The ideas of your table: dishes, cutlery and textiles for serving. Tips for professionals.
East News.
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Table setting - reflection of your fantasy. All that is suitable for style and strengthens the impression is permitted. This time is no longer required to be white linen tablecloths and a high stack of expensive porcelain dishes. Ideas can be born from the very reason to meet. Today, the advice give you designer Irina Baryshnikov and the decorator Arina Egorova.
By the end of XVIII. Throughout Europe, the basic principles of serving have already been developed, nuances have arisen in the supply of dish-dining etiquette became more and more complex and sophisticated. But in general, the variety of feast was reduced to two options, relevant and so far: or put everything at once, or the setting is completely changed several times. Now the trend towards the simplification of table etiquette is noticeable, and many devices known in the old days can only be found in museums and antique stores.
Several traditional table serving options are preserved, but there are new ones almost every year, so that the table decoration also obeys a changeable fashion. Proszia has not yet been customized to invite home special designers who would cover the table to the holiday. It has long been practiced by foreign countries. And even there are whole schools of this kind of decorators. However, and our situation begins to change slowly. And if our homes are still limited to the classroom formulas on the Soviet times, not trying to change anything or diversify anything, then in a restaurant - on a banquet, a holiday or corporate party - increasingly called the designer. The usual cost of decorator services is from $ 150, depending on the volume and complexity of the work.
Tableware for serving is divided into three parts (or categories): dining room, tea and dessert. Items can be made of porcelain, faience or special glass. Silver and other metals usually produce dishes for cakes, appliances, saucers, troughs and solonks, andchinis. A cheaper version of metallic instrument-melchiovel or silver plated, and recently, together with a fashion for minimalism, steel and various modern alloys have entered the everyday. Crystal is more often used during receptions or large lunches, for conventional daily meal or table covered for friends, glass is suitable. In addition to the instruments from traditional materials, shops are offered horny knives, pearl spoons and other items that are used for gentle dishes (for example, caviar, sweets or fruits). All of these components are selected by the stylist of each specific serving.
Tablecloth white flooded wine ...
How to cover the table to solve. For solemn receptions or festivities in the classic spirit, white tablecloths are traditionally used. Specialty is considered linseed or cotton dining textiles with snow-white embroidery silk or moulin or with lace. For more informal cases, color or decorated tablecloths are suitable. These products themselves are of different sizes that need to be selected for a specific table (the value and shape of the table top) are important. Usually, the packaging shows the size of both the tablecloth itself and the table for which it will be suitable. In a wet store on these questions a consultant will be answered. The traditional length of the hanging part is the middle of the height of the headband or slightly below. In the early time, the tablecloths are becoming fashionable. It is very beautiful, but not very practical, uncomfortable to sit at the table. Occatively, the matter is only slightly hanging from the edges, the table looks not very pleasant, it is better to use a napkin laid on the worktop. Do not forget that you can generally avoid the tablecloth and apply the napkins of different sizes and shapes. As a rule, this optional coating option is characteristic of a serving in a modern style.In addition to the main tablecloth, you will need napkins. The sign of a good tone is the products from the fabric, the paper are applied only in everyday domestic conditions. "Paper option" is more suitable for a youth party or a meeting of close friends than for solemn cases.
Textile napkins are different, and their goals are also different. There are lining under the plates - to designate the place of each guest and at the same time avoid stains on the tablecloth, because the napkins change easier and make it easier. Usually, for this purpose, contrasting colors are chosen or a pattern of a white napkin on a white tablecloth is not accepted. There are napkins to lay in baskets or plates with bread, to cover the kettle and hold it in hand, to cover the dishes. All of them usually harmonize in color or drawing with those that are put under the plates. For individual use, both white and non-ferrous products are allowed. The main thing is to find a harmonious combination of table design elements.
The inexpensive tablecloths and napkins of good quality make Russian businesses from Yelets, Ivanov, Nizhny Novgorod and other traditional flax and cotton industry centers. You can buy a separate tablecloth and separate napkins or purchase a set of tablecloths and six, eight or twelve napkins. Different design - from the classic white canvas with manual lace to avant-garde options. Cost of tablecloth - 300-1000rub., Napkins - 80-600rub., Sets - 500-1500 rub.
