Decor porn

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.

At a 40th birthday party, Susan Holland Events filled the Stephan Weiss Studio in New York with disco ball lights and projected French surrealist films, while a swing hung near the dance floor.

Todd Events made a wedding held inside a large barn in Aspen seem more intimate with two tall signature bars and scattered seating and food station vignettes. Hanging glass globes appeared to lower the ceilings.

Inspired by the family’s love of candy, David Monn used ring pops, gummy frogs, lollipops, and sour apple gummy rings to create the centerpieces at a recent bat mitzvah.

Ritzy Bee Events used craft paper and chalk to label the passed appetizers for a rehearsal dinner at the Decatur House in Washington so guests wouldn’t be left guessing.

For a donut-themed bridal shower put together by blogger Elsie Larson, a giant chalkboard filled with descriptive doodles served as the backdrop of the food spread.

For an upscale dinner party, Fête presented a clambake menu in a formal, modern setting by having waiters serve custom Plexiglas trays filled with seafood.

At a casual outdoor wedding in California planned by Kate Miller Events, gingham flags displaying table numbers were tucked into vintage soda bottles filled with flowers.

Guests created custom perfumes at a scent bar set up by Ka-Mil-Yin, a Los Angeles-based fragrance company that specializes in perfume parties, to take home as a favor from a bridal shower.

For a dandy-themed graduation party in Hollywood, Canvas & Canopy designed a dessert buffet that eschewed the twee look in favor of a sophisticated display of treats on cake stands made from vintage candlesticks and shelves built using industrial pipes.

For a New York couple marrying at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando, Heather Snively of Weddings Unique recreated the newlyweds’ hometown with a hand-painted backdrop of Central Park from Greenery Productions. Lighting and real trees helped the scene come to life.

Marcy Blum Associates built a bakery-style display case to offer guests breakfast-to-go treats from New York bakeries at the end of a wedding reception.

Jes Gordon/Proper Fun created a supper club atmosphere at Gotham Hall in New York for a recent bar mitzvah. Four-hundred luminaries filled with LED candles were hung from a large oval truss on the ceiling.

Matthew Parker Events crafted lighting fixtures for a speakeasy-themed wedding using hats from a party supply store, decorative ribbon, corded wire, and filament bulbs.

For a wedding at the King Plow Event Gallery in Atlanta, Bold American Events & Catering designed an upside-down centerpiece of yellow tulips and glass globes that hung above the head table.

David Beahm Design put together a farm cart filled with Israeli market-inspired treats, like jars of honey, nuts, and dried apricots, which was displayed at the wedding of a couple looking to tie in their Israeli roots. Guests filled small burlap bags to take home.

At a wedding designed by Triton Productions, the focal point of the pre- and post-ceremony cocktail area at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach was a custom-designed 360-degree bar made of corrugated mirror.

Bryn Chernoff of Paperfinger created custom calligraphy stamps of each guest’s name, which doubled as place cards and favors at a private dinner party held at the Foundry in New York.

The tables at a graffiti-themed bar mitzvah designed by David Stark Design and Production, held at Center 548 in New York, displayed arrangements of daffodils and ranunculuses sprouting from cinder block planters.

Bathroom amenity baskets are a staple at social events, sometimes tying to the event’s motif, like this one created by State of the Art Enterprises for a bar mitzvah with a graphic pattern theme.

Jeffrey Foster of Event Creative designed custom-built tables and props, including glowing baseball diamond-shaped tables and a scoreboard that hung above the dance floor, for a bar mitzvah at the Ravenswood Event Center in Chicago.

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

Mélangerie Inc.’s customized wedding genealogy charts detail the relationship of the wedded couple to their guests with the help of a relationship key. Guests browse the chart during the cocktail hour to learn about their tablemates.

For a wedding at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Marc Hall Design built seven-foot-tall mirrored glass vessels to hold apple tree branches adorned with phalaenopsis orchids that were kept hydrated through a system of hand-blown glass pipes.

For a bat mitzvah at Guastavino’s in New York, Susan Holland Events used Tyvek pillows hand-stitched with neon thread as chargers. After the meal, waiters threw the pillows in the center of the tables, where they glowed under black light.

Levy Lighting and Preston Bailey collaborated on a wedding after-party lounge held in a tent, with the ceiling lit from behind to create the glowing effect.

