Today we continue to share the behind the scenes of a great French themed dinner party. There was not a detail overlooked and this has been one of my favorite styling projects to date. Using a color palette of vibrant reds, fuchsias, and purples, it gives a nod to the style of France without being overly literal.
As I was planning the party, I wanted things to have a large visual statement while still staying true to the casual nature of French of entertaining. There were deliberate design solutions where elements of the table were subtle and stunning. Keeping the dishes and flatware simple, it allowed the flowers and food to be the showstoppers.
Keeping reading for all the details after the jump!
The Table
For the table, I decided to use a lot of items I have on hand. For the food, I knew that the table would be full of platters, so the flowers on the table needed to stay low. For all the platters, I opted to use marble or wood, keeping a neutral base for the food. Inspired by the French sidewalk cafes that line the streets of every city and town, I chose a linen striped red napkin, white plates, and a neutral linen runner. Paired with silver flatware and clear stemware, the setting was anchored by the folded napkin and a few sprigs of fresh lavender. With a sweet note on a chalkboard, the stage was set for birthday festivities.
The Flowers
For the arrangements on the table, I used vintage copper and patina vessels I already owned. For a pop of bright copper, I used a few moscow mule mugs. Using wet floral foam and created arrangements for the table.
The Living Chandelier
Now for the statement piece. How did we get this beautiful living chandelier you ask? With some foraged greenery, $30 of floral from Trader Joe’s, and ribbon from the Dollar Tree, it created a great statement with huge visual impact, and costs less than a small arrangement from the florist.
Supplies:
- Fuschia stock
- 20 stems coral two-toned roses
- 4 red roses
- lavender spider mums
- lavender button daisies
- lavender plant
- Coral and fuchsia satin ribbon
- Floral wire
- Wire snips
- Kitchen shears
- Fabric shears
- Foraged greenery
I began with the base of our existing light feature. (We have a vintage hanging planter with light kit and edison bulb.) To save on money on greenery, I foraged eucalyptus, waxed magnolia leaves, and crawling ivy. Spread out the flowers on your workspace, grouping things among like kinds. Create bundles layering the blooms and greenery, balancing scale, visual weight, and height, wrapping the florist wire around the stems. Using excess greenery create bundles weaving them into the fixture. Wire the bundles to the fixture. On the bottom level of the chandelier, loop the ribbon through to hang at various heights. Keep the bundles balanced so the chandelier stays level. My favorite part of this chandelier? When we turned on the light. It was absolutely stunning and magical! I felt like I was in a fairytale.
The Living Room
We ended our evening in the living room, watching a French classic, Amelie. Hanging up clear globe lights and an antique poster of the Eiffel tower, completed the look of the Parisan cafes we love.
Tomorrow, we’ll head to the kitchen as I share the menu, wine pairings, and recipes for the party.