Making a Table Fashionable

Making a Table Fashionable
One local organization brought fashion to their cookbook with some of the most recognizable places around town, and you can learn how to spruce up the table at your next dining affair.

When the Junior League of Cincinnati members set their minds toward a 90th anniversary cookbook for 2010, the group wanted the book to shine in more than just its wonderful recipes. "I kind of wanted to create a book that made you feel like you were invited to a dinner party but at a location where there had never been one," says Katy Crossen, co-chair of the Junior League cookbook committee.

And that's just what she did. Crossen and the rest of the committee came up with a "wish list" of locations around the city to "host" these dinner parties, and they came up with the idea to do a different tablescape at each location to showcase local designers' work. Then they set out on making it all happen.

In the end, photos of tablescapes introduce each chapter of Cincinnati Seasoned: Savoring the Queen City's Spice of Life, the final title of the Junior League's cookbook. So you can have "Beverages & Appetizers" at Great American Ball Park, your "Entrees" at Krohn's Conservatory and your "Desserts" on Fountain Square.

Some of the tablescapes showcase simple settings while other designers went over the top to match the elegance of their "dining" location. Closson's Designer Erin Lombardi even trucked in a whole load of materials, including a $40,000 dining room table for her "Soups & Salads" at Union Terminal tablescape.

Beyond the actual location, each tablescape designer kept a specific chapter and even a specific season of the year in mind during the planning process, with the exception of Designer Page Hall, owner of Hall Design Group and former owner of Lillian C. Limited. Hall designed the cover tablescape that was set for the fall in Devou Park, overlooking the Cincinnati skyline. But instead of designing toward a specific course, Hall created a table as an invitation to guests and cooks. At each place setting, she put a little present, wrapped elegantly in a fashion-forward bow.

Beyond the presents, Hall focused on presence as well. Keeping in mind an autumn theme and evening atmosphere, she brought in warm colors with red and orange roses and gold charger plates.

Maintaining a sense of style, Hall made sure to incorporate classic elements with a contemporary "element of surprise and delight," she says. This element of surprise in her cookbook cover tablescape came from the contemporary flatware sitting next to the traditional china plates and embroidered napkins.

To make your table stylishly elegant, Hall recommends looking toward current fashion trends. "Fashion is always a little bit ahead of home interiors and accessories such as table settings," she says. So to make your table on the cutting edge of fashion, look to different textiles and accessories to bring current fashion to your own tablescape.

To see more of the stunning tablescapes and have all of the recipes tried and tasted by the Junior League, visit JLCincinnati.org.

PHOTO CREDITS

Photographer: Shad Ramsey

Location Top Photo: Devou Park

Location Bottom Photo: Union Terminal

Linda Palacios -
	Linda Palacios is the editor of Cincy Chic. Send her an e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .Read More >>

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