THINK DESIGN TIPS

By Steve Miller

Themed parties are always so much fun if you’re not the one throwing them. I love going over people’s homes just to see how creative they are, especially when the invitation reads “A Night in Tuscany.” The image conjured in my head doesn’t always translate to the actual party. What should be a rather dreamy, Italian and delicious event, usually turns into a party with an Italian music CD, a bottle of Prosecco, a red candle or two and a tin of baked ziti. While I always have fun with my friends, I have to admit that it doesn’t take much time or creativity to throw something like this together. I know, I know, no one has time these days to host a truly inspired evening without hiring an event designer and their assistants. Well, I am here to tell you that you can throw a memorable evening with out spending a lot of money to do so. 

photo credit: Lisa Thornberg

Trust me, I understand how daunting it is to throw a luncheon or dinner for more than a few people, especially if you don’t know them very well. Over the years, I’ve been jolted awake out of a seemingly great sleep with those nagging questions concerning the menu, the signature drinks I’ve prepared, the fact that the dining chairs don’t match each other and the plates are funky, fun and a mix of styles and colors. But in the end, the guests always ask for seconds, the drinks are emptied and well, the chairs and the plates are my design aesthetic. I actually love the non linear look, myself. Mixing it up, especially when you make some great finds at an antique shop or flea market and use some treasured personal items, adds life to any party and is definitely a conversation starter. Uniformity has its place I suppose, but not in my dining room where I want people to relax and feel at home.

Also, keep in mind, you’ve been to enough parties in your life to know what you like and don’t like; what looks good and what doesn’t. How many times have you walked into a room and within a split second decide if it’s someplace you’d want to spend a few hours of your precious time when you could be at home relaxing, watching some good old mindless television. To be honest, I have a mental checklist I run through when I enter the “party room” which in someone’s home starts for better or worse at the front door. First impressions are truly lasting impressions. The first thing that usually hits me is the smell of the place. Does it smell like a Votivo honeysuckle scented candle or more like my sweaty work out gloves before I throw them in the washer? You would be surprised how many people don’t know what their own space smells like, especially if kids and pets are involved. Secondly, I always look at the decorations. Do they match the theme that was alluded to in the invite and do they make sense given the room and the amount of people in it? I know I’m not alone in doing this. Since you all are just as perceptive as me, if not more so, there is no reason as to why you can’t throw a kick @&% soiree of your own. Lightly scented candles, imaginative floral arrangements and table ornaments as well as small guest gifts and the right soundtrack, when thought out and carried through will make for a successful event that will absolutely impress all that attended. Just be ready for people to ask you to help them out when they throw their own celebration.

Believe in your inner designer. Be confident in your choices that you make, and most of all enjoy yourself.