Linvosges (France) produces not only bed linen and bath accessories, but offers tablecloths, napkins and other dining textiles of excellent quality. Products can be made of blended tissues (cotton and flax), made of chick or jacquard fabric, with manual embroidery or printed pattern. Casual sets have teflon treatment, protecting fabric from spots. The tablecloths, depending on the size cost from 2100 to 12000rub., Napkins - from 200 to 800 rubles. a piece.
The French firm Alexandre Turpault produces a tablecloth, more suitable for classic serving, although modern options appear in the last collections. The tablecloths are mostly monophonic, damask, often use modest mere hazard or embroidery. Latest collections include a connection in one canvas of two different colors. The price of tablecloth- $ 100-300, set (tablecloth and 6, 8 or 12 napkins) - $ 150-500.
Tradi Linge (France) offers 2 versions of textiles for serving a table-official (classic) and home. The classic series is Cotton Damaste Tablecloths, monophonic or with woven pattern in the form of flowers, IT.D. Home Series - Bright colors of cotton or cotton with polyester, with flower, butterflies, vegetables and fruits and different funny pictures made by printing. Such a tablecloth is better to use in an absolutely home atmosphere so that daily lunch or dinner is pleasant and pleased with family members and close friends. For informal techniques, you can use a more rigorous series, which includes cellular or floral patterns. All tablecloths are trimmed with a special protective tape, the coating of Teflon is applied. Empty these products are very simple. Prices for the largest headsets will not exceed $ 150.
Gorgeous and elegant Villeroy Boch tablecloths. Flax and cotton are so thin, and embroidery, lace and finish are so accurately selected that textiles itself becomes not just an accessory, but decoration of a table, a magnificent background for high-quality, good porcelain. The napkins and tablecloths are sustained in a different design, they can be selected to the settings from the same company, it is very convenient, you do not need to spend time and forces in search of a suitable background. The cost of tablecloths, depending on the design and decoration, from $ 170.
On gold, I used silver ...
The classic setting style is usually used for official techniques or especially solemn cases. You will need services, instruments and textiles from the most traditional, classic materials. Scandinavian minimalism leave for other cases. "Palace" classic is an expensive and a rather complicated set of serving, requiring knowledge of etiquette, dishes and wines. The best stamps of porcelain and silver, firms that make expensive table textiles will become wonderful assistants. The abbreviated and simplified version of the classic style can be found in almost any book on etiquette.
The German Manufactory of Meissen is known to the world with the XVII. The best sets for Kurfurs, emperors and nobles were manufactured on this manufactory. For now, Meissen does not release the dishes of the new design, but uses old development, only sometimes changing the color or pattern. Almost all stages of the manufacture of porcelain on manufactory are manually undergoing, according to antique technologies. Products are sold, as a rule, separately, and not "ensembles", this allows not to be limited to the number of persons or not to acquire unnecessary items. All sets are decorated with real gold, unique enamels and cobalt. MEISSEN table items on the definition of collectibles, since being produced in limited quantities. Total manufactory produces more than 150 thousand species of porcelain items, most of which are designed for the table. The selected dining service for 6 persons can cost from $ 1000 and more expensive.
Flowers for the table is very relevant. If you have a good taste and, most importantly, knowledge in the field of floristics, you can create a bouquet yourself. It should be noted that there will be much better on the table and the compositions of colors selected specifically, not solid-caliber bouquets that presented your guests will look much better and elegant. Floral arrangements for the table is very specific. The main thing is not to rearrange, so that bouquets do not interfere with and drink, did not block the interlocutors, did not smell, did not fall out and much more. If you doubt your abilities, refer to professionals. They can take from you from 300 to 30,000 rubles (depending on the size, types of colors and their quantity), but it will be really suitable for the case of the composition. It makes sense to contact some floral salon, tell a specialist, what a meal is dedicated to, inform it about the size of the table, the number of guests and choose the flowers younger. You can try to use compositions from dried flowers, artificial colors. If you want to surprise your friends with impeccable knowledge of fashion trends, order in specialized salons Iquiban. The production of the composition will cost $ 50-250, depending on the complexity, not including the cost of colors.
