votives

lovely leaf votives, from Better Homes & Gardens

November 5th, 2009

Scrabble tile place cards

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 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.

August 11th, 2009

A Tablecloth for all Seasons

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.

Martha Stewart Craft: Magnet-Flowered Tablecloth

Martha Stewart Craft: Magnet-Flowered Tablecloth

 

July 27th, 2009

How do you take your coffee? (Part 2)

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

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

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

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.

Crate & Barrel Embossed Cream and Sugar Set

Crate & Barrel Embossed Cream and Sugar Set

For more formal occasions, Waterford and Arte Italica offer lovely options.

Waterford Footed Crystal Cream and Sugar Set

Waterford Footed Crystal Cream and Sugar Set

Arte Italica Caffe Cream & Sugar Set with Tray available at Geary's

Arte Italica Caffe Cream & Sugar Set with Tray available at Geary's

May 12th, 2009

Eco-Chic Entertaining with… Napkins (Part 2)

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

Leontine Linens RIley Cocktail Napkins

Williams-Sonoma White Monogrammed Hotel Cocktail Napkins

Williams-Sonoma White Monogrammed Hotel Cocktail Napkins

Set of Six Toasts Cocktail Napkins from Geary's

Set of Six Toasts Cocktail Napkins from Geary's

Crochet tea napkins available at Neiman Marcus

Crochet tea napkins available at Neiman Marcus

Roxie Print Cocktail Napkins from Crate & Barrel

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.

May 6th, 2009

Eco-chic entertaining with… Napkins (Part 1)

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.

Suzanne Von Drachenfels, author of The Art of the Table: A Complete Guide to Table Setting, Table Manners, and Tableware, writes of napkin rings:

“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

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

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

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

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

Gold-plated napkin rings from L'Objet, available at Neiman Marcus