NEW YORK—While a delicious meal is a vital component of any memorable holiday dinner, a show-stopping tablescape can be just as important—which is why lifestyle company Apartment Therapy and popular social media site Pinterest came together to create a one-of-a-kind, museum-style exhibition of curated tablescapes to suit every taste.
From Nov. 2-13, Dine by Design took over Brooklyn’s newly opened department store, House of Showfields. Just in time for the holiday season, the event featured works from 10 established and up-and-coming designers who were each assigned a unique contemporary holiday trend to bring to life through two tabletop place settings.
Aside from their assigned trend, each of the 10 designers were given free rein with the design of their two place settings—including china, silverware, napkins, tablecloths, centerpieces, and accents.Photo: Christopher Broe for Apartment Therapy Media
“We selected designers that work in different styles so we could inspire visual variety,” said Lauren Murphy, the senior vice president of marketing and brand strategy at Apartment Therapy Media.
Virginia Chamlee's "Vintage Vibes" table made use of bright colors and funky textures, including a green striped tablecloth, a variety of fruits and tchotchkes as a centerpiece, and handmade polymer clay napkin rings.Photo: Christopher Broe for Apartment Therapy Media
Jeremy Jankowski, the creator management lead of home and decor at Pinterest, echoed Murphy’s sentiment. “Our mission is to have the most inspiring content on Pinterest and help people discover the best ideas to take action on,” he said. Murphy added that the “museum-style exhibition” was a personification of what both Apartment Therapy and Pinterest’s audience loves—“visual discovery.”
Tablescapes appealed to every taste, as seen in the juxtaposition of Rayman Boozer’s indulgent, high-end “Gilty Pleasure” titled setting, which made use of metallics and luxurious fabrics; to Virginia Chamlee’s quirky and eclectic “Vintage Vibes,” which featured a striped tablecloth, brightly colored napkins, and floral touch that added a pop of orange, yellow, and green. 
Eddie Ross' tablescape, "To the Max," made use of elaborate patterns in nearly every element of the design—from the silverware to the china to the tablecloth—for a maximalist vibe.Photo: Christopher Broe for Apartment Therapy Media
A variety of design eras were also represented, including Tommy Lei’s Dutch masters-inspired “Moody Masterpiece," which made use of dark dishes and linens with with brass accents; to Shannon Maldonado’s funky “New Wave ‘80s," which combined green-accented silverware with pink napkins and a centerpiece of miniature disco balls.
Meanwhile, the down-to-earth “Boho Flair” and “Natural Selection” tables, designed by Kamili Bell Hill and Mat Sanders, respectively, were contrasted by Eddie Ross’ indulgent, maximalist “To The Max” and Noz Nozawa’s out-of-this-world “Celestial Chic” table settings.
Color palettes used at Dine by Design were anything but plain—Amber Mayfield’s “Monochrome Mix,” for example, featured a striking spectrum of blues, while Miles Willis McDermott’s black and white “Supergraphic Regency” brought a midcentury modern touch to the table.
“Combinations of dinnerware, cutlery, glasses, and accessories allowed for endless personalization through the lens of dining design,” Murphy said of the varied table settings. And Showfields served as the perfect venue for the inspirational installation because it “challenges the retail status quo,” she explained. “The new House of Showfields is built with a house as its framework, making it perfect for an event that’s rooted in home design.”
Accompanying many of the displays were QR codes leading to the designers' Pinterest boards, where guests could click to buy the products featured in the place settings. Over the course of the exhibition, approximately 6,300 guests attended.Photo: Apartment Therapy Media
The tablescapes were placed side-by-side on two massive banquet tables to create a stunning installation. A gallery wall of art and signage allowed guests to learn more about each of the 10 featured designers, while simple tables and seating reserved for mingling throughout served to make the tablescapes pop even more.
Over the course of the 12-day showcase, Dine by Design welcomed approximately 6,300 guests to experience 20 designer place settings, take pictures of content, and post Idea Pins to their Pinterest accounts to reference for their own holiday events. Accompanying many of the displays were QR codes leading to Pinterest boards, where guests could click to buy products featured in the place settings.
The tablescapes were also put to use at three invite-only events—two dinners and one brunch—for Pinterest creators in the design and lifestyle spheres. Each event featured a 30-minute cocktail hour where guests mingled, enjoyed signature cocktails developed by the creators themselves, and captured content for the social media platform. Afterwards, guests were treated to a four-course, sit-down meal curated by La Dolce Vita Events—served directly on the tablescapes, of course—that boasted “seasonal ingredients with the goal of making the dinnerware really pop, tying in with the festive holiday theme," Murphy said. “When it comes to the holidays, a beautiful table is just as important as the delicious meal you’re serving on it!”
The 10 bright, unique tablescapes were placed side-by-side across two massive banquet tables.Photo: Christopher Broe for Apartment Therapy Media
