When you're the founder of one of the most beautiful home sites out there, you must have an eye for stylish entertaining. Such is certainly the case for Susan Feldman, the founder of One Kings Lane, who created this elegant party to honor House Beautiful's editor-in-chief Sophie Donelson.
The details that made the gathering gorgeous were elegant, but oh-so easy (our favorite kind!). Here's how you can steal them for your next get-together.
1. Keep place settings informal.
Convey a relaxed vibe by skipping the napkin rings and stemmed wine glasses. Does that idea make you squirm? It's a departure for Feldman, too; She often leans heavily on traditional-style entertaining.
"Sometimes you just need to shake things up," Feldman says. "It felt like this gathering was the perfect place to do it. The guests were editors from the best shelter magazines and extraordinary designers. The table needed to be simple and open to encourage interaction amongst new and old friends."
2. Make it personal.
Although the vibe wasn't super-fancy, the individual settings included thoughtful elements, like a river stone with a handwritten name card. Extra touches like these make guests feel special.
3. Try deconstructed centerpiece.
Instead of a classic bouquet, Feldman displayed blooms in vintage bottles of varying heights. "When I saw these bottles I thought that each one was more gorgeous than the next," she says. "I started to envision the table with their colors, shapes, and dimensions."
You can shop similar bottles at Feldman's One Kings Lane sale.
4. Use greenery in unexpected spots, too.
Feldman added a surprising decorative touch to a commonly-overlooked place: The backs of chairs. Here, olive branches tied simply with burlap ribbon upgrade the rented Chiavari chairs.
See more of Susan Feldman's casual yet chic party at One Kings Lane »
