literary

Playing off the mobile of paper butterflies hanging above David Stark's literary-themed Benjamin Moore table, guests' names were laser cut onto book pages cut into the shape of butterflies.

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.

RDYC Interior Design and Architectural Development placed miniature floral arrangements at each of their table's four place settings.

Gold flatware was a popular choice for many designers. HBA's space had a strong gold-and-black color scheme, with gold chargers and utensils, and opaque black glasses.

At Dufner Heighes' marriage-equality-themed display, each seat at the table had a plate depicting one of the states that has legalized gay marriage.

Marchesa designed a traditional table for Lenox, using patterned blue-and-white china and textured glassware.

The clear glass plates at New York University's shabby-chic table sat atop beds of fabric roses.

F.I.T. students (working with design mentors Joshua Ciceronet and Jared Siegal) created a conceptual table around the myth of Pandora's Box. After Pandora released the evils of the world, the only spirit remaining in her jar was Hope, so glowing "Hope" jars sat at each place setting, with a paper tags that read "Please share me."

The Domoore Designs table incorporated river rock place mats and place cards tucked inside seashells.

Design Within Reach's area for The New York Times included tiny versions of iconic chair designs next to each plate.

For the Ethan Allen table, striped napkins were stuffed into bowls and topped with fabric daisies.

The table settings at the Herman Miller space had a retro 1950s look. Place cards were attached to wooden tops with twine.

Eric Warner's table for Aesthete Ltd. had a subtle equestrian theme. LED tea lights and globe lights hung from stirrups and horse bits, and horse motifs appeared on the plates and the art hanging from the walls.

Many of the tables this year opted against traditional floral centerpieces. David Stark's whimsical installation for sponsor Benjamin Moore, based on the brand’s new Color Stories paint collection, played off the slogan “A whole new chapter in paint color technology is being written.” The library-inspired setting featured a table made from actual books, with handcrafted pop-up books serving as a centerpiece.