Player's Club: Tableware finds for your next Game Night and the inspiration behind my wedding theme

Chip and I are learning so much from my parent’s, who recently celebrated their 40th anniversary. We are learning that the key to harmony and happiness in their relationship comes from the flip of a card in a game of gin rummy, the sound of dominoes slapping the table and the advancement of the checkers across the backgammon board. I love the fact that after 40 years of marriage my parents still play games together!



(shown above: Kate Spade gin rummy coasters, set of 4, $35.00, Park Ave Gifts; Playing Card dessert plate, $35.00; Playing Card Mug, $35.00; both available at Tiffany & Co).



(shown above: Oscar de la Renta City Collection: Domino Place Card Holder, Domino Frosted Cocktail Shaker, Domino Lacquered tray).

Growing up, “Game night” was the foundation of my family's quality time. The sharing and laughter that occurred when my family played board games or cards together has made for some lasting memories and created a family tradition. Now that I am getting married and starting a family of my own, Chip and I will continue to uphold this "Game Night" tradition because we’re learning that it can do wonders for a relationship. I am even considering having a "Game Night" theme for my wedding.



(clockwise: Chess Bar Collection dof, $70.00, Reed and Barton; Kate Spade Gin Rummy decanter, $125.00, Four-suits-vodka, $550.00, Steuben glass; Dice bottle stopper, $75.00, Ralph Lauren Home; Spice Dice, Unica Home).

What does playing board games have to do with relationships? A lot, actually. As a new couple, it is a fun excuse to meet new neighbors, hang out with old friends or spice up a dinner party. It's also a great way to gain a little insight about those you think you know: Who knew that your soon-to-be, sweet mother-in-law was so competitive or that your future father-in law was a sore loser? (Well, Chip knows now…)



I hope these tableware finds have inspired you to log off the computer, put down the blackberry, invite people over and have a “Game Night”!




( Inspiratation for my wedding reception: Escort cards made out of playing cards; cocktail hour
hors d'oeuvres would consisit of slides, pigs n' a blanket, mini grilled cheese, veggie, etc.; domino and checker filled centerpieces, board games at the children's table, deck of cards for favors, etc. Do you see where I'm going with this? The best theme wedding I've ever seen is "Grade School Sweethearts", check it out at Brooklyn Bride and check out the post Vane did just for me entitled, "For Sarah: Ulimate Game Night Wedding", she's unbelievable and provided me with so much inspiration for my themed wedding! Vane, THANK YOU, these invites are fantastic)!

Board games are hot! Yes, Monopoly and Scrabble are good board games; but look at these luxurious alternatives; they are perfect for the stylish high-roller who takes their play seriously:



(shown above: leather traveling backgammon set, 98 pounds, Links of London; Acrylic backgammon , $625.00, Vivre; Glass dominoes set, $595.00, Polo Ralph Lauren; Medieval Chess Set $2500.00, Lladro; Jonathan Adler Utopia Playing Card Box, $125.00, Barneys; Small Poker Game set, $290.00, Vivre).

Another World Tour: Not Neutral announces 4 new City Plates

The collectible City Plates have generated much buzz and accolades in blogosphere. notNeutral was inundated with requests to add new cities to the collection. Following up on the resounding success of the original four-plate series which featured Los Angeles, Cairo, Shanghai and Berlin.



Coming this Fall...the release of four more City Plates by Los Angeles design firm notNeutral. The theme is Culture and Capital(ism). Unveiled at the Gift Fair, the chosen cities are New Orleans and Washington D.C., both rich in history and culture, and the booming megalopolises of Las Vegas and Dubai. Did you notice that there is hardly any blue on the Las Vegas plate? Yes, that's because Las Vegas sits in the middle on dessert. When you see that plate up close, you'll notice just a little blue which represents the "pools" in the back of the hotels. (these are all great cities but as a New Yorker I can't believe New York was not chosen).



For those of you who (heart) New York City and would love to have a city plate that represents the "Big Apple", I've posted a few of my favorites on a previous post entitled: "Take a bite off a Big Apple plate".

A toast to life!

“Life is like a rainbow. You need both the sun and the rain to make its colors appear.”

New York city was hit this morning with high winds, rain, and wide spread flooding! Mass transit in the city was brought to a halt. My commute this morning was awful!

The day started off bad but Chip quickly reminded me, "God didn't promise us days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain. He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.” (So true, thanks Honey for the reminder)! What he said brightened my day so I wanted to pass it along to you.

If you live in the New York area and was affected by the storm this morning, I hope you reached your destination safely and may the rest of your day be bright and sunny!

Doesn't this rainbow of beautiful crystal steamware make you feel better already?

Cheers!

(image above: Vega Stemware by Baccarat, $130.00; Xenia Stemware by Faberge, set of 4, $350.00; Bloomingdale's).

