10 Dec 6 Key Holiday Entertaining Tips – Downton Abbey Style!

What a whirlwind last week was with three holiday parties to attend, one being our own!  But tis the season.  The Downton Abbey holiday dinner party last Wednesday was an incredible treat.  Today I share some photos from that extraordinary event and 6 holiday entertaining tips that you can try at home to have your own dinner party, a la Downton Abbey style.

Join the Austin/San Antonio Design Society Dinner Club

First off, if you’re a designer in the Austin/San Antonio area, think about becoming a member of this exciting local chapter of the Design Society Dinner Club (DSDC).  (If you do not live in this region, I encourage you to see about starting a chapter in your city).

Long-time Kravet rep, Oscar Lupiba, came up with this group years ago and dear friend, interior designer, Patrick Landrum, and I became members 2 years ago to start building the Austin contingent.

 

Mission of the Design Society Dinner Club

Design Society Dinner Club‘s (DSDC) mission is to celebrate “high-end design” and those designers that work in high-end, and to also inspire them to design a luxury life-style. Our annual Downton Abbey Dinner Party takes you back to an era of elegance, refinement, sophistication, and opulence, bringing further awareness of the luxury design life-style. – Oscar Lupibo, Founder

Every year DSDC hosts many learning and travel opportunities, in addition to a luxury dinner party with the Downton Abbey theme.  Patrick was my date two years ago (See the 2017 blog post about it HERE),  but this year I attended by myself. Was I prepared to drive 2 hours in heavy traffic from Austin?  Not really. But it’s such a warm and welcoming group of designers that I didn’t hesitate for a minute to go solo. Let me tell you, it is always worth it!

Learn more about the Austin/San Antonio Design Society Dinner Club and all the exciting events HERE. If you’re interested in becoming a member, please email Oscar Lupiba at oscar.lupiba@kravet.com.

What’s a woman to do!

The real question was not about the drive, but what was I going to wear?  Every evening gown I owned (just two!) didn’t fit anymore.  Sigh….

Thankfully, I went into my studio and was incredibly relieved to discover I had NOT cut into this beautiful yellow 1960’s gown.  (Here at The Pillow Goddess we upcycle vintage gowns for our studio pillows.)  Even though a 1960’s gown is not in Downton Abbey fashion, I had to go with what worked. So  I went the whole 9 yards and had makeup artist Kandy Glass of Face Kandy and her assistant, juju me all up 1960’s style with the perfect updo and heavy-duty eyelashes.  Personally, I loved the makeup and wish it were easy enough for me to do it at home, but the Colour Beauty + Lounge team did the trick!

Here I am (below) with DSDC founder, Oscar Lupiba, at the Downton Abbey dinner party in San Antonio.  It’s hard to believe it was just 5 days ago!!  Let me tell you all about it so you too can entertain in elegance this holiday season.

A Dinner Party Fit for Royalty

 

First comes the invitation.  Then the excitement begins to build.  Then, as you saw above, you have to figure out what to wear.  This is a formal black-tie dinner affair, so the gentlemen have it easy – a tux.  But we women have an array of choices when it comes to formal dinner attire.

Guest Janet Massy, with her Chinchilla wrap and white gown and gloves, made the most elegant fashion statement bringing complete sophistication to how to dress up for such a special occasion.  She looked absolutely stunning!!

 

Location. Location. Location.

Built in 1929, the Roosevelt Library is an absolutely perfect setting for an elegant dinner party.  It is actually the home of Leland Stone and a showroom for his line of luxury hardware. The library also features a bespoke clothing line, art collection, and even a barbershop. Leland has filled it with many personal touches from his family heirlooms which makes it a very personal and welcoming venue for entertaining.

The beautiful building was designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style by John Marriott.  It’s an absolutely breathtaking space!

Learn more about the library HERE and see gorgeous photos of the many different events held there each year HERE.

 

 

Setting the Atmosphere

When you walk into The Roosevelt Library, you see the most beautiful tall Christmas tree and right behind that lies the extra long dining table set for 20 guests. Evidently it is the longest dining table in San Antonio.

In a grand room with 14 – foot high ceilings, it is a sight to behold. So simple, yet utterly gorgeous in its simplicity with clean, white tablecloth, candelabras, and tea lights. You never can go wrong with a white tablecloth and napkins.

 

 

Below is one of the white-gloved butlers (yes, you heard that right! ) putting the finishing touches on a place setting.

 

When a Guest Gets to Wear the Honorary Vintage Mink Stole

 

Since host Leland Stone has many family heirlooms at The Roosevelt Library, he usually bestows his mother’s mink stole on one special guest.  I was lucky 2 years ago to wear it and this year, guest interior designer is here wearing it next to Leland Stone, director of The Roosevelt Library.

 

 

 

 

Let the gourmet dinner begin

 

My photos did not turn out very well in the candlelight of the incredible 5-course dinner, so you will have to imagine it with the menu below. Let me tell you, from start to finish, every course was absolutely delicious!!  The chef Shih-Hua did an amazing job!  Each course was also presented beautifully.  Oh, and I forgot to mention, the butlers.  Leland has a staff of butlers.  At one point I asked for a glass of plain water versus bubbly and within a minute the single glass of water appeared to my right on a silver tray attached to the white glove of one of the butlers. A small, but very luxurious detail fitting for the Downton Abbey occasion.