Wedgwood (United Kingdom) is also an old firm that exists in the market for more than 240 years. Its high-quality thin-walled porcelain, including bone, traditionally roads. However, recently you can buy tea dishes (although it's not so exquisite) from this manufacturer for a completely moderate price. The firm seeks to increase the number of clients, so that every year new options for decor and forms are being developed. Classic lines are adjacent to modern. Both in the old days and now the company works with leading designers and artists. Jasper Connare and Paul Costello, Lolita Lempika and Vivienne Westwood. The salons are also offered different items on the selection, and sets (mostly tea-coffee-coffee). The cost of a selected dining service for 6 persons- $ 500-8000, tea or a coffee kit of the "Egoist" type (per person) - from $ 150.
VILLEROY BOCH (Germany) is a firm that issues services for all occasions. The series is divided into design: classic - strict pattern, elegant forms suitable for classic servings and official banquets; Country- Home, even country style, cute colors, ideal for calm trapes in a narrow family circle; Metropolitain- "Modernist" collection of modern forms; Easy- It can be said that it is a dishes for those who want to issue homemade techniques with taste; The collection does not have the heavyness of classic forms and too much country freedom. The company also offers a great help to those who want to be beautiful and easily arrange holidays for drinks for drinks and cutlery. Dear collections (Classic, Metropolitain) are made of bone porcelain, though, thicker than usual, so all the dishes can be used in the microwave and washed in the dishwasher. The most democratic series (Country, Easy) applies solid porcelain or faience. Prices are quite democratic: Tea Pair of the Classic Kimono series (Pickasso Paloma Design) - $ 130.
Cutlery for Villeroy Boch produces WMF company. A special alloy "Chromorgan" (stainless steel and silvering) is used. The thick layer of the coating makes the devices almost indistinguishable from pure silver. You can find items that correspond to any brand and any design of the porcelain. There are instruments with plastic handles (high-quality, very thick plastic, it does not look like and cheap, and you will not say at all that it is artificial material). The cost of a set of 6 people is from $ 300.
In Europe, traditionally believes that the best table silver is Cristofle (France). The design changes every year, but those who are loved by all models remain the same. The classic serving corresponds to the Baroque style appliances with curls on the handles or decorated with bone and gilding. Typically sold kits in boxes for 6, 8, 12 persons. You can collect a set of parts (for example, from cutlery on one person). Tea and coffee spoons are sold only by sets. There are gift headsets for all kinds of meals. The company also offers accessories for the table: rings for napkins, various dishes containers. The cost of instruments - from $ 200. One ring for a napkin costs from $ 30.
Crystal for the palace setting is also appropriate to use the best - Christofle, Waterford (United Kingdom), Laliqué (France). These manufacturers have a collection of purest crystal. Glasses Lalique are the thinnest and elegant, decorated with a traditional satin for the company. The Waterford trademark is famous for its diamond cut and massive walls (read the article "Crystal Chime"). All items are sold one by one, which is very convenient. The average price of a glass of champagne- $ 40.
Do not be afraid of a high price and limit your fantasy. Classic service can be purchased for acceptable money. It will be more practical for the same and it will be able to use it more often. The price reduction depends on the simplification of manufacturing technologies - machine or semi-mechanized work, printing instead of hand painting IT.D. Pay attention to domestic porcelain (Lomonosovsky plant products) and products of Czech factories.
If your reception is unofficial or it's just a home celebration, it makes sense to use a more free setting style. It is allowed to depart from etiquette, the use of more modern materials and a variety of design.
PortMeirion (United Kingdom) offers an elegant and inexpensive classic and magnificent avant-garde. The Botanic Garden and Pomona collections are decorated with naturalistic, but elegant colors, and Fiji and Tahiti-avant-garde flower compositions. Items are sold separately and in sets. The cost of a tea service for 6 persons is $ 200 (classic) and $ 150 (avant-garde).
