From Our Table to Yours!

An easier-to-read version of the above ;)

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This holiday season,

la tavola has a reason

to forgo paper cards

that send our regards.

Instead, we will honor you

and all the events you do

through sharing with others,

our sisters and brothers.

Donations to local food banks

is how we express our thanks

for helping us enter 2010

with a bounty of beautiful linen!

'

We have reallocated our budget for holiday cards into a donation to food banks in our showrooms' communities: Napa Valley, San Francisco Bay area, and Beverly Hills/Los Angeles. With this contribution, 2,400 meals will be served to those in need this holiday season. We thank you for your support in helping us give back to our communities.

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We are so fortunate to have clients like you that help make it possible to give to others. For more info on the particular food banks we contributed to, check them out below!

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank

San Francisco Food Bank

Second Harvest Food Bank in San Jose

Napa Valley Food Bank

Redwood Empire Food Bank in Sonoma County

From our table to yours, we send you magical wishes for a happy holiday and full tummies!

It's Complicated - La Tavola Linen Makes it's Film Debut!

Well, I don't know about you but I just can't wait to see "It's Complicated" with Meryl Streep! Of course, it looks like a fun and witty comedy, but more than that, La Tavola's linens will have their first feature film appearance!!! Look for the party scene and you will spot our Tuscany Sienna rounds!

Meryl Streep and Steve Martin, courtesy of The Washington Post

The set design was created by Jon Hutman, who also did such beauties as "Something's Gotta Give" (one of my all-time favorites!) and "What Women Want." He consistently works with Nancy Meyers, the director, to create gorgeous upscale interiors. We're so pleased that our linens are a part of his design and a piece of film history!

Tuscany Sienna

Thank you to Universal Pictures for including us in such a fantastic project!

Holiday Inspiration: Candlelight!

By far one of the best parts of the holiday is all of the beautiful light! December just seems to have a warm glow that makes everything feel brilliant yet cozy at the same time. So, this post is dedicated to: light! Light on the table, light in the home, and light at your events!

Very elegant, simple, and sophisticated. Plus, the bottles can be re-used for other kinds of crafty decor during the year!

The thing I like here is not only the different silver and gold candleholders, but the different sized candles to create a sophisticated, detailed show of light.

Modern and clean (or should I say clear?), these candleholders range from an astounding $2.95-5.95 at CB2!

A modern-vintage look, I like the hints of color that the glass picks up, like this gorgeous ice blue.

The unique shapes of the bottles, as well as the green hues of the glass, offer an array of posibilities for decorating your holiday table.

These are home-made candles in real shells! I think this is such a beautiful and creative idea. Perfect for a romantic and road-less-traveled feel.

Ooh. . . so whimsical and warm-feeling. Makes me want to be home for the holidays!

And here are some lovely linens that have looked fabulous in candlelight:

Peony Ivory

Tuscany Natural

Tuscany Plum

Portrait of an Artist: Featured Floral Designer

I am so excited to share this post with you because the floral design of Alexandra Kadar of Kor Floral is absolutely breathtaking. When I came across her work I was instantly enchanted by her impeccable artistry and knew that I just had to feature her creations. We have an in-depth interview with her, so I will let her words (and florals!) speak for themselves.

LT: How did you become interested in floral design and when did you start designing?
AK: I have come from a long line of artists, so my family has always appreciated beauty. I suppose I took on that characteristic at a young age, in my own way. In my early twenties, I considered event planning as a career, and soon realized that my focus always landed on the atmosphere of the events I saw, and less on the other details. Shortly thereafter, I began my first floral design job as an apprentice. In my eight years of experience, I have had the pleasure of coming across some fantastically talented and lovely designers. I took in everything I could to learn the basic mechanics involved, and then began experimenting to find the personal style I have today. In fact, my style is constantly evolving, there is so much exploration and experimentation in each piece that I complete. It excites me to find more wild and complex ways to present flowers everyday. I feel that if my job was only to put flowers in a vase, I would find myself less involved in the process. The "engineering" in my work keeps it fresh, fun, and adventurous.

LT: What inspires you to use natural materials to showcase your floral arrangements?
As I worked more intensely in the floral industry in my earlier years, I realized that there is very little out there for someone looking for more depth and sophistication in the floral design they purchase. I considered what I would want for my own special event, and began designing outside of what I had learned. I left vases behind, and began looking for other, more interesting "stages" for flowers. The options are limitless, and the finished product is more thoughtful and engaging when flowers are surrounded by unexpected organic elements. I also love to use various types of metal, wood, and even nails.

LT: What are some of your favorite flowers, both personally and to use in your designs?
AK: It always astounds me that I never tire of flowers. I can see the same varietal repeatedly, and still be enamored by its grace and perfection. I find myself drawn to bulb varieties--flowers like narcissus, and one of my personal favorites has always been the sweet pea. The ruffles and scent are so incredible. Bee balm, waratah, a more exotic whimsical flower, ranunculus with its many fabulous layers, aanemone, with a breathtaking black velvety center, and of course, lily of the valley. . .I could go on and on.

