As I write this, there is a nice man named Tony who for six days has been prepping—prep being everything in a 118-year-old-house—my dining room to be painted. I am having the entire room—walls, ceiling, trim, shelves, cabinetry—painted black. It’s something I never could have gotten away with when my darling husband was here to object.
The room has a coffered ceiling, bookshelves, lots of eclectic (read: not important) art, a drinks tray, and a window seat. With the black-painted walls, my intention, although I may fall flat on my face, is to suggest a cozy study in a chic English country house. At very least it will be beautiful for dinner parties. Regular readers of this column know I have a round dining table with a glass top, which in the evenings reflects candlelight attractively, more dramatically so, it is to be hoped, against a black backdrop.
For smaller homes like mine, round dining tables are wonderful. Probably not so much for your larger manses, where extendable tables are a great option for flexibility. No matter what kind of table you have, or what color your walls are, you might like these tips for having a dining room that is truly operational for hosting fun, no-fuss dinner parties.
Provide Comfy Seating
Use comfortable chairs that encourage guests to linger. Those with supportive backs and padded seats are most suitable for dining, I like lightweight chairs that are easy to scooch in and out from the table.
Keep Your Dishes Accessible
I would never use my favorite tableware if it were hard to get to. Have a storage solution nearby for dishes, cutlery, linens. A sideboard, cabinet, or chest of drawers can keep everything within reach.
Streamline Table Settings
Keep table settings simple and elegant. Use neutral tableware that can be easily dressed up or down. To feed guests stylishly, all you really need in the way of dinnerware is a set of classic, unadorned white porcelain ten-inch dinner plates.
The Old Sheet Trick
Crisp new bed sheets make terrific tablecloths. Wash them first then throw them over the table straight out of the dryer—no wrinkles! You can find a wide variety of inexpensive patterns and colors online.
Napkins: You Want Them Soft and Oversized
Pure linen napkins, the bigger the better, are ideal. Don’t iron and starch them after washing unless you want your guests to feel as though they are wiping their mouths with waxed paper. Take them straight out of the dryer and fold them or pull them through a napkin ring. Never use paper napkins for dinner, darling.
And Finally, Have a Dinner Bell
Ring a pleasant-sounding little bell to signal your guests that the cocktail hour is over, and it’s time to move to the table. This feels so much more civilized than using your voice to interrupt their conversation, and guests respond more quickly to the bell.
Let’s Table This
Here’s the shade of black I’m having my dining room painted. I’ve chosen flat black on the walls, while the trim, ceiling and cabinetry will be satin sheen. PPG Onyx Black.
When it comes to soft, oversized linen napkins, Sferra Festival Napkins are the real deal. They’re sized at 20” x 20” and available in 101 colors; you can find them at Terrasi Living & Scandia Home on The Plaza. $69 for set of four.
I always have on hand a couple of packages of six white Cocktail Buffet Napkins from World Market, for napkin emergencies. $12.99 for six.
Fine porcelain dinner plates look fragile, but do not easily chip or crack. Buy the best you can afford. L’Objet Aegean White Dinner Plate, $54, available at Sharyn Blond Linens.
Pretty votive holders are my favorite table accessory. Trapp and Company always has a lovely assortment to make your table glow. Small Hastings votive holder, $32.50.
Hosley unscented wax-filled glass votives aren’t available locally, but you can find them on Amazon in lots of 48 for $39. Also fabulous in a power outage!
Ask Merrily
Ask MerrilyFind answers to all your entertaining questions.
Q: We have some friends who tend to overstay their welcome when we host a party. What is a polite way to let guests know the party is over? We cherish our friends and would never want to be rude.
A: When the party is wrapping up, I like to set out pretty little bottles of San Pellegrino or Perrier water for guests to take for the ride home. Actually, any bottled water will do. People are thankful for the extra hydration, and it’s a hospitable way to signal the party is at its end. If they don’t take the hint, ask them if they would like a little extra water for the road.
Do you have a question about entertaining? Email it to mjackson@inkansascity.com