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tablescapes

3 Experts Explain the Process Behind Next-Level Tablescapes

Fair warning: They all have a penchant for color.

By: Camille Freestone
Graphic: Ashley Combs

Like nearly everything, holiday entertaining will look a little different this year. We’re trading large parties for intimate soirees and embracing the little things that take casual evenings up a notch. To give you a few ideas on the subject, we’ve consulted three experts in the business—JJ Martin of La DoubleJ, Rebecca Gardner of Houses & Parties, and Christina Bryant of St. Frank—to share their advice, who are all maximalists at heart. From expertly clashing color schemes to tips for saving money to advice on the role of a hostess, they’ve got your reimagined holiday gatherings covered.

 

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Where to Begin:

JJ Martin: “For me, it always starts with the plates. They are the central stars, and I build everything out around them. Since I live in Italy, we always set our tables with both a dinner plate and a ‘piatto fondo’—a low bowl-cum-plate that is used for soup, pasta, and salads. Personally, I love to contrast the two. If I had plain walls (right now my dining room walls are covered with crazy wallpaper), I’d consider using a patterned tablecloth, patterned placemats, and patterned napkins, which would all be based on the colors of the plates themselves. I love to make a raucous layering experiment full of pattern and texture.”

Rebecca Gardner: “I think that the occasion dictates most details of the party. When I design a room, I start with the rug. When I design a party, I start with the tablecloth. My favorites have wild patterns and bold colors to build upon. You don’t need fussy flowers (or food, but that’s another conversation), but you should do something that’s fun and good-looking. It is a balance of fantasy, humor, and timeless elegance—never trendy. There is always a reason to celebrate.”

Christina Bryant: “I start with thinking through the tone I want to set for the meal—is it formal, fun, fashion forward, or a throwback? I also think about what I’m serving—certain meals best show off our black clay dinnerware, for example, while others sit pretty on a more traditional china pattern. From there, I lay a foundation with a tablecloth or placemats, layer on a complementary napkin, silverware, drinkware, and finally florals, candles, and other table garnishes.”

 

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On Getting Creative During Strange Circumstances:

JM: “Since the lockdown in Milan last month, I’ve only been having one or two people over for a cup of tea. People are so generous with their hostess gifts in Italy. My friend bought a beautifully packaged box of Italian chocolates to have with our tea. Sending your hostess some exotic fruit, a huge crate of tangerines, or flowers is such a good tradition to stick to.”

RSG: “I think we have an obligation to be careful and thoughtful when gathering. But that does not rule out fabulous. I’m so lucky to have a house in beautiful Savannah—the weather is divine this time of year, and we can entertain outdoors. I’ve been hanging a lot of lanterns from oak trees and hauling all of my good stuff outside to party. Just because you’re outdoors doesn’t mean you should sacrifice style; use your good things to set the table. We’ve been looking at the same spaces for nine months! Make an effort to create a new and festive environment. Choose the sunniest part of the day, rent space heaters, and don’t underestimate the power of a liquid sweater. Or pack a picnic with bento boxes and keep it easy.”

CB: “I love to entertain and have not done much this year. Now that it’s winter in New York and eating outside isn’t on the table—no pun intended—we’ve had one close friend over a week. That’s it!”

 

Ways to Pinch Pennies:

JM: “I love using things that you wouldn’t expect, like snipping rosemary from my balcony to put in vases if I don’t have flowers. I always raid vintage shops and buy vintage silverware that costs nothing to mix and match with the pieces I have at home—it has a funky, eclectic look to it. I don’t like it when the table looks too perfect. Small, inexpensive glass vases are always good to have—shove them full with small daisies that you get from your deli florist. Christmas ornaments—baubles, little doves—and holly are an easy and impactful addition to a festive table, too.”

RSG: “Honestly, when I’m in New York, I spend a fortune drooling over fabulous blooms at Dutch Flower Line, but when I’m in Savannah, the choices are limited. I use big, dramatic palm fronds in the summer, camellia blooms in the winter, and always lady slipper orchids. I keep them in the utility room year-round for last-minute soirees.”

CB: “One thing I’ve discovered from eating at home so much in 2020 is that it is a huge money saver in and of itself! Using china and table linens (versus paper towels) is also eco- and budget-friendly. But yes, there are ways to make a tablescape more affordable, too! I thrift for vintage china, so I don’t often have a complete set, but I can mix up the look of my table easily. Dried flowers (currently loving cotton ball branches) are a great look for fall/winter. And you can mix up your napkin game without buying napkin rings by simply tying a rustic linen napkin in a knot and draping it over the plate of your setting.”

