setting the mood: seating

this week i am going to be featuring a series on "setting the mood." aside from major occasions and milestones, a lot of people just don't entertain anymore. maybe they are too busy, or intimidated at the prospect of hosting people in their home.

most of these tips will pertain to the "at home dinner party"--it's accessible, intimate and has SO much potential to become truly special. however, any of these tips can be applied to everything from birthday parties and weddings to home decor.

the first element of setting the mood is SEATING.
often overlooked but, in my mind, pretty obvious. you're having a dinner party, you want people to experience comfort, so for heaven's sake, give them someplace comfortable to sit!

photo courtesy of sarah richardson

first off: sit in your dining chairs. if after five minutes you are uncomfortable, chances are your guest certainly won't want to sit for an hour or so over a long, leisurely dinner.

secondly: pay attention to the height of your chairs. if the chair is too high, they won't be able to cross a leg, or they'll be leaning down over their plate the whole evening. too low and they will feel like a little kid, shoveling food into their mouths the whole evening.

third: if you have arm chairs at your table, make sure there is enough room for someone to scoot in and out. armless chairs, you can really cram in. true, in an ideal world you want to have a comfortable amount of distance between each guest -- but i am of the mindset that it's kind of sexy to have people sitting in close quarters--let them bump elbows a little...it might start something ;)

four: get creative! "that chair belongs in the living room," you say? nonsense. feel free to use living room chairs in the dining room. in my opinion, SO chic. grab that old bench from the backyard and put it at the table too! little unexpected touches make things novel and fun. having a gourmet menu? consider rustic, casual seating to keep things accessible. backyard bbq? drag those chairs from the living room and class it up a bit!

enjoy some of my favorite seats below.
...happy sophisticating...

love the grown up chairs with the relaxed slipcovers. so comfy!
photo via lifeinthefunlane

i can't say enough about this. the color palette, the bench, the wingbacks. it's all fabulous. wouldn't you feel special being invited to this dinner party?
photo via decorpad

love the dining room IN the kitchen. LOVE the seating.
photo via decorpad

you know this dinner party will last for hours and hours.
photo via simplyseleta

love the mix of seating here. you just know your guests will be fighting over who gets to sit on the fun pillows. suddenly a traditional setup become fresh and innovative.
photo via decorpad

wondering who sits next whom? check out this adorable seating strategy guide from real simple!

coming next week: SETTING THE MOOD!

aside from recipes, i know i don't tend to offer much in the way of "how to's" on this blog. it has tended to be a bit more "do as i do" or "let's admire pretty things together."

SO next week i will be featuring a series on "setting the mood" at an event, wedding, birthday party, dinner, get together...you get the idea.

each day i'll be revealing some of my favorite tips & tricks to turn any gathering into something truly special.

stay tuned! you are in for a treat.
until then, here is a quick sneak peek of one of the upcoming features to inspire you!

photo courtesy of 4bostondj

...happy sophisticating...

tidbit: dreamy garden room

i leave for vacation in four delicious days, but this photo has me dreaming of a slower pace already. LOVE the slouchy white slipcovers, chandelier and those fabulous french doors.

...happy sophisticating...

photo courtesy of canadian house & home

tidbit: hither & thither

my husband and i have a bad case of wanderlust. while we love our [relatively] simple life in our little cottage, we love to travel -- which, for us, usually means lots of wandering, peacefully taking in the sights and quintessential "local" experiences, scoping out fabulous restaurants, dipping into shops and trying to gather the feeling of a place.

well, when it comes to travel guides, we have hit the jackpot.
hither & thither.

the couple in venice, italy.

a darling couple, living in manhattan, who love to travel just like us. i knew we'd struck gold when i read through their post on napa and it looked like they photocopied the photo album of our trip. the will, heretofore, be our "go to" travel resource.

check out their blog. beautiful photos. incredible tips & recommendations that seem to really capture the spirit of a place. even the way they document their everyday life will leave you inspired. whether you're planning a trip, or you want to escape for a few minutes, you will certainly enjoy hither & thither!

...happy sophisticating...

enjoy a smattering of photos from their travels,
and from a local farmers market in manhattan!

sophisticateurs: the novogratz

a little over a year ago i discovered the novogratz family. i became immediately obsessed with the unbelievably fashionable, new york-based couple -- house-flipping, avant garde, interior designers -- and their 7 [yes 7] children. imagine my delight at the news that they've landed their new design show, home by novogratz, on hgtv.

i love their outside the box approach to design. the normal rules don't apply to them, because they design in a way that works for THEM. large, open floor plans, communal living spaces, bright colors, white, fabulous flea market finds.

the homes featured below belong to them. they are famous for purchasing dilapidated, sometimes condemned properties and utterly transforming them into these unbelievable spaces. i'm smitten. you will be too.

tune in tonight, 7/16 at 10pm on hgtv.
...happy sophisticating...

their children's names? wolfie (wolfgang), tallulah, bellamy, breaker, five, holleder & major.
did i mention the entire family is signed with ford models? no, seriously.

before and after

they had this fabulous rooftop space where they loved to play basketball, but they kept losing the ball. so, naturally, they constructed this unbelievable chain-link dome to solve the problem. brilliant.

want more? check out more of their incredible designs at the
website for their company, sixx design.

tidbit: delectable dining

a tidbit of delight. so fresh, so clean.
love the "interpretations" of red--from toile chairs, to high gloss chairs, to the deeply distressed light fixture--it's spot on!
i am convinced meals would taste better in this dining space.

...happy sophisticating...


photo courtesy of house beautiful

sophistikitchen: roasted beets & sauteed beet greens

my friend carrie is pretty much amazing. matron of honor in my wedding, she is a dear friend, wife, mother of 3, educator, GOURMET chef, artist, gardener, raiser of chickens, caretaker of piper the labradoodle...the woman does everything, all the while making it look effortless & chic.

she & her family just left on a long vacation, so she gifted me her latest crop of beets. that's right.
HER. latest. crop.
i love beets, but had never roasted them, cooked with them, had them in my home in any form other than a can--you get the idea.

so i poked around the good ol' world wide web and came across this recipe that utilizes both the beets and their delicious greens, so that not one delicious morsel is wasted.

one word: YUM.

the result was a truly special thursday dinner. i'm hooked!

...happy sophisticating...

Roasted Beets & Sauteed Beet Greens
recipe courtesy of all recipes

Ingredients

1 bunch beets with greens
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped onion
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (175 degrees C). Wash the beets thoroughly, leaving the skins on, and remove the greens. Rinse greens, removing any large stems, and set aside. [Tip: Cutting the stems will result in purple hands. Twist them off for a much tidier experience. :)]
2. Place the beets in a small baking dish or roasting pan, and toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. If you wish to peel the beets, it is easier to do so once they have been roasted.
3. Cover with foil, and bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until a knife can slide easily through the largest beet.
4. When the roasted beets are almost done, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and onion, and cook for a minute. Cut stems off of beet leaves, then tear the beet greens into 2 to 3 inch pieces, and add them to the skillet. Cook and stir until greens are wilted and tender. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the greens as is, and the roasted beets sliced with either red-wine vinegar, or butter and salt and pepper.We went "as is" and they were unbelievably rich and delicious!