Wedding registry ideas with "Modern Sensibilities"

Geometric patterns, clean lines and splashes of bold colors -- reflecting everything from updated-retro to casual contemporary designs are gracing the modern table. A backward glance can seem avant-garde but a slight nod to the 60's with pulsating prints and high contrasting colors can bring fun and whimsy to your table. Cutting-edge color combos are the easiest way to declare your style allegiance. I've pictured the ever chic black andwhite with yellow, but any bracing unexpected hues will do. (Pictured above l to r: Black midnight globlets, s/12, $30.00, tall wineglasses, s/12, $24.00, Artland; vase, $17.00, bowl, $19.00, Bo Concept. Ombrages collection, Raynaud, Devine Corporation).

"The modernist rocks streamlined shapes and space-age patterns with minimal embellishments". - Brides Magazine

(above l to r: Mistic silver candleholder& vase, $470.00, San Francisco MoMA, 888-357-0037 ; Chip & Dip tray, Magppie, $55.00, Unica Home). (below l to r: Ascutney Sugar Bowl and Creamer, $60 each, Simon Pearce; Amadeo decanter 220 pounds, The Conran Shop).

Hip, Hip, Horray! For the bride with edgy elegance. China with details that sparkle, pieces in easy- to- care- for materials, like nickel and stainless steel, speciality pieces like decanter and espresso cups will reflect your sophisticated taste. Include any of these funky menagerie of tabletop wares and your registry will show off your groovy sense of style:

(l to r: Baccarat cube candleholders, $235.00, Bloomingdales; Torcello double old fashion glasses, s/6, $270.00, Moss).

(above: Rosenthal Suomi Celebration, 5pc place setting, $170.00, covered sugar and creamer, $184.00, Open vegetable 7 1/2", $234.00, Platter 13", $142.00; Copper reflection plate 8 1/2", $35.00, Michael C. Fina).

(l to r: New wave after dinner cup and saucer set, $33.00, Villeroy and Boch; Bernardaud Salsa gift set $97.59, Artedona).

(l to r: Victoria tea pot, $274.00, Driade Kosmo; JL Coquet prelude platinium presentation plate, $232.50, dinner plate, $61.71 & dessert plate, $55.97, Artedona).

(l to r: Nambe ripple fruit bowl, $85.00, Wave porcelain vase, $150.00, Wedge tray, $200.00; Sasaki, stainless steel flatware, 5pc place settings, Cafe de Flore, $40.00, Double Helix, $30.00, peapod, $40.00, Michael C. Fina).

The Global Table Summer Series - "Proscht" to Switzerland.

The summer season is here and like many of you my thoughts have turned to summer vacation. Just as there is an array of vacation options available stateside and seaside, at home and abroad, tableware options are no exception.

From your back door to the world's front door. Join me this week as I celebrate the culture and environment in which wonderful tableware is created all over the world. Welcome to the second installment of this week's global table summer series.


Chocolate, watches and the Matterhorn - could anything be more typically Swiss? Adding to that list, in the small idyllic city of Winterthur, Switzerland, a group of artisans have been charming Swiss residents with handcrafted tableware for more than two decades. Now Felix Vogler, Founder and Creative Director of Terra Keramik is bringing his shiny, playful, colorful ceramics (think M&M’s) to the United States.

(l to r: serving bowl, $98.00; cappuccino cup, $32.00)

(l to r: small plate, $24.00; dinner plate, $38.00)

(l to r: soup bowl, $29.00; fondue pot, $89.00)

( l to r: tea pot, $102.00; coffee mug, $28.00)

From teapots to fondue sets, each piece is accented in platinum and signed by the artist. The pieces are triple-fired using an energy-reducing clay and finished in a choice of eight brilliant glazes. I love this collection! The platinum edging gives each piece a sleek, sophisticated look.

“Proscht” to Switzerland.

(l to r: tablesetting image featured in Southern Accents, July 2007; White dinner plate, $38.00)

Stemware: Little Black Glasses

The one thing that every woman can’t live without is the “little black dress”, it’s effortlessly chic and eternally classic. As in apparel and fashion accessories, the use of the color black on the table is timeless and elegant. This classic hue is embraced for its wonderful and endless versatility, which, depending on how you use it can make a table feel traditional or edgy, serious or sassy.

Look at how black was used to dress the table for Jennifer Skog’s bridal shower. When I saw it posted on Hostess with the Mostess I was in awe. Simply stunning!

Black is very much in fashion in almost every item for your table and the piece that I love most is black stemware. Why Black? Because mixing black with almost any other color can easily change the mood of your table. In the table above, black West Elm china is mixed with black Baccarat goblets by Philippe Starck for a sleek, modern tablesetting.

(above: Baccarat un parfait boxed set, designed by Philippe Starck, $2,070, Neiman Marcus.)

The graphic benefit of black, especially when teamed with white, has already been discussed. But, much like dressing up, black can bring out the best in other colors, too. Try accessorizing you table with black glasses.

(above: Black Cut-Crystal Glassware, $40-$175, Williams Sonoma Home.)

(l to r: Midnight champagne flute, 5 pounds, Urban Outfitters; Palais black crystal stemware s/2 $44.99, Noritake)

(above: Clear striped crystal Double Old Fashion, Highball, $40-$42, Barney's New York).

