We took three event pros to rental houses and challenged them to dream up a place setting in 30 minutes. Here are the results.
A Midsummer Beach-Chic Table
The Designer: Selmin Arat planned events for luxury jewelry brand Bulgari for more than five years, and struck out on her own in 2004, forming Dreamweaver PR & Marketing.
The Process: “I don’t like to get too decorative with my table decor,” Arat said as she looked through samples at the TriServe Party Rentals showroom and selected a natural-colored tablecloth. “I like to go with simple colors, simple designs, simple materials.” Next up: a table runner. “Something I’m really feeling now is turquoise or teal,” she said, admiring a sheer blue-green, iridescent organza. But there was just a swatch, so she opted for a lavender silk in its place. “In terms of design for china, flatware, and glasses, I like clean and sort of sleek—but not particularly minimal—just clean and modern.” Putting it all together, Arat called her palette seasonally appropriate and tied to the sea, but still unexpected.
The Goods
Carre glassware, $2.25 per item
Tivoli pattern flatware, 50¢ per item
Fusion china dinner plate, $2.50 each; salad and bread and butter plates, $1.50 each
Dupioni silk runner, price based on size
Hem-stitch linen napkin, $4
Three ring natural bamboo napkin ring, $2.75 each
Linen tablecloth, price based on size, from $35 for a cocktail table to $65 for a dinner table
All items available for rent from TriServe Party Rentals.
A Modern Tuxedo Table
The Designer: Bobby Taylor formed Taylor Creative in 1997 after working as fashion marketing director for GQ.
The Process: Taylor arrived with an idea for a classic black and white look, and started pulling china from the display cases at Broadway Famous Party Rentals’ showroom. “Everything shouldn’t be the same shape,” he said. “What is more interesting is to mix circles and squares.” It didn’t take much time to eliminate pieces and begin layering contrasting shapes. Taylor likened his choices to formal wear, pointing out that the square plates’ edges are “like the side of a lapel, or a jacket,” and comparing the glossy finish with a patent leather shoe. A dark silvery metallic tablecloth was Taylor’s first choice, but in the end he picked a clean stripe, giving the table a graphic look, which he reinforced with square glass votives. “This is geometric, very sculpted, with perfect shapings—it has a mix of curves and lines.”
The Goods
Straight-sided bud vase, $1.50
Square stainless flatware, 60¢ per item
Tall shot glass, 55¢
Square lacquer tray, $10
Square white plate, $2
Black rim salad plate, 75¢
Two-inch white cube, $1
Miniature white butter disk, 75¢
White cotton napkin, 78¢
Stainless short table number stand (used as a napkin ring), $2.50
Clear glass cube votives, $2
Circus stripe black and white tablecloth, price based on size
Silver mushroom salt and pepper set, $2.95
All items available for rent from Broadway Famous Party Rentals.
A Polynesian Supper Club Table
The Designer: Roy Braeger formed his design company in 2002 after working for Avi Adler for three years.
The Process: Before Braeger even put down his bag at the Party Rental showroom, he headed for the bamboo-handled flatware. “I am obsessed with bamboo now,” he said, before explaining his table idea. “Winter is over—no more black and white and brown and green. I want a little bit of color.” As he chose a vibrant Pucci-inspired tablecloth, he talked about his design philosophy: “You try to put things together that have never been put together before, something that makes everyone excited and happy.” That meant shades of green and blue, as he chose a lime green charger and a blue plate with a hammered texture. “The cloth, glassware, and napkin invoke the cool blue shades of the Pacific Ocean,” he said, before adding a final, whimsical touch: a statuette of a roaring hippo.
The Goods
Aqua flute, $2.30
Blue goblet, $2.30
Green goblet, $2.30
Turquoise tumbler, $1
Lime green glass charger, $7.25
Aquamarine glass plate, $2.50
Bamboo flatware, 85¢ per item
Peacock cotton napkin, 85¢
Bamboo mat, $4.50
Salt and pepper set, $6.30
Candleholder, $5.50
Beaded shade, $5.50
Frosted blue votive, $2.75
Aquamarine votive, $2.25
Lime green votive, $2.25
Table covering, $52.50 for a 72-inch overlay
All items available for rent from Party Rental.
