READY, SET AND GO
Tips on how to dress up your dinner table for the holiday season
Sandy Chilewich, a New Yorkbased designer known for her iconic placemats, first became fascinated with textiles when she cofounded hosiery company Hue in 1978.
Several of her designs are in the permanent collection of the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Chilewich says when it comes to setting a table, traditional notions about everything matching are passe; instead, she suggests using more creativity and think about experimenting with personal choices, rather than adhering to a dated set of rules.
Q What are the basic components of a properly set table?
A One component I’d suggest you rethink is the typical floral arrangement positioned at the centre of the table. Fruits, nuts or flowers can work as the decorative part of your table setting. It’s much more beautiful and a lot less expensive to break up your flowers and put them in small vessels around your table. During the holidays, a beautiful container with a composition of fruit (fresh or dried), and nuts can easily take the place of flowers.
Q Are the days of having everything matched over? How does one think about mixing and matching without everything looking messy or cluttered?
A I would say the days of everything matching are over. For me, they’ve been over for a long time. There’s a great way to be cohesive without being matchy-matchy. You can be cohesive with tonal colour combinations — shades of blue, for example. You can be cohesive in bringing out the colour of your plates by adding a vase with flowers in that same colour somewhere on your table. Setting your table is an opportunity to be creative and experimental. It’s nice to have that opportunity, whether at a daily meal or a celebration, and to not get caught up in worrying about what’s the right or wrong thing to do. Don’t be afraid to loosen up. Dressing your table is similar, and maybe easier, than dressing yourself. There are some people that are matchy-matchy in the way that they dress, but most people today are much more experimental. Treat things on the table more like you would an accessory (such as a necklace), when you’re getting dressed.
Q Do you think cloth napkins are necessary for entertaining ? Are tablecloths more appropriate for holiday meals if you are using fine china versus a table runner?
A This is an interesting question. Tablecloths used to define “fine dining,” and this is a concept that I thought was ripe for shaking up. I don’t think they are necessary for entertaining.
Even at the White House (during the last administration), at the Nordic State Dinner for 350 guests, they ended up taking the tablecloths off and using the custom table runners I designed — the weave was called “satin” and our new “interlace” placemats are an interpretation of that. There’s an elegance and a formality to both of those designs that is ideal for holiday entertaining.
As for cloth napkins, I like them and use them all the time, often with napkin rings. If you’re using napkins made of a natural fabric such as linen, try not ironing them. (Who has time for that?) It creates a softer, relaxed look. And it’s a gift and a comfort to your guests: a reminder that they’re using a natural fibre.
Q What does the table setting in your home typically look like? Do you have a go-to set or do you mix-and-match?
A I much prefer setting the table to cooking. I look at the table as a canvas and a foundation for everything that goes on top, so the textiles that I use are very important, and I’m constantly changing them.
For me, it’s about surprising people. Just as you want your food to make an impression, the table can, too. I don’t just open up a cabinet in the kitchen to find things to enhance the environment or the food in my home, I look elsewhere. It can be anything, from a collection of perfume bottles to containers. Also, don’t ever just use salt and pepper shakers. It’s an opportunity to put condiments in unconventional receptacles. Any opportunity to mix textures and colours and materials is an opportunity to delight and surprise.
Q I am considering supplementing my dining table with a plastic folding table to accommodate guests during the holidays. Any tips for dressing it up and pulling the tables together visually?
A I’m assuming the folding table is not as nice as your regular table. In a case like that, where there’s a big visual difference between the two surfaces, what I think would be really smart — and in general, I’m not a great fan of tablecloths — would be using tablecloths to make the foundation more uniform.
The base should be somewhat harmonious — so for example, a traditional white tablecloth on both surfaces, and then on top of that, you could be experimental, layering placemats and table runners, for example.
Q My dining room is pretty neutral with shades of beige and grey. Can I liven the space up with a fun table setting ?
A Of course. Neutrals are always a great foundation, whether for your home or your wardrobe. They are truly the best starting point for colour and texture. If you have a neutral base, you don’t have to do much. Neutrals bring out the best in brights, or any colour. Pick your favourite.
Q I want to use different coloured placemats on my table, but I’m not sure how I could combine them. Do you have a general rule of thumb on how to do placemat combinations that still look harmonious?
A Tonal combinations are always a good way to go. Or neutrals combined with any colour always work, as long as the neutral is predominant.
I also love creating dimension on your table.
Try overlapping different sizes and shapes, or placemats and runners. I think playing with your table — trying something on top of something else — will inform you as to what works. It’s like trying on accessories with your clothes.
It’s the same principles.