House Beautiful

DNF at halfway point. Almost all the designs rely on custom pieces (or installations), or the ability to paint or wallpaper, or tear out a wall, so not great for renters. Also, a number of the projects were not small spaces at all, but simply nooks in a large space. And very few of them look like anyone could actually live with them. Finally I counted (because it got to be such a theme I had to) 35 photos in which books were displayed horizontally with something set on top of them. In the show more majority of these, the thing set on top of the books was a vase with flowers and water in it, so these are not just book poseurs, but potential book murderers as well. (Don't even get me started on the book wallpaper or the bookshelves that can't be used as displayed or the 'book nook' that had all the books displayed face out instead of being stacked full of wonderful books.) Offensive. show less

House Beautiful Editor In Chief, Sophie Donaldson, describes tablescapes as a “microcosm of style“. In House Beautiful Tablescapes: Setting A Stylish Table, you can learn many ways to put your personal stamp on any table.

As any good chef will confirm, presentation is everything. Someone once told me that you could be given the most delectable steak cooked to perfection, but if it were served on a garbage can lid, you would not want to eat it. And while that might be a little extreme, a show more beautiful table does enhance the experience.

House Beautiful has put together three incredible chapters to help you create whatever mood you want for your meal. Chapters include:

Chapter 1: Very Civilized Affair
Chapter 2: Keeping It Casual
Chapter 3: The Abbondanza Buffet

Starting with the Ultimate Dressy Dinner, Chapter 1 continues on with the Simply Elegant Evening, then the Extravagant Holiday Soirée.

Sunday Supper opens Chapter 2, followed by Weekend Lunch With Friends, Twilight On The Terrace, Morning Glory Brunch, Garden Party, and An Unapologetically Uninhibited Theme Party.

Chapter 3 includes a Festive Open House, Drinks 30 Under The Stars, When It’s 5 o’clock Somewhere, and a Dessert Party.

Exquisite Photography And Gorgeous Ideas

Throughout the book each of the individual scenarios is exquisitely photographed in an overview, some again in detail. Others are a close-up shot of a different take on a similar theme.

Sprinkled throughout the book are also sayings from famous people, all of them of course entertaining are food related, which really enhances the book.

The descriptions for each of the pictures are short and sweet, simply pointing out the unique aspects of each. This book isn’t about copying the look identically, it’s about highlighting the ways you can enhance your own table with what you have.

If you never use any of the suggestions in this book, it would still be worth having for the sheer beauty of it. It is a coffee table book which would be enjoyed by all.

The end of the book includes two pages with designer credits and photography credits. This sheer army of people who created this book is impressive and well deserving of acclaim.

See the full review and my favorite tablescape at The RecipesNow! Reviews And Recipes Magazine. This review is written in response to a complimentary hard copy of the book provided by the publisher in hopes of an honest review. show less