Sugar Bliss Cake Boutique offers private wine and cupcake tastings at its River North bakery. The two-hour tastings can accommodate groups of 20 to 25 and start at $28 per head with a $100 space rental fee. Each guest gets three tasting portions of wine and six mini cupcakes. This fall, the treats come in flavors such as chocolate-orange (pictured), chocolate-caramel, and chai latte.

Kehoe Designs recently hosted an open house to showcase some new design schemes for fall. One area, dubbed "Madly Masculine," was inspired by Mad Men and housed a circular tufted leather bar with a bronze top. Overhead, a drum shade crowned a welded tree sculpture with bottles hanging from its branches.

Truffleberry Market Catering has added savory ice cream cones to their offerings. Initially developed for a carnival-themed party, the hors d'oeuvre fills handmade wonton cones with creamy burrata cheese. Aged balsamic vinegar drizzled over the top resembles chocolate sauce, and a sun-dried tomato stands in for the cherry on top.

The Great Divide is a Chicago-based soul-and-blues-based rock band, which is available for corporate events. The band released its debut album, Reservoir, in 2010 and is set to record a follow-up soon. The group has played at festivals like South by Southwest, and recently entertained crowds at the opening of Timberland's Michigan Avenue store (pictured).

The Timberland opening also had an "organic beverage bar" from Entertaining Company that complemented the brand's earthy image. Guests could blend Veev organic vodka with mint lemonade, peach Palmer (peach puree with lemonade and iced tea), or acai tropical punch (a mix of acai juice, strawberry puree, and pineapple juice). Garnishes included fresh rosemary, sage, spearmint, and basil leaves, vodka-soaked blueberries, and tomatoes soaked in vodka and dusted with sea salt.

BBJ Table Fashions had a 30th anniversary blowout bash at the Chicago History Museum in August to showcase some of the company's new fall inventory. One space, designed by HMR Design Group, showcased BBJ's new line of retro-print shantung fabric. The bar displayed the Mandarin Vintage shantung, and the shelving was decorated with the Saffron Delirium shantung. Both patterns are available in alternate colors.

Billed as an ice cream truck for adults, Ice-Cubed is a new catering service with offerings that go way beyond Hoodsie cups. Specializing in small-batch ice cream, handmade ice pops, and other frozen desserts, Ice-Cubed offers flavors inspired by savory dishes. The "Prix Fixe" ice pop features layers of flavors inspired by a five-course Italian mealm including prosecco, lemon beet salad, bresaola, veal ragout, tomato confit, and tiramisu. The "Cubed" menu offers frosted treat cubes in flavors such as hot chocolate biscotti, and burnt milk with peach jam and cloves. The truck is available for meetings and events by the hour, and staffers can create custom flavors.

FYI Frozen Yogurt Inspirations is another new source of icy catered desserts. Advertised as Chicago's first and only self-serve frozen yogurt truck, the vehicle has appeared at events like the Street Food Artistry festival. It's also available for meetings and private events on a case-by-case basis. The truck services groups of at least 50 guests and has three frozen yogurt machines that offer six flavors. The yogurt is prepared with local, farm-fresh milk and comes in flavors such as tiramisu, raspberry, and Dutch chocolate.

Local companies Katherine Anne Confections and North Shore Distillery recently partnered to create a teambuilding activity called Chocolate and Cocktails. The activity, which can take place at offices, event spaces, at Katherine Anne's Lincoln Park shop, or at the Lake Bluff distillery, starts with a welcome cocktail. Guests then sample five mini cocktails paired with treats. For example, a citrus-chamomile vodka, lemon, and sparkling wine cocktail might be served with a homemade orange-ginger marshmallow. Teams can compete to create the best cocktails to pair with the sweets, and staffers can also lead groups through truffle-making or cocktail-making classes. The activities are geared toward groups with 20 to 40 guests, and the cost is $50 to $125 per person.

Chicagoland Skydiving Center has recently partnered with Kapow Events to create client entertaining and teambuilding activities at the venue's Drop Zone. Completed this summer, the $2 million Drop Zone offers an on-site restaurant, conference rooms, volleyball courts, bonfire pits, and an audiovisual system equipped for live music. Staffers can take out multiple planes to accommodate larger group sizes, and the cost per tandem jump is typically around $189 per head. There are additional fees for food and beverage.

Eatertainment serves grilled cheese sandwiches.

A flip book station at High Road Communication's party

Blue Plate's Red Sombrero incorporates tequila, Sprite, pink grapefruit juice, kumquats, and pomegranate seeds.

