Entertaining
In my roles as Estate and House Manager, I have always preferred to do all floral arrangements and table setting design myself. I source unique blooms from local florists and markets where I can choose from an extensive variety of elements for these presentations. Never wanting to do the same thing twice is what I think contributes to the guest experience.
Japanese Modern
Dinner party where Japanese cuisine was the star and a sake sommelier on hand to entertain the guests. I chose cherry-blossom branches resting on brass and lucite stands. Unfortunately, it was a tad late in the season so the branches were rather bare. Variegated pink and white carnations were a beautiful solution once glued in place. Spaced around the branches were pops of color in the form of bright coral peonies. I sourced chopstick rests with tiny holes so that each held a tiny orchid.
Flowers & Finger-paints
Whimsical, “finger-painted” backgrounds under glass with flowers strategically placed on top to add texture and volume. Jasmine, hydrangea, anemonies were mixed with grasses and branches to create a colorful and elegant effect.
Simple Specimens
Impromptu dinner party - no problem! Positioned on double layered lucite bases - dahlias, orchids, large protea & pincushion proteas - added an air of magic and minimalism.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
How do you impress potential donors for your child’s school? I think creating something elegant, but whimsical earned me an “A+” on this table setting. Primary color floral arrangements with caterpillars feasting on fruit delighted the guests.
Caterpillars constructed of clay, beads, wire, pom poms & green button chrysanthemums.
Butterfly hand-painted and embellished with orchid petals, feathers and glitter paint.
The Lucite Garden
For a modern and Spring feel I centered a lucite block down length of the table. Real flowers were then inserted into drilled holes and glued with floral glue. Hand-painted paper leaves added an artistic and surreal accent to the real flowers. Small roses and ranunculus in pale pink, white and yellow tones kept the look muted and light.
Storytime
Another school, another donor dinner. For this table, I presented a few vignettes of my own personal favorite classic children’s books. Vintage toys of the beloved characters and a few I handmade from clay were nested in to their individual environments of country flowers, a manzanita “giving tree” and cactus reminiscent of an otherworldly adventure.
The Doctor is In
I had the honor of creating the table for a luncheon hosting First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden. Her favorite flower is gardenia so I floated them in antique silver vessels I lined with brightly colored silver leaf. Even more gardenia were adorning the table resting on lucite “pillars.” I had also remembered the sweet gesture the President made on the White House lawn where he bent down and picked a dandelion to give to the First Lady. Dandelions encased in lucite spheres were the other floral element. Not many in attendance at the luncheon understood the unconventional pairing, but she did!
Let’s Take It Outside
A dinner for forty guests was a great reason to dine al fresco. Under a pergola of grapes and cafe lights I created a dramatic and opulent mood. I opted for mixed-matched dinnerware and stemware for an eclectic look. Bespoke place card holders and handprinted detail on menu cards were a crowd favorite. I limited the floral landscape to orchids planted in ceramic pots filled with glitter and rhinestones. It was a subtle and shimmery effect that complimented the domed candlelight once the sun finally decided to leave the evening sky.
Crimson Sophistication
I wanted something extremely sleek and simple for this dinner hosting 40 guests. I utilized some raw wood architectural accents I had laying around my house (don’t ask why) that subtly blended into the rose colored tablecloth. I did not want any visual breaks in the five tables necessary to fit everyone so I made a custom one to avoid having any seams anywhere. Each guest had a handmade menu/place card with rhinestone floral motif - nothing wrong with a little bling! Many of the guests took theirs home as a memento.
