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D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 5 / J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 6 E B O N Y . C O M 73

’TIS THE SEASON FOR ENTERTAINING, AND YOU’RE READY TO LET YOUR HOST SKILLS SHINE. IT’S TIME TO TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FOCAL

POINT OF THE GATHERING, THE DINING ROOM, WHERE A FEW EXPERT TOUCHES CAN DELIVER A STUNNING SPREAD.

B y K Y M A L L I S O N B A C K E R

The Perfect Holiday Table

P h o t o g r a p h s b y G E O F F R E Y B L A C K

74 E B O N Y . C O M D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 5 / J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 6

L I V E Luxe Holidays

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 5 / J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 6 E B O N Y . C O M 75

“C reating the perfect holiday table can feel like a bit of a daunting task if you’re not equipped with a bag of design-er tricks,” says Mikel Welch, set designer

and host of the “Mikel’s Design Corner” segment on Steve Harvey and founder of Chicago-based Mikel Welch Designs. He adds that creating an elegant lay-out requires a little planning and a lot of imagination. “Don’t feel confined to the old-fashioned color theory

of strictly using only gold or only silver with your din-nerware sets and decor. One of the biggest trends in fashion and design is mixed metals. You’ll be amazed at the high-end, straight off the runway look you’ll achieve right in your dining room with mixed tones of silver and gold.”

All about color? Express yourself! You can go ul-tratrendy, mix your favorite shades or even inject splashes of hues that are meaningful to your guests. Whatever direction you may choose, Welch has a few basic guidelines that will make sure your style is well-represented and secure your reign as the host with the most.

“ S E A R C H YO U R L O C A L S H O P P I N G M A L L for window displays that speak to your per-sonal style,” he advises. “Most holiday displays are created by a team that has studied trends and know what’s on trend for the season. Use these displays as a starting point for your own chic holiday table inspiration. For a sophisticated palette, stick to coordinating dinner-ware sets and add your person-al style with festive accessories such as ornate tier stands and decorative entertainment plat-ters. Also, dinnerware sets give you a base foundation that will allow your personal creativity to shine with tabletop holiday accessories.”

1 . J U M P O N T H E SA L E S Most stores put holiday decorations on sale toward the middle of December because they don’t want to be stuck with these items in their inventory after New Year’s Eve.

2 . P I C K A TA B L E TO P C O LO R S C H E M E T H AT WO R KS W I T H YO U R E N T I R E H O M E . Have fun with the unexpected or go traditional; either way, your table decor should be an exten-sion of the rest of your house.3 . I N V EST I N N I C E S E RV I N G P L AT T E R S . Don’t break out the good china for the holiday table but forget about the plat-ters and bowls in which the

food will be served. What good is a fabulous holiday table when the cornbread dressing is served in the aluminum pan in which it was cooked?4 . E N S U R E YO U H AV E A D -EQ UAT E F L AT WA R E . The proper holiday table has a complete silverware set. Take a quick inventory to make sure you have all the appropriate utensils for each course before

you sit down to your holiday meal or you’ll be all up in grandma’s sweet potato pie with a turkey fork. 5 . D O N ’ T FO R G E T T H E F LOW E R S ! A floral arrange-ment can make or break the table. Find something that is elegant and fresh-cut but not too large. You want an arrange-ment that allows guests to eas-ily talk across the table.

Ready to Plunge

In?

The Must-Have Checklist

1. Snag this chic bowl for displaying your most elegant ornaments or serving your meal in style. Mikasa Serenity Gold 9-Inch Bowl ($87; macys.com) 2. Dazzle your guests with coordinating dinner napkins. Crate & Barrel Fete Napkins ($3.95 each; crateandbarrel.com) 3. Add to your eclectic decor with this fun piece. Holiday Lane 6.5-Inch Antlers ($14; macys.com) 4. When it comes to your holiday place settings, the shinier the better! West Elm Black Mirror Charger, Fishs Eddy Dinner Plate and Black and Gold Side Plate ($19, $24 and $14; westelm.com) 5. These attractive utensils bring fine dining to your table. West Elm New Gold Flatware Set ($39; westelm.com)

ABOVE: Nattie Red Wine and Cham-pagne Glasses ($3.95 each; crate-andbarrel.com); Direction Highball

Glass ($10.95; crateandbarrel.com)

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1 . C L E A R A S PAC E beforehand for coats and other winter accessories. You don’t want to run up and down the stairs or end up scattering them throughout your home. Just place them in a cleared coat closet or pick up a collapsible rolling rack from a home-goods store and keep everything organized neatly behind closed doors.

2 . S E T T H E M O O D by dimming the lights and selecting a creative playlist in advance that will take you from the first ring of the doorbell through dinner. Keep the volume

76 E B O N Y . C O M D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 5 / J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 6

Season’s GreetingsThe magic hour is here, and your guests are at the door. Your home is immaculate, the children are sleep-

ing and you’re ready to roll. To ensure things go smoothly all evening, keep these last few pointers in mind:

L I V E Luxe Holidays

on background level so guests can converse easily. You can always dial up the volume and the tempo for after-dinner dancing.

3 . H AV E B E V E R AG ES A N D H O R S D ’O E U V R ES P R I M E D A N D R E A DY to serve, or set them in a central location so guests have easy access. You don’t want anyone to fill up before dinner, but nothing breaks the ice faster than a few treats.

4 . G E T C H AT T Y, CAT H Y ! Make sure no one’s a stranger. Drop a few tidbits about

how you know or met each person as you introduce new faces, which will help get convos off to a smooth start. Bonus tip: Prearrange seating so couples and friends aren’t huddled together chatting privately.

5 . B E O N T I M E : Guests often watch their intake before a dinner party so they can rightfully do your spread justice. Transla-tion: They’re starving, so once everyone has mingled through a drink refresh, lead the way to the table. They’re ready to break it in. S

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