The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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  • Red, gold and green? Or blue and silver? David Trump, interior designer, says you don’t have to choose sides in setting the perfect table for a festive gathering of friends. Steve Brightwell

    life room
November 25, 2012

Setting the stage for holiday celebrations

Style in Season

By Lisa Shrewsberry, with David Trump, Interior Designer/Decorator Lifestyles Editor

Red, gold and green? Or blue and silver?

David Trump, interior designer, says you don’t have to choose sides in setting the perfect table for a festive gathering of friends. Here, his wintry mix of decorating ideas for holiday entertainment, proof that opulence is in the eye of the beholder.



Quick silver

Stash cash for presents by shopping for rich, antique-looking mercury glass for decorating from discount stores like Target and TJ Maxx. “The large ornament was only $30 at TJ Maxx. They have a lot of mercury glass that looks really opulent.” Trump added winter florals frosted in glitter (found at any craft store) to mercury vases for post-storm sparkle indoors. Mercury cocktail and wine glasses placed on patterned Kate Spade bread plates (which the client had stowed away in her china cabinet) brought polka dotted reds and mixed patterns to the table for a casual, whimsical style.



Happy Places

“Cobalt blue was the predominant color in the dining room, so I wanted to bring that into the table setting.” Trump started with Blue Willow plates (the most popular china pattern in history) found online or in antique stores, and glammed them with an undergirding metallic silver charger  —  Target stores, $1.99 each. To kick placecard holders up a considerable notch… “I found these chocolate-covered gold-foiled Oreos and put them on top with the guest’s name, and added an extra to the plate.”



To top it off

“Rethink the top of your tree. Add florals, twigs and sprays with draping elements.” Trump also recommends ribbon instead of tinsel or too many ornaments. “Don’t worry about tying the perfect bow. Ribbon eats up the space in a tree. It’s great as a filler.”



Table the runner...

… and choose wrapping paper to dress the top. Trump matched his foil paper with a mock-runner for the buffet.



Eye-fall to pieces

“Centerpieces can overwhelm and keep people from interacting across the table. I try to keep them minimal to encourage conversation.” Trump took a piece of pottery owned by his client and placed it on a TJ Maxx platter, surrounded by mercury glass votives. Candle tip: New, unburned votives and tapers are the luminary equivalent to leaving cellophane on your lampshades. “It makes things rigid and artificial.” Burn those tapers for a more welcoming look.



Bar none

“If you don’t have a bar in the room where you’re entertaining, set up a makeshift table and all the traditional elements.

Allow guests to make their own drinks.”



— Special thanks to Dr. Paul and Bonnie Oar of Daniels for opening their home to The Register-Herald and our readers.

For more decorating or design tips, contact David Trump Designs at 304-573-9269.

 

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