(l to r: Black Goblet, $14.95, Villeroy and Boch; Waterford Crystal red wine glasses by John Rocha, s/2, $160, Neiman Marcus).

(l to r: Baccarat Black Angel tall glass, designed by Philippe Starck, $510.00, Neiman Marcus; Black crystal wine glass, $60, Tiffany's).

(l to r: Skull and Cross bone DOF set, $ 295.00, Ralph Lauren Home; Talousse Glassware s/4, $27.80, Z Gallerie).

Most people think of black as too powerful, too depressing or too strong and not a color you would enjoy living with. Black is a wonderful color if people use it correctly as the background accents because it gives the colors on your table the strongest contrast.

Take a bite off a "Big Apple"....plate

Last month, Jenn, the quintessential hostess with the mostess, posted that notNeutral received such a great response from their current “city map” plate collection that they’re planning to add 4 more cities to the collection in the Fall. How exciting!

The theme for the new plate collection is ”Culture and Capitalism” and I can’t wait to see which cities they select! Take a peek at the comments from Jenn’s post (over 100 people responded) and many people, myself included, thinks New York City should be included in the new collection.

For those of you who (heart) New York City and would love to have a city plate that represents the "Big Apple", I've posted a few of my favorites below:

above: This square platter is smooth with a slight lip and topped with illustrator Jordan Awan's sketchbook-style design of Brooklyn, 9 ", $16.00, 12", $28.00, Urban Outfitters.

above: Created from the graphics of New York City's transit system, these one-of-a-kind trays make a modern design statement on your table or wall. Each one is handmade in Rhode Island, and signed and dated by the artist. New York City pentatrays, $169.00, Room and Board.

above: Josef Frank Manhattan tray. Small round 15" and large round 24" also in rectangle 18" x 29", Just Scandinavian, 212-334-2556.


above: Honorable mention: - John Derian city map paperweights: top row (l to r): Tribeca, Soho, Chelsea; bottom row: West Village, Upper East Side, Upper West Side, $ 60.00 each, John Derian Company Inc.

New York City is the cultural capital of the United States. Many major American cultural movements first emerged in the city. The Harlem Renaissance established the African-American literary movement, American modern dance developed in New York in the early 20th century. The city was the epicenter of jazz in the 1940s, abstract expressionism in the 1950s, and the birthplace of Punk in the 1970s and hip hop in the 80’s. New York City is full of the history, culture and diversity that set it apart from the rest and I think it should definitely be represented in notNeutral's next "city plate" collection.

DOUBLE DUTCH: Tord Boontje and Hella Jongerius

You may not recognize their names and you may even have a hard time pronouncing it, but I have little doubt you’ll have a hard time recognizing their work. This dynamic duo is on the cutting edge of home design and they are poised to become major players in tableware. Dutch designers Hella Jongerius and Tord Boontje are known for juxtaposing the old and new, craft and industry, high tech and low tech , it is this brilliant combination that makes both their works so extraordinary.


Who will ever forget when Target and Tord Boontje partnered to create Studio Tord Boontje for Target, a whimsical product collection in Target stores that represented a contemporary interpretation of holiday design. Tord was the first Target designer partner to create the in-store environment, marketing, advertising and product packaging for a seasonal campaign.

Coming up next by Tord Boontje is a collection of kitchenware for Artecnica! I can’t wait!

The Dutch designer Hella Jongerius is on the cusp of design, craft and art. Her work has quickly become modern classics for their simplicity, wit and spare beauty. Hella Jongerius' four-piece ceramic collection is part of Artecnica's socially and environmentally responsible Design With Conscience collection. It is handcrafted by artisans in Peru, with the help of the non-profit organization Aid to Artisans.
'Beads and Pieces' collection is executed in the smooth black ceramic typical of traditional Peruvian pottery. Small bowl - $125.00, Medium bowl - $250.00, Large bowl - $675.00, Bottle - $475.00, ModernPoverty.com.

Tord Boontje’s Table stories is a collection of dinnerware designs in fine porcelain and glass with sophisticated and intricate graphics named dreamscapes. All dishware is available in blue, red and light grey over white porcelain with patterns on both sides of plates. All glassware is screened over clear glass.

above - (l): Table Stories red charger, $70.00. (r): Table Stories blue charger, $70.00
below - (l): Table Stories dinner set of 4, $175.00 (r): Table Stories bowls set of 4, $165.00. All available at Moss.

Artecnica collaborated with Guatemalan craftsmen to bring Emma Woffenden and Tord Boontje’s designs to the market. TranSglass® is included in the permanent collection of MoMA New York. Since its launch, it has become one of Artecnica’s best-selling items. With its recycled origins and sleek, fluid design, tranSglass® conveys a positive attitude towards the environment. The new collection features vases, candle holders, carafes and tumblers crafted from recycled bottles.
The transglass collection includes four vases, ModernPoverty.com, $120.00

To learn more about these two phenomenal designers, pick up their books. Great reads, wonderful addition to the coffee table and perfect for gifts.

(l): Hella Jongerius, the book signed by Hella Jongerius, $55.00, Moss. (r): Tord Boontje, $47.25; Amazon.