For the LOVE of Fine China – USE IT – Inspired Table Settings

From the Diminishing Dining Room of last week’s observations, https://patriciandesign.com/category/dining-rooms/, I decided to further the conversation to encourage a new-found appreciation for having fun setting dinner tables!  I found fodder from Kentucky Fried Chicken served on formal silver platters to wipe-clean placements of dazzling designs to dress your tables.  A collection of tireless designers defend the use of fine china – own it, buy it, find it, inherit it, enjoy it, keep it and use it – don’t send it to the thrift shop!!!

Yes, the art of fine dining seems to be set aside in favor of ease and expediency, but this article from The Washington Post’s HOME section (thank you Feath – my clipping service) brings it all home to use and enjoy.  It is a celebration of art, design and playful creativity.

Not everyone loves to entertain, to create the “tablescape,” to even bother to put together an outfit to wear. Not everyone loves to get dressed in the morning – it is a chore, an obligation, a mere necessity. That’s unfortunate in my estimation. For those of us who do – love it – it is all about having fun with fashion or interior design is just that – FUN!

Last spring I began a series  of emails that I blasted to our mailing list called COOK + PARTY. It was (and will continue this next season) a collection of weekly recipes paired with table-top art pieces. In our gift boutique, we represent an incredible collection of artists who create fabulous tableware.  I paired a piece with a recipe each week to inspire and encourage everyone to use “functional” art in their daily lives and specifically for entertaining and even the family dining table.

https://patriciandesign.com/category/art-and-food/

Recent fodder revealed a great source for fabulous wipe-clean placemats from Caspari.  For decades a fine source for the best paper cocktail napkins, Caspari offers these bold patterns and colors, prints of fine china and fabulous fabrics – re-use and easy to clean – why not?

https://www.casparionline.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=placemat

A previous fall blog that I wrote illustrates the open-mindedness of looking around to find inspiration for seasonal table dressings.  The decision for your table-top inspiration can be spontaneous – just go outside and look around!

 

Among the refreshingly optimistic designers that were quoted in the Washington Post article:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/that-old-fussy-china-can-fit-your-casual-lifestyle-designers-talk-about-how/2018/02/21/46761538-0084-11e8-8acf-ad2991367d9d_story.html?utm_term=.3a6fde2e5124

Barry Dixon, from the verdant rolling hills of Warrenton, Virginia, specifically points out that this process of setting your table should be fun!  Don’t pull-out the same things each time – mix it up! Change it up by adding color and pattern differently with every new opportunity.

Seasonal flowers, yellow woven cotton place-mats, embroidered folk-art table runner, basket chargers beneath classic Limoges topped with ceramic napkin rings – it looks like spring!

Designer Timothy Corrigan tells us that many people find it too difficult to entertain with their best things because the onus of proper cleaning and put-away is too much! But Mr. Corrrigan points out the joy of using your best things every day – everyday is a celebration and what you enjoy should be used.

In another springtime setting…organic, rustic things with finery – black stones nestle fresh purple Campatula flowers antique Limoges and basket chargers –  makes an eclectic table settings – it’snot all or nothing…it’s the combinations and scene that is being set.

Hutton Wilkinson – way out in L.A. where casual chic is the practice of distilling what migrated from the more formal sister coast to the east – noted that he believes presentation is the key to success. It isn’t so much about what is served (don’t tell the chefs that), but rather on what it is served and how it is presented.  Imagine buckets of Kentucky Fried chicken served on elegant Georgian silver platters. That simple fast-food chicken becomes  magnificently irresistible. You can’t say you’re too busy to cook with that creative solution! Wilkinson believes that presentation helps food taste better in addition to looking beautiful! He advocates buying china because it’s beautiful – not merely serviceable. I agree…it’s not all about the mundane purpose of eating off of it – but rather the joy of eating off of it!!

Making your guests feel appreciated and treating them to a unique, pleasing experience is a gift to them.  A special treat to show that you care –  going that extra distance of detail and design.

