“When it comes to sharing boards, you don't want to overcomplicate it. This arrangement looks very fancy, but it's not really. You can just go to the market and buy what’s in season and pre-made. The board doesn't have to be large—you could have one for meats, one for fruits, and one for cheeses—but if you have a big board, it definitely makes things a little bit easier. From there, you can set some plates on the side and people can just take what they want. I also like leaving little bowls dotted around too—I'm a big snacker, so whenever I go to people's houses, I always appreciate if there's some salty snacks you can grab wherever you're sitting.”

“It’s nice to build a scene around one object. As soon as I saw these coasters, I immediately got an Art Deco vibe, from them and when you see them up close, it's fascinating to see how they're made and the quality of them. I wanted to create something that felt like an elevated cocktail bar in the 1930s, and this green looks great with the color of the cocktails, creating a really striking contrast. Pieces like these are a really effective way to switch up the mood of a situation. And for the people who find color intimidating, this is a great way to try it out.

I think it’s important that the right glassware is used to serve specific drinks. We love to make Martinis and Old Fashioned cocktails, and these sculptural Astier de Villatte glasses are really interesting with the liquid filling the stem. I think it’s important to shake the cocktail in front of guests, and I like one with a strainer—like this Zanetto design—which keeps things easy and people enjoy it. I'm always trying to think of what I would like when I go to someone's house, and if someone did that when I was there, it would make me feel very special."

“Anything you can prepare and throw into the oven is perfect. A sheet of baked Hasselback potatoes (stick a skewer through them to make sure your incisions don’t go all the way through) with carrots and beets served with brown butter (it enhances everything) and toasted nuts is a favorite. White platters work well for simple dishes like this as they celebrate the color. Buffet style is nice for parties, but for a special meal, we always sit down at a set table. Decorating the table with natural elements, like vegetables—in this case, artichokes—brings a natural element. Using leaves, pinecones, or anything that you can pick outside is lovely; It doesn't have to be flowers, it could be branches with leaves, or just about anything from outside. It grounds the table and makes it come together. I deliberately chose these tall green tapered candles as I wanted them to blend in. You want the cozy feeling of having candles, but usually the white ones are just so stark. The dark ones look more visually pleasing to me.”