Fearless Entertaining

The entertaining season is upon us and the idea of it strikes fear and trepidation in the hearts of many.  However, I am one of those crazy people who look forward to it.  For me, entertaining is another creative outlet, and although I enjoy cooking, I thrive on the whole process of entertaining.  I love creating an "event" for my guests and leaving them with fond memories of an evening well spent.  Fortunately, I am married to someone who also enjoys the process and over the years we have entertained a lot.

Here are a few things I have learned:

Know Your Guests

When hosting a dinner or party think about the personalities of your guests and your relationship with them.  Are your guests a close group of friends or family who can gather casually for hours?  Or are they new neighbors or business associates visiting for the first time who will require a bit more attention?  The right mix of people is important too and I recommend inviting a least one person or couple to the table who "plays well with anyone".  These folks are key to making your dinner party comfortable and will take some of the pressure off you when you excuse yourself to check on the roast.

In a formal setting or with a large group, I like to use place cards.  Place cards eliminate that awkward moment when everyone is jockeying for a place to sit.  It also gives some control over the flow of conversation and avoids one person taking the center seat and dominating the dinner conversation.  Also, separate couples and if the "kids" are at the table, place them next to the older folks.  This keeps things interesting for all.

Finally, beforehand, consider your guest's needs and plan accordingly.  Be sensitive to guests with food allergies or preferences based on religion or culture.


Set the Mood

Now that you have the guest list figured out, you can move on to the fun part--setting the mood for your dinner or party.  This is my favorite part!  Start by planning a menu and consider a theme to go with it.  Once that has been determined, think about the decorating, table setting, flowers and even your outfit. Your theme can be carried through all these elements and will work to create an event, not just a dinner.  Again, this is the fun part.

Whether formal or casual, make sure your table looks fabulous!  Everyone loves seeing a beautifully set table and it evokes good feelings about what is to come.

Some things to keep in mind:

Use color to tell the story.  I usually pick a color based on my menu or theme.  For example, I recently hosted a Tahitian themed dinner party and used a brightly colored pareo as inspiration for my table setting.  The table was set with bamboo mats, bright orange napkins, green palm fronds and seashell napkin rings.  It all told a story and created a memorable evening for all.

Let nature add interest and texture.  Sea shells, fruit, pumpkins, leaves, tree branches, greens, herbs, wood planks and, of course, flowers offer a wealth of decorating ideas for your table.  Most of these elements are right outside your door or at your local craft store.

When it comes to the table cover, be creative!  Think of other common things that can take the place of or can be layered with a standard tablecloth.  For example: scarves, flat rugs, antique bedspreads, craft paper, beach sarongs, burlap, bamboo or a bit of unhemmed linen or lace make a unique statement on your dining table.  I also often use placements or chargers on top of a tablecloth to help set the stage. One of my new favorites in this category is the chalkboard placement.  These are so much fun, can double as a place card and your guest can personalize them too!

"The Diva"--also known as The Centerpiece.  This is the key element to your table setting and like any Diva, it should create a little drama.  Or course, nothing beats a fabulous floral arrangement as a centerpiece, but keep in mind there are many other options available.  Be creative and remember the theme.

For example, if you are setting the table for a spring celebration, consider the season and use bunnies (not real!), moss, tulips and eggs--all symbols of spring.  If you are setting the table for Thanksgiving, use a hollowed out pumpkin with fresh flowers surrounded by leaves, gourds and a bit grapevine as your centerpiece.

Don't forget the candles!  Candles are the easiest way to create a mood and dining experience for your guests.  I like to mix tall candles with small votives that run the length of the table.  This allows everyone at the table to bask in a warm glow, not just those in the middle.

Not to worry…  If decorating is not your thing, keep it simple.  Use a simple white linen tablecloth, light some candles and let the people add the color!


Flow Matters

Think about flow before your guests arrive for your dinner or party.  This is really important.  Nothing stops a party in its tracks like a clog at the front door.  Set up stations of food and beverages and keep people moving.  If the weather is nice, serve drinks and appetizers on the porch or deck.  If not, consider drinks around the fire or in the kitchen while you prepare dinner.  This is the warm up to the main event, so remember your theme and introduce it early.

I like to display the dinner menu in a picture frame on the table with the appetizers. This is a terrific conversation starter and gets a person excited about what lies ahead.  If you are hosting a special event like an anniversary or engagement dinner, the framed menu can serve as a lovely keepsake.  The guest of honor can take it home with them at the end of the evening.

Also, don't be afraid to include your guests in the dinner prep.  It takes some of the burden off you and makes your guests feel like family.  Ask your guests to help with something fun or easy like basting, stirring, adding garnish or using a hand held torch!  (I recently served creme brûlée for dessert and my guests had a ball caramelizing the sugar topping!)  Talk about fearless!!