Sony turned a parking lot into a nightclub.

Give Me Some Sugar's new studio offers group instruction on making gingerbread houses and cookies.

The Affinia Chicago hosts private Yankee Swap-style parties.

Group tickets are available for Donny and Marie Osmond's Christmas show in Chicago.

Entertaining Company's winter food stations come with thematic decor.

Blue Plate Catering can arrange a hot chocolate and cookie bar in as little as 24 hours.

Local florist Pistil & Vine can pull together last-minute flower arrangements for holiday parties.

During the holidays, the rotunda at the Museum of Science and Industry is filled with Christmas trees. The space can host functions for 300 guests.

The Chicago Botanic Garden hosts private events to let guests view the Wonderland Express miniature train exhibit.

Piccadilly Tea can bring tea service to offices and event spaces.

Flip Crepes can set up chef action stations at holiday parties or host crepe-making classes for groups.

The three brands teamed together to host an event at the Stutz on Friday night. Activities included pool at a billiards table with GQ's Super Bowl logo. A nearby foosball table displayed Lacoste's trademark alligator.

Dubbed "Paparazzi," the installation at the entrance of Performa's opening-night benefit put a swarm of 45 fake photographers on a red carpet.

A large sign of the show's name marked the entrance to the New York premiere party for Boardwalk Empire. Produced by Invision Events for HBO, the event took place Wednesday, September 15, at the Rockefeller Center Rink Bar, Sea Grill, and Rock Center Café.

Much like the set decorators for the TV show, Invision Events spent time researching Prohibition-era Atlantic City to create historically appropriate scenery for the New York premiere party. One example of this was the Rink Bar's 40-foot-long bar, which was resurfaced with vintage posters from the storefronts that lined the boardwalk during the 1920s.

The venue for the New York post-screening event was divided into three distinct areas, one of which was the black- and white-toned Rink Bar. The producers built custom cabanas in this area, using striped draping to cloak the elevated seating and votive candles and seven-watt globe lights for illumination.

Boardwalk Empire's New York premiere party turned the Rock Center Café into a speakeasy-style lounge, replete with red lighting, burgundy linens, and red roses in gun-shaped vases.

There was certainly no shortage of food at the New York event. The spread, catered by the Patina Group, included passed clams casino and oysters Rockefeller, and an enormous buffet set up at the foot of the rink's fountain, which consisted of dishes like grilled lobster tail, cracked king crab legs, steamed mussels, roasted vegetables, and grilled corn on the cob.

In its valet areas, Caesars Atlantic City set up vintage cars for the guests of the Atlantic City Boardwalk Empire premiere and party to pose alongside. In attendance were a number of cast members from the show, including (from left to right) Michael Stuhlbarg, Michael K. Williams, Kelly Macdonald, Aleksa Palladino, Paz de la Huerta, and Vincent Piazza.

In the Atlantic Room of One Atlantic, the Atlantic City event's producers looked to create a modern-day speakeasy using cabaret-inspired seating areas and lamps, 1920s-style furniture, chandeliers, and blue velvet linens.

The Atlantic Room at the Atlantic City premiere party also held a stage for the Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks orchestra.

The study at One Atlantic was turned into a gambling den for the Atlantic City event. The concept was reminiscent of the underground joints frequented by the show's central character, Steve Buscemi's Nucky Thompson, and included a cigar roller.

Much like the New York effort, Atlantic City's premiere party featured a large array of food. One Atlantic catered hors d'oeuvres such as clams casino, braised short ribs, and Alsatian flatbread with roasted Bartlett pears, Roquefort, and white truffle honey. A raw bar offered items like shrimp cocktails, blue claw crab legs from Chesapeake Bay, and oysters.

Furniture in dark tones and tableside lamps evoked a speakeasy feel at HBO's Boardwalk Empire premiere.

A carnival barker welcomed guests to the alfresco party space on the Santa Monica Pier.

Carnival-style entertainers greeted guests at the party's entrance.

Signage evoked the world of the new series' plot, and the Petersen Automotive Museum supplied cars from the '20s.

Dramatic red velvet draped a central bar.

The lively 11-piece Crazy Rhythm Hot Society Orchestra played for the crowd.

Carnival string lights hung overhead, and patterned gobos decorated the boardwalk surface.

Gaming tables added to the speakeasy feel.

Guests tried their luck at casino games for a buy-in of $500 in play money.

Bar decor integrated bottles from Canadian Club whiskey.