The basic underpinnings of this crisp modern scene in wintry white (though of course white is not limited to winter) are sleek—pure white Lucite, geometric ceramics, and sparkling crystal and glass. "What keeps the chill out is the sheer extravagance of the roses," says floral designer Lewis Miller, who made the voluptuous swag by twisting together two lengths of leafy roping and creating a pavéed effect with roses in water tubes. Lewis Miller of LMD, 212-614-2734.
An insider's guide to turning your party into a winter wonderland.
Two transparent shelves cut from a sheet of Lucite featuring romantic white roses and candles that appear to float in space.
The shelves are a half-inch thick and are different sizes (a fifteen-inch square and a two-foot square). The bottoms of both shelves are frosted for contrast, but a similar effect could be achieved with clear plastic or even a different color or type of material. Small holes drilled in each corner about a quarter-inch from the edge accommodate the nearly invisible plastic line (fishing wire) that suspends them from the ceiling. Shelves, from Canal Street Plastics, 212-925-1032.
The shelves hold double Old Fashioned glasses with tea lights floating inside. When lit, they cast a warm glow.
This swag was made of two thick laurel-leaf ropes. Have your florist order the laurel-leaf garlands before the event—making them by hand is very time-consuming.
The two leaf ropes are twisted together.
Water picks were purchased from a flower-supply store to hold the roses. The picks can be filled easily by immersing them in a bucket of cold water.
Cut each rose short, then put a cap on the stem and place the flower in a water-filled pick.
Handle the roses with care—don't pile them on top of one another after putting them in the picks. Poke rows of holes in a cardboard box, then place one rose in each hole, ready to attach to the garland.
The garland was hung from the ceiling on a strong wire.
Once the garland was hung from the ceiling, the roses in flower picks were stuck into it. Make sure your garland is very thick, otherwise it won't hold the flower picks.
A white rose garland centerpiece overflows onto the tabletop.
Allegra crown lid and urn, $715, from William Yeoward Crystal, williamyeowardcrystal.com.
Voluptuous roses ranging from light pink to beige softened the stark-white, linear, and modern elements of the table. The subtle difference in hues creates nuances in the white palate, making it feel fresh, real, and natural.
An open compote vase holds elegant white flowers with delicate yellow centers.
Small plastic tables vary the height of the flower-filled glass urns, creating a more dramatic presentation. Small white lacquer cube, $150, by Jonathan Adler, jonathanadler.com.
Tiny squares of buttermilk panna cotta arranged on white-chocolate crisps, from Bob Spiegel, Creative Edge Parties, creativeedgeparties.com. White oval platter, $12.95, from Fishs Eddy, fishseddy.com.
Gwynevere goblets, $5 each, from Zrike Company, zrike.com.
To make this unique flower arrangement, four square red-clay pots were purchased from a gardening store. After the holes in the bottom were plugged using a glue gun, they were then sprayed with adhesive.
The backs of freshly cut "lamb's-ear" leaves were pressed onto the sides. Even when the leaves dry, they have an extraordinarily soft texture, almost like velvet.
The square pots are filled with lily buds (the pieces pruned from lily plants to allow the remaining flowers to grow larger). These buds can be purchased around Easter from a local gardening store for as little as $15 a bag and are also available year-round at seasonal prices.
The lily buds look very unusual and smell wonderful—guests will wonder where you found them!
A selection of cheese, including chèvre logs and a wheel of the wickedly luscious Saint André triple crème, from Bob Spiegel, Creative Edge Parties, creativeedgeparties.com.
A sliced baguette complements the cheese. Washed-oak serving tray with oval handles, $650, from Aero, 212-966-4700. "Berlin" ridged ceramic trays, $75 each, by Jonathan Adler, jonathanadler.com.
Yellowtail sushi, from Bob Spiegel, Creative Edge Parties, creativeedgeparties.com.
The tablecloth was covered with dried leaves (only the skeleton of the veins remains), which were pinned on with dressmaker pins from underneath.
The Big Picture
Back, left to right: Matrix round salad/dessert plates, $5 each, from Zrike Company, zrike.com. White oval platter, $12.95, from Fishs Eddy, fishseddy.com. Gwynevere goblets, $5 each, from Zrike Company, zrike.com. Small white lacquer cube, $150, by Jonathan Adler, jonathanadler.com.
Middle, left to right: Allegra crown lid and urn (filled with roses), $715, from William Yeoward Crystal, williamyeowardcrystal.com. Medium white lacquer cube, $350, from Jonathan Adler, jonathanadler.com.
Front, left to right: Porcelain rectangular platter, $23.95, set of three, graduated sizes, from Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com. Washed-oak serving tray with oval handles, $650, from Aero, 212-966-4700. "Berlin" ridged ceramic trays, $75 each, by Jonathan Adler, jonathanadler.com. Fabric, Gramercy "Craftsbury" cotton in white, from F. Schumacher & Co., fschumacher.com.
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