{ Posts Tagged ‘Tableware’ }

win: a beautiful tableware set from serena & lily

The holidays are the perfect time to take out your elegant tableware and put together a beautiful setting for your friends and family. Growing up in France, I spent most of my holidays at our family home in the south of France, in the Pyrenees region, right at the border of France and Spain. The region is breathtakingly gorgeous and while a white Christmas is very rare, our home always felt festive and charming. The holidays has always been the one unique moment in the year where our entire family is in the same place for a few days. It’s all about simple pleasures, spending some time together and sharing some delicious home-cooked food. There is no messing around with food in my family! Each year, the menu changes slightly, but some of our favourites are always foie gras with onion jam, truffled mashed potatoes, a selection of cheeses and a frosted yule log with a few dark chocolate truffles. For the occasion, we usually dress up our dining room table with lightly golden tulle and make simple centerpieces using small ornaments, ribbon and rustic pine cones.

With the holidays in mind, we would love to know: What’s your best holiday entertaining tip? Leave a comment below and share your best tip. You will be entered to win a beautiful tableware set from Serena & Lily. I’ll choose a winning response on December 2nd, 2011.

Serena giveaway blog win: a beautiful tableware set from serena & lily
The winner will receive Serena & Lily’s Mombasa Collection  which includes:
1 Tablecloth, $98
2 Runner, $68
3 4 Placemats, $48 for the set
4 4 Napkins, $38 for the set
5 Cheese Knives, $38
Approximate retail value: $338
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royal wedding countdown: collector’s plate

Countdown to the Royal Wedding — 7 days left!
royal wedding plate royal wedding countdown: collectors plate


‘It Should Have Been Me’ bone china plate, $32; kkoutlet.com

Okay, so we all love Kate and she’s completely fabulous, but don’t we all secretly wish it had been us? This sassy, bone china plate from KK Outlet stands out amidst all of the other celebratory items that commemorate the Royal Wedding — it’s nice to have something with a little bite.


Stay tuned for TV Guide‘s Royal Wedding Special Issue, edited by Style at Home‘s Erin McLaughlin — available May 9th!

kim seybert sample sale

Oh, to be in New York at Christmastime…

kimseybert kim seybert sample sale

One of my fave sources for over-the-top-glamorous tableware — Kim Seybert — is hosting a sample sale next week, and the savings are unbelievable: 40 – 60% off retail! (Savings that probably translate into the price of a plane ticket… lol) These are the table accessories that you’d normally find gracing the shelves at Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Saks, but priced to sell…

As my pal Tommy Smythe proclaims in our Trendspotting story in the January 2010 issue of STYLE AT HOME (on newsstands soon!), “Vive le Maximaliste!”

Here are the deets if you happen to find yourself in Manhattan next week. (In which case, I’ll happily provide you with my wish list.)

Tuesday, Dec. 8, 9AM-7PM

Wednesday, Dec. 9, 9AM – 7PM

Thursday, Dec. 10, 9AM – 7PM

37 West 37th St., 8th Floor (between 5th and 6th Avenues)

waterford wedgwood’s elegant table setting

Waterford Wedgwood had a pretty spectacular table vignette at their booth at the Canadian Gift & Tableware Association show this summer.

wwtable waterford wedgwoods elegant table setting

With eight Louis Ghost chairs set around a table that’s swathed in rouched, silky linens, the effect is totally ethereal, and quite dreamy.

wwsetting waterford wedgwoods elegant table settingEach place setting represented a different designer’s contributions to the Waterford Wedgwood collection, including this subtle and sophisticated arrangement of Jasper Conran’s Tulle platinum-band bone china.

Love the signature Jasper Conran teacup handle – definitely one of the most important features to consider when selecting a china pattern. Seriously!

wwtulle waterford wedgwoods elegant table setting

monogrammed linens

monogrammes monogrammed linens

I’ve been doing a lot of antique hunting lately, and have fallen hard for antique embroidered table linens. There’s something about a stately monogram that elevates an already stylishly-set dining table to epic levels of elegance. 

That’s why I decided it was time to splurge for my very own, old-school, hotel chic, crisp white monogrammed napkins. But where to find them?

Monogrammes, in the historic downtown of Port Hope, Ont., is renowned for custom monogramming (even home retail giants like Elte and Ginger’s Bath employ their services for custom embroidery), stitching lovely letters onto everything from table linens to cushions to handbags. 

Above, you’ll see some of the samples they prepared for me in my hunt for the perfect monogrammed napkins… I’m so cited! Such an amazing assortment of styles… Which one do you think should I choose? I think I’ve made up my mind, but want to hear your thoughts first…

Embroidered hotel napkins, $36 per set of four (What a steal!!!)

Monogrammes, 14 Ontario St., Port Hope, Ont.; 866-239-9967

blossom tableware

canadian tire tableware blossom tablewareI`m sitting at my desk daydreaming about summer (ssh! don`t tell anyone; I`m supposed to be working) and I`m thinking about those long, lazy weekend days and evenings spent out on the backyard deck during summer. What could be better? The warmth of that summer sun; conversation with friends and family; good food; and of course, a refreshing drink in hand. This tableware from Canadian Tire certainly puts me in the mood for some good summer livin`! I love the geometric shape of these high-quality melamine dishes and acrylic glasses and the pretty pattern is cheery and sophisticated. Good to know: All these pieces are top-rack dishwasher safe. You know what that means! Clean up is going to be a breeze!

Prices:
Pitcher: $16.99
Highball: $3.99/glass
Blossom double old-fashioned glass: $3.99
Wine glass: $4.49
Tray: $14.99
Square side plate: $3.99
Square side bowl: $3.99
Square dinner plate: $4.99

Visit Canadian Tire for more information.

P.S. Follow me on Twitter!

williams-sonoma gossip

queenanne williams sonoma gossip

Thought Williams-Sonoma was out of your price range? Think again!

The buzz from Williams-Sonoma HQ in San Francisco is that we should expect a noticeable drop in the one-stop-entertaining-shop’s opening price points rather soon. Aaaaaannd, because Pottery Barn is owned by the same company, we’re looking at ultra-affordable opening price points at that decor destination as well… 

Read the full story here.

Although I’m doubtful that core European-sourced staples like the gorgeous scalloped Queen Anne dinnerware from Pillivuyt (above) will get the red-ticket sale treatment, I’m excited to see what Williams-Sonoma has in store for this recession-friendly approach…

Pillivuyt Queen Anne porcelain dinnerware

Price: $540 per 20-piece set

Available at: Williams-Sonoma

pretty pottery

etsy pretty pottery

Worn and rustic-looking, these wheel thrown pottery bowls are just beautiful! I love the earthtone colours of this pottery. Use them for everyday food (rice seems right, but use them for everything from cereal to ice cream) or simply use them as pretty display pieces on the kitchen table.

Available at: etsy.com
Price: $15 each