Jonsons Brothers (United Kingdom) produces Hard Porcelain, the so-called "solid china". In general, technological methods of manufacturing "solid porcelain" manufacturers are kept secret. There is a classic mixture: kaolin (50%), quartz (25%), field spat (25%). But if you try to just bake the porcelinus "Biscuit", based on this recipe, "solid porcelain" will not work, you need to know the temperature firing modes, special chemical additives. Jonsons Brothers are not used gold, the company is focused on the middle class and produces services mainly for home use. The price of a lunch service for 6 persons is $ 350-400. The same manufacturer produces silver plated metal items for table-cordan, cloves, various Salads IDR. Pashboard (there is a Russian synonymous-"sublication") from glass with a cut in a rim from silver-plated metal can cost $ 50.
Churchill (United Kingdom) specializes in the release of restaurant dishes of the ivory color from durable ceramics. For a wide range of buyers, thick-walled items are offered, sometimes from faience. The drawing is applied by printing, but very high quality. The most popular served-decorated with genre scenes, landscapes. The cost of a tea service by 6 person is $ 100.
Robbe Berking (Germany) - famous cutlery from Flensburg Manufactory. These are silver, as well as silver plated and gold-plated steel products. They are distinguished by excellent quality and strict design. Suitable for domestic serving. Silver plated models are made not with a traditional coating of 90g, but with more valuable and durable in 150g. On the back of the appliances, this is noted by a special brand-little mammoth. The cost of devices is $ 50-70 per set.
Fashion trends
Now in fashion eclecticism, Japanese and avant-garde style. Eclectic, or, it is better to say, a sick, it allows you to combine objects on the table, which for another half a year ago it would not even mind to connect, - plastic with porcelain, plastic with silk, champagne with sausages. All- colors, textures, drawings are mixed. The direction is very "wilderly", something reminds of home dinners of our proper-cutting times, when from different sets remained on one plate, glasses and glasses were "non-format", and the owner generally used a plastic circle. Pretty complex direction. It is difficult to stay on the verge of a good taste, do not ride in full styling confusion. You can only consult to contact the specialists, because you need to know and feel many subtleties of serving and laying objects.Japanese style is associated with us, first of all, with Sousi, Sashimi, Iquaban IT.P. But now the so-called "flexible" style, drawing ideas from the ancient Chinese culture, is gaining strength, or rather, from the Hayan era. This is a hint of Chinese meal, which has always been far from minimalism. The table is decorated with exquisite silk fabrics, a lush sets are used or separate items of the Japanese Manufactory of Satsuma, Arita, Imari, Kutani. These manufacturers are famous for their thin-walled porcelain and fully manual labor in the manufacture of dishes from ancient times.
The avant-garde style is good for young and bold. Principle to surprise guests. Often the main advantage of lunch becomes serving, not food. Instead of tablecloths, for example, tulle, fur, rugs are used, textile products will be useful, far from culinary subjects. You can make a kimono or Chinese clothing, Turkmen, Pavlovo-Posal or Orenburg Shawl on the table. To serve lunch is allowed not only on the table, but also in the most unexpected places - on the mirror laid on the floor, on the windowsill. Fantasy no limit! Youth and modern series of all listed brands are suitable for serving. The ideal option for this type of decoration can be the product of the company Kahla (Germany). The Germans are famous for their excellent solid porcelain and modern "humorous" design. Each item is simply filled with different original ideas and non-standard setting approaches. Funny cups without pens, wrapped with woolen ribbons ($ 20), coffee and tea pairs with a displaced center - it allows you to fit on a saucer and a spoon, and sugar, and a cake or sandwich ($ 35).
The ideas of your table
It should be remembered that the setting depends not only from the reason, but also from the form of feeding dishes and the method of their preparation, a buffet, cocktail, dinner, coffee, fondue, fish or fruit party. Not forgetting beauty, always take care of practicality. When serving, you need to clearly understand which devices, glasses, glasses and plates are required for this dish or drink. You should prepare the plates in advance so that the portions do not look "lonely", but also did not create inconvenience, falling on the floor. By organizing the table "for their own", of course, you can avoid formalities and not to serve special tongs for crayfish, not to force guests to eat a special device. Although it should be noted that with a small training, you will appreciate how convenient it is special devices, and not banal forks. And do not hit the dirt face if you ever have to use these instruments on official receptions.
