Narrowing down the palette for my holiday table is always a bit of a conundrum: I adore a crisp, snowy white look… but then again, nothing’s cozier than tartan plaid… and I’m always a sucker for an evergreen palette that lets me incorporate lots of classic boxwood. Which is why it’s so fun to get to indulge these totally different aesthetics when we work on holiday photo shoots, and it was a no-brainer when the team at just-launched Mark and Graham (which is soon to become your new go-to monogram and gifting source) asked if I’d go head-to-head with an amazing group of bloggers and designers for their Make Your Mark Design Challenge. The idea? Each of us designs a holiday table using a different collection of Mark and Graham goodies, which will then be posted on the brand’s Facebook page to see which gets the most likes. Hop on over to vote for your favorite starting this Wednesday, and once you “Like,” you’ll be entered to win a $500 shopping spree at Mark and Graham. Keep reading for more details on my design, photographed by Buff Strickland…
I’ll definitely be unpacking monogrammed napkins year-after-year around the holidays – the gorgeous crimson shade of the script-y M inspired the classic palette for the rest of the table. I paired them with Anthropologie’s piecrust dinnerware (obsessed), my own Crate & Barrel flatware and Mark & Graham’s hand-blown wine glasses.
I tucked sprigs of boxwood among tightly-bunched white roses in mercury glass vessels, and added lots of silver candlesticks for height and drama. The monogrammed classic tall pitcher is perfect for serving water at the table – I made mine festive with cranberries and mint.
To add a bit of sparkle to place settings, I placed a silver mercury glass ornament (plucked right from our tree) on top of each plate and attached an elegant place card (these were calligraphied by Kathryn Murray.) Even at small family gatherings, I love to assign seating – it just makes the meal seem like a special occasion, don’t you think?
I thought it would be fun to setup the table right in front of the tree on Christmas morning, sipping mimosas and steaming cups of coffee and just enjoying the warmth of the fire together. So what do y’all think of my design? If you love, don’t forget to head over to Mark and Graham’s Facebook page on Wednesday and “like” my design!
*Check out the competition! See the other Mark and Graham designs by coco+kelley, Sacramento Street, Little Green Notebook and Emily Henderson.
photos by Buff Strickland