There was assigned seating and I sat between the lovely Juliana Huff of Baxter Design Group and gentleman Rudy De Leon. I met many new members and everyone is so delightful.   It was an evening full of great wine, conversation, a gourmet dinner, and prizes.  All creating the most magical evening that most of us didn’t want to leave when it ended.

 

A fun ending for a great cause

 

The dinner benefited the San Antonio Battered Women’s Shelter by guests making a donation for the prizes they won.  Kravet and Stockton Hicks & Laffey sponsored the pillows and other gifts were sponsored by different vendors; we sponsored a luxury holiday ornament.

Below, guest Juliana Huff helped Oscar draw the prizes. Juliana presented a Kravet pillow to Janet Masey.  And two guests both received a copy of Andrew Martin’s book, Interior Design Review. 

 

 

 

Professional photography is always the best

 

Please enjoy these professional photos below by photographer Alfredo Vazquez of the magical evening.

 

Leland Stone (above) is introducing and commending his amazing butlers, chef, and staff.  Below is the entire group who attended the Downton Abbey dinner party this year.

 

 

 

 

Creating your own Downton Abbey dinner party

 

I hope you enjoyed a little taste of what a Downton Abbey Dinner Party looks like when it’s presented by Oscar Lupibo and hosted by Leland Stone at The Roosevelt Library.  While we all don’t have that luxury every day, there’s no reason you can’t create your own elegant dinner party.

After attending my first Downton Abbey dinner in 2017, I came away so inspired that I created my own version in our dining room. It helped that my husband and I had just discovered 5 more leaves to my Grandmother’s dining table so we could seat 12. It also helped that I had won a new chandelier by Lamps Plus and that I personally have beautiful family heirloom linens, china, and crystal. I also was so inspired I purchased a pair of antique silver candelabras from a local shop I love, Michele’s Antique Jewelry & Silver.

Now it’s time to create your own Downton Abbey dinner party or any formal dinner party. Here are 6 ways you can achieve a similar elegant dining experience for the holidays, or any time of the year.

6 Pillow Goddess Holiday Entertaining Tips

1. Downton Abbey Theme – You don’t have to have the wonderful Roosevelt Library to host a dinner party. You can always host one in your own home or at a local event venue. You also don’t have to have a theme at all. The key is to create a relaxing, elegant and sophisticated dining experience for your guests.
2. Lighting – Lighting is key to set the atmosphere for the evening.  Chandeliers and candelabras help, but are not necessary. As you saw, several clear tea lights can instantly create a magical mood and ambiance.
3. Tabletop Decor – I highly recommend a white linen table cloth and napkins. Some of you may want to go over the top with decorating your tabletop in layers and color and that is fine. But as you saw above, simplicity is full of elegance and sophistication.  This year the decor was a cluster of pinecones and berries. In 2017, it was small bouquets of red roses.
4. Table Setting – This is the time to break out the formal china. Often we have china sets that we’ve inherited from our grandparents usually sitting in a box somewhere. There’s no better time to use it than for entertaining.  If you do not have a china set, no worries.  Mixing and matching different plates is also a fun way to create a beautiful table setting. Or simply a set of white dishes will do.
5. Delicious menu – It helps to be an excellent cook yourself, or hire a chef. I’m lucky I’m married to one of the best husbands around who cooks for me every night.  So we usually create the menu together.  One entertaining book that I recently have enjoyed and can give you a jump start to a gourmet meal is Shayla Copas recent book The Four Seasons of Entertaining.Read my review of the book HERE.  And don’t forget the cocktails. Personally I love champagne, so that is my cocktail of choice.  Wine is perfect for a Downton Abbey dinner party. I would stay away from hard liquor as your guests need to drive home safely.
6. Guest List – This is probably the most important, key ingredient to hosting a successful dinner party. Who you invite and how you arrange the seating.  I find it helpful to put a talkative person next to a quiet person so there’s one person who initiates conversation. Definitely split up couples too. How you arrange the seating will inspire wonderful conversation. The old rule of boy, girl, boy, girl also works beautifully.

 

Below is a dinner party my husband and I gave for our 35th wedding anniversary right in the middle of the Spring 2019 One Room Challenge.  Crazy I know, but it actually helped reduce the stress of the intense 6-week challenge.  And the 6 Tips I share are exactly how you too can achieve a lovely evening.

You don’t have to have a mansion, or a sterling silver candelabra, or even a long dining table.  It only takes the desire to create a beautiful and memorable evening with friends. How you make people feel at your dinner party is key. You want them to leave wanting more great food and conversation.

 

I have been truly amazed at how wonderful the members are of the Design Society Dinner Club. They are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met and I loved meeting the new members. It helps that the Design Society Dinner Club’s founder, Oscar Lupibo, is the quintessential gentleman.

I’m sure you have equally delightful interior designers and friends where you live, so start putting that guest list together. I can’t wait to hear all about your Downton Abbey dinner party or any of your holiday entertaining.

Please PIN this image to share these 6 Pillow Goddess Tips with your friends.

The holidays are such a perfect time to bring family and friends together.  What better way than with a Downton Abbey Dinner Party!

Just in, please enjoy (below) more professional photography by Alfredo Vasquez, who did an outstanding job!

Till next time, when I review designer Tina Nicole’s exciting new book, Dream Design Disrupt, take a break from all the holiday stress and treat yourself to something special like a walk in the park, a piece of chocolate cake, or planning a fun dinner party. XO PG

Note: This post is sponsored in part by the Design Society Dinner Club.  All amateur photos are either my own or by Oscar Lupibo. All professional photography is by Alfredo Vasquez.  Opinions are my own.