Four Settings for the Season

TODD FISCUS CELEBRATES THANKSGIVING

Use seasonal color in an unexpected way: "I love the coloration of fall," says Todd Fiscus. "I've always thought that brown and orange were innately chic." But he does add some verve to the color scheme. Inspired by a set of cocktail napkins embroidered with a coral motif, Fiscus collected leafless branches from his own yard and painted them coral to accent the table's centerpiece.

Sidestep the traditional cornucopia: At the center of the table, brown and gold rudbeckias, green pomegranates, dusty miller leaves, and chocolate cosmos are arranged in a handmade wire bird's nest shaped like a cornucopia. "Remember, it doesn't always have to be about pumpkins and leaves," Fiscus says.

Bring art to the table: Fiscus isn't afraid to use things of value in functional ways. Here, he transformed a set of one-of-a-kind etched glasses into candle votives and brought out a '50s French ceramic pitcher for serving guests.

Make a tablecloth specifically for the occasion: The chocolate-brown felt cloth that covers the table was made to complement the color scheme. Fiscus had the cloth made with a contrasting color on the reverse so that it can be used for other occasions.

RESOURCES: Designed by Todd Fiscus, todd. event design. creative services, 214/749-0400, www.toddevents.com; flatware by Alain Saint-Joanis, 011-33-4-73-51-42-97, www.alain-saint-joanis.com; salt-and-pepper dish by Sandrine Ganem, 011-33-1-44-41-00-03, www.sandrineganem.com; water glasses and wineglasses, Vega pattern, from Baccarat, 800/245-1928; large wineglasses from Crate and Barrel, 800/967-6696, www.crateandbarrel.com; '50s French ceramic water pitcher from Sally Rosen 20th Century Collections, 214/252-9041, www.20thcenturycollections.com; tablecloth by Nicolas Custom Apparel and Soft Goods, 214/370-3711, www.nicolasdesigns.com; martini glasses by Riedel, 732/346-8960, riedel.com; coral linen cocktail napkins from the Hamburg House (to the trade), 305/557-9913, www.hamburghouse.com.

CAROL GARNER SETS THE STAGE FOR HANUKKAH

Make your own menorah: "I wanted to have a menorah as my centerpiece," Carol Garner explains, "but I couldn't find one low enough not to interfere with conversation. So I made my own." Each of the candles is set in a quartz candleholder and surrounded with gardenias, white and purple roses, blue and purple New Zealand hydrangeas, and viburnum berries.

Bring the outside in: Garner brought her privet topiaries off the patio and studded them with gardenias, which she also attached to the back of each chair and to the napkin rings. "I love to use gardenias for their delicious smell," she says.

Pamper your guests: The designer printed menu cards so guests would know what to expect with each course. She also incorporated party favors into the setting by using tiny picture frames as place cards. "Everyone can take the frames home and enjoy them," she says.

If you don't have it, rent it: She wanted to set the table with the traditional colors of Hanukkah -- blue, white, and silver -- but didn't have anything fitting in her closet. So she rented the Limoges china, the beaded tablecloth, and the chairs.

RESOURCES: Designed by Carol Garner, Carol Garner Flowers and Party Designs, 214/526-4205; picture frames from Carte, 214/559-6168; quartz candleholders from Madison, 214/528-8118; tablecloth from BBJ Linen, 214/651-9020, www.bbjlinen.com; chairs, plates, and chargers from R.S.V.P. Soirée, 214/350-7787, www.rsvpcalendar.com.

CHRIS WHANGER AT HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

Move the table in front of the fireplace: "No matter where your table sits throughout the year," says Chris Whanger, "you can always move it in front of the fireplace during the cold winter months when you want an intimate, cozy setting."

Get out your heirloom pieces: "Using heirloom pieces keeps your family history alive," he says. Whanger's dining table, for example, boasts his grandfather's horse trophies -- in the form of silver cups and candleholders. The Windsor chair at the end of the table is from his great-great-great-grandfather's house in Virginia. "Luckily I ended up with it," he says. Not only does the chair make for interesting conversation, but it also provides additional seating.

Mix and match: "I remember my mother used to match everything," he says. "I think it's so much better not to match." Here, Whanger alternates his heirloom flatware with a newer design at every other place setting. "When you mix things up, you don't feel so limited by number," he says.

Use fruit and flowers together: Whanger added red grapes to his centerpieces of red roses, dahlias, viburnum berries, and purple hydrangeas, and he placed pears in alternating colors at each seat to complement the china and centerpieces.

RESOURCES: Designed by Chris Whanger, J & C Design, 214/641-7354, j-c-design.com; stemware and flatware from R.S.V.P. Soirée, 214/350-7787, www.rsvpcalendar.com; antique sterling silver pieces from Carter Bowden Antiques, 817/738-6433; antique dining chairs from Joseph Minton Antiques, 214/744-3111, www.mintonantiques.com.

BRIAN BOLKE'S TOAST TO NEW YEAR'S
Carry one color throughout the setting: Brian Bolke uses touches of green on the table and the dessert bar. At each place setting, he added a single cymbidium orchid. Clear glass vases allow the green stems of the flowers to become part of the arrangement. He also added a bowl filled with green West Texas pears.

Keep the flowers simple: "It's not all about the flowers. It's about the whole look," says Bolke. On the dessert bar, he simply bunched one type of flower in each vase -- white hydrangeas, white French tulips, and variegated purple-and-white sweet peas. The vases are clustered together as one arrangement for extra impact.

Make your centerpiece practical: "I think it's funny that generally the first thing people take off the table when they sit down is the flowers," says Bolke. Instead, he placed a Champagne cooler at the center of the table. This arrangement gives the table the festive feel of New Year's and is a chic way for guests to help themselves.

Encourage conversation: "This is a table where people could sit and talk for hours," he says. A nut bowl placed at each setting invites guests to relax and stay put for awhile.

RESOURCES: Designed by Brian Bolke of Forty Five Ten, 214/559-4510, and Avant Garden, 214/559-3432; desserts by Darren DeVille, Dallas, TX, darrendeville@hotmail.com; china, flatware, serving pieces, and vases through Forty Five Ten, 214/559-4510.