Mr. Magpie and I have been coordinating a dinner party and it’s made me want to refresh my tabletop options. Below, some of my favorite new finds mixed in with old standbys I absolutely swear by. Some of these are incredible buys — much less expensive than they look.
BALLARD DESIGNS PLACEMATS // ZAFFERANO PERLE COUPES // ANNA + NINA CERAMIC LEMON PLATE // PROPER TABLE ACRYLIC COASTERS // STRIPED STONEWARE PITCHER // CHEFANIE OYSTER COCKTAIL NAPKINS // AERIN PLATES // MAISON BALZAC COLORED GLASSES // WILLIAMS SONOMA TWO-IN-ONE CAKE DOME AND PUNCH BOWL // SCALLOPED NAPKINS // CASPARI HYDRANGEA PLACECARDS // JULISKA MELAMINE PLATES // ONLY ON THE AVENUE ATHENA MELAMINE PLATE // ROUNDHOUSE COLOR TRIM NAPKINS // JULEP CUPS // LAURA LINES SCALLOPED PLACECARDS // HAMMETT MARTINI GLASSES // SILVER PARTY BUCKET // SILVER BAMBOO FLATWARE // GRAVY BOAT ($5!)
I wanted to call out a few hero pieces, each of which I own.
HERO PIECE NO. 1: ZAFFERANO COUPES. If you follow me on Instagram, you know that these coupes are one of my favorite possessions. I drink champagne and “up” cocktails out of these all the time (a recipe for one of my favorite cocktails that I serve in these here). The design adds such flourish!
HERO PIECE NO. 2.: WILLIAMS-SONOMA CAKE DOME. We received this cake dome / punch bowl as a wedding gift and it’s been in near-constant use since. We keep this out on our counter with baked goods (or storebought ones — just decant a box of cookies onto a pretty plate!) or invert to serve as an enormous fruit bowl. It looks fabulous stocked with citrus before a big party! We have also used it for its intended purpose — punch! — at parties, and it’s always a hit. (Plus, you aren’t mixing individual cocktails to order.)
HERO PIECE NO. 3: PROPER TABLE ACRYLIC COASTERS. I recently received a set of these acrylic coasters from the brand Proper Table and am smitten. They are spill- and condensation-friendly (just wipe clean!) and pretty enough to keep out on the coffee table. The brand offers tons of different patterns that you can mix and match. These are going to be my new go-to hostess gift.
HERO PIECE NO. 4: AMAZON JULEP CUPS. I have a couple of silver julep cups I bought just after we were married that I’ve used as pen cups, toothbrush cups, vases, and more over the years. I just added a couple of these startlingly affordable julep cups to my collection with the intention of using them for tiny tight posies of peonies at an upcoming dinner party. The perfect size, too, for a little bouquet in the powder bathroom.
HERO PIECE NO. 5: ONLY ON THE AVENUE MELAMINE PLATES. I don’t own the exact pattern shown above, but I can’t live without melamine plates! They’re fantastic for outdoor dining (we eat outside as often as possible), children, snacks on the couch, bringing baked goods to neighbors (less precious in case forgotten and less hazardous in transport), and — for some reason, I eat my breakfast on these all the time! I also like to buy a few extra whenever I’m buying a new set to give away as gifts, i.e., if you are bringing a hostess a plate of cookies, you can let her know she can just keep the plate.
Le Tabletop Shop.
P.S. A playlist for your next dinner party.
P.P.S. Notes on hosting friends at home.
P.P.P.S. I am feeling grateful to have the opportunity to host again so freely. I was just thinking back on how alienated and lonely we felt during the depths of the pandemic.