And that's exactly what they did for the opening of friend Susan Massey's design shop, Bohlert-Massey, in Seacrest Beach, Florida. "Susan was the first person to use our fabric in a project -- it was the Lily Pad pattern on a headboard. We were so excited," says Smith. "She's made room for our designs in her shop, so we wanted to help her celebrate."

A friend of Massey's offered the use of her home, and Smith and Sweeney took care of the details, planning the entire party from a 1,200-mile distance in New York. Taking their cue from photographs of the green ceiling in the dining room, the women began to make preparations. A tablecloth in a similar shade of green and of their own design was custom-made for the occasion. They also shipped a few personal favorites to the location in advance, such as linens, china, and dried lotus blossoms to be used as place cards.

They did, however, take advantage of local resources. Chef John Jacob of Vintij Wine Boutique, a new area restaurant, catered the event. "We created the menu based on what was in season, but we kept it as simple as possible," says Smith. "My biggest pet peeve is fussy little food. It's the beach. Don't complicate it." The sisters chose a Mediterranean theme, serving dishes such as whole red snapper, assorted "pizzettes," and tomato-and-basil bruschetta.

This type of kick-your-shoes-off, casual entertaining best fits Smith and Sweeney's busy lifestyle. The last party the two hosted was a Southern-fried-chicken picnic on the floor of Smith's apartment in New York. "People just want to get together," says Smith. "When you're juggling a career, you have to make it simple."