Off the Hook

If your guests know one another, there’s no need for traditional place cards, so get creative! Believe it or not, this bronze bunny is really a wall hook. The scale and colour work well here. It also makes a fun takeaway gift. The pressure to conform to formal rules for setting a table may be a thing of the past, but following a few simple steps will make your Easter table function smoothly while looking fabulous. Here are five tricks to tabletop perfection. 1 MIX AND MATCH YOUR TABLEWARE Just ensure that at least one element ( in this case, gold trim) unifies the look. When selecting pieces, choose similar styles in the same tone of white, with complementary lines and proportions. We love pairing a simple dinner plate with a detail- edged salad plate. 2 WORK WITH WHAT YOU’ VE GOT At mealtime, you usually begin by using the utensils farthest away from the place setting and work your way in. Here— thanks to the narrow table—we tucked the dessert spoon on the napkin. 3 ALIGN THE BASES OF FLAT WARE WITH THE DINNER PLATE This gives each setting a tidy feel. 4 ADD COLOUR AND SOFTNESS WITH FLOWERS When styling a long table, place one large centrepiece in the middle and scatter several smaller arrangements (using some of the same blooms) on either side. 5 GIVE STYLE TO YOUR TABLESCAPE WITH FABRIC NAPKINS Find out how we personalized ours with an easy watercolour effect ( page 91).