Get the Look: Dinner Party for Small Spaces

Get the look: Dinner PArty for Small Spaces

I'm thrilled to share with you the insider secrets from our recent workshop at AVE Living in King of Prussia, PA. Hosted at this luxurious apartment community, we delved into the art of creating breathtaking tablescapes perfect for intimate gatherings. From shared common areas to model apartments and finally, the exquisite Sky Lounge, we explored the journey of transforming spaces for unforgettable dining experiences.

Creating a stunning tablescape isn't just about aesthetics; it's about crafting an atmosphere that fosters connection, conversation, and unforgettable memories. So, let's dive into how you can recreate the magic of our workshop right in your own home.

dinner party for small spaces mood board

1. Gold Votive Candle Holders Bulk S/24

2. Martha Stewart Aqua Round Woven Placemat S/6

3. Copper Chargers with Hammered Rim S/6

4. Cloth Dinner Napkins S/12

5. Coupe Glasses S/4

6. LED Flameless Taper Candle with Automatic Timer

7. Glass Candlestick Holder S/6

8. Wood Need Napkin Rings S/6

Setting the Scene. First things first, set the stage for your soirée. Choose a theme or color palette that reflects your personal style and the vibe you want to create. For our workshop, we opted for a sophisticated yet inviting ambiance, blending soft neutrals with touches of gold for a timeless appeal.

Layering with Love. The key to a visually captivating tablescape is layering. Start with a quality tablecloth or runner as your base or use the surface of your table, then layer on chargers, dinner plates, salad plates, and bowls in complementary hues and textures. Mix and match patterns and materials for added depth and interest.

Centerpiece Sensation. No tablescape is complete without a show-stopping centerpiece. Whether it's a lush floral arrangement on the island, a collection of candles across the dining table, or an artful combination of both, let your creativity shine. Consider incorporating elements of varying heights to add dimension and drama to the table. All of the floral arrangements were exclusively crafted by Georgette Marise Interiors.

Finishing Touches. Don't overlook the importance of the little details. From elegant flatware and glassware to decorative napkin rings and place cards, these finishing touches elevate the overall look and feel of your tablescape.

Now, let's talk about where you can find these exquisite pieces to recreate the magic at home. Many of the items featured in our workshop are available for purchase, ensuring that you can effortlessly bring the same level of sophistication and style to your own entertaining endeavors.

Whether you're hosting in a shared common space, a cozy apartment, or a luxurious Sky Lounge, the principles of tablescaping remain the same. It's all about infusing your space with personality, charm, and a touch of elegance.

So, what are you waiting for? Channel your inner host or hostess extraordinaire and start planning your next unforgettable gathering. With a little creativity and the right accessories, you'll be well on your way to hosting the soirée of your dreams.

Until next time, happy entertaining!

Transforming Your Dinner Party Experience with Florals: Q & A with Floral Artist Kathleen Cecilia Ennis

Flowers, in all their natural beauty, can set the mood and create a welcoming atmosphere. In today’s post, I’m diving into a topic that's close to my heart – the transformative power of flowers in dinner party decor. Whether you're hosting an intimate dinner for friends or a larger gathering, the right floral arrangements can be a game-changer. They add a touch of elegance and a splash of color that captivates your guests as soon as they walk in.

As an interior designer and avid entertainer I've witnessed firsthand the magic flowers can bring to a gathering. And what better way to explore this than by introducing you to a talented local florist who knows all about the language of flowers?

I recently had the pleasure of chatting with my friend Kathleen Cecilia Ennis, owner of Cecilia’s Flowers & a floral artist whose passion for blooms is truly infectious. We delved into the significance of incorporating florals into your dinner party decor and how they can elevate the overall ambiance.

Q & A with florist Kathleen Ennis

Sabine: How long have you been a florist, and what inspired you to specialize in floral design for events?

Kathleen: I started my floral design business in 2019. I have always loved the event industry and more specifically the wedding industry. I have been in the bridal world since 2015 selling wedding dresses at Kleinfeld Bridal. So when we moved from NYC to the Philly suburbs in 2018 I decided to specialize in floral design and make my dream of owning a business a reality. 

I chose floral design because after planning my own wedding in 2018 I loved the flexibility and creativity my own florist had with her life and her business. Making art out of living beautiful flowers was about as great of a dream as I could have imagined. 

Sabine: Can you describe your floral style and the types of events you typically work on? In your opinion what makes the perfect dinner party?

Kathleen: My floral style is very natural and wild. I love a table scape that looks like a live garden or a bouquet that has the charm of being “picked off the side of the road”. I love to work on weddings, but I do the occasional shower or small event as well! I think the perfect dinner party includes first and foremost, great company. The rest I would consider luxurious details in comparison to who you share your time with. I love intimate cozy candlelight and definitely fresh colorful arrangement of flowers, good food that can be shared and a playlist everyone can jam to. 

