What's Black & White...

I've heard that Bronson van Wyck and Lela Rose throw fabulous parties.  Stories don't compare to experiencing in person the black and white extravaganza that the pair threw to celebrate Celerie Kemble's book Black & White (and a Bit in Between). On a rainy night, I headed down to Tribeca where I was blown away by not only Lela's beautiful home but how party planner extraordinaire Bronson van Wyck had turned her dining room into a chic tent with black and white striped fabric. With help from Jo Malone London who have partnered on Celerie's book tour, the party not only looked amazing but smelled amazing too. 

The entry table was covered in Celerie's own black and white fabric for Schumacher and was a perfect complement to the black and white photography hung above. 

The menu was inspired by Jo Malone London fragrances and we were treated to multiple yummy course. Lime Basil & Mandarin inspired the seared scallops and Nectarine Blossom & Honey was the jumping off point for cinnamon pancakes. Did I mention that the table pops up out of the floor?  We sat on pillows made of more Celerie Kemble fabric with out legs dangling below.  Talk about chic!

Some party planners suggested unscented candles for a dinner party but that's really no fun especially when you can burn such gorgeous smelling candles.  

Celerie was kind enough to sign books for everyone and wore a chic black and white dress by Lela Rose of course. 

More amazing Jo Malone London products.

I tried not to get too excited when I spied Law & Order SVU actor Chris Meloni in attendance at the party. 

Gift bags containing a copy of Black & White (and a Bit in Between) and a lovely smelling candle from Jo Malone London. You can read more about the party and see more photos in the March/April issue of Veranda magazine. 

A Low Key New Year's Eve

Every year, about a million people crowd Times Square to watch the ball drop at midnight on New Year's Eve. And yes, I said a million. I looked it up. As you can imagine, that creates a bit of chaos in the city even beyond all the street closings. That's why my friends and I usually prefer to celebrate at someone's apartment for either drinks or a dinner party. If you plan on doing the same, here are a few ideas and images to help inspire you! Happy New Year!

When you think of New Year's celebrations, usually silver comes to mind but I think gold is a lovely alternative. It has a warmer feeling and the table designed by Carolyne Roehm above and top has a beautiful mix of colors that adds to that warmness. I found a set of gold rimmed wine and champagne glasses at Housing Works last year that would be perfect for this type of table.

Martha Stewart decorated this mantle with a collection of clocks to remind everyone of the passing of time. If you don't have enough to display this year, you can always plan for next year!

I feel in love with this image last year when I saw it on Style Court. What a beautiful way to greet your guests for the evening.

And don't fret if you don't have a set of matching champagne glasses. As you can see here, a tray full of mismatched glasses can be just a beautiful as a perfectly matched set.

This chic table belongs to one of the designers who works for Sarah Richardson and was seen in Canadian House & Home. The silver setting and pale blue chairs whisper winter and couldn't be more beautiful.

For those who prefer darker colors, this table from Ralph Lauren Home mixes gold, silver and black that would be perfect for a more masculine setting.

This table also doesn't worry about matching china or flatware and as you can see, there are actually two tables. A few smaller tables sometimes with less people make for a better party than one big long table. For fun, you can have people change seats between courses.

There is a simple elegance to this table setting that I absolutely love! It would also be perfect for a New Year's Day breakfast!

I think this table was intended for Christmas but would also work for New Year's Eve. If you are hosting a celebration, you can definitely leave up your Christmas tree but I would change out some of the other decorations around the house to reflect the party theme.

This table is set for a birthday celebration but could also inspire a beautiful New Year's Eve table and especially one in a warmer climate. I also think presents at each place setting is fun and they could be filled with inexpensive gifts or fun fortunes for the New Year!

I hope no matter where you are or what you do for New Year's Eve that you have a wonderful evening and don't forget to take a taxi or appoint a designated driver!

A Carolyne Roehm Christmas

I came across an entertaining feature of Carolyne Roehm holiday tabletop designs in an old issue of House Beautiful that made me interested in seeing more. Unfortunately, there aren't that many images of her work online so I am hoping that her next book will be entirely devoted to Christmas decorating and entertaining. I know I would buy it for sure! Hint hint!