Hugo Flores of Hugo Flores Events

Holiday Table Settings – What’s New This Year

The Laguna Design Center’s annual Entertaining by Design event is a pre-holiday favorite for me each year.  Holiday table settings presentations by local interior designers give you so many good ideas entertain like a pro. I always look for one of my favorite designers, Hugo Flores of Hugo Flores Events.

Tucked away in the Baker Furniture Showroom was this master of events’ presentations for holiday place settings.  Hugo’s use of  traditional Christmas colors red and green was anything but traditional in feel.  Gold antler horns adorned the tree as a topper. They were placed at each table setting and used in the centerpiece.  Nutcrackers, plaid ribbon and a touch of black gave the table a formal but inviting feel.

Living in California for the past 15 years has exposed me to so many other cultures than when I lived in the  midwest. This homage to Frieda Kahlo  reminded me of that.  Design & Consign’s studio showed us how to celebrate the season with a Mexican theme.  Designer Shawn Rettig had a larger than life table prepared with all the trappings of a fiesta.

“Blues the Hue” is one of my favorite sayings that I have coined. You are always right with blue and white plates and accessories.  This traditional table setting will work for any holiday meal. I love the blue and white delft place setting and the mix of oriental jars and the chintz placemats. The pattern mix is a visual feast that makes your mouth water.

Rustic and livable was the first impression that I got when entering and viewing Chris Kittrell’s beautiful table setting in the Fremarc Designs showroom.  She and her team approached their holiday table settings with a wooden plank serving tray as a charger!  They were a perfect backdrop for the charcoal gray porcelain holiday place settings ready for aThanksgiving meal.

Lest we forget, the holidays are not celebrated the same by everyone.  Holiday table settings like this were a beautiful surprise.  Beautiful and whimsical at the same time.   Holidays your way on display.

Most fun was the John Wayne popup shop that sold books and memorabilia relating to “the Duke”  and the Cancer Fund notably in his name.  The most innovative table was that of a card game  where a bit of libations were spilt and the card players had hurriedly fled the saloon.  Innovations Lighting was quite innovative in the design of the bar, including a saloon gal of the times.

 Can’t you just hear John Wayne’s slow drawl?  “Come on in Pilgrim.”

Photo by Mary Etta Designs