How to Set A Formal Table - My Guest Post @HadleyCourt Interior Design Blog -

Have you ever wondered how to set a formal table? Today, Leslie Hendrix Wood of Hadley Court asked me to pull together guidelines and inspiration on how to set a formal table for your next social gathering. From an Easter brunch, to hosting a dinner party to planning a wedding event, I shared  detailed information, inspirational images and informative charts on the the art of setting a formal table setting. In Midland Texas, which is where Leslie is located, they do a lot of formal entertaining. By sharing all of the details of setting a formal table, the post will help inform and inspired ~ I'm grateful to Leslie for hiring me to write this blog contribution for her blog ~ I learned a few tips too in pulling the post together and I know I will never look at a table setting quite the same again!

 (all above images from Eddie Ross.com)

Besides my Top Tips For Setting A Formal Table, I also included links to creative napkin folding and ideas for setting up dessert using a bar cart or buffet. Don't miss the wine chart showing which wine glass goes with which wine, what temperature to serve it at, and what foods to pair fine wines with - perfect for most any social gathering, whether formal or casual - and also helpful to choosing the stemware for your table setting.

How often do you set a formal table where you live? Do you have any other tips for formal table etiquette to share? After reading my guest post, please be sure to leave a note in the comments on Leslie’s blog, HADLEY COURT. 

"Thank you, Lynda, for the lovely words and images that follow and for helping Hadley Court’s readers understand more about the art of gracious living."

 You're very welcome Leslie - and I hope you, the readers, also enjoy the post plus take-away tips as you are organizing and planning for upcoming special occasions and family celebrations for the new year ahead.

Thanks for stopping by...

THE SEVEN MODERNS OF DESIGN - AS DEMONSTRATED BY THOMAS O'BRIEN

Well - I did it. And I'm glad I did. What did I do? While visiting the bookstore the other day, I picked up Thomas O' Brien's new book - American Modern. I'm so glad I did because I can TOTALLY relate to his thought process of design. You'll find in this book, through the absolutely gorgeous photography of Lauren Resen, O' Brien and co-author Lisa Light, will take you on a journey discovering the seven moderns...Traditional - Urban - Casual - American - Elegant - Formal - and my favorite of all: Vintage Modern....

TRADITIONAL MODERN

URBAN MODERN

CASUAL MODERN

AMERICAN MODERN

According to O' Brien, "American Modern is about the remixing of history, influence, and spirit to make your style your own". He also says to consider "Practicality, industry, boldness, scale, simplicity, sincerity, and innovation", when creating a space...

ELEGANT MODERN

FORMAL MODERN

O' Brien says, "Designing can be many things to many people - But it has always been about tradition in modern life." O' Brien has been "guided by tradition, both inherited and studied - which he'll bend to the moment he's living in."

VINTAGE MODERN

O' Brien's old Russel Wright bed, used as a daybed in his studio,

 is shown here "sheltered and surrounded by art".

VINTAGE MODERN

O' Brien says, "Adapting a vintage studio style allowed him to

have more creativity in his home - because he is

surrounded by the things that inspire him."

Two other books I came across on Monday's visit to the bookstore were

LIVING WITH WHAT YOU LOVE and THE FIND

LIVING WITH WHAT YOU LOVE

by Monica Rich Kosann

THE FIND

by Stan Williams

AMERICAN MODERN

by Thomas O' Brien,

Lisa light, and photography by Laura Resen.

Of these seven moderns, Vintage Modern,

as demonstrated by O' Brien,

 is definitely a style to be applied in a space

that is designed to LIVE - NOT designed to sell...

VINTAGE MODERN - A VERY

PERSONAL STYLE
"One must look back - in order to move forward."

Have you broken through your boundaries,

and surrounded yourself by what inspires you?

Check out these books, and you will...