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Holiday Tablescapes
by Poki Hampton
photography by Thomas B. Growden
My mother-in-law, Pamela Burton DeVinne, was a lexicographer: she wrote definitions for words in the dictionary. In 1992, she was the coordinating editor for the American Heritage Dictionary, published by Houghton Mifflin. As part of her job, she would scour every publication available looking for new word usages in the English language. One day, she asked me if I had ever heard of a “tablescape.” Being a shelter (home design) magazine nut, I had actually seen the word in a recent copy of Southern Accents. She defined tablescape as “creating a theme and setting a mood on a table.”
Today, we think of a tablescape as going beyond the traditional centerpiece and candlesticks to set your table’s theme. To celebrate the upcoming holiday season, we asked some northshore designers to present their take on the ultimate tablescapes for fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
All the Trimmings
Katrina Peters, owner of Lagniappe Home Accents, decorates her dining room with a stunning Christmas tablescape. Tall silver-wire cones are balanced by bronze reindeer atop burgundy spruce and golden vines. The place settings are burgundy and sage on a double placemat of burgundy and gold sheer with gold organza 
napkins. On the plates are whimsical packages, just right for a small gift. Each chair back at the table is tied with a sheer table runner upon which a poinsettia garland is placed. “I like to use things in new and creative ways,” says Katrina, in reference to the chair backs. “You can also take a mirror off the wall and use it as a table centerpiece. It adds something unexpected.”
Greenery, magnolia leaves and berries form a garland festooning the china cabinet. A wine-colored wreath features the Holy Family in its center and is enhanced by peacock feathers. The impressive tall iron floor clock is decorated with a swag of pinecones, gold-velvet leaves and a velvet stocking. Enhanced with greenery, gold branches and embossed gold balls hanging from gold ribbons, the chandelier above the table is faux painted in bronze and cream. The only thing missing in the beautiful Christmas dining room is Santa!
Harvest Feast
The simplicity of rustic design is what Cindy St. Romain of St. Romain Interiors has achieved in her holiday dining room. Raised in Europe, Cindy says everything her family did revolved around food and drink. With that in mind, she aimed to create a casual and inviting table that would remind others of being in their own home. The antique French walnut tavern table spans 10 feet and seats 10 comfortably. Louis XVI pettipoint chairs sit opposite linen slip covered parson’s chairs. “Europeans are very informal diners,” says Cindy. “They dine family-style and like bold flavors, bold colors and lots of fresh vegetables.”
The hand-thrown and hand-painted dinnerware by Vietri was inspired by the traditional Il Palio festival in Sienna, Italy. The design dates back to the 1300s, when horse races were run around the town square. In the center of the table is a basket stacked and filled with apples. Completing this rustic look are amber stemware and tall hand-carved altar candlesticks. “My best advice for people who are intimidated by decorating is to not be afraid. Just do what you think looks and feels good. There’s no need to follow rules when expressing yourself.”
Traditional Elegance
When Nancy Robbins of Nancy Robbins Interiors decks the halls, she goes all out. Her breakfast room table, double skirted in a traditional floral with a green damask overlay, is graced by a centerpiece of roses, lemon leaves and baby’s breath in a silver epergne. Royal Doulton china, colorful hand-painted salad plates from Paris and three different crystal stems—vintage Fostoria, Waterford and Millennium from Italy—accompanied by lace-edged linen napkins and sparkling sterling silver make for an elegant dinner. Overhead, the custom Italian fer forgé chandelier with quartz crystals makes a dramatic statement when crowned with red roses, lemon leaves, baby’s breath and a profusion of red berries.
A sideboard nearby is set with greenery and roses. Silver candelabra filled with cream tapers and small crystal vases of red roses top gilded Louis XV-style pedestals with marble tops, giving a warm glow to the entire room. The green-and-cream plaid balloon shades in Schumacher fabric dress the windows, while the Louis XV cane chairs, wearing Pierre Deux cushions, add to the evening’s comfort.
Nancy’s table doesn’t go overboard in reds and greens, instead offering surprises of blues and creams while still maintaining a traditional holiday look. She advises clients to keep color in mind when decorating their own holiday tables, and encourages them to work with whatever style dinnerware they already own as a building block for their tablescape.
Cheers to the New Year!
White, silver and black are the basic colors used by Patrice Senac of Arabella’s for her contemporary New Year’s Eve table. A crisp, white, sheer linen table cloth with square silver sequins is topped by a black table runner, also with square silver sequins. Textured chargers in gold and silver from L’Objet are the anchor for black and silver plates. “New Year’s Eve and black and white just go together—like tuxedos, the little black dress and lots of diamonds and sparkle,” Patrice says. “Black and white is always classic, never goes out of style and is so versatile.” She demonstrates that versatility by adding a colorful orange plate to alternate place settings to keep it an interesting mix. “You don’t want a table setting that can only be used for certain holidays or times of the year. You want to be able to use the same pieces in different ways to achieve many different looks. Mix it up—just as if you were building a wardrobe.” The napkins, of the sheerest organza with silver hems, are bunched in bejeweled napkin rings to accent the stunning look.
An assortment of wine glasses from Orrefors, Union Street and Edgar Berebi for red and white wines and champagne add to the eclectic mix. “I like to show how you can put together a very traditional champagne glass, a jewel-encrusted balloon hock wine and a stemless wine glass on the same table,” says Patrice. Most interesting about the jewel-encrusted collection is that each stem can be twisted off, or interchanged.
The host and hostess settings are crowned by a handmade tasaro (trinket) box in the shape of a sea urchin, which is trimmed in 24-karat gold. Ice candles floating in a Michael Aram ceramic banana leaf bowl set off the centerpiece flowers, which are arranged by Patrice low enough to encourage great conversation. For dessert, a silver-edged crystal cake stand by Annieglass holds confetti-topped chocolate goodies. From soup to nuts, this sparkling sophisticated table is a stunner.
Setting the Mood
Janet DeLuca and Trudy Oalmann of DeLuca’s Expressions in Gold create an extraordinary welcoming setting where fall textures abound. A stately hand-carved, marble-topped sideboard is anchored by a silk dupioni runner featuring amber-colored, leaf-shaped beads. Giving extra sparkle to the scene is an embossed bronze-colored rectangular tin planter filled with topaz and green beaded ornaments. The tiger’s eye bowl on the stand adds depth, while the gold and green metal candlestick adds height. A burnished fleur-de-lis and gold crackled shadow box with jewel-encrusted crosses fill the top, while a Rodelere lamp emits wonderful scent throughout the room. The table is set with white, silver-rimmed china atop gold, glass-beaded chargers. Adding a final touch are hand-cut crystal and crisp white linen napkins with beaded ornaments used as napkin rings.
When asked to describe her approach to designing a holiday table, Janet says, “I like to start with one piece, such as the fabulous tiger’s eye bowl, and build around that item. I also think it’s fun to use personal mementos on your table to remember special occasions and people in your life. Your own memorabilia brings your personality to the room and makes your guests feel more welcome there.”
