As the More is More Mom®, I am all about…..more tablescapes! Tuesday was my big day at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart speaking with the International Furnishings and Design Association. What a thrill to share my personal philosophy about entertaining and making more memories. You know my motto; More of Everything is Always Better. Why design one tablescape when you can design three?
In keeping with the spirit of the upcoming season, I demonstrated my philosophies through setting a Halloween Buffet, an Elegant Woodland Harvest table and a whimsical Christmas celebration (think Dr. Suess meets a peppermint wonderland). I’m pretty sure that I brought more of my personal belongings to the Mart on Monday than Chuck and I had in our first apartment. Excess is not a skimpy proposition.
My intention as an Interior Designer is to help my clients develop and interpret a personal style that reflects the way they live. However, the way our homes look is only one component in our quest to live in a more meaningful way. Another is how we use our homes to create meaningful life experiences for our family and friends.
I think that entertaining in your home should be an event! To me, Halloween is a nibble on treats and sip on cocktails kind of a holiday, which is why I chose to design an over the top Halloween Buffet. I hope you enjoy the photographs….
Every good tablescape starts with table linens. In homage to the colors of the season, I chose a black striped table cloth as a foundation, but for me a tablecloth is never enough. A fun and flirty topper is always in order. I had a great time with my pals Vickie and Camille, of Chicago Design Team at the Arlington Design Center, when selecting a fabric and trim for a fantastic table-topper. They provided this fantastic Duralee fabric and trim. What I appreciate about this fabric is that it is a nod to the flavor of the season, being that it is a pumpkin hue, but it isn’t predictable. There are no goblins or gourds, just an elegant, bold and graphic medallion type pattern that screams sophistication.
A bold statement is the best way to set the tone for your party. Let your guests know what to expect by showcasing something fabulous. Here, I have anchored my buffet with a pair of large lanterns. To amp up the spooky factor, inside each lantern I have placed a large white pillar candle and topped it with a black, shiny skull. Behind each door hides a scary, hairy, rat! Affixed to the top of one lantern is….. a raven (never more). Eeew!
Before there was an Edward or a Bella, there was my vampire-ess to watch over the festivities. Isn’t she amazing? I pair her with two skeletal hands, each on a tall pedestal. Just because they are super creepy, I place soft and squishy type rats, scurrying about the vampire-ess. They are just so gross!
I think a bar is of the utmost importance, which is why I have chosen for this one to take center stage. Glassware, and barware, does best when corralled by a statement tray. I am so in love with this mirrored tray. The cut crystal just glistens in reflection, while a silver ice bucket is gorgeous and sophisticated. The bucket is the perfect place to house my magic wand. Should anyone misbehave, I have my wand to cast a magic spell. To round out my table, I have two little, lidded apothecary jars. One filled with skulls and the other with spiders. How creepy is that?
If you are serving cocktails, snicky-snacks are a must! To either side of my lanterns, I have placed black pedestal platters, dripping in crystals. I am a huge fan of balance, though not necessarily symmetry. Two snacks are never enough, so I have placed a smaller, silver pedestal platter to the left of the bar, while I have placed a low silver chip bowl and smaller silver dip bowl to the right. To balance the height differential, I placed a tall Halloween Cat smartly dressed in a pumpkin suit.
The rest is easy. Illumination is a key element in any table design. Here I have chosen to flank my buffet with black iron and crystal candelabra’s. They were nice and dusty and cob-webby from living in my basement. Perfect! Between each candelabra and lantern I placed a black urn, topped with a sparkly orange pumpkin.
My buffet-scape is only complete with the addition of spider appetizer plates, napkins that read, “Eat, drink and be scary,” and a few carefully placed ravens and spiders.
Now that we are all set for Halloween, it’s time to invite a few guests to help us celebrate! More holidays, more decorations, more over the top celebrating life with friends….
In the weeks to come, I will be sharing my Elegant Woodland Table and my Whimsical Christmas Celebration. In the meantime, enjoy more time with family and friends!
More is More Mom 