Holiday Tablesetting

The Holidays are fast approaching and my thoughts are turning to decorating and entertaining.

I recently had the opportunity to create a Holiday Table Setting for an event at the Ohio Design Centre. The event was lovely and the bird snow globes (picture right) were a HUGE hit.

Everyone loved the birds!

As I began my planning for the table, I went shopping. I perused all my favorite places looking for the starting point - my inspiration. I found it in the very cool snow globes that I discovered at...of all places...Pier 1. The beautiful color of the birds referenced the silk on the chairs and the color of fall. Ah...my starting point.


My next decision was whether or not to use my newly acquired set of antique dishes. I had them so it would be nice to use them...but at times I felt that they were a bit limiting. As I shopped I never found a set of dishes that I thought would be a better fit for the elegant table. Gold chargers with richly colored napkins would dress up the place setting and pull it together.

So, it worked out. Wonderful to use what I have - not that I couldn't buy a new set of dishes for every holiday. I have a small dish addiction.

Table for Holiday Table scape at the Baker Knapp & Tubbs showroom at our Cleveland showroom.

The table and chair style is a tad traditional. I decided to reference the traditional style but infuse the scheme with a few modern touches.

I thought a series of table runners would be the best approach for the beautiful wood table that I was using. Place mats felt just too dated and one long runner would not provide enough protection for the table surface...table runners are the answer.

But after many hours of searching for just the right material (I am sooo picky) for something ready made (NOTHING OUT THERE!!) and with the deadline fast approaching, I stumbled upon a beautiful trio of scarves while shopping.

Perfect! I simply modified the scarves with a few quick seams (see my sewing machine pictured above) and I had my table runners. With more time I would have selected fabric from the Design Centre and had custom runners made by a local workroom. Time and money...always a factor.

I think these runners are perfect...beautiful, quick, and readily available.

Pictured above - Holiday Table Scape at the Baker Showroom.

Very pretty and festive!

Large pear and amber glass candlesticks by Baker.

Place Setting

Gold charger with dinner plate, napkin, and decorative beaded leaf.

I found a set of dishes this summer at a local antique shop and fell in love with them. Not to make an impulse buy, I decided to think about the dishes a while before making a final decision. My thoughts returned to the dishes week after week. One Saturday morning I accompanied my hubby on a visit to the antique store to pick up a vintage drafting table and...they were still available - it was a sign - I had to buy them.

The set is Viceroy by Homer Laughlin circa 1941 and it has service for 12 with lots of the accessory pieces. There are a few chips here and there, and over time I may search for replacement pieces, or not. I think that the pattern is somewhat neutral and can be dressed up or down depending upon the occasion. The set is perfect for us as we do not do a great deal of formal entertaining.

Post shopping note: dressing the plates up - not so difficult - dressing them down - very difficult.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these bird snow globes!!!





Floral arrangement to add color and sparkle.






What a wonderful warm glow!!

I can't wait to use these ideas for my own Holiday Table.

A Day at the Ohio Design Center

When the subject of moving to another city arises in our home, the first requirement that I list, okay, well, the second requirement that I list (proximity to the ocean ranks number one) is that our new home would need to be close to a Design Center. Design Centers are those wonderful places where designers can shop for all of the beautiful furnishings and finishes, those amazing items that enable us to create the finished masterpieces that make our client's hearts skip a beat when they walk into the room.

We are fortunate here in Cleveland to have the Ohio Design Center available to us for our shopping fix. I love wandering the various showrooms and seeing/shopping for all the latest fabrics, furnishings, finishes, and hardware. Seriously, I can shop - ask my husband!

Typically, Design Centers are "To The Trade Only" which means that only designers can visit these showrooms. Here in Cleveland we recently began a program where the Ohio Design Center is open to the public on Fridays. We now have two "Designer's on Call" every Friday's to assist the public with design questions that they may have or purchasing that they would like to do. To coincide with the Friday "Designer on Call" program, we are also offering seminars on design the first Friday of every month. So far the response from the public has been tremendous. Folks seem to love the seminars given by our local designers and they enjoy perusing the showrooms to see what's new and fun in the world of design.

I was one of today's "Designer's on Call" and had a wonderful time meeting everyone as they signed in for this Friday's installation of the speaker series given by my friend Christine Haught, ASID, entitled "Design Dollars and Sense." My fellow "Designer on Call" was Dawn Cook and as part of the program, we designers offer a half hour complimentary consultation. Dawn gave one new visitor to the Center a consultation and they had a terrific session together. What a great way to get people to feel comfortable talking with a designer - a 1/2 hour consultation in a relaxed atmosphere.

Baker Castel Lounge Chair pictured left

Christine's great talk was followed by a luncheon hosted by John and Kim Hall in the J Hall kitchen showroom. What a feast they prepared - it was sooo yummy!!! They have such gorgeous kitchens on display in their showroom. A real feast for the eyes.

All in all, it was a fun design day and a super opportunity to meet the public and share what we do as designers. I'm looking forward to my turn again next month as a "Designer on Call" and I am planning with my fellow designer, Dawn, November's seminar on great table settings and decorating for the holidays.

Until the next Friday chapter...happy shopping!!

The J Hall Showroom

Our wonderful luncheon at J Hall

What a feast - awesome job Kim!!

We were greeting the public outside Donghia. Don't you just love Donghia!

Baker Knapp & Tubbs is pretty awesome too. I love my salesperson - Greg! He's the best!!

They are having a wonderful sale!! I LOVE a good sale.