By Chloe Lewis
Photography by Phillipp Paulus
Athena Calderone
Author, Interior designer, chef, and founder of lifestyle brand eyeswoon, New York
With the holidays on the horizon, all I can think about is hosting, cooking, and entertaining—it’s the kind of creativity that I yearn for most. While aesthetics are paramount in my world, simplicity is equally as important. The holidays can be stressful, so I always seek to amplify a more casual style of gathering. I love a beautifully abundant self-serve station because it allows for people to mingle, chat, laugh, connect, and, most importantly, nosh as they please. This is also a great place to showcase décor with a vase and some seasonal branches, moody candlelight, and of course a cornucopia of holiday classics—cheeses, fruits, bread, charcuterie, and more. By allowing the guests to help themselves, you’re also allowing the host (you!) to enjoy the party, too!
Photography by Olivia Joan
Romilly Newman
Chef and food stylist, New York
When it comes to holiday entertaining, decadence is the name of the game. Without fail, I serve Chesnut soup. I think there’s something very elegant and special about having a course devoted just to soup. It’s something I’d never do normally, and that’s why I love it. You’d be surprised how many people are taken with it…And it just so happens the best part is that it can be made a day ahead!
Photography by Weston Wells
Sara Story
Interior designer and founder of Sara Story Design, New York
Holiday entertaining is an opportunity to show your creativity and perspective. I love dressing a table. One of my favorite aspects are candelabras—cast bronze ones that bring a great scale to a centerpiece, ceramic candle holders that create an artistic point of view with color and texture, and sculptural ones that you can use to fill your table at varying heights. Candles and candelabras create the most perfect holiday atmosphere and decor.
Photography by Neil Landino
Nicole Oge
Co-founder and chief growth officer, Official Real Estate Firm, New York
The most important ingredient in holiday entertaining is those you will be gathering with. From there everything in my world of hosting is playful, unexpected, and memorable. I like to start with a theme, which can be a color palette (for the winter holidays I love oxblood and sage). The theme can extend to the place settings, the menu, and almost always the decor. When we host on our farm in Litchfield County [Connecticut] we bring the outdoors in as much as possible. From spring through autumn we dry flowers both cultivated and wild in preparation for the winter holidays. From dried branches to wild grasses and hydrangeas, we like for nature to be felt inside in the winter as a reminder of what spring will bring. Gifting is very important to us as well, and everyone leaves with something special as a token or reminder of the evening: It could be dried spiced tea and Moroccan tea glasses, or a bundle of dried flowers and homemade candles.
Photography by Benjamin Rosser
Camilla Marcus
Chef and founder of online plant-based pantry, West Bourne, Los Angeles
Quality and creativity start at the source, so my holiday journey always begins at our local farmers market. Some of the best inspiration comes from seeing what’s in season and being willing to experiment with new produce for an element of surprise and delight. Plus, integrating your ingredients into the tablescape is a thoughtful way to be mindful of waste and bring the vibrant bounty of the season to life. This regenerative approach creates the brightest dishes and supports local farms that tend to our earth for the next generation.
Image courtesy of Jeremiah Brent
Jeremiah Brent
Interior Designer, TV personality, and founder of Atrio, New York
The key to entertaining is getting creative and embracing versatility—you want to utilize vessels that you can continue using in everyday life. Atrio’s Marble Candle Vessel is perfect for floral arrangements, serving hors d’oeuvres, or a scented candle for ambiance.
Home Made
Feeling inspired? This holiday season, indulge your guests and go a little extra with a few choice pieces from Bal Harbour Shops. Click to shop below for a few of our favorite finds for the home.