LT: How do you go about deciding on an arrangement for each client?
AK: My process is dramatically different from that of standard florists. I do not offer a sample after simply discussing vase and flower preferences. I work extensively to learn about the client's personality, if they so desire, to ensure their personality shines through meticulously at their event. The sample or prototype I offer them is a process of approving or veto-ing ideas and concepts through each step to completion. Clients can participate as little or as much as they wish. This labor intensive process allows me to create the very best pieces possible for each individual event, and it is fun for the client! Standard florists spend about twenty to thirty minutes on an arrangement, I spend about two and a half hours per installation piece, as well as additional prototype design time. Because I like to think of myself as an artist who uses flowers as a medium, my clients tend to be people who enjoy this adventurous format/model, and appreciate the vast differences in my finished product. My clients tend to have an affinity for fine dining, travel, and art.

LT: How do linens play into your events?
AK: Proper linens are SO essential to make an event shine. I like to ask my clients immediately what their plans are for linens. The proper linens can pull a room together, highlight flowers on a table, draw your eye away from flooring that is not ideal in an otherwise fabulous event space, and create a festive or calm and serene space for any event.

LT: What are your favorite La Tavola linens?
AK: I am typically drawn to white, creme and perhaps gray linens because those shades are a great backdrop for flowers and really make a room appear spacious and airy. I love nuovo gray, peony ivory, windsor ivory, hemp flour, hem stitched ivory and tuscany white. They are a beautiful and necessary addition to any high end event!

Nuovo Grey
Peony Ivory

Windsor Ivory

Hemp Flour

Hemstitched Ivory

Tuscany White

Holiday Table Part 3: New Year's Eve!

Let the glitter begin! Out of all the events of the year, A New Year's Eve party is certainly one that has every license to be utterly shameless when it comes to the "glitz" factor. Even in a low-key and intimate environment, a bit of sparkle always helps to inspire the celebration. However you choose to bring in the new year, these are some fabulous ways to make your event shine!

Silver and Gold!

Boy, am I loving those gold and silver streamers! Classy and sexy at the same time, they are PERFECT for a New Years Eve Party. And lucky for all, we have a treasure trove of gold and silver to deck your table, and here are just a few picks to get you started:

Chain Silver and Chain Gold Toppers (30" and 60" Rounds)


Peau de Soie Silver, Peau de Soie Gold


Dazzle Silver, Dazzle Gold


Camargue Silver, Nonius Silver


Daytona Star, Paloma Gold/Black

Should fruit be forgot?

This is such a pretty little set-up for a New Years luncheon. I adore when designers combine decor objects and fruit in centerpieces, like these lemons and silver holiday balls. Below are some white inspirations that would compliment this look:


Kings Mountain White, Windsor White, New York White


And some classic black:


Alencon Lace Black, Confetti Pewter with Black Swirl


Fiori Beaded Organza Black, Peau de Soie Black

When we started carrying this New York Black linen my first thought was: New. Years. Eve!!!

Now here's a way to send the tastebuds of your guests into a happy new year: dip fortune cookies in delicious melted chocolate and sprinkles. . . yummmy!!

Holiday Table Part 2: Christmas

Joy to the world -- and to your Christmas table! Here are some lovely looks to help you bring out the essence of the holiday season and inspire those "fa-la-la"'s!

I'll Be Home for Christmas

The use of raw linens makes for such a warm-hearted and cheering appeal. I love the homey look of this holiday ensemble, tied together with that fabulous fresh piece of pine and sweet little bells!

Tuscany Wine - napkin, Tuscany Plum - table linen

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

This look is sharp, sharp, sharp! Clean and sophisticated with an edge of fun: these are the key elements to keep in mind for this decor!

Hemstitched White - table linen + napkin, Peau de Soie Red - chair tie

`

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!

Oooh la la. . . What I appreciate here is the enchantment in this modern decor. Again, a clean look, but one that screams (or should I say "carols") romance. To give it a little sparkle, I would pair it with our sequined New York White linen.

New York White - table cloth, Topaz Red Poppy - napkins

All is Calm, All is Bright

I love seeing pears during the holiday season; something about them emanates a subtle luxury and thankfulness. . . maybe it's that scene from Little Women when the family receives some pears from their neighbor for Christmas! ;) In anycase, the organdy fabric for a cloth and raw linen napkin "pear" perfectly with this table setting!

Organdy Willow - table linen, Tuscany Limestone - napkin

Here Comes Santa Claus!

I chose this table for a couple reasons: firstly, the colors are fabulous and the country decor is so charming; secondly, the full (yet tasteful) conglomeration of items on the table is probably how many of our homes will actually look around Christmas time!

Crinkle Orange - table linen, Tuscany Red Oak - napkin

Here are some easy, festive ways to add expressive details to your event:
How easy is this?? Just put some small crab apples and pine tree branches on the tray, and voila! -- your wine is served -- holiday style.

This is pretty darn cute. A little more involved in terms of craft-effort, but definitely do-able!

On a scale of 1-10, this is a 10 in quality decor and about a 3 in difficulty. . . just the right mix of creative spice for the holiday table!


Next up. . . you guessed it, New Year's Eve!!