tablescape

The combination of bright Mexican textiles and treats, a garden backdrop, and some of our favorite Pottery Barn* classics inspired me to get a head start on Cinco de Mayo festivities. A punch bowl-turned terrarium, stacked bowl vases, and flowing fruit cake stand are just a few of the DIY centerpieces that transformed the table. Keep reading for simple styling tips to pull off your own Mexican tablescape for Cinco de Mayo and beyond!

*This content was part of Pottery Barn's unpaid mystery box challenge

If you're still struggling with finding inspiration for this year's holiday spread, allow DIFFA's Dining by Design event to serve as your muse. The annual San Francisco event benefits low-income patients at San Francisco's largest — and the world's first — HIV/AIDS clinic. With over 20 jaw-dropping designer tablescapes under one roof, it's nearly impossible to leave uninspired. Yesterday, I got a sneak peek of the tables just before the opening night kicked off. Keep reading to see the jaw-dropping designs that wowed me this year.

One of the most sought after event planners in the US, and now the world, Jung Lee actually got her start in the food retail industry, overseeing the design, construction, and launch of a string of wildly successful high-end gourmet food stores. She then moved on to develop residential real estate just outside New York City, before finally channeling her passion for design, construction, and project management into events. Since launching her event production company Fête in 2002, Jung has starred on her own television show Wedded to Perfection and authored Fête: The Wedding Experience, which focuses on a modern approach to tackling events and includes stunning imagery from her portfolio of weddings.

We asked Jung to select six of her favorite tablescapes from Fête's archives, breaking down the strategy behind each look. Keep reading for inspiring ideas to apply to your next soiree!

Since so much thought, time, and preparation goes into making the Thanksgiving meal I think it's important to properly set the table. From the utensils to the water glass, it can be hard to remember where everything goes. That's why I've put together this helpful slideshow — learn how to create an elegant place setting now.

I was thrilled to attend the San Francisco DIFFA Dining by Design benefit, which was brimming over with the most inspiring tablescapes (check them out here). New York recently hosted its DIFFA Dining by Design event, and it captivated attendees with its fantastical tablescapes. The MMPI table was designed by the Belgian-born, New York-based architect and designer Francis D'haene and his team from D'apostrophe Design.

One of the most impressive elements of the design was the wall element. Lines from Arthur Rimbaud's poem "Hunger" were shaved into sheepskin — which took a barber from the Bronx 15 hours to create! The installation was meant to be both meaningful and thought-provoking, and to serve as reminder of the foundation’s fight against AIDS/HIV. Check out some close-up shots of the table.