Courtesy of Instagram: @cecilias.flowers kathleen cecilia ennis

“I think the perfect dinner party includes first and foremost, great company. The rest I would consider luxurious details in comparison to who you share your time with. I love intimate cozy candlelight and definitely fresh colorful arrangement of flowers, good food that can be shared and a playlist everyone can jam to. ”

— Kathleen Cecilia Ennis

Sabine: How do you approach creating a custom floral arrangement that complements the theme or style of a dinner party?

Kathleen: When creating an arrangement that compliments a theme or a style of dinner party, I first start with a color scheme and a shape I want to go with. Then I decide on textures and what’s in season and go from there. When creating the arrangement, I use inspiration from my client like a picture and then create in the moment with the products I have. 

Sabine: Are you open to incorporating specific colors, themes, or personal preferences into your designs?

Kathleen: I love to incorporate specific colors or themes requested from a client. It helps me go outside of my normal comfort zone to stretch my creativity. 

Sabine: Can you provide examples of seasonal flowers that work well for different types of events?

Kathleen: There are different seasonal flowers I love to use. In the spring I have pick of the liter. I have every color and shape and flower I could ever want to work with. Winter I need to be a little more creative, but I have greenery that I don’t get to work with and branches with berries that add beautiful winter touch. Fall is the best time for beautiful Dahlias, Spring I get to use fresh Peonies, Winter I get to use the huge blooms of an Amaryllis. 

Sabine: What are your recommendations for creating stunning tablescapes and centerpieces that enhance the dining experience?

Kathleen: My recommendation for creating a beautiful tablescape and enhancing a dining experience would be to add interesting flowers that add texture to an arrangement. Maybe the texture of the flower is something people don’t see all the time so it causes conversation. Another thing to consider is an arrangement that won’t block conversation. The worst thing is sitting at a table and not being able to talk to a friend because there is a huge centerpiece in the way. So as much as I love the tables cape to be aesthetically pleasing, there needs to be functionality as well. People need to be able to see across the table and have a place to put their drink. 

Courtesy of Instagram: @cecilias.flowers

Sabine: Outside of the dining table, where are some other area you would suggest having fresh florals for a dinner party?

Kathleen: At a dinner party I love fresh florals not only on the tables, but in spaces that people gather. IT’s all about the experience for me. I like to put fresh florals on a bar area, a fireplace mantle, or in a hanging chandelier. 

Sabine: For hosts with budget constraints, what are some cost-effective yet impactful floral options for a dinner party?

Kathleen: If there are budgets to keep in mind I always suggest adding greenery to make an arrangement bigger or using bud vases with florals to cover a bigger space using less flowers. 

Sabine: What advice do you have for maintaining the freshness and longevity of floral arrangements throughout the evening and after the dinner party?

Kathleen: To maintain freshness during your dinner party, always be sure the water source is full. Heat of a candle or sunlight can also impact the freshness and longevity of an arrangement. So consider keeping the flowers out of direct sunlight or not lighting candles until the last minute to help this. 

Sabine: How do you work with hosts or event planners to understand their vision and preferences for the floral decor?

Kathleen: To work best with hosts and event planners I love to hear about what has and hasn’t worked in past events. I am always learning and wanting to share tips and tricks. 

Sabine: Are there current trends in floral design that work particularly well for dinner parties?

Kathleen: The current trend I have been obsessed with is COLOR! I am so happy people are getting away from a neutral palette and going bold with color. I believe a colorful palette works great at a dinner party because it creates interest and conversations, and most importantly… happiness! 

Courtesy of Instagram: @cecilias.flowers

Sabine: How can hosts get in touch with you to create a custom arrangement?

Kathleen: Anyone can get in touch with me through email - ceciliasflowers623@gmail.com. Direct message on Instagram @cecilias.flowers 

Whether you're someone looking to spruce up their dinner parties or a lover of all things design and decor, consider the transformative power of florals. Stay tuned for more exciting interviews and insights on creating memorable dinner party experiences, and don't forget to check out the amazing work of Kathleen Cecilia Ennis for a dose of floral inspiration!

Join my waitlist for my upcoming FREE Masterclass How to Create a Memorable Dinner Party Without Being Overwhelmed and be the first to secure your spot! https://georgettemarise.com/masterclass-waitlist

Sabine's Favorite Tablescapes for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Tablescape Ideas

With Thanksgiving around the corner you’re probably going down the checklist and finishing your last minute shopping if you’re hosting. Thanksgiving is all about expressing gratitude while in the company of loved ones and delicious food. The center of Thanksgiving dinner is the table. Whether you gather around for a sit-down dinner or serve a buffet style dinner the table is always the focal point.

