Entertaining by Design



I know, I know, the holidays are over and you are probably packing away the last of the decorations and don't want to think about entertaining again anytime soon.  However, the holiday fetes and gatherings got me to thinking about what matters in a home and how best to make a home functional for everyday, while enabling a seamless transformation for when you have lots of guests over- expected or unexpected. 

The TRANSFORMER:

Drop leaf tables are great to grow with.  In that small apartment, perhaps you once used as a dining table when extended fully in a smaller apartment, now can be used as a sofa table with one or both leaves folded down.  There do not tend to be a ton of these on the market but I have recently seen an influx of furniture companies coming out drop leaf pieces.  See some of my picks below...



A dining table, a sofa table, or looks great with just one leaf extended.
I also love the French curve to the leg.

 

A pretty reclaimed wood table that can be used almost anywhere, kitchen, dining room, living room...

The clean lines of this table make it easy to use as a sofa table, I would prefer
it in a darker shade of wood or painted.

Floating Seats:

Seating becomes very important when you are entertaining.  Too many seats clutters the home and restricts flow.  Not enough seating leaves guest's feet aching (especially during a more formal event...read: stilettos).  Just like the moral I took from Goldilocks and the Three Bears, get it JUST RIGHT.  Creating seating vignettes is also important so it doesn't look like you filled a room with chairs.



This Ghost chair can be pulled into the dining room or into a living room vignette to add seating without bulk.



On a daily basis these chairs are not used for lounging but can be pulled tighter together or moved into another space to mingle

Both of these entry benches can be moved to accommodate
guests in other rooms... or leave as is and surround with chairs
angled into one another on either side of the bench to create
another spot for people to perch.

A good example of how to incorporate a side chair and bench pulled from another room to create more seating without feeling too crowded.

More ways to increase seating...

Sideboards/Buffets:

These pieces provide an extra space to put serving dishes, plates, glasses, etc. so you don't overcrowd or interrupt a dining table full of chatty happy guests. They are also wonderful serving stations for a less formal cocktail party, whether it be for cocktails or appetizers.








Hope some of these tips help for next time you have a soiree.  I promise your guests will be thanking you!  I love your comments so please feel free to share comments or ask questions!  You can also contact me directly at colleen@candmdesignsllc.com

C (&M)