Color combinations, textures,patterns – wonderfully pleasing tablescapes are a treat for the eye. (So special Marsha!)

So don’t say it’s too difficult…keep it simple with Real Simple – the source for easy, ingenious ideas and simple truths……the following link for proper place-settings will get you started.

https://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/entertaining/how-to-set-a-table

Patti says – “make it special every day.”

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Posted On March 11, 2018 By pattisays In art and food, artistic expression, beauty behold it, Centerpieces, Color schemes, creative process, creativity, design, design process, design solutions, design tips, design trends, dining and design, dining rooms, DIY design, entertaining, fashion and design, fine china, floral arrangement, floral arrangements, floral designs, folkart, Food and art, food and interior design, handmade tableware, hiring an interior designer, inspiration from nature, interior atmosphere, interior design, interior design trends, joy, lifestyle, natural designs, natural integrity of the materials, natural stone, organic design, party themes, personal expression, practical design, seasonal interior design, Spring, Subscribers, table dressings, table top, tableware, textures, trends, value of good design, weavings /  

Atmos and Eating by Design

How do you select a restaurant? As a patron, what makes you dine out? How do you select your preferred dining experience? I’m talking about casual and easy or even more a more in-depth gastronomic event.

When it comes to casual, quick and easy, I still want the experience to have personality – a pleasing personality and great flavors. Personality is atmosphere. Great flavors is the kitchen. Service might be “step-up and place your order” or table-side wait-staff. In either case, I want it to be a pleasing experience. Why would anyone want it to be difficult or unpleasant? Perhaps that lies in the definitions of the beholder. What is difficult or unpleasant and the various degrees thereof is not be the same for everyone.

Throughout my childhood, I remember my mother and her peers reference “atmos.” It was important. It came up often. “Does the place have atmos?” Or “what great atmos.” Atmosphere – it is the feeling you get in an environment. It is the feeling a place emits. I don’t ever recall it being used in the negative – such as this place has horrible atmos…rather, like ambiance, it was reserved to compliment.

 

Cafe des Artistes – Puerto Vallarta – Note the full-wall mural by Federico  Leon de la Vega as a backdrop to the dining scene. Also, perhaps someone should have straightened the lamp shades!

We now hear “vibe.” The place has a good vibe – but not limited to only compliment, a place can have a decidedly bad vibe too! Is it just the saying “If you can’t say anything nice about something, don’t say anything at all?” Perhaps we are less polite than the previous generations. Yet, constructive criticism let’s you know what makes your patrons pleased. Truth be told…be honest with discretion.

As a restaurant owner, it seems that erring on the side of greater numbers sharing the same opinion of easy and pleasing would capture the greater share of the demographic. Therefore, studies are out there to determine the value of ambiance and presentation. Starting with defining the description of your eatery…who are you and what and how do you serve? What is your “brand?” Whether funky or fine, dining should be worth the visit.

Nexus Brewery, in Albuquerque, has a unique brand and complimentary interior “vibe.”

I read a few excerpts from a fascinating new book, Gastrophysics, The New Science of Eating by Charles Spence. In it, he touches on the importance of atmosphere. He observes the value of interior design even as it relates to how much people eat and how much they spend as a result of atmospheric influences.

Another great read for understanding the art of a successful restaurant is Daniel Boardman’s Your First Restaurant – An Essential Guide. As an “essential aspect of your concept” Boardman identifies why the “thoughtfulness of the interior design” communicates to the patron a lot about the service and food that one might expect to receive.

Tacos on paper – porque no?

From lighting to the shape of the plate, ambiance and presentation are key features in a successful eating establishment.

All the way from candles on a white linen table cloth to a handsome juicy burger in a basket lined with paper, in the context of the environment – design details matter.

Luscious bun-less green chile cheese burger at Sparky’s in Hatch, New Mexico – served on paper and styrofoam – not fancy, but perfection!!

 

Stone under-foot and condiments as a center-piece!! Funky!!

Some reading this might say they don’t care. Fine. Perhaps on the surface, they think it doesn’t matter. They don’t realize the effectiveness of well thought-out details. They take these things for granted. Yet these details can make or break a dining experience – from casual to fine.

