For the dining tablescape I set for my entertaining essentials TV segment, I contrasted textures and materials to create an beautiful table that was accented by dim candlelight and gorgeous floral arrangements. There’s no rule that says your dinnerware has to match and here I mixed together a croc printed silver charger with a classic white with silver rim dinner plate and a glass salad plate that featured an interesting textural pattern. When entertaining for a very special occasion I always say linen napkins are a must and soft candlelight really helps set the mood mood…it’s also the most flattering light! I added candlesticks in varying heights for added visual interest and also clustered groups of votives along the table which is a simple way to make a big impact. The flatware I used for the segment had  black, wooden handles which I thought provided a nice contrast and I used classic white stemware for wine and water. I topped it off with gorgeous arrangement made with white hydrangea and orchids, courtesy of In Bloom New York. Below, is some inspiration for how you can achieve a similar look for your next dinner party!

1. Dinnerware L-R:  Stainless Steel Chargers, $49.95/set of 4 at Crate & Barrel. Calvin Klein Basso Dinner Plate, $37. Iittala “Dew Drop” salad plate, $16 at Bloomingdale’s. | 2. LaGuiole Flatware, $89.95 at Williams-Sonoma. | 3. Miller Rogaska Weston Candlesticks, $94.99-119.99/pair at Bed Bath & Beyond. | 4. Glass Votives, $26.99/pack of 72 at Amazon.com. | 5. Monnogrammed Hotel Dinner Napkins, $46/set of 6 at Williams-Sonoma. | 6. Swirl Stemware, $12.99 at Bed Bath & Beyond. | 7. In Bloom Collection “Saragosa Garden” floral arrangement, $150 at Plant Shed NY.

_{Make it Happen and Follow Your Dreams notebooks, $75. Be Happy notebook, $60}.

Along with a new year comes new dreams, new aspirations and resolutions to improve ourselves and our lives. I recently declared “Make it Happen” my personal mantra for 2011 so when I came across this chic notebook emblazoned with those very words, I wanted it immediately! I’m thinking of getting this as my personal goal journal for the year. What better place to chronicle my hopes and aspirations than in a luxe pink leather notebook from Smythson of Bond Street?! There are several other equally colorful and stylish notebooks available at Smythson with inspirational sayings like “Follow Your Dreams, “Be Happy” and “Seize the Day.” You can check them all out here!

Q. I have been actively searching the internet for affordable, stylish tablescapes for my Thanksgiving table and can find almost NOTHING.  I need help for inspiration and resources for reasonably priced, chic linens, etc.  Any advice? – Erin Barry

A. Hi Erin! Right now I’m inspired by natural colors, organic shapes & textures and a look that is rustic yet modern with a touch of glamour.  Some of my favorite places to shop for affordable tabletop finds are Target, West Elm, Ikea, Etsy, Pier 1,  Fishs Eddy, Williams-Sonoma and Ebay (because vintage adds so much soul & personality!). Here is a tablescape I whipped together for you that captures the rustic & refined look that I’m loving right now. It’s filled with stylish hi-low finds and I hope it inspires you this Thanksgiving!

1. Organic Shaped Dinnerware , $9-$22/set of four – West Elm . 2. Mepra Due “Ice Oro” Flatware, $115/place setting – Barney’s New York . 3. Classic Collection Floral Arrangement,  H. Bloom (NYC and DC areas only). 4. Instant Bon Vivant Red Wine, $25 – Swanson Vineyards . 5. Marble Salt & Pepper Cellars, $108 – Jayson Home & Garden. 6. Antiqued Votive Holder, $12 – ABC Home . 7. Sun-Tipped Serving Utensils, $68 – Anthropologie. 8. Organic Shaped Serveware, $12-25 – West Elm. 9. Shesham Ribbed Napkin Rings, $2.95 – Crate & Barrel. 10. Organic Linen Napkins, $28/set of four -Etsy/Nikki Designs. 11. Coated Linen-Cotton Placemats, $4.95 – CB2. 12.  Esperienze Stemware Collection, $20.98 – Target.

Inspiration Photo Credits: Left: Grace Bonney/HouseBeautiful.com, Middle: Jimmy Stanton/AtlantaHomesMag.com, Right: KimFicaro.com

Need design advice or help solving a decorating dilemma? Email me at info {at} sohautestyle.com and your question could be featured on So Haute!

