Fancy Decor

For a private dinner in 2006, JMVisuals created an unexpected overhead lighting trick: rows of frosted votives suspended from the ceiling on square Lucite tiles. 

At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Johnson & Johnson displayed photographs on a wall that curved upward.

At the 2006 Screen Actors Guild awards in Los Angeles, Stanlee Gatti created lavish displays of upside-down calla lilies, dramatic decorations that also hid poles.

The American Heart Association’s 2006 Rhapsody in Red event had a dramatic event entryway designed by Matthew David Events: a model wore a silk organza dress with a 30-foot-long skirt that draped over the New York Public Library’s entrance.

The Dia Art Foundation’s gala in 2006 had glowing circular tables.

At a 2006 roast of Mario Batali benefiting the Food Bank of New York City, Okamoto Studio encased the chef’s trademark orange clogs in giant blocks of ice. 

For the Whitney Museum’s 2006 Art Party in New York, planners considered what guests saw underfoot and covered a black carpet with silver sequins.

To create a modern, all-white look for a 2006 dinner at Manhattan’s Pier 60, Empire Force Events hid the venue’s colorful, patterned carpet with a layer of large, white confetti. 

XA, the Experiential Agency, used long grosgrain ribbons to simply and effectively divide a large space at a 2006 Tag Heuer event.

At the 2008 Robin Hood Foundation gala, XO laptops on each dinner table displayed menus, statistics about the organization’s work, and images of flowers, and then were donated to city schoolchildren after the event.

Here’s how to create drama overhead (or hide a less-than-desirable ceiling): Van Wyck & Van Wyck wove bands of fabric together above the Whitney Museum of American Art’s 2008 Art Party.

For the opening of New Balance’s first experience store in New York in August, the red carpet backdrop at the V.I.P. preview incorporated real running shoes mounted to a wall printed with the shoe brand’s logo.

For the Museum of Modern Art’s film benefit on November 15 in New York, the celebrity arrivals backdrop wasn’t a step-and-repeat of logos but rather a wall of 20,000 fresh crimson-colored roses.

Absolut launched a 2011 limited edition bottle on December 1 at Toronto’s TIFF Bell Lightbox. The step-and-repeat employed shelves holding dozens of the new bottles.

During the VitaminWater Rooftop series during the Toronto International Film Festival in September, the Mint Agency created a step-and-repeat that displayed sponsor logos in antique frames.

Large letter-shaped structures, covered with matching delftware-inspired fabric, made a statement in the arrivals area.

Inside, the entrance was covered with orange flowers and decorated with letter decals to spell out the event's official name, PRE.

As a nod to headlining sponsor Cadillac, organizers projected the company's logo on the wall behind the stage, and throughout the rest of the venue.

The event celebrated Marwen's 25th anniversary, or silver birthday. To underscore the theme, guests entered the dinner tent through a tunnel of silver balloons.

Giant balloons suspended from the ceiling served as the focal point at the DX Gala. What's more is that the color-washed room was updated with a new hue with each course.

Menu cards at an event designed by Canvas & Canopy were held by ceramic hands.

Decor at the Children's Aid Foundation's Teddy Bear Affair came in the form of season-inspired vignettes—for spring, guests saw clear umbrellas with glittering beads as rain.

Los Angeles-based artist Jorge Pardo created special-edition lanterns to hang above the tables at the Hammer Museum gala.

For a wedding at Union Station in Los Angeles, Sterling Engagements displayed escort cards printed to look like train tickets inside vintage suitcases.

At a Los Angeles event, guests were invited to create their own custom fragrances at a flower-dotted scent bar.

For a birthday party, Kristi Amoroso Special Events designed a vodka shot bar that displayed bottles in a sculptural arrangement of textured ice spheres.

Designed by Bold American Events & Catering, upside-down centerpieces of tulips and glass globes hung overhead at a wedding at the King Plow Event Gallery in Atlanta.