—Mark Mavrigian
Posted 08.22.05
A Midsummer Beach-Chic Table
The Designer: Selmin Arat planned events for luxury jewelry brand Bulgari for more than five years, and struck out on her own in 2004, forming Dreamweaver PR & Marketing.
The Process: “I don’t like to get too decorative with my table decor,” Arat said as she looked through samples at the TriServe Party Rentals showroom and selected a natural-colored tablecloth. “I like to go with simple colors, simple designs, simple materials.” Next up: a table runner. “Something I’m really feeling now is turquoise or teal,” she said, admiring a sheer blue-green, iridescent organza. But there was just a swatch, so she opted for a lavender silk in its place. “In terms of design for china, flatware, and glasses, I like clean and sort of sleek—but not particularly minimal—just clean and modern.” Putting it all together, Arat called her palette seasonally appropriate and tied to the sea, but still unexpected.
The Goods
Carre glassware, $2.25 per item
Tivoli pattern flatware, 50¢ per item
Fusion china dinner plate, $2.50 each; salad and bread and butter plates, $1.50 each
Dupioni silk runner, price based on size
Hem-stitch linen napkin, $4
Three ring natural bamboo napkin ring, $2.75 each
Linen tablecloth, price based on size, from $35 for a cocktail table to $65 for a dinner table
All items available for rent from TriServe Party Rentals.
A Modern Tuxedo Table
The Designer: Bobby Taylor formed Taylor Creative in 1997 after working as fashion marketing director for GQ.
The Process: Taylor arrived with an idea for a classic black and white look, and started pulling china from the display cases at Broadway Famous Party Rentals’ showroom. “Everything shouldn’t be the same shape,” he said. “What is more interesting is to mix circles and squares.” It didn’t take much time to eliminate pieces and begin layering contrasting shapes. Taylor likened his choices to formal wear, pointing out that the square plates’ edges are “like the side of a lapel, or a jacket,” and comparing the glossy finish with a patent leather shoe. A dark silvery metallic tablecloth was Taylor’s first choice, but in the end he picked a clean stripe, giving the table a graphic look, which he reinforced with square glass votives. “This is geometric, very sculpted, with perfect shapings—it has a mix of curves and lines.”
The Goods
Straight-sided bud vase, $1.50
Square stainless flatware, 60¢ per item
Tall shot glass, 55¢
Square lacquer tray, $10
Square white plate, $2
Black rim salad plate, 75¢
Two-inch white cube, $1
Miniature white butter disk, 75¢
White cotton napkin, 78¢
Stainless short table number stand (used as a napkin ring), $2.50
Clear glass cube votives, $2
Circus stripe black and white tablecloth, price based on size
Silver mushroom salt and pepper set, $2.95
All items available for rent from Broadway Famous Party Rentals.
A Polynesian Supper Club Table
The Designer: Roy Braeger formed his design company in 2002 after working for Avi Adler for three years.
The Process: Before Braeger even put down his bag at the Party Rental showroom, he headed for the bamboo-handled flatware. “I am obsessed with bamboo now,” he said, before explaining his table idea. “Winter is over—no more black and white and brown and green. I want a little bit of color.” As he chose a vibrant Pucci-inspired tablecloth, he talked about his design philosophy: “You try to put things together that have never been put together before, something that makes everyone excited and happy.” That meant shades of green and blue, as he chose a lime green charger and a blue plate with a hammered texture. “The cloth, glassware, and napkin invoke the cool blue shades of the Pacific Ocean,” he said, before adding a final, whimsical touch: a statuette of a roaring hippo.
The Goods
Aqua flute, $2.30
Blue goblet, $2.30
Green goblet, $2.30
Turquoise tumbler, $1
Lime green glass charger, $7.25
Aquamarine glass plate, $2.50
Bamboo flatware, 85¢ per item
Peacock cotton napkin, 85¢
Bamboo mat, $4.50
Salt and pepper set, $6.30
Candleholder, $5.50
Beaded shade, $5.50
Frosted blue votive, $2.75
Aquamarine votive, $2.25
Lime green votive, $2.25
Table covering, $52.50 for a 72-inch overlay
All items available for rent from Party Rental.
—Mark Mavrigian
Posted 08.22.05
Selmin Arat
Bobby Taylor
Roy Braeger
