Winter Wonderland

Try setting your table for Christmas dinner in August.  In Florida.  When it’s still 90 degrees.

THIS was a challenge.

(Photography by Gregory Ross)

When Palm Beach Illustrated called wanting to feature a holiday table designed by Kemble Interiors in their December issue, I took the road less traveled.  It would have been WAY too easy to do pink and green with sugarplums, set poolside on an outdoor loggia, with a few Florida poinsettias thrown in for good measure.  Or even to start with a festive dining room in a shade of green or deep red and build from a lovely blank canvas that easily lent itself to an obvious Christmas theme.  No, no.  That would have been way too easy.  Instead, we collectively decided that “Winter Wonderland” would be much more fun to tackle down here in the Tropics, and thus, I set out to transform an unlikely seafoam-colored dining room – in my very own house - into a twinkling holiday setting.  The magazine editors would be thrilled!

‘Twas the night before the shoot, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring.  Not even the designer, who apparently performs best under pressure and clearly needed to spring into action.

(Image courtesy of Mary Mahoney)

I quickly drove over to Mary Mahoney on Worth Avenue, an institution known for beautiful china and silver, where I expected to sweep in and pick up six perfect place settings.  It was here that I discovered the disheartening news that most retailers only carry one place-setting and use it as a display for ordering the others.  Somehow this little project just got much more difficult, and the clock was ticking. 

(Image courtesy of Mary Mahoney)

I managed to pile 6 Christofle scalloped chargers into my pack – reminiscent of rolling snow-covered hills -  and made my way further down the list.

(Image courtesy of Pioneer Linens)

Pioneer Linens in West Palm was a lifesaver.  It was there that a kind, Mrs. Claus-of-sorts lead me to the back of the store, where I discovered some interesting woven white placemats.  At first glance, one might have envisioned these in their intended nautical-inspired setting, perfect for dining aboard the Palm Beach yachts, but being Holiday-minded, they immediately became giant snowflakes in my eyes.

The temperature fell to a cool 89 degrees, and with each drop of the thermometer, I was getting closer and closer to my Winter Wonderland.

Now Dasher! Now Dancer!  Now Prancer and Vixen!  My red BMW-of-a-sleigh took me flying into Anthropologie for some fantastic crystal candlesticks.  I envisioned these mingling amongst white snow dusted greenery, the little candles twinkling on the dinner table, adding to the magic of it all.

It was only a matter of hours before the photographer made his appearance, when the glamorous world of Interior Design somehow found me spray-painting puss willows on the hot floor of my suburban garage.  But things were taking shape!  Amazingly, the aqua walls of the dining room lent themselves beautifully to my wintry theme, and managed to cool the air across the setting.  The black china cabinet provided the perfect evening backdrop to offset the flickering candles.  Even the crystal chandelier seemed to morph into glistening icicles.

(Images courtesy of Waterford.com, Macys.com, Crateandbarrel.com, anthropologie.com, and KimSeybert.com)

The photographer arrived and we jumped to work, lighting candles, placing Godiva chocolates and Kim Seybert napkin rings, and creating the scene.  With a twinkle in my eye, I set the table with my very own Waterford crystal (Lismore Tall Gold), Towle's Queen Elizabeth sterling silverware, and Crate and Barrel's Halo white dinnerware.  How jolly would my mother be, knowing my wedding registry was proving to be useful.  After all, the only place carrying 6 of anything in Florida in August proved to be my own house.

Somehow I had managed to create our Winter Wonderland.  I was pleased with myself as I took in the sight.

“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”