Gatherings

Put a nautically inspired get-together on the menu for fall with inspiration from Danielle Rollins.

boat life comes with order and protocol. The same can be said of entertaining. So when designer Danielle Rollins plans to host gatherings in Palm Beach, Florida, where she now operates her design firm, her invitations regularly lure friends and family to the yacht named Grace that she shares with her partner, Tom D’Agostino. For a dinner and evening cruise along the harbor, they welcomed aboard a group of friends.

“The nautical lifestyle is a neat and tidy one that I’ve always been drawn to,” Danielle says. “High-gloss varnishes on the wood and beautifully coiled ropes: Everything is orderly and has a place. There’s a proper way of living and entertaining.”

For this gathering, Danielle wanted an environment that had intention but was seemingly effortless. The aesthetics took care of themselves. Blue and white formed a natural scheme literally taken from the water and cloud-punctuated sky.

LIKE ENTERTAINING, EVERYTHING ON A BOAT HAS ORDER.”

—designer Danielle Rollins

The menu was a mix of land and sea, Florida favorites, and autumn’s bounty of fresh vegetables. Savory shrimp and crab cakes were sweetened with corn. Bacon lardons made sure that a butter lettuce salad didn’t skimp on flavor. Guests were in control of the “take your pick” surf-and-turf entrée of steamed lobster, filet mignon, or both. Key lime tarts and a signature strawberry cocktail added sweet moments to the dinner party.

While entertaining should be relaxed for both guests and the host, Danielle notes that an easy atmosphere is achieved through a lot of thoughtful planning.

“People say that they ‘throw’ a party, but I don’t believe in that,” she says. “A gathering should be planned so the elements work for everyone. I love sitting back and watching guests have a great time and knowing that I played a part in creating the world that they stepped into for one night.”

Clockwise from top left An ikat-wrapped tray from Made Goods serves the signature strawberry cocktail. A backgammon board from Nine Fair is customized for the yacht. Danielle Rollins, Tom D’Agostino, and dog, Henry. The fresh butter lettuce salad brightens a basic white bowl. Opposite Red and white flowers and knotted rope candleholders accent the blue-andwhite table scheme. Previous pages Blue-and-white dinnerware speaks to the ocean, as does glassware with shell details. Guests enjoy a drink on the boat’s stern before dinner.

Counterclockwise, from left The yacht shows its name on the casual navy napkins with white embroidery that line the bread baskets, white linens from Sferra that spell Grace using embroidered nautical flags, and a range of other custom elements. Guests pucker with delight when biting into dessert—individual key lime tarts with graham cracker crusts. A moment of whimsical Florida flair adds an amusing touch to the bar, where Danielle corrals bright-color paper straws and flamingo swizzle sticks in a wicker vessel. Opposite The entrée of steamed lobster with drawn butter, filet mignon with béarnaise sauce, poached asparagus, and baked potatoes topped with caviar provides an array of decadent flavors.