El Arrayan presents enclosed patio dining with a variety of light sources, well balanced colors and textures in Puerto Vallarta.

Next time you eat out, look around, smell the smells, hear the sounds, see the colors, notice the lighting sources and levels, feel the furniture and – have I not mentioned it? – check out the restrooms!!!!

Las Caletas…in the jungle…clean and simple.

Not only should they be very clean – but they should also continue the theme of the place.

Graffiti by design, this restroom is actually immaculately clean and patrons do NOT contribute with their own markings. It is located in the street taco eatery of SALUD! in Barrio Logan, San Diego. Fast and friendly, delicious and fabulously  funky!

Pay attention and you might be surprised at what you discover about your sensitivities.

Chaco Hotel in Albuquerque is thoroughly theme-based throughout.

What you hear while dining contributes greatly to the pleasure or discomfort of your time spent in the environment. It either contributes positively or detracts annoyingly. Listen to the sounds next time you dine. At home or out, notice voices, chairs being moved, glassware, music, kitchen noises, traffic…see what detracts, what enhances or what might be considered neutral.

Interior designers are considering it all – the theme, atmosphere, colors, artwork, furniture, lighting, table dressings, serving pieces, fabrics, textures and even sound. Whether casual or more formal, these design details can make or break the success of the business.

Oro Valley Country Club, Arizona.

Even if the food is exceptional, too bright lighting, ineffective colors, uncomfortable furniture or confused design elements can result in negating even the best chef’s efforts. It is a package. It is about the whole. It is a multi-sensory experience. Buen provecho!

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Posted On January 7, 2018 By pattisays In ambiance, art and food, art and interior design, bars and restaurants, branding in interior design, breweries, commercial interior design, context of interior design, corporate branding, design, design process, design solutions, design tips, design trends, dining and design, Food and art, food and interior design, hiring an interior designer, interior atmosphere, interior design, interior design trends, lighting, Mexico, Nexus Brewery, public design, public restrooms, restaurant design, restaurant restrooms, selecting colors, table dressings, table top, tableware, value of good design /   1 Comment

When is Too Much, Not Quite Enough?

Perhaps – when you are an avid collector, limitless treasure-hunter and lover of basic Americana (comprised of the appreciation of indelible graphic design and branding mixed with a healthy dose of green chile cheeseburgers, bodacious bbq and good fun) – it’s never enough! We’re in Hatch, New Mexico at Sparky’s once again!!!! The sensational roadside attraction – Sparky’s burger bastion MUST know when too much is not enough!

Nine and a half years ago Teako made a statement and the word has been spreading ever since!

The opening of this fun and funky establishment started out with a few outrageous signs and vintage mascots like the Colonel Saunders on a bench, Ronald McDonald as the un-official greeter

and a dedication to signature green chile cheeseburgers and mouthwatering bbq. Now both sides of the street (and scattered around town) are towering, larger-than-life icons of days gone by and travelers from all over the world stop to experience this unique site.

But inside, the treasures also abound! With each visit we discover new surprises and exciting additions. Because its Christmas, we were enticed by the “Say Queso” photo scene. We donned funky antlers and cozied up to the decked-out tree, with a backdrop of sparkle and ornament, beneath dangling snowflakes,

flanked by a towering toy soldier and Jolly Old Saint Nick himself!

The stockings were hung in clustered abundance over the entryway to the dining room. No such thing as too many or too much here!!!

The walls are plastered with iconic paraphernalia.

Patina etched tin painted and pitted, with pocks of rust and tarnish – weathered through many storms adding further character to the familiar and not-so familiar pieces, until finding safe haven here in this magical collection.

Camp art un-selfconsciously curated on every square inch of interior space.  A nostalgic presentation and preservation of graphic design and branding.

If you’re a “picker,” a graphic designer, a nostalgia buff, burger and bbq connoisseur or just a kid looking for a memorable bite on the side of the road,

Sparky’s unintentional museum, of the colorfully entertaining and eclectic, will not disappoint! It is a must-see landmark in this our Land of Enchantment.