 

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Color Schemes:

JM: “Being that La DoubleJ is a maximalist company, I love to play with a big mix of prints. You have to let the clash happen, but there also has to be order in the chaos. There should be a conductor that goes through every item on the table and pulls it together—picking out a color is a simple way to do this. Color schemes should be based on mood. Do you want something toned down, or something totally bonkers? If it’s the latter, do it by upping the ante of prints on your table, from printed napkins to printed plates, tablecloths, and vases. Play with scale: Mix a small, busy pattern with a larger pattern that has room to breathe.”

RG: “Boo to boring, bashful beige! Some may find that a difficult pill to swallow, but bright colors and happy patterns encourage celebration. While that may not be a proven fact, I’ve thrown enough parties for it to be pretty close.”

CB: “I love to play with color, pattern, and texture, and that’s no exception on the table. The three most impactful elements within this to me are: the linens, the china, and the florals. If I’m opting for ombre linens, for example, I’ll keep it simple with a solid black clay plate and tonal florals. If I’m going for a crisper, classic linen, I might add in patterned china, colorful glassware, and florals that pop. To me, it’s a mix between taking risks and also keeping things balanced.”

 

The Value of Putting Effort into an Evening and/or Tablescape:

JM: “People love it. The guests at your home will always be overjoyed when they see your vibrant table come to life—it’s like a stage, and it’s a really fun way to be creative. The table is such a gathering place and has a sense of ceremony to it. When you put extra effort into it, it’s incredibly self-satisfying and other people are always impacted by it.”

RSG: “Ultimately, the goal is to treat your guests to a good time—the more effort you make, the greater the gift. I encourage memorable and fun occasions no matter how intimate. Print a menu! Use place cards! Add a cracker. When this pandemic is over, I expect everyone to dress, dance, and party like Baz is directing.”

CB: “I believe in the power of spaces to create an environment for beautiful things to happen, whether that’s a significant event or a simple, mindful evening enjoying the ones you love. I truly take time to set a table with linens and flowers—the whole nine yards—every evening that we eat in, which, in 2020, is literally every evening. To me, it helps me pause at the end of the day, change gears, and celebrate the simple quality time I have with my fiancé or a friend outside of work. I’m not a great cook, but I can give that kind of TLC to people at my table by creating a nice setting.”

 

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JJ’s Failsafes:

“For aperitivo, I love to use a stack of La DoubleJ’s rainbow-colored Murano glasses as a bar and set them all up in the center of the living room like an installation—together they are visually so beautiful. I put out white wine, red wine, and Aperol and ice cubes and let everyone make their own drink to avoid the back-and-forth from the kitchen to the living room. It’s nice when it’s informal and drinks don’t have to be prepared, everyone can just DIY. On Spotify, I have a fabulous mellow mix and a fabulous dance mix—I start the night at mellow and switch to fabulous. I have a Beats speaker that I can move from one room to the next. Mixed dessert plates are a great conversation starter for your dolce at the end of the meal—everyone likes getting their own pattern.”

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Rebbeca Gardner’s Dos and Donts:

Don’t serve wine in long stemware. Short tumblers are less likely to tip over when guests are balancing plates. If you are precious with rugs and upholstery, do not serve red wine.”

“Do check the house to ensure you have plenty of stools and side chairs to easily move around. Guests will take their plates and perch around the house. Move the dining chairs into the largest room and group around upholstery.”

“Do make dessert an entertaining event. Pass something silly like ice cream sandwiches on silver trays or offer ladies a chocolate jeweled necklace with strawberries (dessert served on the neck…oh la la!)”

“Don’t ever appear disgruntled if something breaks or spills. Pretend you don’t care and start a game of Would You Rather?”

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Christina’s Must-Haves:

“To me, lighting, scent, and music set the mood. These play into emotional senses that you really can’t capture in a ’gram #tablescape, but make all the difference in real life. Keeping the lighting low and ambient (lamps, candles, and low-level light) is much more flattering and cozy than overhead lighting. Burn a yummy candle in your entryway or powder room for a scent of something delicious in addition to what’s cooking. Put on a playlist that goes with the vibe you’re setting. Cole Porter radio—a throwback to our grandparents’ era—is fail-proof.”

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