Capucine De Wulf Gooding - Together at the Table: Entertaining at home with the creators of Juliska

Most of what you see in this old wooden breakfront has a very personal story to us, including a silver teapot etched with THE LOUVRE , and our hand-painted wedding Delftware by Deborah Sears from Oxford, England. Her paintings illustrate scenes of our courtship in France, England, New York, and our wedding in Laguna Beach, California. This collaboration planted the seed of a future collection that became Country Estate.

CURATE YOUR OWN TABLESCAPING TROVE

The most meaningful memories we share are often carefully planned and orchestrated by thoughtful people who are well prepared and intentional. They craft and cook and create glorious tables that captivate their audiences and create blazing moments of togetherness. We affectionately refer to them as Architects of Togetherness.

Many might think that having a tablescaping trovea collection of your entertaining treasures, from cocktail napkins to cake standsisnt necessary. To that we say: Au contraire! We dont believe any of these accoutrements are just stuff.

Where some see dinner plates and candlesticks, we see tools to fuel the beautiful blaze of togetherness. People who have the type of magnetic homes that draw you in, and that others love to come to, all have these tablescaping troves. What theyre doing is more than hosting; theyre intentionally cultivating moments that will stay with you long after the dishes are done. Their tablescaping builds on to traditions which create lasting multisensory memories.

David and I love to entertain, and knowing our tablescaping trove is stocked makes fetes that much easier to whip up. Ours is a curation of beautiful things that make gatherings and traditions that much more special: pedestals to elevate a birthday cake and celebrate its recipient; platters that transform a Thanksgiving turkey into a feast for the eyes. This trove is a personal collection of things you build up over time. Many of the items will have a great story behind them, like a saltcellar you discovered during a downpour at the Brimfield Antique Flea Market, or souvenir teacups picked up while meandering through an estate sale.

Collecting napkins with delicious details can transform your tablescapes.

Our tablescaping trove is always growing.

Curate your trove with joyful intention. Get a set of accent plates for every different holiday, a few colorful sets of glassware, and a smattering of fabulous statement pieces.

Many of the great houses in England maintain what are known as butleries, or butlers pantries. But a tablescaping trove can also be a humble closet tucked under your stairs, or a stash of tubs in your basement. What matters is keeping it all close at hand. You can organize yours in whichever way suits you best, whether by color, theme, or occasion. As long as its all within fairly easy reach for those spontaneous gatherings and important occasions, you will enrich your memories and become an indisputable entertaining legend.

Accessories transform foundational dinnerware patterns into different looks for every event. If youre just beginning your table linen collection, its worth investing in patterns (no one was ever dazzled by a simple white napkin). Stripes and florals can be intermixed to your hearts content, accessorizing them differently over the years in ways that will surprise and delight.

Its worth noting that any piece of fabric can be a tablecloth. Some people wouldnt dare put dry-clean-only material on a table, but I am not one of those people. I have used lace, throw blankets, shawls, and sarongs as overlays. I have used a satin Victorian-era textile as an overlay. Did I risk getting it stained with wine? Yes. Did somebody instantly spill their wine on it? Yes. But have I cleaned it, covered the spot strategically with a floral bouquet, and used it again and again? Also yes. Keats was right: A thing of beauty is a joy for ever.