HOME 101: TABLE SETTING
by Elena AcobaTableware does more than provide the necessities for eating. An appropriately set table creates the mood—formal, casual, festive—for the meal and the time you'll spend with friends and family. It hints at who you are and says everything about how you embrace people in your home.
LINENS
Tablecloths, place mats, napkins, and runners create a table's backdrop. A formal feel traditionally has linen, lace, or embroidered fabric, white or ivory napkins, and a matching tablecloth that hangs at least 12 inches from the tabletop.
Anything goes for an informal look. Linens come in cotton, polyester, vinyl, silk, and leather. Place mats and runners also show up in woven grasses, wood, and beads. Some items come in reversible colors and patterns, providing two looks in one piece.
Design tips: For most occasions, linens shouldn't look the same according to Renee Wolin, vice president of J Renee Fine Linens & Indulgences. "It's not about matching," says Wolin. "It's about coordinating."
Use two contrasting place mats, one askew from the other, to add interest. Use up to four colors of napkins that coordinate with the tablecloth. Set the runner width-wise on a table to define where to place the setting.
DISHES
Plates, bowls, and cups come in many sizes and shapes, including round, square, triangular, and oblong. A dinner plate, rimmed pasta bowl, and bread or dessert plate will cover most serving needs, says Alexis Moss, sales associate at Table Talk.
Dishes are made of porcelain (which includes china, stoneware, earthenware), plastic, glass, or wood. The manufacturer will provide information on whether pieces are oven-, microwave-, and dishwasher-safe.
Design tips: Buying small numbers of place settings "encourages you to be creative," says Michelle Krzyzanowski, owner of Studio Ambiente Interior and Social Design. "Don't design your table with a box of dishes from the store—literally think out of the box."
Mix it up. Use solid plates with patterned plates. Set several solid colors. Mix patterns of similar styles, such as Italian stoneware, but avoid mixing styles such as muted, delicate china with brightly painted, thick stoneware.
FLATWARE
Sterling silver forks, spoons, and knives define tradition and formality. Embellished stainless steel can serve the same purpose but requires much less upkeep. Flatware also comes in gold—another formal look—copper, and other metallic colors. Shell, glass, plastic, or wood provide material for contrasting handles.
Sets come in varying weights and lengths. The shortest lengths typically found in American homes are called place settings. Continental settings, typically found in Europe, are longest. Dinner settings are between the two. Find flatware that feels comfortable in your hand.
Design tips: Don't mix flatware styles and colors. "It's the frame for your tableware," says Krzyzanowski. Serving pieces also should match the flatware, says Moss. "You want a unified look." It's OK to use embellished, traditional flatware with simple dishes or vice versa.
SETTING THE TABLE
Krzyzanowski suggests these rules for setting a table:
• Carefully choose the serving pieces to fit the food being served.
• Set in order from left to right: forks, dinner plate, knife, and spoons. Place glasses at the top and to the right of the plate—at the top left, place smaller plates. Set napkin to the left of the fork.
• Clear the table after the main course and create a new place setting for dessert and after-dinner drinks.
CENTERPIECES
People often banish a centerpiece from a table to make room for the food. Resist the urge. "The centerpiece on the table sets the mood," says Moss. The possibilities for centerpieces and other table decor are endless, says Jennie Sherwood, an event producer with Design Definitions, a special-event design company and supplier. "There is no rule," says Sherwood. "Think about, 'Will this get lost or jam up my table, or can it be something that can accent it?'" Sherwood likes to use things around the house or garden such as:
• small vases, decorative cans, or bowls with a flower in each
• an interesting piece of kitchenware such as a pepper grinder
• candles of varying heights
• a bowl of fruit
• strewn flower petals
• a flower or candle at each place setting
Colors of table decor can coordinate with those of your chairs or linens. Or take a cue from a particular celebration, such as a birthday theme or holiday, for an appropriate dress-up.The centerpiece should be no higher than the length of your arm from the top of a fist to your elbow. Another option is making the solid portion of the centerpiece much higher so that people need only look around the stand. Candelabras work well.
BEVERAGEWARE
Glass reigns. Etched, cut, or colored glass distinguish sets, but the basic difference is stem or no stem. Stemware looks more formal. Stemless wine glasses are trendy, but should not be used with white wine to avoid warming the wine too quickly. Almost every beverage has a corresponding glass. Those you'd like to use for wine and water are the most versatile.
Design tips: Use stemware to add visual height to a table. Combine stemware and no-stem glasses to add visual interest. If using colored glass, make sure the beverage still looks appealing in the glass.
WHERE TO BUY
Details Art & Design
in Gallery Row
3001 E. Skyline Dr., Ste. 139
577-1995, www.detailsart.com
H.F. Coors China Company
1600 S. Cherrybell Strav.
903-1010, www.hfcoors.com
J Renee Fine Linens & Indulgences
in Casas Adobes Plaza
7121 N. Oracle Rd.
219-1515, www.jreneeonline.com
Seasons Fine Gifts
in La Encantada
2905 E. Skyline Dr. #255
577-6951, www.seasonsfinegifts.com
Silk Expressions
11015 N. Oracle Rd., 575-2868
4320 N. Campbell Ave., Ste. 128
577-1977, www.silkexpressionsaz.com
Studio Ambiente Interior and Social Design
call for appointment, 403-3356
www.studioambientedesign.com
Studio Encanto in The Lost Barrio
300 S. Park Ave., 624-1133
www.studioencanto.com
Table Talk
see website for locations
www.tabletalk.com