When Hosting a Party--Invite More People Than You Want

This is my best advice for party giving.  People like to be where the action is so when hosting a party, invite at least 25% more people than you really want to attend.  At least 15% will decline and you will lose another few the day of the party. This will give you the perfect number of guests to make the party full without feeling overly crowded.  No one wants to walk into a "dead" party.  People add the fun and when entertaining, the old adage is true…"the more the merrier!"


Relax

The best advice I ever got about entertaining was to RELAX and have fun.  If the hostess is enjoying herself, the guests will too!

For more table setting inspiration, check out Kim's "Table Settings" board on the Salmon-Casson, Ltd Pinterest page.


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Vendor Spotlight -- Currey & Company

Why we love Currey & Company

I first discovered Currey & Company in 1989 when they were mostly in the business of making reproductions of historic garden furniture (I still have the cutest iron chair from their Winterthur collection sitting at my vanity).  At that time, they also offered a few key lighting pieces.  At first sight, I knew Currey & Company was special.  The line was interesting, organic and fresh!  It was just what the design industry had been pining for -- a home furnishings line that was unique and memorable.

After 26 years, our love affair with Currey & Company continues and this is why…

Style and Attention to Detail

Currey & Company offers a wide range of styles in lighting and home furnishings.

For designers, every project is different and each client has their own unique style. I love that we can rely on Currey & Company to provide fabulous lighting and home furnishings in almost any style to suit our client's taste.  I can turn to Currey & Company to find styles from traditional…to rustic…to modern…and even to a little funky.  I particularly love their line of mirrored furniture.  These pieces can add a touch of glamour to any room!

Their pieces are well designed and thought out.  Currey & Company pays close attention to the details and have some of the finest finishes I have ever seen.  The glazes and lacquers are deep and rich, while many pieces show off crystal and beadwork that is beyond compare.  The shades and finials are paired to each lamp like jewelry to an outfit.  Every detail counts at Currey & Company and it shows.

We love that.

Expansive

Currey & Company is not just about lighting.  The company has grown and now offers fabulous furniture, upholstery, rugs and accent pieces.  They specialize in using unique materials to create products that bring a sense of wonder to any room.

Hand forged iron products have long been the speciality of the company, but the range of materials has been extended to include a variety of materials such as hand-carved wood, porcelain and brass.  "Currey International" has made it possible for the company to develop and produce a variety of unique hand made products and materials.  One of these is concrete hand formed to create fashionable furnishings of "faux bois."  Seashells and other natural materials also figure strongly in the Currey & Company product line.

We love that.

Cutting Edge Style

Currey & Company also stays current and brings cutting edge designs to our industry.  They are not afraid to "step out of the box" and offer up designs that are creative and dramatic.  Case in point is Shannon Koszyk's line of lighting and accents for Currey & Company.

"Shannon Koszyk's aesthetic is edgy, sexy, dark and dangerous, yet it appeals to a wide range of jewelry and design devotees.  As with her jewelry designs, Shannon's lighting is multi-layered and peppered with historical and religious symbols.  Her new products are both ethereal fantasia and ruggedly tough with a strong rock 'n' roll influence."

Some of Currey & Company's most dramatic pieces are in the new Havana line inspired by the reopening of trade with Cuba.  These fixtures make a statement and invite us to revel in glamour and elegance of a time gone by.

I also love the new furniture line Currey & Company launched at Market.  It is based on Edward Wormley's furniture designs from the 1950-60's.  It is a fabulously sexy line of Mid-Century Modern pieces that evoke images of Don Draper and Mad Men.

Who doesn't love that??

Currey in a Hurry!

Currey & Company offers a collection of lighting, furniture and accents that can ship in a hurry.

"Our mission at Currey & Company is to serve our customers in an exemplary manner.  To that end, the company invests in the inventory of products so that orders will deliver quickly and on time.  The products listed in the Currey in a Hurry section are guaranteed to ship within five business days."

We really love that!

Great Reps, Great Customer Service and Great Marketing Tools

Currey & Company cares about our clients, our business, and us.  Their customer service is top drawer and we can count on them to make our clients happy.  Also, our rep is fantastic and keeps us updated so we can offer our clients the latest and greatest Currey & Company has to offer.  In addition, Currey & Company has a beautiful catalog and "user friendly" website.  I also love their Facebook and Pinterest pages.

Currey & Company makes my job easy and I totally love that!


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Vendor Spotlight -- Fall High Point Furniture Market

Why do I love the High Point Furniture Market?

Every 6 months my heart skips a beat as I drive down I-85 to attend the High Point Furniture Market in North Carolina.  I find the October Market particularly exciting as our vendors roll out their new fall lines and we see trends that will shape the next year in the design industry.

It is hard to believe that my first trip to Market was in 1984.  I was fresh out of college with a shiny new degree in Interior Design, ready to set the world on fire.  I fell in love with the pace, the excitement and the deep southern charm of the High Point Market.  I still love going to Market today--here is what I love about it!