Here are our picks for the 13 perfect pieces you need to host a fabulous outdoor soiree this summer…and they’re all under $100!

1. Bianca Melamine Dinnerware, $2.95-4.95 at Crate & Barrel: This elegant classic white dinnerware has the look of ceramic but is made of melamine for durability, making it perfect for outdoor dining.

2. Aqua Market Umbrella, $69.99 at Pier 1 Imports: Take refuge from the sun under this colorful umbrella that’s sure to brighten up your next outdoor gathering.

3. Utensil Holder & Condiment Caddy, $6.95-8.95 at Crate & Barrel: You can add color to your outdoor table setting by storing your flatware and condiments in these sunny hued caddy totes.

4. BLANDA Serving Bowl, $4.99-14.99 at Ikea: These turquoise colored serving bowls are dishwasher safe and come in a variety of sizes for various serving needs.

5. Silvertone Plastic Cutlery – set of 24, $7.99  at Walmart: Stylish and affordable, this plastic cutlery offers the look of real silver without the silver price tag!

6. Acrylic Margarita Glasses, $4.95 at Crate & Barrel: No outdoor soiree is complete without fabulous cocktails and these acrylic glasses are perfect for serving margaritas or other frozen drinks.

7. SIGRID Striped Tablecloth $14.99 at Ikea: Add a bold splash to your picnic table with this  colorful striped tablecloth from Ikea!

8.  Acrylic Stacking Double Old-Fashioned Glasses, $2.50-4.50 at Crate & Barrel: These practical, all-purpose glasses come in fun summer colors and are both stackable and dishwasher safe!

9. BORRBY Lantern, $6.99 at Ikea: For summer parties after sundown, you can’t forget about lighting! The Borby lantern from Ikea holds a block candle to add a soft, illuminating glow to your table.

10. Bash Party Tub, $24.95 at CB2: Keep your beverages cool with this stylish, curved party tub.

11. Spun Rattaan Serving Trays, $16 at West Elm: These rattan serving trays will add texture to your table for a layered and organic look.

12. TEKLA Dish Towel , $.049 each: At less than 50 cents each, you can re-purpose these cotton dish towels as napkins, adding a nice touch for your guests and are also more eco-friendly compared to disposable napkins.

13. Mason Jar Drink Dispenser, $69.00 at Pottery Barn: A good old fashioned mason jar drink dispenser allows your guests to help themselves to their favorite summer beverage!

I scored these peonies at the Union Square Farmers Market on Sunday…for two dollars and fifty cents a bunch! Yup, you heard right! I got to the market at the very end of the day, just as all of the vendors were packing up and clamoring to get rid of their leftover product, hence the steep discount. They were going for $10 a bunch that morning! It’s true the early bird may catch the worm but it’s the patient shopper that scores the best deal! I bought four bunches and made 2 beautiful arrangements…this one and another smaller one for my coffee table. When I got them they were a little wilted but I have a great florists tip for reviving wilted cut flowers which I used to perk up my peony blossoms. Here’s a close-up of the beautiful blooms and just below are my tips on how to revive fresh flowers.

_{Photo: eddieross.com via Martha Stewart Living}

In addition to educating us on color and candles, Eddie also spoke about the basics of creating an elegant tabletop. Here he is discussing how mixing up your flatware can really add a stylish flair to a place setting.

_{Nicole Gibbons and Eddie Ross}

After the lecture finished I went over to congratulate Eddie on a fabulous event. I’m always so inspired by his talent and creativity! When I watched him as a contestant on Top Design, I knew he would go on to become a huge success and as soon as the show wrapped he already had a slew of exciting projects on his plate. At the Gracious Home event Eddie filled us in that he is currently writing a book with his partner Jaithan and is in the midst of shooting a television pilot! His accomplishments are quite impressive and I can’t wait to see what he’s up to next! For more on Eddie Ross, visit his blog here.

I had a few friends over for a dinner party not too long ago and here’s the table setting I whipped together. It’s the perfect lesson on achieving a high style table setting on a low budget.