Celebrations are not obliged to be prim and tedious. You can come up with the topic and arrange everything "under it." The wedding should not be an indispensable "voluntary surrender of the bride into operation," but may become a memorable event if you make a table in some river. Option - choose, for example, an ethnic theme. It is not necessary to press sushi, getting off the chopsticks on their hands, or to bite the Sichuan cuisine, get drunk by Russian vodka or suffer from too spicy and acute Indian food. Several decorative accents on the table and around it will create the necessary atmosphere, Chinese lanterns, Japanese square plates, Khokhloma and Gzhel, Elephant Figures and Lotus. You can make a meal and more distracted topics. Say, the chapel. Select the silver range for cutlery and the service against the background of the dense-blue tablecloth. We are not talking about that every day of birth, every anniversary in short, every date you can make a memorable, connecting all the wealth of your imagination.
To avoid the hint before the table at the beginning of the meal, it is recommended for lunch more than 3 people make special cards with names. So you denote the places of guests and can even play the role of fate, putting someone near or, on the contrary, seeding away. Original idea is colorful, unconventional decorated menu, lying on the table. This menu will be just a prelude warming up the imagination of your friends, relatives and colleagues. Averty Salad "Olivier", if you call it some beautiful, sonorous name, will no longer look like a banal host "excitement".
Children in serving affairs are not an exception. Little fantasies can also try to decorate the table so that you only helped them. The kids do not need to offer an expensive porcelain or easily beating crystal: thick ceramics, plastic, even cardboard- excellent elements for the decoration of the children's table. Do not forget also about funny ornaments, balls and toys. Firms offering collections for children - Villeroy Boch (Troika for a child - from $ 130), Kahla (game tea couple "pick up your tail" - $ 60).
The new year is a wonderful holiday, in the design of which all objects in the house are involved. Wreaths, artificial and live flowers, fir and pine branches, even Christmas tree tinsel and toys can serve as an excellent depection. Serving is appropriate any. Beautiful dinner with candles, and what they are more, the more more would be your holiday. Do not forget to take care of the candlesticks that can be found in all listed firms and manufactories. If you need an effect of shimmering ice, a crystal and glass will help in this as it is impossible. For example, Waterford candlestick from Crystal costs from $ 40. If you want to create exquisite muffled lighting, Villeroy Boch porcelain candlesticks are suitable.
Almost every company provides its customers with the possibility of acquiring a New Year's decoration of special design. Here are some examples: Kahla- red service and service with angels for 12 persons (from $ 200); Waterford- New Year glasses for wine, water, whiskey and other drinks from $ 50 per piece; Villeroy Boch - the choice of both toys and accessories for the table (tea para - $ 124).
Try to use the color psychology in the serving - this idea is supported by Feng Shui, and Fusus, and European psychologists. Bright red excites appetite, white with gold configures on a solemn way, black activates brain activity. Green and blue are perfect for people who prefer a diet. You can apply the combination of different colors on the table or only color accents. The most important thing is that already before the start of the celebration and coming guests the table was covered. This will create the necessary mood, and the dishes will be much more tastier, suitable with delights of your loved ones.
If you are a happy owner of an antique porcelain, faience or glass or, maybe collect teapots - do not rush to hide your wealth into the closet. Your treasures can be used for destination. This will especially be relevant now, on the wave of fashion for antiques. Even if you were inherited not a whole service, but separate disparate items, they can be used in a completely free combination. Main- observe style. If you have different Items of a blue-blue Chinese porcelain or you prefer Japanese ceramics in the last years, or your passion designer finish finish, boldly make up the composition for the table. You can also start a teas party with friends, offering each of them a separate kettle from your collection. Do not forget that the statuette collections can be put on the table (which, by the way, originally had a goal not to dust in the servants, and decorate the tables), toys, VAZ, Matreyshek, and everything, whatever, if only it was tasteful. Do not overdo it, not the main thing.
The editors thanks the store "Porcelain on Leninsky", Frex, "Genlex", Salons Villeroy Boch, "Yukukori" for help in the preparation of material.