Inspired by an English picnic and styled with rustic elements, the V.I.P. area of this year's Power Ball in Toronto had loading pallets that served as banquette seating and cocktail tables. Tufted velvet couches and colorful pillows rounded out the mix.

To match the Mexican hacienda-inspired look of its New York event in May, Don Julio used authentic tequila barrels as part of the decor, including tables set up in the outdoor terrace.

Colorful and family-friendly games, including hopscotch, were offered at a block party held by Sunglass Hut to celebrate the opening of its largest outpost in Miami.

In keeping with the carnival theme, the Stella McCartney Resort 2013 presentation in June put mac and cheese bites on a miniature ferris wheel.

The 2012 color of the year, orange, was paired with hay and chevron patterns at a Belvedere-sponsored event during the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen.

For summery, garden-inspired events, LoLo Event Design offers hand-painted handkerchiefs that can serve as table numbers and be paired with potted centerpieces.

For a beachy vibe, LoLo Event Design created message-in-a-bottle place cards.

The festive, laid-back setting for Univision's Deportes launch earlier this year came courtesy of a taco truck and wooden picnic tables.

Luxe Event Rentals & Décor's handmade paper-flower walls, showcased at last year's BizBash New York Expo, can be customized in different colors and function as room dividers, stage backdrops, and back-bar displays.

Hanging beach balls formed a colorful chandelier at a party created by Swank Productions.

To help guests get to know one another, Mélangerie makes customized wedding genealogy charts that double as seating maps.

Brooklyn-based Instaprint printers print out Instagram photos taken at a certain location or marked with an event-specific hashtag.

The squares and panels come in an off-white shade that can be lit for color effect.

In addition to 22.5- by 22.5-foot plastic squares, the SuperLever collection also includes 15- by 45-foot fabric panels.

The mix-and-match SuperLever squares and panels feature various designs and can function as backdrops.

Kravet's setting had banquette seating around a round purple table that had dozens of holes cut out of the surface, which created a pretty pattern of light on the floor below (and held napkins and glasses).

David Stark's installation for Benjamin Moore had an aviary theme, to play off the paint manufacturer's latest Twitter promotion. Among many trompe l'oeil details, the space had two faux chandeliers that looked hand-drawn.

Ralph Lauren Home went with a rustic, country porch feel complete with bandannas as napkins, mix-and-match blue and white plates, and single-bloom arrangements in large vintage-looking vessels such as glass jars and silver vases.

Goil Amornvivat and Thomas Morbitzer found inspiration in butterflies when designing their space for Tug Studio. The display, which included a science-project-like wind tunnel, also had a stick-on patterned table runner, which added interest to the simple piece of furniture.

Guests at David Rockwell's table dined from plates set on a bed of fresh red roses. Inspired by the AIDS ribbon, Rockwell used plain ribbon to create an interwoven hanging display in lieu of a chandelier.

MMPI's space, by D'Apostrophe Design, was lined with faux fur in which the designers had shaved the words of a French poem. Other striking details included a long glowing table, an overhead mirror, and dishware secured by latex straps.

Jeffrey Brooks Interior Design created an ethereal setting with an oversize pair of feathered wings, silvery tabletop accessories, and shiny fabrics on seat covers and draping.

One hundred and eight students from Pratt Institute (working with design mentor Alfredo Paredes) used recycled materials to create a unique setting for sponsor David Wine. The team used cardboard tubes and panels to create walls and bamboolike posts, and tall tubes of paper that became a candelabra when lit with small LED lights. Macrame gave simple metal frame chairs a stylish look.

Fabric manufacturer Scalamandré created a preppy setting, complete with parasols and brightly patterned linens and rugs. The fun (and frugal) centerpiece was fashioned out of silk peonies and orange takeout containers.

Design firm 2Michaels found inspiration in textiles. Large spools of thread served as vases and wall decorations. For a playful touch, a gigantic desk lamp served as a chandelier.

