Working with What You Have

A few weeks ago I hosted a dinner for some of my favorite folks at my friend Mary's house in Greenwich, CT. (With my best friend in Westchester, NY and my mother in Litchfield County, CT, it is much closer than my condo in Boston!) I wanted the dinner to be elegant and festive, but still "blue jeans" casual. I skipped the table cloth and chose flowered china, beautiful crystal and linen napkins all from Mary's cabinets. The china and glass provide a great contrast against the dark wood of her dining room table. With the addition of silver tapers and mercury votives, the table really pops. The flowers are from Mary's garden and Whole Foods. Don't be afraid to mix and match color and textures - it adds interest to the table!