Gniddew

The new Splash Walls and Splash Skins from Dazian Creative Fabric Environments are available for purchase and rental. The pieces consist of heavy-gauge aluminum frames covered in a variety of fabrics. The curve wall is eight feet high and 10 feet wide.

One of the more ambitious installations was the two-story tree house that Evette Rios designed for hayneedle.com. Constructed by John Zukowski of C&C Design Construction Group, large tree trunks functioned as steps leading up to the table. An alcove with a hammock and a grass-covered floor was tucked underneath the structure.

Led by Isabel and Ruben Toledo, New York University students put together a table with a shabby-chic theme.

Alexa Stevenson styled an ambitious table for the New York Design Center titled "Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?" Nine of N.Y.D.C.’s Access to Design designers imagined cheeky place settings for their dream (deceased) dinner party guests, including Coco Chanel, Elizabeth Taylor, and Steve Jobs. Imagined to be set in a glamorous, haunted mansion, the macabre centerpiece included moss, succulents, and a skull inside a glass cloche.

Several tables incorporated patterned fabrics. Marimekko's "Color Therapy" exhibition balanced the company's colorful patterned fabrics with plain white chairs and plates.

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.

Available to rent in the U.S. for the first time, Denver-based EPS-Doublet’s (800.227.0337, epsdoublet.com) Stretch Tent line, manufactured by RHI Tents in South Africa, is made with waterproof stretch fabric. Larger tents can have sides up or down, while poles can be repositioned to accommodate more guests; units can also be wrapped around trees, rocks, and walls. The tents can be custom-colored and printed.

Raj Tents in Los Angeles and San Leandro, California, launched its Beach Chic line for outdoor events last year. The tents, built around the frames of the company’s popular Pergola and Pavilion tents, come with a sea-spray or turquoise exterior and blue wave valance. Additional decor options include crystal chandeliers, mirrors, and hand-carved furniture for lounge settings.

In 2011, Sperry Tents (508.748.1792, sperrytents.com) in Rochester, Massachusetts, introduced the Sperry Pavilion. The bilevel unit has an ivory sailcloth top and wood framing, with a fabric cupola overhead that adds height to the tent as well as a unique design element. It can be fully sided and enclosed when needed.

Centerpieces designed for a recent wedding

Los Angeles-based artist Jorge Pardo created special-edition lanterns to hang above the tables at the Hammer Museum’s gala in September. The lanterns were later sold through the Gagosian Gallery.

D. Sharp’s (studiodsharp.com) hand-drawn Letterpress Boomboxes, $12 each, slide open so they can hold small favors.

Lincoln Center, Philharmonic Orchestra

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.

Stacks of books supported and decorated the dessert tables. Typewriters, globes, and open books added to the presentation.

At the Campfire Ball benefit for Children’s Oncology Services in May at Venue One in Chicago, Cork Catering set up a make-your-own s’mores station.

Blueberry pie pops, blueberry cobbler in iron skillets, and Guinness stout cake, by A Divine Event (770.587.9117, adivineevent.com) in Atlanta

Hand-painted salvaged wood menu designed by Mélangerie Inc.

Each guest at the DESIGNLUSH table received a set of gilded Kona wood coasters inside a tinted acrylic box, which was topped by a 14-karat gold Slinky place card holder.

Abigail Kirsch invited attendees to sample its apple-themed dessert items for fall, including these tiny caramel chocolate apples on cinnamon sticks with pistachio cranberry brittle.

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.

The Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art’s 2009 ArtEdge benefit had a lighthearted feel, with childhood games and activities including a large swing set.

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. 

LDJ Productions and Brenton Catering served champagne cocktails in test tubes at hair-care brand Joico’s chemistry-lab-inspired 30th anniversary party in New York in 2005.

Travel & Leisure used oversize balloons as a cheap and effective way to mark a pathway for its 35th birthday celebration, held in Los Angeles in 2006.