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You don't have to be Martha Stewart to throw a beautiful party. In honor of the colors of spring and summer, here are a few simple, inexpensive tricks to "style" your next gathering.
1. Start with candles. If you're indoors, candles add elegance and twinkly ambience to your table and your living room. Stick with a single color and mix and match the shapes and sizes. Don't be afraid to use them during the day. A brunch table, even on a sunny day, is transformed by the addition of candlelight which reflects off of glassware and dishes and adds dimension to the tablescape. Insiders tip: stock up at IKEA, which sells supremely high quality, truly drip free candlesticks, pillars, votives and more at a fraction of the cost you'd pay anywhere else.
2. Pick up some pretty, printed cocktail napkins. Avoid those cheesy "Life starts at 40" accoutrements and select a colorful print that catches your eye. Create a pinwheel out of them and serve with hors d'oeuvres (we'll get to food in a minute) on your coffee table. The Christmas Tree Shop is always my first stop for these. Their selections vary but their prices are worth the trip.
3. Mix up your dishes! Most of us have been programmed to believe that a table should be set with all matching pieces, but the pros have used this trick in magazines for years. It allows you the opportunity to use all those random pieces that you don't know what to do with or, for fun, scour the SoNo Flea Market on a Friday or Saturday night for some inexpensive single antique pieces. Even varying your stemware is fine. If you can throw in some jewel toned goblets, all the better.
4. Flowers are your ace in the hole. Find some bright Gerbera daisies, or your blossom of choice (please, no carnations or mums) and buy enough for the dining table and the living room. My trick for a real splash of color is to cut the stems very short and display the flowers in a bowl or very short vase. This creates a sort of painter's palate on your table and insures that the arrangement doesn't block your guests' view of one another. Use bottles of wine, candlesticks and a pepper mill for height and keep your flowers low.
5. Finally, think color when you're planning your menu. Offer a "house" cocktail when guests arrive, like a very mildly sweet Peachtini (recipe below) and you've already infused peachy orange tones to the scene. Create an hors d'oeuvre platter with this principle in mind. Emerald hued asparagus wrapped in prosciutto is a great example. Think about your main course and plan sides that contrast. Large sprigs of any herb that you've cooked with always add a splash of green freshness to the plate.
Remember, a party is supposed to be fun and what better mood lightener than a bunch of cheery colors and some great food and friends? Experiment.
Peachtini: To a shaker with ice add 2 parts good vodka, 1 part peach nectar (available at Whole Foods), and a heavy splash of fresh orange juice. Shake well and pour into chilled martini glass, then top with chilled club soda, and a generous squeeze of lemon. Garnish with fresh orange or lemon wedge or a bright red strawberry. Can also be served over ice.
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