Tablescape Thursday - How The Pros Do It

This could be a pretty holiday table - I love the cherub!

The images in the catalog (hard copy and on line) for The Horchow Collection are some of the most beautiful in terms of photography and styling. They have been inspiring visual vamps forever. The table settings are especially gorgeous, and I got to wondering who does this incredible work?

This all white and green could be a refreshing and modern holiday color scheme

In 1971, Roger Horchow started The Horchow Collection, the first luxury mail-order catalog that was not preceded by a brick-and-mortar presence. He sold the Horchow Collection to Neiman Marcus in 1988.

This blue and white table would be lovely for Chanukkah

I phoned Neiman Marcus and spoke with the Public Relations office.

The bird motif is so cute for Thanksgiving

They directed me to Melinda Lee who does their PR work, and she was so sweet. She told me what I suspected, that there is a huge stable of photographers and stylists used on a free lance basis.

The corals and greens are another way to go modern for the holidays

The Horchow look is pretty much on automatic at this point. The merchandise is pretty and inspiring to the talent that photographs the images regularly.

This evocative deep brown palette is so warm for Thanksgiving

I really wanted to give some love to the talent, but no names were offered. I told Melinda how much the work is appreciated, and she thanked me.

Classic red for that special Christmas breakfast

So if any of you do work for Horchow, let me know. We would all love to hear the back story around the photo shoots.

The full holiday treatment! Love the trees and the favors and the cranberries in the glasses!

With holiday table setting on all of our minds, I'm sure many of you peruse the Horchow catalogs for ideas and for wishing.

These aqua banded plated from Horchow are one of my favorites

Their merchandise is lovely, and varied, with something pretty for everyone.

In some places where the climate is warm, you could do an alfresco setting like this

As ever, go to Between Naps On The Porch for more great ideas at Tablescape Thursday HERE

And don't forget to enter your table setting in Christiane's contest with great prizes from Dwell Studio HERE

Consumer Report: Deep Drop Ruffle Bedspread

A few months ago my darling Alberto fell asleep in bed while working on a Sudoku. The pen fell from his hand and left some school boy ink blots on our white bedspread. It isn't a terribly precious bedspread. In fact it is a budget make-do, comprised of sewing two cheap twin size spreads together. It also had this trellis effect, something that was okay, but not the bomb.
Anyway, I was given the green light to get ANY bedspread I wanted.

The purloined bedspread
Note the trellis design

So I wrote to Joni from Cote de Texas, generally known as an expert in all things pretty, and a good girl friend to all bloggers. She sent me a photo of her deep drop ruffle spread, and suggested I have mine custom made as she had hers done. She advised this for a perfect fit, and for a double ruffle effect that would puddle on the floor.
I have always wanted a spread Horchow sells, but Joni thought it would be cheaper and better to go custom.

The bedroom of Joni Webb Cote de Texas
Her pretty bedspread is linen - note the puddle

I love Joni's bedspread, and she also sent me a photo of one by Pam Pierce. So I checked with the workroom at the store I work in (perch, in New Orleans), and after we cost out the fabric and labor it was a little steep. It was considerably more expensive than the Horchow bedspread.

Pam Pierce

So I ordered the one from Horchow, on sale for $317. for the king size.

My new deep drop ruffle bedspread from Horchow
I love it!

I absolutely love it. The white twill fabric is very high quality. the ruffle is deep and doubled, and it puddles perfectly. This spread is actually a duvet cover if you want to insert a quilt or blanket inside of it. There is an envelope opening with covered buttons on the inside of the bedspread. However it is substantial enough to stand alone as a beautiful bedspread. Click on image for a larger view.


It was out of stock for some time, but it's in stock now. Horchow has excellent customer service.
The only hard thing was ironing it myself. It couldn't help but be wrinkled coming out of the packaging and box.

Hampton bed linens from Horchow. Order HERE

The photo of the Horchow bedspread does not show it puddling on the floor. My bed is not really a king size. It is two twin size beds pushed together and secured. We bought these when we first moved to New Orleans and lived in our first place in the French Quarter. I didn't think we could get a king size inside the 1810 Creole townhouse. This configuration has worked beautifully for us for ten years.
The way the new bedspread puddles makes me feel secure that when I wash it, it will still have a generous drape to it.