How to create the perfect holiday table (for charity!) : Annie Elliott Design

I can tell you right now, Gentle Readers, that no holiday table of mine ever will be PERFECT ;) But I’m going to try my hardest, because one of my favorite fabric and wallpaper showrooms, Schumacher, is asking me to.

Light treen, white, and blue dining room — Brittany Bromley Interiors

On December 5, the Washington Design Center will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a Holiday Fête, featuring “tablescapes” (I know, it’s a ridiculous word — but descriptive, right?) by DC interior designers. The event will benefit Children’s National Hospital.

I’m a bit hazy on the details, but when I know, you’ll know.

Holiday dining table in white and neutrals — Maureen M. Evans in Veranda

Schumacher has invited me to participate. Fun! Exciting! And a little scary. Two months isn’t a lot of time.

I’m deep into the inspiration phase. Several years ago, a holiday table exhibition at Hillwood really made an impression on me, so that’s where I’m starting. (I believe each designer used a set of Marjorie Merriweather Post’s china. Amazing.)

Charlotte Moss created an entire SCENE, Gentle Readers. The fanciest Adirondack camp you’ve ever seen. It was unbelievable.

Dramatic rose and green dining table with large floral centerpiece — Charlotte Moss at Hillwood

(I wish we had wide-lens pictures, but the exhibition was 5 years ago, and I didn’t take any.) These were so much more than styled tables, or even vignettes. Some of the designers practically created rooms. It was pretty great.

Dining table with blue and white tablecloth and taxidermied waterfowl — P. Gaye Tapp’s setup was extraordinary. If I recall, taxidermied waterfowl were involved

Hutton Wilkinson and my friend Josh Hildreth provided some of the only color in the exhibition– and such rich, gorgeous color it was!

Holiday table with red, green, and yellow patterns — Josh Hildreth at Hillwood

The neutral settings paled in comparison. Literally.

Light green and cream themed dining table and wallpaper — Timothy Corrigan at Hillwood. I mean, whatever

Anyway. The point is that my table has to tell a story as well as look stylish, and/or interesting, and/or beautiful.

Dining table with mountain view in the background — Becky Luigart-Stayner in Veranda

Here are some of the pictures that have caught my attention in this initial phase of planning.

Place setting with green, white, and a little red — I LOVE this table setting by Pamela Cook. In Veranda

It looks like a random assortment of pics, but there are some commonalities, right? Rich colors,

Elaborate red and gold dining table — Simon Upton in Veranda. Gorgeous wallcovering!

pattern-on-pattern action,

Black and green plaid place setting — Pamela Cook again…

boldness,

and moodiness.

Dining table with green and blue chairs and a mossy tablescape — From Nikki Kirk’s Instagram

I’ll be interested to see how this turns out ;)

Annie Elliott Design is based in Washington, D.C. My book, My Neighbor Saw Me Naked, and Other Reasons You Need Drapes, makes a terrific holiday or hostess gift…and you can buy it right here! Free, fast shipping, too. Can’t beat it.