The Rural Voice, 2001-01, Page 41Home Decorating
Bringing in the New Year with style
By Patti Robertson
Q. Patti, I'm hosting a New Year's
dinner party for eight people, what
can I do to add some special bits and
pieces to complement the festivities?
S. J. Wingham
A. Actually Susie stopped me
downtown the other day to discuss
her party with me and she had herself
in quite a dither — so the following
are a few tips and tricks that I passed
onto her and will share the info with
any of my readers who have so
graciously opened their home for
New Year's revelers 2001.
First, stay calm and collected.
Dinner itself need not be an
extravagant affair. Soup, salad,
lasagna and dessert can appear ever
so special when served up as
individual courses on your finest
china. Layer your dishes to present a
more formal feeling and be very
lavish with the garnishes — parsley,
rosemary, cilantro and paprika all
have eye appeal and add interesting
texture to your presentation.
Always when entertaining
company add more of the best
ingredients that everyone loves, such
as more bacon and cheese in the
Caesar salad or more chocolate
garnish on the dessert plate. If your
guests volunteer to assist, request that
they give you a hand with what's not
your specialty (for me that's hors
d'oeuvres and, secondly, dessert).
This enables you to concentrate on
the main entree etc.
Always work with your colour
scheme for heightened style appeal
and concentrate your efforts where
the guests will be entertained. Start
with the entrance door and work your
way through the family/living room
and onto the dining area and of course
don't forget the bathroom. If you're
planning a fairly casual affair you can
work with pine boughs, ivy and holly
berries reworked from Christmas.
Include some colour co-ordinated
gingham bows, noise makers or curly
paper streamers. Even denim can be
fun worked into bows.
If you are planning a formal dinner
party think "Glamour and Glitz":
colour combos like silver and gold or
duo tones of silver and pewter with
frosted white, or black, silver and
frosted white; purple, silver and
champagne white or the very exciting
new hues of champagne pink,
champagne gold and cream tones.
Keep things sleek and simple.
Glamour can be heightened with the
use of mirrors and glass beads to
adorn the table
or try my all-
time favourite
and sprinkle the
entire table with
sparkle dust or
party glitter in
and around each
place setting.
It's delightful to
drape your
dining room
chandelier with
satin ribbons and
strands of glass
beads and
pearls. Cascade
ribbons down towards the table top
and tuck in a few noise makers for
whimsical fun!
As for centerpieces, candles are a
must and a floral is always a great
addition but perhaps this year you'll
try using a crystal bowl featuring
floating candles and rosebuds or a
beautiful glass sphere featuring three
stems of Calla lilies encircled by
white candles. Perhaps you can try
making your own ice sculpture: very
simply one can be made to hold a
lovely colour candle tucked down
inside the ice. This eye-catcher will
be sure to get compliments. Place
your sculpture on a waterproof tray
and encircle. it with fresh stems of ivy
and sweetheart roses.
Napkins can add to the flair of the
tablescape, either by being fluffed
and placed into the wine goblets or
folded to resemble a man's dinner
jacket complete with miniature black
tie.
I enjoy sending my guests home
with little momentos of the occasion
and this is easily accomplished with
sweetheart roses (vials attached and
wrapped with a bow) on the ladies
plates while a fine cigar is often
appreciated by the men. On the other
hand everyone loves truffles, one of
these tasty morsels wrapped in foil
and adorning the plate is always
received with welcome.
Another successful conversation
stimulator is to write currently topical
questions onto fine stationary, fold
and enclose with a gold seal and tuck
these under the edge of each person's
sideplate — questions such as "what
did you think of the federal election
outcome?" "Is there too much
violence in hockey?" or "What are
your resolutions and goals for 2001?"
You'll know what will work with
your gathering. The guests open their
questions, give an answer and then
everyone around the table shares their
thoughts and ideas. This can become
quite lively — sometimes at our
home we've needed a referee — but
always'in good fun. Fortune cookies
are again great at getting people
interacting and on occasion Ward and
I have read our guests their Chinese
Horoscope for the upcoming year.
Noisemakers and hats of course add
to the fun and festivities and can
stimulate the inner child in all of us.
Finally as host and hostess please
be responsible for the drinks you
serve your guests and ensure that
everyone arrives home safely or
maybe even entertain the possibility
of guests "camping out" at your home
for the evening. And if you've been
fortunate enough to be the guest at
someone's New Year's party it's
always appropriate to bring along a
little hostess gift of appreciation.
Ward's and my personal favourite at
New Year's is a selection of
magazines reviewing the past year,
looking ahead and personal
predictions for the year ahead. This
we do up like a party cracker in tissue
paper, garnish with plenty of curly
ribbon and attach a few noisemakers
and balloons. What fun!
I'm looking forward to a great
2001, with all the multitude of
blessings we share in this area of the
country.
I wish you health, peace, prosper-
ity and possibilities as bravely we go
into another year. Be responsible and
have fun!O
Patti Robertson operates Classic
Interiors in Wingham.
JANUARY 2001 37