Entertaining Tricks and Treats
Guest Post by Marlene M. Kristoff
Style at a Certain Age Saturday guest editor Marlene M. Kristoff shares luxury retail, home, and design ideas.
Entertaining …Tricks and Treats!
Fall begins a season of entertaining Family and Friends…festive cocktails, buffets, dinners, and parties of all sorts. Long awaited Weddings, Halloween Costume Parties for young and all! Thanksgiving planning is in the works for gatherings of celebration!
More Entertaining Tricks and Treats
With Fleurs, Cheeses, and a great Bar well stocked with everyone’s favorites, you will be ready for joy!! It is wonderful to record such happy events to relive at later dates. Having everyone sign a guest book with sentiments and even drawings will create a cherished collectible with personal meaning! Of course, they can always scribble and draw on napkins, too…as did Picasso and architect Frank Gehry!!
I thought it would be fun this week to hunt and gather some ideas to treat our loved ones with glorious color and chic design for entertaining inside or out! Selecting natural woods, gemstones, hand-crafted glass, linen, and cottons are beautiful for these fun, festive fall gatherings!
Beautiful collections of little Hors D’Oevres Plates (Bread & Butter’s work wonderfully) Cocktails, Glasses, and Napkins bring personality to every event…big or small. It is a joy to share stories of how they came to be included…
Entertaining can be exciting and a reflection of your personal creativity, love of food, life, travel, guests, and your home!! Of course, creating a theme is always a must. Autumn is a happy excuse!! Let her color palette and textures inspire you, as it has so many home and interior designers. Let’s celebrate with abandon!!
When I entertain, it is such a delight to share my collection of Champagne glasses from all over the world. Many of them have been gifted by friends, others from my extensive travels! I let my guests select the flute that “speaks” to them…always fun! Some are etched with stars, are colorfully footed, or are engraved. Many are from France, Italy, and Japan. I love sharing heritage, memories…and toasting new ones!!
Nambe’s charming acacia wood Bar Board is always a great gift for the host – hostess or bartender. One never goes empty handed! It is a must on every couples’ registry or housewarming. The little magnetic knife, designed on the side, is genius!
Artistic inspiration from Abstract Expressionist Jackson Pollock creates a fabulous golden fall buffet or holiday table from Annieglass. Annie’s son contributes the painterly Jaxson Collection with modern splashes of 24K! Wildly, washable too! Made here in California – very chic! Gold almost becomes a neutral and can be paired with any color imaginable for drama. Think black, purple, lime and of course…orange!! Any color from Sferra’s Hemstitch collection would be fabulous…also machine washable in cocktail, dinner napkins…runners, placemats, and cloths. Their napkins sets are favorites for gifts…monogrammed or plain!
I find cheese or dessert parties can be happy, decadent, and even a little impromptu! Is there a reason?? Do we really need one…to create joy: Halloween cocktails, a going-away dessert party, B-Day , new apartment, or??
Celebrate…yes…while we prepare for more holidays to come!!
Cheers – till next Saturday….Happy Entertaining – xoxo MMK!!
Guest Post by Marlene M. Kristoff
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Bobby Jones once said of Jack Nicklaus, He plays a game with which I am not familiar”. That’s the way I feel when I look at these lovely things. It’s a lifestyle I know nothing about but I appreciate it.
Enjoy each day and learn each day…beauty everywhere! xoxo MMK
Your first photo of the table setting in the woods reminds me so much of Sharon Santoni’s My French Country Home site and book. It is beautiful. I love to entertain and it is good to be able to get friends and family back together again. Enjoyed your post.
Hi GL – I love her too!! We are all thrilled to be able to share with friends and family again….safely of course! Entertain to your hearts content!! We have soooo many reasons! Thank you…for sweet comments. xoxo MMK
Thank you Beth. Most of my house purchases (if not off Craigslist) are from Ballard Designs. Love that site-great ideas.
Hi Diane…Marlene here…have a Guest Post on Saturdays. Thrilled that you enjoy Ballard Designs. I particularly enjoy their collaboration with Bunny Williams too. Enjoy – Happy Fall! xoxo MMK
I always enjoy your Saturday posts, Marlene! Great ideas and items with a cool theme. Especially these Orange and Fall posts are intriguing!
Hi Aquarian…
Virgo here! Thank you and so pleased your enjoy the Saturday posts! October certainly has us celebrating soooo much! More to come!!
xoxo MMK
Thank you for the inspiration
Hi Rory!
Pleased to know my intended inspiration is coming through!!! Enjoy and thank you!!
xoxo MMK
The picture of the dining table outside on the gravel road is stunning.
Hi Laurie…Yes, inspirational…and so much fun to entertain alfresco!! Enjoy a beautiful Fall!!
Thank you….xoxo MMK