6 minute read
Create the perfect serving station for your holiday event
Set The Bar
By Kelly Putter | Photos By Studio Sereno
There are two types of people: those who love to entertain, and those that love to be entertained. Party planning, for some, is just too much hustle and bustle – especially during the holidays.
Tannis D’Orazio gets its. The 25-year-old Oakville interior designer and owner of Studio Sereno received her design certification through the Interior Design Institute out of San Francisco after completing a Business Management degree at the University of Western Ontario. As someone who understands the importance of a well-planned, well-designed space, she also knows the same rings true for party planning. “Planning a party can be incredibly daunting,” she says. “But I’ve always loved birthday parties and seasonal holiday celebrations. My family instilled that in me.”
D’Orazio recommends organizing well in advance so it’s not a panic the day before the big day. “Try to start a week or two before. Take it a step at a time, do a booze run one day, figure out your glassware, pick your linens and napkins. Menu plan so you know what your grocery list will be for the coming week.”
Her confidence in entertaining stems from her joy of tackling the design of entire floor plans and layouts, piecing the often-overwhelming puzzle together of creating spaces that flow and feel natural. The same general plan should apply to your holiday festivities.
Start with the big guns, says D’Orazio. You’ll need a bar area to serve drinks. Whether it’s built-in, a bar cabinet or a bar cart, that will be your backdrop – and even the focal point for the evening. Your choice of bar doesn’t need to be a cabinet or oversized piece of furniture; think low-profile sideboards and how you can set up a beautiful holiday display on top. D’Orazio recommends you “mood it up” regardless of the type of bar you choose. An antiqued mirror backsplash or high-sheen wallpaper can look gorgeous as the backdrop to your drink station.
If a custom or semi-custom bar isn’t in your budget or high on your wish list for the event, there are other options. Local home furnishing stores, Crate & Barrel, West Elm, and Pottery Barn sell a variety of styles and well-made bar cabinets and carts, says D’Orazio. If you gravitate to vintage, she suggests visiting local antique markets to repurpose an old relic.
Less practical but equally appealing from a design aesthetic are unscented tea lights or candles to help set the mood. “Don’t let scents overwhelm the food and drink you’re setting out,” says D’Orazio. “Light, especially as days shorten in fall and winter, is a key factor in beautifying your space.” If candles aren’t your thing, place twinkle lights in a ceiling light fixture or through a garland and hang them on the front of the bar area.
As a sustainable option, D’Orazio recommends swapping paper for cloth napkins. “Not only is it more sustainable (plus it saves you money),” she says, “proper (cloth) napkins immediately up the luxe factor of your event.”
Don’t forget to add greenery. Christmas trees aside, poinsettias, cedar garlands or wreaths, holly and, of course, mistletoe add a fresh, natural, and festive vibe to your home’s atmosphere.
When it comes to stocking your bar, be sure to pick up the essentials: beer, red and white wine, vodka, and other hard liquor based on the drinking preferences of your guests, plus lime cordial, citrus slices, sodas, and juices for mocktails and mixing. Think about serving a signature cocktail (such as D’Orazio’s Frosted Blackberry Spritz). Jingle Juice, Eggnog, and Peppermintinis each also make for a memorable Christmas cocktail. Or make a Winter Sangria, red wine mixed with wintery fruits such as citrus, apple, and cranberries. The beauty of this is that it lends itself to making en masse. Fill a pitcher and your hosting duties will be made a little lighter for the evening. Remember to include non-alcoholic options for your guests.
Impart a bit of pizzazz to your drinks with garnishes. D’Orazio recommends fresh rosemary sprigs, cinnamon sticks, or cranberries frozen inside ice cubes.
Consider using some of your practical bar items as décor. A colourful bowl of citrus, a crystal glass full of pretty paper straws, and a water pitcher with fresh cranberries add a pretty holiday vibe while doubling as pragmatic bar essentials.
Be sure to mix glassware for visual interest. Use stemless and stemmed wine glasses, lowball, martini, and shooter glasses, for example.
If you’re hosting a sit-down dinner party, D’Orazio still suggests offering some nibbles available as visitors mingle with their beverages. Spiced nuts are a great choice or olives with festive picks. The sky is the limit when it comes to snacks.
Extras that she suggests will make your party complete include a good cocktail shaker, bottle opener, double-sided jigger, cocktail strainer, decanter or aerator, wine chiller, and an ice bucket.
Hosting a holiday celebration doesn’t have to send you into a Grinch-like mental state. D’Orazio recommends keeping certain design principles in mind, whether entertaining, redecorating a bedroom or redesigning your house. “I find myself preaching harmony a lot,” she says. “That being said, it isn’t about everything being the same. It’s the use of a common shape, colour, and material, to name a few. As you move through a space or from room to room in a home, the more likeness in elements used, the more harmonious the design.”
Texture is also important, says D’Orazio, likening it to an artist’s brush stroke on a painting. “The texture of all surfaces and finishes in a space can be chosen carefully to create another dimension of the design. I love neutrals; by layering different textural elements you can create a space that is visually interesting, without being too in your face.”
A less-is-more approach is also part of her mantra. “I always pick two colours and work those in with the neutrals –more than three, especially layered with texture and pattern, can become a sensory overload. Different colours have different impacts on human psychology so these will vary by room or client preference.
Learn to fall in love with the negative space, she advises. Every inch does not need to be full of “stuff.” Start with your feature (one or two pieces) and work from there – whether that’s an antique cabinet that’s been passed down, a marble fireplace, or a vibrant accent chair. “Take inspiration from things that bring you joy.”
For more info, visit: StudioSereno.ca
