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Feast for the Eyes: How to Set an Elaborate Dinner Table
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Whether you're a seasoned pro who can set a table in 1-2-3 or a novice who doesn't know a soup spoon from a salad fork, you're sure to pick up a new idea or two from these original tablescape designs...
It was a plain-vanilla Thursday night until managing editor Deborah Carter and I visited Morris Museum in Morristown for their tablescape event. The place was buzzing with patrons and curiosity seekers exploring tabletop designs as well as toy art, dinosaurs, mammals and a HUGE world-class music box collection.
Two of my favorite tablescapes were created by David Ellis Events of Cedar Knolls and Singkiang of Chester.
David Ellis Events (davidellisevents.com) went all out by styling a long, striking dinner table with trellis-patterned blue cloth, pristine white place settings and black bamboo-style chairs. Kudos to floral designer Jaime Chesley for keeping it elegantly simple with lots of fresh roses and hydrangeas in a restrained palette. You can never go wrong with ever-elegant blue and white.
Owners Chad, Jonathan and Ryan always go over and above, and that's what makes David Ellis Events one of the best catering and event-planning operations in New Jersey.
Another of Morris Museum's impressive tablescapes was Linda Pastorino's over-the-top Neptune's Folly, loaded with organic material. Her company, Singkiang (908-879-8952), specializes in ethnographic ornament, costume, furnishings and objects of art.
Linda says, "In my tablescape, I incorporated four 19th-century Damascus folding chairs, an 18th-century Venetian grotto demilune table, an English conservatory table from 1910, several place settings of vintage 50’s grotto-style dishes, and self-made shell decorations that include the centerpiece, oyster trees, napkin rings, and chair jewelry. I also brought in a garden element with bromeliad plant varieties and a French treillage wall backdrop." (In real life, of course her huge centerpieces would need to be removed from the table for a sit-down dinner.) All the items in Linda's tablescape are for sale and they can be viewed in her gallery, by appointment.
Personally, I love interesting and inspiring tablescapes, and I especially look forward to holidays and special occasions so I can go a little crazy. It's all about PALETTE, PATTERN AND TEXTURE. To achieve eye-catching 3-D effects, be sure to LAYER placemats, chargers, plates, more plates, napkins, napkin rings, crystal, flowers and unexpected details that include party favors.
Send an image of your own amazing tablescape to me at susanonstyle@njmonthly.com. I look forward to seeing what you've created!
Happy styling,
Susan
Tags: chesley, jaime | David Ellis Events | susan on style
