It's All in the Details - Planning Makes Perfect

Why can some people pull off a sit-down dinner for twelve without so much as a hitch, while others are caught in a three-alarm panic the moment the doorbell rings? Effortless entertaining, or at least the all-important illusion of it, takes planning. It's about thinking out well ahead of time what you're serving and how you want to serve it. It's the little things, too, that count—the details of the day. If you're having soup, do you want to serve it out of a tureen or in individual bowls at every setting. If you're serving salad at a buffet, sure you could go the conventional route and use a wooden bowl of some sort, but why not surprise your guests with something far more elegant like a vintage milk glass punch bowl?

This week, over at our Etsy store, we've assembled another eclectic but refined mix of accessories and serving pieces, all geared to help you plan the perfect room, party, or in this case, beautiful spring buffet. Height, I've learned, is so important on a buffet; it adds drama and keeps the eye moving. Plus, everything looks so much more important on a pedestal, doesn't it? Pair it with a set of Irish crystal bowls, chilled just so, for a sophisticated and surprising mix. As a caterer, I used to live and breathe buffets, and salad is just one of those things better left undressed. Well, that and the dreamy server the catering company sent over! Nobody likes their watercress wilted, now do they? That's why single creamers are so great for salad dressing. They're the perfect size for letting guests do the deed themselves. For the final touch, salt and pepper in chic monogrammed shakers, and voilà! A well-planned, well-executed salad course that's elegant and memorable. Now when it comes to planning, as important as the food is, of course, the drink!

Lemonade, for example, is something people are actually going to have. It's not like egg nog at a holiday party they invariably pass up on the way to the bar. So why opt for a dinky pitcher and glasses? This generous version with a modern silver band across the top I think is chic, especially when paired with a set of whimsical flower-etched goblets and placed atop a laced rim milk glass plate. The Greek Key urn and Italian cherub candlesticks add to the modern, eclectic feel, while the color palette—tonal pinks together with crisp white—keeps things looking sophisticated and fresh. Happy springtime entertaining, everyone! What are you planning for your first fête of the season? I'd love to hear about it.               

Comments

[Karen Willett-Tyree]

You have an eye for nice things and put them together so well. That takes TALENT!

[hanako66]

Yay, I can finally comment again:)

rats, I wish that I would have seen that milk glass punch bowl sooner than I did...so lovely!! I will have to check out the etsy store more often!:)

[Barb@ Grits and Glamour]

Hi Eddie - I have placed your lemonade picture on my blog, Grits and Glamour, in relation to a Spring Cyber Party I am hosting tomorrow. I added the link to your blog, as well as, mentioned your etsy shop. I hope you don't mind. I wanted a pic of pink lemonade, and yours was the prettiest I could think of. Please stop by if you get a chance to say hi. http://gritsglamour.blogspot.com
Regards, Barb

[Tobi Fairley]

Eddie,
Both the aqua and the pink table scapes are gorgeous! I am a huge fan of color and you use it with such elegance! Tobi

[Padgett]

I love the pink lemonade photo...how spectacular to dress a table off of a drink! Having catered my fair share of events, none have ever had this classy touch...I will have to teach everyone a lesson from your book!

[Ali]

Hi Eddie
Wandered over from Seleta's blog!
I love looking at everyone's fabulous stylish pictures of fabulous stylish house things!
I have no style, personally, but love to entertain so I need all the help I can get.
I need ways to sparkle up my plain-jane and so far I'm LOVING that milk glass and those salad bowls!
Thanks - I've got to get back and browse around...

[Artie]

Looking forward to a post on another room transformed in your beautiful farmhouse.

[Kitty Hurdle]

Hey Eddie!I have seen your amazing work on several friends' blogs and am now a fan! I have simply one question...how can the rest of us go about finding decent flea markets to scour? How do you find the right places to go?
On another note, I will be hosting an Easter Brunch the Saturday before Easter and am totally going to serve pink lemonade! Thanks :)

[ralphie]

Ah! Something old, something new, maybe borrowed but never blue. The style is so you Eddie - exquisite. Thanks for a great post!

[Leslie]

Tickled pink! As always, a delightful array... of color & planning!
L
Lamaisonfou blog

[PJ]

Lovely, as always! I recently took your advice and went to the dollar store, where I found nice off-white dishes and some cotton dish towels that will make great spring time napkins! You're full of good ideas! Thanks!

[lizzytish]

Dear Eddie:
I recently hosted a "recession party." It was very tongue-in-cheek and very "anti-elegaant" but lots of fun. I hand-wrote the invites on torn notebook paper, used paper plates and plastic utensils, and guests brought all kinds of budget-friendly, albeit disgusting, foods, like fried Spam, (generic) Cheez-wiz, pop tarts, and Ramen noodles. We also had some Pabst Blue Ribbon beer and a big jug of Gallo red wine. It was a blast!