The High Point Market is huge!  It is true to say that the town IS the furniture market.  It showcases more that 2,000 home furnishing industry exhibitors from all over the globe in over 11.5 million square feet of showroom space.  You can hardly imagine it.  There is a real hustle bustle about the place as people from all over the world rush to cover as much as possible in a short period of time.  Vendors come here to showcase their existing lines and to introduce new lines.  It is THE place to see what is new and hot. I love that.

Buildings at High Point Furniture Market

Market is the place to see the absolutely latest trends in interior design.  We meet creative artists who are passionate about their work, bringing out new products, new concepts and combination of materials and colors you could hardly imagine.  Many are amazing and leave you wondering, "how do they possibly think of that?"  I love that.

Market helps us maintain our relationships and make new ones.  One of our primary goals at Market is to visit the showrooms of our existing lines, many of whom we have worked with for over 20 years.  Each line we work with we have hand-picked for quality and price.  We meet with our reps, see their new introductions, touch and feel, take photos and notes and we even give certain pieces a "gold star" if we think they are extra special.  All of this information is useful to our clients and it helps maintain good working relationships with our vendors.  I love that.

We also look for new lines.  Nothing is more exciting at Market than finding a few new, unique lines that are really compelling.  It excites us, brings you new options and helps SCL stay current.  I love that.

There is a LOT of new technology in our industry.  Market helps us keep abreast of the latest trends in the convergence of design and technology in the home, as this area changes perhaps more rapidly than any other area of design.  I love that.

We get to shop for you.  Whether it is the newest lighting, art or accessories, we bring the freshest back to SCL in Reston.  Beyond that, if you are looking for that very unique piece of furniture, piece of artwork or accessory--then we are too--as we have a client list and shop specifically for you at Market.  I LOVE that most of all!


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Charleston Forge…
Lexington Furniture…
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A Visit to Kravet Design Studio in New York City

This month I had the pleasure to visit the Kravet Design Studio in New York City.

This is the design headquarters where the entire Kravet line of fabrics, wall coverings, trims and drapery hardware are conceived, crafted, colored, and perfected.  

It was such a treat to see "the behind the scenes" design process and meet the artists who make such a fine line.

Thank you to George Ruch for setting it up and to Felicia Manini for a fabulous tour!

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Fashion and Interior Design

I was recently standing in the grocery checkout line when I could not help but notice all the magazines touting the latest fall fashions.  Wasn't it only August???  I was not ready to get rid of my shorts and tank tops, but there it was…tweed, leather and suede staring me in the face.  I guess it was time to embrace the coming of falling leaves and cooler weather.

I bought a handful of magazines and as I started browsing through them I realized how incredibly similar fashion design is to interior design.  Both industries are motivated by trends, but there are deeper connections.  I found it fascinating.  Perhaps if I explored these connections, I could tap into my own inner fashionista!

Here's what I found intriguing...

"Layering"  As Clairee said in Steel Magnolias, "The only thing that separates us from the animals is the ability to accessorize".

This is so true!  A well-designed room, like a great outfit, requires layering and accessories.  The accessories are my favorite part of a room or an outfit.  They are what I like to call the "icing".

When designing a space, I start with good, classic pieces and then add layers.  For example--in a dining room, I start with a beautiful table, chairs and a functional server or breakfront.  This is my base.  Then we add in fabrics, a fabulous chandelier, a rug to ground the furnishings and window treatments to soften the shell.  After that comes the fun part--the accessories.  Accessories are the final layer that gives the room personality and flair.

It is easy to see how this process can be applied to pulling together a fabulous outfit.  Start with a base of a few good pieces of clothing; add a layer or two that coordinate with your base outfit, and then finish it off with a final layer of accessories.  Scarves, jewelry, shoes, or a great handbag are all terrific options for "icing".  Oh, don't forget the hat.  Hats are a big deal this season!

"Influence"  Inspiration is key to design.  What influences a certain style or trend?  Where did the designer get their inspiration?  With interior design and fashion the answers seem to stem from the same place.  Both industries are influenced by history and the world around us.  Many design trends mimic a specific era or historical event.  Also, world events play a very important role in design and fashion, as does pop culture.

"The Finishing Touch"  The "finishing touch" separates the unique from the ordinary.  Anything well designed has attention to detail and quality.  For example, a well-designed window treatment is art--and the finishing touch is found in the details.  The quality and hand of the fabric matters, the turn and stitching of the hem can be a thing of beauty.  But the "earrings to the outfit" is the trim.  Braided, tasseled or jeweled, the trim is the finishing touch.

Just like a pearl button on a sweater, the intricate stitching on a hand crafted shoe, or the leather tooling on a beautiful handbag--the art is in the details.

"Inspired Designers"  Some of the most famous fashion designers have made a mark for themselves in the world of interior design.  They have taken their own unique style and signature elements to create fabulous furniture, fabrics and accessories.  Consider Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta, Diane von Furstenberg, Lily Pulitzer, and of course…Versace.

Fashion and design are both about art and the expression of your personal style--whether in your home or your wardrobe.


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