Happy Hanukkah Party!

Sometimes I am inspired to take my "entertaining ways" on the road...last week I was hired to decorate a Hanukkah brunch for 20+ ladies...So on the weekend I ran around and gathered some items that I knew would probably aid in the design...most of all I wanted to use what my client had in her home already.....we foraged in her closets and basement...and then decided on what would work....

The first thing I suggested.... was to switch rooms for the event. Luckily my client was game and the furniture was immediately moved! I love a good sport!! Her dining room was a much better spot for setting up her serving area and her current living room made a better dining room to sit 20 + at one table. (On a cute side note...she loved the rearrangement so much she is permanently keeping the rooms switched. The living room is now the dining room and vice versa).

 

She had also already gathered some fabrics...this one she wanted to use on the long dining table...




Here is how the former living room looked when we were done....in just a few hours...

I love fresh flowers on a table...no matter what the occasion....



Adding the mixture of so many elements kept the long table interesting...different heights for all the decorations helped as well...



My client originally was interested in only using blue and silver in her decorating scheme...I convinced her that adding in some gold and some teal/turquoise would enhance the decor but would still embrace the essence of Hanukkah...



I like varying from traditional color themes...remember I am the girl who is rockin' a hot pink as well as a teal and apple green Christmas this year!

 

Simple glass containers filled with clear marbles and beads created some nice "bling" as well as a candle holder while giving the table some strong architectural weight...but not blocking the view...

 In the former dining room once the furniture was moved we placed the serving tables and began deciding on which fabric to wrap the tables...

We opted for the dramatic....



We added some simple boxes underneath the fabric for some lift for various silver serving pieces...and then draped the fabric and tucked it underneath the table...



Simple other touches around the space...her gift bag table...

My client wanted to replace an "aging" ottoman...I suggested we cover it with more fabric she had on hand....AND...while foraging in her basement I came upon a beautiful antique mirror that wasn't being used...inherited from a relative...I immediately had an idea...

to turn it into a table top for champagne as guests arrived....



just before the champagne was poured....the sparkle and reflection was lovely in the room....




My client liked that idea so much she bought another mirror to cover a side table for additional bling...



In order to carry the festive theme throughout the spaces we enhanced the dining room with fun pops of color...

Some of the "little things" make such a difference.... adding this glitter paper runner gave the table polish and added sparkle! The fun little accessories added here and there were also fun...

 

It is always challenging...(but there is also the practical side to design) to create table arrangements with interest where the guests can still see each other on either side...these arrangements seemed to do the trick...

I found these fun ornaments at Cost Plus World Market and made them into napkin rings...

 

Varying the napkin rings down the table made it so much more interesting...

 

 

 My new client and her guests had a great time together which is the ultimate goal of any gathering...she was lovely to work with as well... My final thought...for all my Jewish friends...