Set the Table for a Bright Summer Party With These 28 Durable Pieces
Shatterproof tableware and glasses can be dull and uninspired, but not the ones in this collection.
People are ready to party. At least, that’s what event designer extraordinaire Rebecca Gardner, the founder of new e-commerce site Houses & Parties, has seen so far this year. When considering a theme, “everyone wants bold and unabashed color,” she says. “They want to hug and kiss and drink so much Champagne that they leave their shoes in the bushes. I think color is an extension of that. I personally have never been to a party with a neutral color palette that made me want to dance on the table.”
If your hosting skills are rusty, follow Gardner’s tips for stress-free entertaining. She makes a detailed itinerary, so there are no last-minute trips to the grocery store or forgotten dishes, even putting Post-its on her serving pieces to identify which food goes in what. In general, it’s easiest to serve salads and cold entrées, which eliminates the rush of trying to finish cooking everything at the same time. “I think that’s a real relief for the nervous hostess, and she or he should embrace summer as their season, because it’s the most kicked-back entertaining of all.”