I started with the flowers, purchased at my local grocery store for around $16. Although some may find the idea of a typical grocery store flower arrangement hideous, with a little re-arranging and creativity you can make them look totally chic. I cut the stems down and rearranged them in a textured, deep plum colored low vase. The flowers provided a bright pop of color against my natural linen tablecloth, which was an inexpensive find from Target at $16.99. It has hemstitch detailing on the bottom and looks far more expensive than it actually cost. My napkins were a steal from the Williams-Sonoma clearance bin, scored for $4.99 apiece! (With a little digging I found 6!) I absolutely love them, especially the paisley pattern at the bottom and the bright green detail. I chose to use these napkins since they complimented the colors in the floral arrangement nicely.

Here’s a closeup of the place setting. My dinner plates are from Martha Stewart’s former Kmart collection and the silver chargers were another Target find that cost $6.99 for a set of four. The white wine glasses were $1.99 each from Ikea. The candlesticks were $10 from Jamali Garden Supply here in New York. I’m recapping prices to illustrate the fact that you really don’t have to spend a ton of money to create a stylish table setting. When you’re dressing your table…or your home…the end result isn’t about the individual pieces, it’s about how you tie it all together! The green vintage water goblets were inherited from my Grandmother. The napkin rings were a steal from the online home sample sale site One Kings Lane which is one of my favorite places to shop for my home. My lattice patterned flatware from Lunt Silversmiths was another One Kings Lane score at $29 for a five piece setting.

You can see the detail of the lattice pattern in this close-up photo. I just love this flatware set!

Here’s the table just before guests arrived. For dinner I served baked chicken breasts with sun dried tomatoes and goat cheese (an Ina Garten recipe), roasted asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes! I think food always looks better on a beautifully set table and my dinner looked delicious! (Sorry I didn’t take a photo!) If you like this table setting, here’s how you can achieve the look:

1. Bamboo 20 Pc Flatware Set, $29.99 at Target. 2. Lacquered Gold Dot Chargers – Set of 4, $24.99 at Target. 3. Crystal Candlesticks, $14 at Homedecorators.com. 4. Gibson Elements Classic White Dinnerware 6 Pc Set, $19.99 at Macy’s. 5. Set of 4 Colorblock Linen Dinner Napkins, Sferra. 6. Fieldcrest Luxury Linen Hemstitch Tablecloth (various sizes), $16.99 at Target. 7. Green Vintage Glass Goblets – Set of 8 available on Ebay. 8. Oval Classic Napkin Ring, $3.95 each at Crate & Barrel. 9. Optimal White Wine Glass, $1.99 each at Ikea. 10. Floral Arrangement, Opalia Flowers in Brooklyn. (Or arrange your own with flowers from your local grocery store or deli!)

Smythson of Bond Street is one of my favorite sources for social stationery. In 1887 Frank Smythson opened his eponymous shop on New Bond Street and quickly became the preferred stationer of London’s upper crust. The company’s heritage for creating the finest luxury paper goods is still alive more than 120 years later. Smythson’s “Stiletto” and “Skull & Crossbones” correspondence cards are my top picks from the their vast array of bespoke and ready-to-write stationery. Stiletto Correspondence Cards, $84 for 10 and Skull & Crossbones Correpsondence Cards, $50 for 10.

Bernard Maisner

Bernard Maisner, who might just be the most exceptionally skilled calligrapher alive, is also a renowned stationer. In fact, he is a favorite stationer among the fashion set with a client roster that includes Zac Posen, Ralph Lauren and Valentino. Bernard Maisner offers luxe ready-to-write and custom stationery with copperplate engraved designs on 100% cotton archival paper. His hand painted papers, like the butterfly motif cards below, are literally works of art. The butterfly motif is engraved in gold then each card is hand painted and finally the edges are finished off by hand in a shocking pink. Beyond chic. These are a splurge at $100 for 8 cards.

Dempsey & Carroll

This 130-year-old stationer, founded in New York City, is known for their quality stationery made with the highest standards and attention to detail. Their papers are hand engraved using fine inks and cotton papers. Dempsey and Carroll offers a great selection of chic boxed set stationery that includes limited-edition collaborations with the likes of interior designer Celerie Kemble, event planner Bronson Van Wyck and fashion designer Lela Rose. I love Bronson Van Wyck’s Snake Border cards below which feature a richly textured engraved snake border with a hand painted red eye detail. The envelopes are lined in a faux snake print paper. This incredibly chic set is $65 for 10 cards and envelopes.