[Barbara Nieder]

You are so smart. The silver band on the pitcher and its little modern zip makes the pretty pink and white table simply fabulous. No one can equal your skill with a table setting. Come to think of it, no one in many areas. I am learning so much from you and Jaithan. I love you guys. Barb

[Tara]

You asked what we were doing for our first party of the spring: I'm hosting a Southern Easter Dinner here in Upstate New York! Up here, everyone does brunch on Easter, but my family has always done the 3pm dinner. So I'm serving a brown sugar glazed ham, scalloped potatoes, succotash, sweetened corn bread, a carrot soup and, of course, deviled eggs. The invites are Robin's Egg blue with a Navy bird printed on them, and Navy lettering. I'm so excited to introduce my new "Yankee" friends to some tastes and culture of the South! :)

[Evelyn Weiss]

Happy Spring! The aqua table is especially pretty. Thanks for the suggestion about individual salad dressings -- what a wonderful way to use the many creamers I've acquired over the years. Also, I think alstroemeria are such "cute" flowers; they come in wonderful variegated colors and they last and last! I love arranging a row of short monocromatic bunches down the center of a long table.

Oh, nice new photo in the upper right hand corner advertising the Etsy shop. (Tulips for us again? So sweet of you!)

Have a fabulous weekend with the beautiful Seleta!

xoxo
Evy

[Lisa]

AWESOME AND USEFUL ONCE AGAIN.

YOUR TALENT IS A GIFT FOR US ALL. THANK YOU FOR SHARING.

HUGS FROM MAINE

[Michael D.]

Eddie, just bought the cake plate with dome cover from your Esty store. My mother had bought one in the 1940s and it broke about three years ago. This will be a great surprise for her!! (I really missed that cake plate that held all of our birthday cakes while growing up!) I am sure there will be a FLOOD of tears when I present it to her.

[royal apothic]

OK, love the white and gold.. so classic and elegant

[starrydeborah]

That photo with the pink lemonade!!! Stunning!!
Need I say more?!
starrydeborah

[Brandi]

Both of those spreads are so inviting. Thanks for sharing!

[Lynn]

Your silver rimmed pitcher looks exactly like the one my banker father used to mix his Manhattans in when I was a kid. I'm sure his was much smaller, though, but my kid's brain registered everything as big or tall back then!
Love your idea of elevating the salad ~ or anything ~ on a pedestal . . . and yours looks so lovely! Another great Eddie Ross idea I'll remember and use!
Lynn

[Johanna Forsblom]

Simply wonderful!

[decorpad]

Adore the pink! Am loving everything pink with the spring-like weather!

[Amphritrite]

I wish I had the eye you do for these dishes, Eddie! I'm just never sure what's real and what's not, even though I <3 antiquing and rummage sales.

[Leika]

Oh, the pink tablescape made me smile. I am ADORING pink right now, and this is just perfect.

[Lauren Liess]

So pretty!!! We want to see more!! :)
xoxo,
lauren

[LindsB]

What beautiful finds! I love how to set them up for a wonderful party- thanks for the great ideas yet again!!

[Danielle]

I am in love with that silver rimmed pitcher! gorgeous stuff as always Eddie!

[delighted heart]

I am loving your milk glass! What a great idea for the salad...a punch bowl! Mine's not on a pedistal but it is hobnail! I just inherited my MIL's milk glass (that held the pink carnantions) to add to mine. My husband use to give his mom MG every mother's day when he was a little boy. He's buying me a cake stand for an early mother's day this year. Are you giving up your collection? Love your tablescape....It's all beautiful!

[meaghan easterhaus]

i adore milk glass and i've been collecting the hobnail variety since high school (longer than i'll admit). i'm excited to go check out those monogrammed s and p shakers! i saw seleta was comin' for a visit! jealous of both of ya ;-)

[Emily]

Gorgeous!! You are so incredibly talented. Just discovered your Etsy shop- posted about it earlier today!

http://www.materialgirlsblog.com/2009/03/eddie-on-etsy.html

Seeing it all put together with color just makes it that much more fun!

Emily

[Christina]

I come here for inspiration and that's pretty much what I get.

I have to give a shout out for the greek key urn...everybody should own one. I have 3 of the very same ones and get so much use and pleasure from them.

[Redesign Diva]

Absolutely gorgeous! (Clapping her hands)

Bravo on the play on pink. How delicate!

~Kindle

[Lynett]

Youre tablescapes are gorgeous!!