Category: Supper Club Membership
Here is all of the exclusive content just for Supper Club members!
Here is all of the exclusive content just for Supper Club members!
If you follow Parker Kennedy Living on Instagram, you know that Lance and David bought a historical home that they are carefully restoring. They work around the restoration process and still find a way to make their home beautiful and inviting. I asked Lance to share his tips for table for 2, but most of these ideas will also work for as many guests as you have around your table. Let's start with Lance's tip on using vintage tablecloths...he found this beautiful round tablecloth at an estate sale. It is in perfect condition and he snapped it up to be able to use in their home. The coral color is a nice change from the true orange that we often see at Thanksgiving. This tablecloth also has shades of ivory and khaki colors.
Next, Lance suggests adding texture with a charger made of rattan, bamboo, or seagrass. A natural element helps to ground the colors and patterns and adds warmth with the texture. On top of the chargers, begin adding a mix of dinner plates, salad plates, and bread plates. Lance's biggest piece of advice is not to be afraid to mix the china patterns... as you can see below, he added interest by stacking 2 dinner plates and then a salad and bread plate. The hobnail dessert dish looks so pretty on top!
Lance wanted to use green napkins to pull in the green from the plates and the centerpiece. I love how the napkin is a pattern and also works perfectly with the other patterns. I always ask Lance if there are "rules" that he uses when working with pattern/color/scale. He goes by his innate ability to judge the right mix, but I personally like to play with scale when I mix patterns. But, with no hard and fast rules, I think that gives us free reign to play and enjoy creating unique looks for our tables.
Another tip from Lance is to play with your napkin placement and the way you present it. If you don't mind breaking away from the traditional form of napkin to the left of the flatware, you can have a little fun with presentation and add interest to your table. In this table setting, Lance chose white dragon napkin rings and suggested placing the napkin and napkin ring on top of the plates or to the left side. As you can see above, either way looks gorgeous! Lance also mixed metals on this tablescape by using gold flatware and silver wine goblets. I'm a big fan! For water glasses, Lance suggests using something unexpected too- he chose white milk glass glasses and the solid white looks fantastic on the table full of color. So, let's talk about the amazingly incredible floral centerpiece!
I couldn't stop taking photos of the centerpiece! Lance literally went to the local grocery store and bought the mixed bouquet of flowers and some ornamental squash/gourds and a few pumpkins. What he created with it was jaw-dropping!
To make the centerpiece, Lance started with a chinoiserie vase from his own collection and added 2 pieces of floral foam (found at craft stores like Michael's or Hobby Lobby). Add water to the vase and then insert the flowers into the foam.
To add the pumpkins and gourds, use the tip of scissors to make a small hole in the pumpkins and gourds. Insert a floral stake (also found at craft stores in the floral department) into the hole and then add the ornamental pieces to the arrangement by inserting into the foam. Lance suggests buying the longest stakes available and breaking the sticks if needed- that way you can adjust the height accordingly.
Because the table was set for 2 people, Lance placed the vase on a stand and seated each person side by side. There was no problem with seeing over the centerpiece and it created a cozy setting for dinner.
Lance also suggests adding elements from around your home to your table tops. I think that is a fun way to add charm to your tables. The antique foo dogs that Lance added are great conversation starters, too. Lance collected those in New York and he remembers getting them just before his son, Thomas, was born. It makes for a great way to share a little bit about the family as you gather for holidays.
And, as a parting tip, if you have extra ornamental gourds...place them in a pretty compote dish like Lance did here...this ties in the look around the room and adds interest!
One final look at the beautiful centerpiece (with the wonderful designer in the background)...
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