Jewel tones are all the rage in tabletop decor these days. But if your china pattern is plain and traditional, don't fret.
Fortunately, mixing and matching is also the new rage. So you don't need another set of china. You can buy a few bright pieces - goblets and salad plates, maybe, or large bright plates to rest underneath each dinner plate. Without buying a whole new set of china, you'll add zip to your table.When Lenox entertaining expert Alice Kolator was in town recently, she and ZCMI Wedding and Gift Registry director Erna Walker talked of jewel tones and mixing and matching. They spoke with passion about pretty dishes.
"You can create a whole different mood by varying the color of your linens and your centerpiece," says Kolator. "Not only is there a lot of color in china these days, but there is a lot of design, too. There will always be an interest in soft pastels and florals, but we are moving beyond that."
Your china is a big investment, Walker says. She advises selecting a very conservative pattern the first time you buy china. "On the second or third set, you can be a bit more adventuresome in design or color."
Second or third set? Wait. Didn't you just advise the average china buyer to get by with one great set and some bright auxiliary pieces?
Whoops. Walker and Kolator admit they aren't the average china buyer. They could never limit themselves to one set. Kolator has 16 sets of china at home, wrapped and stacked and stored on shelves in the basement.
She uses them all, she says. She loves to entertain.
The logical extension of having pretty china is to invite guests over for dinner.
And it's not enough to know how to set the table, the two women say. One must be able to set the mood as well. Walker and Kolator, in an interview with the Deseret News, and in articles Walker has written, offer these tips on entertaining:
- New brides should start off slowly. Don't make your first party a sit-down dinner for 12.
- Even experienced cooks shouldn't experiment with new recipes for a party. Try them out first on your family or close friends.
- The reason to get together is to communicate. Don't be afraid to have a small group together for a simple meal, with no special entertainment except to talk.
- Don't think your house or your food has to be perfect. The evening is more fun for your guests if you are at ease and having fun.
- Plan an entree that roasts or bakes in the oven; this frees you to talk to your guests instead of standing over the stove.
- Serve appetizers buffet-style. Let friends move around, munch and get acquainted while you put the last-minute touches on dinner.
- When you serve dinner, serve the salad at the same time, so you don't have to jump up and down clearing plates and can take part in the conversation.
- Serve dessert in a different setting, perhaps around the coffee table. Make-your-own sundaes are fun.
- A few fresh flowers, candles and cloth napkins show your friends you think they're special.
- Plan ahead so that everything is ready and you are relaxed when the guests arrive.