Dear Debbie: We are holding the family holiday dinner this year and I am conflicted about how to set the table. We have a long-established tradition of using the classic white tablecloth, crystal glasses, fine china — you get the picture. I would like to change it up a bit, but am running into opposition. Please help.
Emily
Making changes to the traditional family feast is a scary proposition. We all count on seeing our particular favourites on the table, whether it’s the candied yams or a precious set of candlesticks. But you also have the right to introduce some new items that you have discovered and love. Only time will tell if your fresh ideas will become traditions, and that’s OK. Strike out on your own and you may be surprised at the family’s reaction.
There is a trend in entertaining today. We are cutting back on what we want to buy and store, editing our possessions to suit smaller spaces and changing lifestyles. “We have fewer things,” says Tim Gledhill, founder of Huddleson Linens, “but what we choose to acquire are quality items.”
It is possible to be chic and contemporary while holding onto a classically born esthetic. Huddleson Linens, huddlesonlinens.com has done so by producing high-quality Italian linen tablecloths, runners and napkins in designs that are edgy and sophisticated. Bold grey geometrics on a white background, soft silvery grey swirls or lovebird motifs give you options to layer your table in new and imaginative ways.
Cinta, shown here, is reminiscent of party ribbons strewn across the table. It’s an eight-colour print with dinner and cocktail napkins that feature a border in each of the colours so that you can mix and match. Huddleson linens are not only machine-washable, but get even softer with use.
Other popular trends from Huddleson include monograms, a special touch that personalizes your linens. You can choose initials, or sayings or dates. Their custom services allow you to be creative while purchasing the best. Gledhill reminds us that setting a table is set dressing. You are creating a mood that is temporary, you aren’t living with it day in and out, so here’s the perfect opportunity to be adventurous.
Dear Debbie: I, like many people my age, am dealing with relatives’ estates and have learned that no one wants silver-plated trays, candlesticks, etc. The biggest complaint is that they have to be polished. I was wondering if they could be painted? I thought the candlesticks, for instance, would look good black. I hope you can give me some guidance on this.
Jane
No, you cannot paint the silver plate and it would not be an attractive finish if you could. Why not hang on to some of these items? Grouped among other more modern objects, the silver candlesticks and serving dishes and trays look very chic. I do hear the complaint about keeping silver clean often, and, yes, we all have busy lives, but it’s not so arduous once you get started. Buy a good silver cleaner to bring back the lustre.
If silver is properly wrapped after use, this cuts down on cleaning. Use soft flannel to wrap, and store in a drawer.
Debbie Travis’s House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Email your questions to [email protected]. You can follow Debbie on Twitter at twitter.com/debbie_travis, and visit Debbie’s website, debbietravis.com