Thornwillow Press

Luke Pontifell was just a precocious high school student when he founded Thornwillow Press in 1985 after taking a book binding course and falling in love with the art. Nearly 30 years later Thornwillow press is still in the business of binding, printing and publishing exquisite books but is also now one of the foremost purveyors of fine engraved and letterpress stationery. I’m a big fan of their Initial Note Cards, shown below, which are available in three colorways with colored edges and matching tissue lined envelopes. At $45 for 10 cards and envelopes, these are amazing value for the quality. Thornwillow’s Motif cards are available in more than 100 motifs and my top three picks are also pictured below. The Peacock Feather motif is $48 for 10 cards and lined envelopes. The Lightning Bolt and Bicycle motif cards are each $35 for a set of 10 cards.

Sugar Paper

A newcomer on the social stationery scene, Sugar Paper is an LA based company with a sweet offering of custom and ready-to-write papers. The Sugar Paper collection is youthful and stylish, offering a modern spin on tradition. I’m loving the gold foil printed Crown Noteset shown below which is $36 for 10 cards and envelopes. Also shown below is one of Sugar paper’s custom designs – a super cute scalloped edge note set.

_{CASA Carlos Mota Hydrangea Flower Bouquet, $49.95}

Carlos Mota, interior stylist and Special Projects editor for Elle Decor is a man of impeccable taste. His shoots for Elle Decor are always perfectly styled and I espcially love all of the beautiful floral arrangements he uses to dress up each of his projects. Starting this month, you can bring a bit of Carlos Mota style into your home with his new collection of silk flower arrangements exclusively for HSN. These artificial arrangements offer the look of fresh flowers without the fuss and at a great price. Who knew artificial fowers could be so chic?! Don’t miss Carlos live on HSN April 20th and you can shop CASA Carlos Mota here.

A couple of years ago I picked up a copy of The Smythson Guide to Everyday Stationery, a useful reference book on the art of correspondence by Smythson of Bond Street. I originally purchased my pink leather bound edition shown above as a gift for someone else but loved it so much I ended up keeping it for myself!

The book mainly focuses on etiquette and style but is also is a primer on stationery in general, covering such topics as watermarks, paper textures, typefaces and the appropriate paper weights for various types of correspondence.

There’s also a short glossary in the back that explains printing techniques (see photo above) and defines terms like bruising (the indentation on the reverse side of die stamped or copper plate printed papers) and deckling (frilled edges).

Most useful, in my opinion, is the book’s musings on correspondence etiquette which I think any traditionalist would appreciate. Covering everything from how to correctly address an envelope and the proper wording of an invitation to the basic rules of thank you notes, this book is a must read for anyone who loves stationery as much as I do. Smythson is a brand grounded in tradition so the book is written with a tone of propriety that carries on the old-school philosophies on correspondence observed by British high society back in the late 1800s when the brand was founded. For example: “The great hostesses of the past would be revolving in their graves if they could see invitations going out without any prefixes, family names or titles, but increasingly that’s the way it goes.”

_{Olive Branch Correspondence Cards, $50 from Smythson}

With the rise of technologies like email and text messaging, I think the simple art of the hand written note has fallen by the wayside. In our current “age of speed” it’s effortless to fire off a quick email but actually taking the time to write a note to someone conveys a certain level of thoughtfulness and is a gesture that people will really appreciate. The Smythson Guide articulates it well: “Everyone enjoys finding a hand-written envelope amongst the bills and junk mail on the door mat.”

So next time you’re thinking of sending a thank you email or an evite, get out your stationery instead and express your sentiments on paper. If you’re not sure what to say or don’t have the time to put too much thought into it, follow this wisdom from the Smythson Guide:

“People worry about writing stylish or witty letters but in the end, the intention is simply to express a sentiment, good or bad, to another person. The more sincerely you express it, the better, and the more attractive it looks, in terms of hand-writing and stationery, the more memorable it will be.”

The Smythson Guide To Everyday Stationery is available at Smythson of Bond Street.