p>Inspired by the rich range of autumn reds, winter whites, spring greens, and summers sunny hues, heres a cocktail party abuzz with inspiration. In a light-struck white loft, four big square tables arranged like garden parterres center the action. Each table projects a different personality; each scenario brims with colorful ideas to translate into your own unique reception. Use one idea or use them all.
Autumn> [links to slideshow]
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Winter> [links to slideshow]
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Spring> [links to slideshow]
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Summer> [links to slideshow]
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Sunny enough to make you giddy, this table simply glows. Above, a chandelier painted the palest lemon adds visual height. On each arm, the gilt-edged Moroccan tea glasses safely hold candles. On our table, a tiered wire planter, painted yellow, is filled with little white pots sprouting a haze of poppies, ranunculus, and dill. Lemons mounded in glazed urns and clear-and-amber glasses complete the tonal harmony. Finally, New York floral designer Lewis Miller has tied together a few dozen sunflowers and plopped them in a clear glass vase. "The deep-brown centers ground all that sunshine for me," he explains, popping a Yukon gold potato with roasted lemon and golden caviar into his mouth, courtesy of Creative Edge Parties, a delicious little reward for all his floral-design efforts. Lewis Miller of LMD, 212-614-2734.
Ethereal poppies in a tiered basket, lemons spilling from golden planters, and sunflowers fresh from the field create a setting suffused in glimmering afternoon light.
Swooping above the table is a chandelier cut with a jigsaw from fiberboard, assembled with dowels, and painted the palest lemon.
Gilt-edged Moroccan tea glasses, perched in a niche on each arm, safely hold candles.
The wire that attaches the chandelier to the ceiling is covered with a typical cord cover made of a strip of yellow silk.
The chandelier, before it was hung from the ceiling.
Do It Yourself
Click here to print out a simple pattern for the wooden chandelier>> [LINK TK]
Ask a clever friend to cut out several to hang in your reception tent.
Note: To view and print the pattern, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. Most browsers include the program, but if you have trouble downloading this pattern, or want to upgrade, you can get the software for free at adobe.com.
A triple-tiered fruit basket serves as a creative base for a centerpiece. Wire planter, painted buttermilk, from Campo de' Fiori, campodefiori.com.
Do It Yourself
First, take the triple-tiered fruit basket and spray-paint it pale-yellow.
Next, take terra-cotta pots purchased from a local gardening store and paint them white. Using a glue gun, plug the hole in the bottom of each pot, then place the pots inside the basket and fill with water (no oasis necessary). Fill with sprouting poppies, ranunculus, and dill.
Less is more—to create an ephemeral effect, use as few flowers as possible and arrange them carefully. Each flower matters.
To keep the poppies fresh all-day long, cut them to size and burn the tips to seal in the sap before arranging them.
Poppies have curved stems and are almost transparent. Their gossamer quality brings an attractive airiness to this table.
The stems of these calla lilies were split in half, causing them to naturally curl upwards.
The calla lilies added another natural-and-festive sunny hue to the table.
Pavilion amber/clear pilsner glasses, $6 each, from Zrike Company, zrike.com.
The sun (theme of this table) is captured by this creative arrangement of calissons (French marzipan sweets).
"Susie" ruffle-edged plates, $8.95 each, from Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com.
Avelana napkin in daffodil with white embroidery, $3.95 each, from Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com.
The ribbon was sewn six inches from the top where it would be seen by guests (instead of hidden near the hem). Fabric, Gramercy "Craftsbury" cotton in buttercream, from F. Schumacher & Co., fschumacher.com. Trim, gold grosgrain ribbon, $8 per yard, from Mokuba, mokubany.com.
The yellow tablecloth was decorated with a row of mustard grosgrain ribbon (sold in designer trade stores). Fabric, Gramercy "Craftsbury" cotton in buttercream, from F. Schumacher & Co., fschumacher.com. Trim, gold grosgrain ribbon, $8 per yard, from Mokuba, mokubany.com.
To display the sunflowers while still maintaining an airy feel, they were bunched, their stems tied together with hemp string and then placed in a wide rimmed vase. Yellow-and-white-striped grosgrain ribbon, $5.95 per yard, from Mokuba, mokubany.com.
Yukon gold potato with roasted lemon and golden caviar, from Bob Spiegel, Creative Edge Parties, creativeedgeparties.com. Oval platter in yellow, $24, from Fishs Eddy, fishseddy.com.
A few dozen sunflowers were picked because their deep-brown centers act as
a visual anchor in the midst of all the bright-sunshine yellow.
Etched fern hurricane, $59.95, from Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com. Lulu amber ice bucket, $390, from William Yeoward Crystal, williamyeowardcrystal.com.
Lulu amber ice bucket, $390, from William Yeoward Crystal, williamyeowardcrystal.com. Oval platter in yellow, $24, from Fishs Eddy, fishseddy.com.
Yellow French ceramic planters were stuffed with newspaper almost all the way to the brim, and lemons were piled on top.
Lemons plucked right off the vine ensured the brilliance of this arrangement.
The Big Picture
Back, left to right: Etched fern hurricane, $59.95, Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com. Yellow Anduze pots, 12 inches tall, 17 inches tall. Three-tier wire planter (painted buttermilk), about $385, from Campo de' Fiori, campodefiori.com.
Middle, left to right: Lulu amber ice bucket, $390, from William Yeoward Crystal, williamyeowardcrystal.com. "Susie" ruffle-edged plates, $8.95 each, from Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com. Pavilion amber/clear pilsner glasses, $6 each, from Zrike Company, zrike.com.
Front, left to right: Oval platter in yellow, $24, from Fishs Eddy, fishseddy.com. Yellow-and-white-striped grosgrain ribbon, $5.85 per yard, from Mokuba, mokubany.com. Avelana napkin in daffodil with white embroidery, $3.95 each, Antigua yellow napkin, $2.95 each, Lamont lemonade napkin, $3.95, all from Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com. Fabric, Gramercy "Craftsbury" cotton in buttercream, from F. Schumacher & Co., fschumacher.com. Trim, gold grosgrain ribbon, $8 per yard, from Mokuba, mokubany.com.
