We’ve been cooped up for over a year with nothing to do, but as the number of vaccinated people in the U.S. continues to climb, people are starting to step out and get their social lives back. Hallelujah!
Looking to host a chic summer soiree?
Penny Murphy, President of Palm Beach’s premiere luxury linen retailer Pioneer Linens, shares her top tips for creating a beautiful table top.
Penny Murphy, President of Palm Beach’s premiere luxury linen retailer Pioneer Linens , shares her top tips for creating a beautiful table top
When creating a tablescape Penny advises approaching it the same way you would getting dressed. Ask yourself what is the occasion?
‘Dressing a table should a be a fun and creative experience,’ says the expert.
‘Think about your menu – what dishes are you going to use? Do you want to be more formal or casual?
‘Once you make these decisions you can begin to put your table together.’
Penny suggests starting with a basic white hemstitch tablecloth. ‘Think of this as a basic line linen dress – if you wanted to get more dressed up you might put on a sparkling jacket, crystal earrings, and great ring’
She suggests starting with a basic white hemstitch tablecloth.
‘Think of this as a basic line linen dress – if you wanted to get more dressed up you might put on a sparkling jacket, crystal earrings, and great ring.
‘You can dress up your table by layering sparkling placemats, gold chargers, formal dishes, great napkin rings to go around your napkin (like a bracelet!) and some wonderful crystal goblets.’
Penny loves mixing old pieces like her grandmother’s dishes with newer collections.
‘Sometimes I recycle some old bud vases that are in most houses and fill them with cut flowers or fresh cut flowers from my yard.’
The expert strategically places the vases around the table.
A self-proclaimed candlestick holder junky, Penny says she has a nice collection of formal silver, basic white as well as coastal themed (being a Florida gal) and a few others
‘These days, placemats come in so many colorful fabrics and natural materials. Choose placemats that you can mix and match with your dishes’
‘When designing my table…..I like to think about how I want my party to flow.
‘What do I want my friends to remember the next day? Was it the flowers, the food, the mood, the other guests that they mixed with?’
For a more casual party, Penny recommends a lovely colorful, flower printed tablecloth, then layering on complementary colored placemats and plates.
‘These days, placemats come in so many colorful fabrics and natural materials. Choose placemats that you can mix and match with your dishes.’
For a more casual party, Penny recommends a lovely colorful, flower printed tablecloth, then layering on complementary colored placemats and plates
‘When designing my table…..I like to think about how I want my party to flow’
Shells, fruits, lanterns, and tropical leaves are the expert’s favorite center pieces.
‘I love creating a table with lots of materials and colors to make it more fun! Sometimes I like to just walk through my house and find objects from my travels to put on my table for interest.’
She suggests using seasonal flowers or cutting leaves from your yard to create a fun colorful, arrangement.
‘Tropical leaves seem to be popular these days, but all white flowers as a centerpiece tend to be more formal.
‘I also like to use lemons, oranges, or other fruit that I may have in my house for centerpieces during the summer. It is easy to put them into a nice basket.’
Penny advises keeping centerpieces and table decor at eye level so guests can see across the table and chat without one another without obstruction.
‘Tropical leaves seem to be popular these days, but all white flowers as a centerpiece tend to be more formal’
Lighting sets the mood.
‘As I get older, I think I look so much better in candlelight. I like to use small tea lights mixed with candle sticks,’ say Penny.
A self-proclaimed candlestick holder junky, the Floridian admits to having a vast collection that includes formal silver, basic white as well as coastal themed.
She’s also a fan of tiki torches for an outdoor event.
‘I love creating a table with lots of materials and colors to make it more fun! Sometimes I like to just walk through my house and find objects from my travels to put on my table for interest’
‘All white flowers as a centerpiece also tend to be more formal’
When hosting an outdoor party, Penny recommends having a Plan B in case of bad weather.
She suggests anchoring down decorations and taking into consideration that the wind might blow accessories or candles off the table.
Music sets the vibe, so make sure you have wireless speakers on hand.
A wobbly chair doesn’t make for an enjoyable experience, so make sure your chairs do not sink into the sand or grass and keep mosquitos and other flies at bay with a preventative candle or bug snatcher.
While there are so many fun printed paper napkins on the market, Penny is a fan of cloth napkins
While there are so many fun printed paper napkins on the market, Penny is a fan of cloth napkins.
‘They are much more environmentally friendly,’ she said.
‘With all the different kinds of soaps and stain removers, it is easy to take care of them.
‘Simply, throw the napkins into a large soapy bucket or bowl at the end of the party or the next day.
‘Let them soak with some liquid dishwasher soap until you have time to put them in the washer.
‘After they go through the washer, look them over for stains. If they still have spots, find a good stain remover. Dry them on a low heat and take them out of the dryer right away.
‘Then hand smooth, fold and they’re good for another informal get together.’