Holiday Table Top Ideas
For the 7th year in a row, Bilotta Kitchens and Traditional Home have hosted “Art of the Table”, a premier design event in which five leading interior designers elegantly outfit kitchens to their own particular design style. The annual event celebrates the fusion of design, art, and lifestyle, and incorporates exquisite tabletop collections within five distinctive kitchens in Bilotta’s A&D Building Showroom. This year they partnered with Replacements, LTD. to provide the vast selection of table settings, flatware, stemware, and accessories.
Read on for ideas for your own holiday tables. You may even be inspired to change up your own dishware and china patterns! These designers show how you can turn any kitchen space into an intimate dining experience whether it be formal or fun! And perhaps you’ll find ideas for other parties you host throughout the year when ordinary just won’t do!
TEA FOR TWO
…and two for tea.” (-Doris Day). Interior designer Rajni Alex invited guests to “High Tea” in her elegantly outfitted kitchen. The space, featuring Rutt Classic cabinetry in a pale blue color with a flowery crystal chandelier, spoke “tea party” to Rajni and so she outfitted her space around that vision. Rajni set her table with various china patterns from Herend in a feminine color palette with gold trim, Waterford crystal in soft pastel tones, and elegant Sferra linens, all available through Replacements. The kitchen island and banquette were covered with roses and macaroons, pearls and cakes, teapots and champagne, crystal and silver – every detail was beautifully thought out right down to the pale pink and mint green sugar cubes. Chantilly Patisserie filled the Waterford cake stands with beautiful pastries and tea sandwiches. Starbright Floral Design covered every surface with a delicate arrangement of pastel roses, peonies, and more, reminiscent of an English garden adding subtle drama to the space. This is for sure no ordinary tea party – so if you’re looking to “wow” guests at a particularly special occasion, take some tips from Rajni!
TABLE SET FOR A KING
Interior design Asler Valero turned Bilotta’s contemporary Artcraft kitchen island into an elegant dining table. He brilliantly displayed hand-painted gold place settings from Bernardaud and Cartier atop an intricately crocheted tablecloth from Elitis’ Imera collection made out of jute with metallic reflections. Each place setting was accented by Baccarat crystal glassware in bold greens and majestic blues and stylish Cristofle silverware – a table set for a king! He brought in some organic elements with centerpieces made of corn husks and handmade beeswax candles. Asler excelled at transforming a very contemporary kitchen into a warm and inviting dining experience.
GETTING READY
Jennifer Flanders wanted to create an environment that spoke to “Getting Ready” for a gathering of loved ones showing how, even in a small urban dwelling, you can still entertain and prep in the same space – how you can transform the same beautiful kitchen and dining area into one room that is both “country casual” and “formal chic”. With a backdrop of white and walnut cabinetry, Jennifer used a contrasting palette of black and white, with her selection of place settings by Royal Crown Derby, and dramatic and stylish Black Cut crystal glassware by Waterford. She then softened it up with beautiful floral arrangements in warm tones of orange and pinks, golds and yellows. Adding fresh flowers in the tones of the current season, or lit candles, add that extra warmth to any dinner table. Everything came together beautifully, creating an elegant and sophisticated environment that drew you in and made you want to dine at Jennifer’s table.
WHIMSICAL PARADISE
When you stepped into Rayman Boozer’s kitchen at Art of the Table, you felt as though you were entering into an elegant garden party, and more specifically, one in the Gardens of Versailles. Rayman brought his kitchen to life with bright pops of color, placemats made of real moss, delicate hanging ivy, and gifts wrapped in colorful polka dots and bows. For his place settings he selected Royal Limoge’s floral patterned “Paradis” collection (even the name is perfectly fitting!) and hand-etched crystal painted in 24 karat gold by Arte Italica, all accented by brilliantly colorful butterflies. Even in the dead of a New York winter you can easily transform a dining experience into a truly whimsical paradise. Rayman also showed how you can merge the old with the new, the sleek with the playful, the clean backdrop with the lively colors and patterns.
TUSCAN GARDEN PARTY
Julie Schuster’s kitchen at Art of the Table made you feel as though you were walking into a Tuscan Garden party. A palette of brilliant yellows, oranges, and greens were the perfect contrast to the backdrop of oak and mahogany cabinets in shades of grey and beige. Julie wanted her table to be warm and elegant, drawing guests in and making them want to “stay a while”. She selected table settings from Gail Pittman’s Siena collection coupled with Ralph Lauren’s Equestrian flatware and Waterford crystal glasses, their West Hampton collection. She finished off her table with fresh gourds and succulents as centerpieces adding that organic element to the table.
For the rest of the event photos click here.
