MANILA, Philippines – For some, tradition rules holiday décor. Especially when it comes to setting the Christmas table. And Crate & Barrel has plenty of ways to make this year’s Christmas tablescape fresh and stylish.
Create a curated, collected look instead of going matchy-matchy. This allows you to team new pieces with family heirlooms. Celebrate contrasts, like shiny and matte, metallic with rough-hewn. Add fruits, veggies or blooms in large containers for color and life.
Cranberries are simply marvelous in tall glass hurricanes. Choose artisanal pieces for warmth. Tone-on-tone relief on handcrafted ceramic tableware may subtly reflect seasonal motifs. Fill miniature frames of loved ones celebrating past Christmases.
And guests at Crate & Barrel in Makati recently had a glimpse of this when it hosted a dining-and-entertaining event with interior designer Tessa Alindogan and Metro Home editor in chief Anton Barretto showing how to make innovative holiday settings using items from the store. They showcased breathtaking tablescapes, shared holiday entertaining tips and chose gift ideas for family and friends for #theperfectgiftjustlikethat.
Interestingly, their tablescapes captured the spirit of two table-decorating ideas from Crate & Barrel: Woodland or Natural and Sparkle. Woodland or Natural featured fresh greens; weathered or natural wood bowls, platters, or birch candles; and classic all-white dinnerware in round or square shapes. Sparkle, on the other hand, had bejeweled or metallic décor elements; a mix of metals like gold, copper, and silver; frosty platters or bowls, embellished plates and glasses offset with white, cobalt, or turquoise; and lots of candles that reflect the gloriousness of it.
“Anton’s set up is more of the Woodland or Natural Christmas theme,” says Joanne Tsai, Crate & Barrel visual merchandising head. “He used lots of greens and mixed weathered natural wood. Tessa’s look is more like that of the Sparkling Table — more elegant. She used mixed metallic materials like copper, silver, and gold.”
Anton, who likes to be “a bit more creative so I extend the expected to the unexpected” likes mixing and matching “I like breaking pieces because for me entertaining is all about the memory that the guests will take away after the event,” he says.
In his setting, he played around with things on the table, using different elements, textures and colors. Anton’s tablescape had a blue, white and black palette with yellow, orange and green contrasts. “Use lot of things that you have at home,” he says. “Don’t be afraid to go a step further and experiment, mix and match patterns, plains and prints that you have.”
Tessa, on the other hand, shares, “I’m not into Christmas plates and stuff because I’m a practical person. So I didn’t choose plates with Christmas designs. I chose plates that you can use all-year- round.”
She just added Christmas touches like the cut-out Christmas trees and the small animals, using orange as her accent color. “It not only it looks good, but is functional as well,” she says. That’s because “orange whets one’s appetite.”
To make it more interesting, “I decided to alternate the charger and the cheese platter used as charger to show people that even if you don’t have the budget, you can still make your table look attractive.” To make her guests feel special, she put individual carafes and small vases with Ecuadorian roses. Tessa also added candles in different sizes to make it more intimate. “It’s a play of shapes and heights,” she says.
What are your favorite Christmas table decorating ideas? Share them by using the hashtag #crateandbarrelph #theperfectgiftjustlikethat Crate&Barrel Stores are located at SM Aura, SM Mega Fashion Hall and at SM Makati.