Be enchanted at Sparky’s! Thanks for the memories!!!!! Keep ’em coming!!!

 

 

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Posted On December 17, 2017 By pattisays In art and food, art and interior design, artistic expression, bars and restaurants, branding in interior design, camp - retro design, Christmas, clutter, commercial interior design, corporate branding, creativity, decorative arts, design, dining and design, element of surprise in design, exterior - outdoor design, fanciful design, Food and art, Graphic art, interior design, interior design trends, logos, multi-media design, nostalgia and design, personal expression, public design, recycle, recycle design, travel and design /  

COOK + PARTY: Set the Stage for Style with Art in Daily Life

Having art woven through the daily activities of your world is stimulating, satisfying and inspirational. It stimulates the imagination, satisfies with the knowledge that is was created by an individual artist and inspires to spur the creativity we each have to express – whether we know it or not. It encourages appreciation.

Functional art is a cornerstone of the work we offer at PATRICIAN DESIGN. As a novel promotion of the various artists who create and produce exciting food-safe serving pieces on display and for sale in our shop and affirmation, of the belief we have that art should set the stage for style in daily life, we began our series – Patti’s COOK + PARTY. We like to party and we love art – so we party with art at the  center of the  festivities!!!! Let’s get this party started!!!!!

Six months ago, we began our series and followed the seasons as we progressed. By Fourth of July we featured festive party parfaits in expected red, white and blue! Our martini glasses were placed upon colorful cocktail coasters hand dyed and pieced into pretty patchwork squares by fiber artist, Rebecca Speakes!

Micheladas were given a twist with plump yellow heirloom tomatoes! Alongside was a fresh guacamole featured in a rippled-edged undulating little piece of pottery by artist Anne Marie Werner Smith.

Her collection is wonderful and we continue to feature key pieces in our weekly recipe pairings.

The pairing of recipes, with handmade art pieces on which to present and serve is inspiring. Here is a New York Strip steak bathed in a crazy fresh, from the garden, combination of pesto/chimichurri (yes, we created some crazy combinations of the two) sauce presented on a fanciful leaf platter by artist Robin Chlad!

Seeing examples of fun recipe ideas displayed on functional art creations is an unbeatable combination. Just tell Guy Fieri that for his Next Big Project!!! Rooting out artist’s studios in every pocket of the country and discovering great work and pairing it with great food – fantastic!

The colorful drawings and painterly style of Mariana Gasteyer’s pottery is whimsical and festive! Here a couple of examples and a fabulous featured recipe of a paired pear salad – half roasted and half freshly sliced – the combination was divine and the presentation on the platter was perfection!

A summer road trip took us too Tucson where we featured a huge lotus platter by artist Penne Roberts. Here we featured a vintage Shrimp Louis Salad.

 

As fall progressed, we hiked Tent Rocks to photo this amazing platform piece by Jenn Dipaolo.

Upon the platform we placed a pair of sweet and savory mini pumpkin pots de creme.

This past week we featured a dazzling, luminous glass sunflower bowl Margaret Hidalgo Vanderheyden.

This spectacular fused glass assemblage frames our pecan crusted cheese ball perfectly.  Fall colors with holiday flair, this bowl makes a statement!!!

Supporting local artists, showcasing their pieces by pairing with food is the  bomb!

Start family traditions with signature art pieces, build collections and shop  small supporting local artists in your community!!!

If you would like to receive our weekly Patti’s COOK + PARTY recipes and pairings with our functional art finds, let us know what you think and sign-up with your email address!!

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Posted On November 25, 2017 By pattisays In art and food, art and interior design, artistic expression, creativity, decorative arts, design tips, design trends, dining and design, entertaining, Food and art, food and interior design, glass art, Guy Fieri, Guy Fieri's Next Big Project, Guy's Big Project, handmade tableware, interior design, interior design trends, lifestyle, party themes, pottery, sunflowers, tableware, unique serving pieces /