Laughter, joy, happiness — ’tis the season for family and friends to come together around the table, celebrating all the warmth of the holidays.
Really want to wow your guests at your next gathering? It’s as easy as mixing Christmas past with Christmas present.
The festive art of mixing and matching
Perhaps you’ve read the buzz about the hot table-top trend designers refer to as “mixing and matching.” Turns out, it goes beyond trendy. It’s pretty much an art.
“Mixing and matching is a way to bring all your favorites together to create a gorgeous table,” said designer Julie Robbins. “If you’re going to create a beautiful, festive look, be brave and bold; step away from using all the same colors and patterns and dare to blend all types of designs to create sparkle and magic. One of the easiest ways to start is by taking one of your favorite patterns and giving it holiday flair.”
We asked Robbins to share her inspiration in creating one of Replacements’ main displays for the holiday season.
“I really wanted to capture the spirit of the season by building on an everyday pattern I really love, so I started with Constance by Bernardaud,” Robbins said.
“It’s a beautiful green, yet it’s also a cool, neutral pattern that refreshes everything you mix with it. I paired it with Grenadiers, a holiday favorite also by Bernardaud, which is a crisp, clean Christmas pattern but at the same time very festive and whimsical with toy soldiers around the edge. And to tie it all together, I mixed in a gold-trimmed ruby charger as the base to anchor the setting in traditional seasonal colors.”
Add a dash of sparkle
While mixing and matching patterns captures seasonal spirit, sparkle adds a burst of magic and elegance.
Robbins suggested incorporating metallic finishes, whether that means using platinum or gold trimmed crystal, or perhaps ornate flatware and serving pieces.
“Using both silver and gold pieces on your table not only evokes the traditional spirit of holidays, these metals reflect light, creating a glamorous twist,” added Robbins. “Vintage silver is very popular this year, but rather than polishing it shiny bright, leave some patina to keep the heirloom quality of the pattern.”
Another way to create sparkle: consider an eclectic mix of candles on your table. By combining crystal and silver votives, candlesticks or an odd candelabra, you can create a centerpiece that looks beautiful during the day and adds a warm glow to a winter night.
For a quick cheat sheet, sneak a peek at Replacements’ favorite holiday patterns at replacements.com.
This article is courtesy of Brandpoint.