For sponsor Susan Blond, Jes Gordon created a fun, bold look using a variety of inexpensive materials such as cardboard boxes, neon masking tape, round LED lights, and Styrofoam shelving.

Stefan Beckman created a sleek, on-brand table for sponsor Coca-Cola using a variety of recycled items, including the overhead lights and dining chairs (which were made from plastic bottles). Clear glass vessels, including some empty Coke bottles, created a runner down the center of the table.

Michael Tavano Design's sunny yellow and white table had a surprise feature: Guests could flip a switch on the wall to control the motorized solar shades lining the walls. When turned on, the panels moved up and down, creating new patterns.

Diane von Furstenberg's table, which showcased her new line of housewares, had a quirky centerpiece of curving lamps in the designer's signature colorful patterns.

Marc Blackwell's elegant setting had one row of plush banquette seating and one row of custom-made chairs on casters. When arranged in a row, the chair backs formed an abstract image.

Echodesign's space had a resort feel, with airy printed fabrics, oversize greenery, tropical artwork, and chartreuse orchids. One unusual detail was the table's patterned runner, which extended all the way down to the floor.

Bobby Berk Home and Marc Wilson Design collaborated on a casual setting with lots of playful details, including ceramic robot table-toppers, curly candlesticks, and several upside-down potted plants, which the designers hung on one wall.

Mary Davis Interiors' setting included two contrasting chair styles: two large armchairs at each end of the table, and metal side chairs on either side.

Leather goods manufacturer Moore & Giles worked with Brad Ford to create the Great American Woody, a traveling vehicle for "luxury tailgating" complete with a bar, inside seating, and video screen. The display will travel to food and design events around the country, and people can donate money to Diffa through its Web site. At the end of its run, it will be auctioned off, with proceeds going to Diffa.

Anki Spets of Area's setting for The New York Times included large teacups with simple (and gift-able) monochromatic arrangements of blooms by Fleurs Bella.

One of the more unusual looks, Arpad Baksa's installation had tiered, bleacherlike seats, so guests�"or mannequins�"could sit and look at each other.

Caroline McKeough created a small four-seat table with a tall centerpiece made out of dozens of overlapping picture frames. Small metal butterflies added a touch of sparkle.

Coffinier Ku Design topped two tables with big glass bowls full of floating gardenias in the New York Design Center's setting, which was a tribute to Christian Bérard.

Scandia Home used hidden color-changing lights to enliven its all-white space. Soft cotton pillows and glass containers full of cotton created a cozy look. Plain white dinner plates featured the company's logo�"an easy branding idea.

Instead of flowers, Jeffrey Brooks's table had a trio of artfully arranged towers of fresh produce covered by tall glass cloches.

The Ghost Chair's armless version, the Victoria Ghost, was used at MoCA Chicago's Art Edge gala in February.

At Clarks' annual meeting in July, held at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers, guests were seated in Ghost Chairs rented from Peterson Party Center Inc.

For the Samsung Galaxy SIII launch in New York in June, event producers used Ghost barstools rented from Taylor Creative Inc. for seating.

The ever-popular white leather sofa was spotted at the Bacardi 150th anniversary event in Miami in February.

An all-white lounge area set the scene at the the Boca Bacchanal held in Miami in April.

The Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance’s Fleurotica benefit took place at Chicago’s Venue One, where guests sat on white leather banquettes.

LED-lit tables provided a colorful glow at the BET Honors after-party in Washington in January.

In May, Rogers Communication's International Telecom Week party in Chicago included a glowing red bar and cocktail tables, courtesy of A Perfect Event.

Also at the Clarks meeting in Boston, guests dined on gold-trimmed china and sipped from gold-trimmed glassware.

At the American Cancer Society's Discovery ball held in Chicago in May, Hall's Rental provided gold-trimmed plates.

Event Creative produced an event with gold chargers and gold-trimmed glasses at the Chicago Cultural Center.