I love a beautiful tablescape. A successful tablescape in my opinion has multiple layers of interest, especially for Thanksgiving. A Thanksgiving tablescape has more items on the table than an average table setting. Here are my top favorite Pins of tablescapes perfect for Thanksgiving.

What I love about this setting is the use of gold, bronze and copper. Those tones have a warmth about them, perfect for fall. The gold flatware is balanced by the simple white charger, dinner & salad plate then topped off with the copper wine glasses. The copper wine glasses are the showpieces in this tablescape!

This tablescape caught my eye because of the beautiful pops of color (of course) but also the use of texture. I love the woven table runner as a base with the groupings of both velvet & real pumpkins in different colors accented by the mercury glass candle votives. However, what stood out to me immediately were the medium sized succulent/floral centerpieces in a black container! I loved the use of 3 centerpieces since they were fairly low and medium in size.

Unlike the previous tablescape pin, the use of a large floral centerpiece in this tablescape caught my eye. I love a large centerpiece in this setting because all the other elements (like the natural table, white are subtle). The amber glass urn as the container is both elegant and classic for a fall look.

This tablescape is a perfect example of how to use a table runner on a round table. In this tablescape the runner is used to divide the table in half, forcing 2 place settings to be at a slight angle instead of a 90 degree angle. Also, I love the light blush color palette, which is unusually for fall but it works well. I am a big fan of white pumpkins, so this setting has my love. This is beautiful for a smaller, intimate Thanksgiving dinner.

I find this tablescape unique. It’s both rustic and elegant. I love the lush, rich colors of the floral arrangement accented by the bold magnolia leaves running down the table. The alternating dinnerware creates a diverse setting but still coordinates with the overall style of the tablescape. For example, one place setting has a charcoal charger with an off-white/speckled plate while another place setting has an off-white charger with a charcoal plate next to an off-white charger with a gold-trim white plate setting. What brings these different settings together is the color palette, the common plum napkins with gold rings and the common glassware.

I hope your tablescape is a gathering location that envokes great conversation and laughter over a shared meal. Don’t be overwhelmed with what you need to create a beautiful table, use what you do have and allow everything else to fall into place.

For help creating a quick tablescape design using items you already have, schedule a phone consultation with me before Thanksgiving.

For more of my tablescape favorites follow my board on Pinterest. Happy Thanksgiving!

À la prochaine,

Holiday Series: Dinner Party Advice from Local Experts

I hope that you had a lovely Thanksgiving with your family and friends. Now that the holidays are approaching the dinner gathering is not over. It has just begun! I wanted to take the month of December and share a series about hosting dinner parties! I personally love hosting dinner parties inside and outside the home. I believe that hosting a dinner party is another way to connect with others to create lasting memories.

When you are hosting a dinner party there are many components that go into the final outcome. During my Holiday Series blog posts, I will introduce you to different experts, from food bloggers to event planners that will share their expertise, tips, and ideas to help you create an impressive party! 

There's a level of comfort when you sit down with others and share a meal. It brings laughter, cheers, and great conversation in a festive setting. Whether you are having a group of friends over or sitting down with extended family members for dinner the overall setting is important. I am starting off the series by sharing some questions that you should ask yourself before planning.

What is the Purpose? This may be a basic and strange question but I believe that knowing the purpose behind throwing your party will eliminate some stress and pressure. Is it to share your love and appreciation for your closest friends? Is it to show off your cooking skills to your family members? Is it to have a fun holiday dinner with your girlfriends? Or it may be to say thank you to your staff for their hard work all year. Determining the purpose will dictate the formality, agenda, and planning of your party.

What's the Budget?  Yes, the "B" word. Just like starting a design project, before planning your dinner party you have to first decide how much you want to spend. This will determine decisions like, if you hire a caterer vs. preparing the food yourself, hosting at home vs. renting an event space or inviting 20 guests vs. inviting 10 guests. Once you determine your budget then you can start planning the scale of party you can host.

Who Are You Inviting? Hosting a dinner party for the holidays can mean a large or small guest list. This goes back to your purpose. If you just want to throw an intimate dinner with loved ones then creating a guest list of your closest friends and family members is a great place to start. 

There are a lot more questions you can ask yourself before planning but I know you will find answers from my Holiday Series' Interviews. I hope you enjoy the series and please share pictures of your beautiful dinner parties on my facebook page! 

Stay connected to my blog for the upcoming interviews!!!

À la prochaine,

P.S. Is there a question you have regarding dinner parties that you would like answered? Send me over an email at sabine@georgettemarise.com and I'll make sure it's answered in the series.