Your table is the place that your guests are bound to gather during holiday parties. It’s not only where all will be eating, it’s the front line of style, charm, and lasting impressions. Take the advice of local experts to create a table of your own.
John Krenek
Spruce Design + Decor, High Falls
When setting a table, I generally like to add a bit of whimsy and unexpectedness to it. Unless it is a formal affair, have fun with it. Let your imagination create something that is memorable for your guests. Look around your house and see what you can add to the table besides the usual plates, glasses, etc. I enjoy creating theme tables. For instance, the table shown on the left was inspired by nature (turtles, butterflies, and dragonflies). The “Aura” stoneware is shaped into organic forms, then fired with an earthy gold metallic glaze. The glassware is etched to resemble chiseled ice. Finishing the look is a centerpiece created with an assortment of ferns from the garden. The look is warm, inviting, and fun. For the table setting above, I turned to local ceramics designer Jurg Lanzrein for help. He’s well known in the area for his wonderful handmade creations and his fabulous tableware, and serving pieces have been collected for years. His wares are available through Spruce Design + Decor.
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Larry Ruhl
High Falls Mercantile, High Falls
Ayumi Horie’s pottery is so organic and beautifully inspired that using it on the table calls for simple materials. Rustic antique barn wood, feathers that are not only beautiful to look at but soft to the touch, and a simple punch of red to liven the whole thing up. Little touches of nature like the pine cones pull the feeling of the clay and nature together.
We are hearing more and more the call for simplicity. What could be more inspiring and fun than collections of beautiful vintage ornaments on a simple white linen table cloth? We pair that with a vintage embroidered ribbon runner and plenty of vintage ironstone to help show off the beauty of the ornaments. Vintage silverware and hand embroidered napkins complete the feeling.
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Heidi Hill-Haddard
HiHo Home Market, Gardiner
Setting a festive holiday table for two can be just as inspiring as a table for twenty.
Layering everything from dishes to linens will make for a rich, textured table top. Using quilts, greens, ornaments, and your creativity to archive an atmosphere for guests can be extremely satisfying. Be sure to build up, but keep a clear line of vision for your guests to converse. Making the 2010 holiday celebrations in your life memorable is only limited by your imagination.
David Pillard
Tender Land Home, Phoenicia
Have fun putting your holiday table together. Celebrate with a mix of textures, styles, and colors. Metallics can really make a table shine, layering makes the table feel rich, and candles always add magic. Make it memorable and do something different—use chopsticks for that Christmas or Chanukah meal. Enjoy. WATCH THEIR VIDEO
Dennis Sharp
Moose Crossing, Shokan
Whether for the holidays or a special dinner with friends or family, your table will be festive and colorful with our pine cone motif dinnerware and pinecone silverware accent with pine napkins and napkin rings all available at Moose Crossing.
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