Our guest design blogger this month is interior designer Bella Mancini of Bella Mancini Design. Named one of New York’s top 100 designers by several esteemed shelter publications, Bella says she creates “real spaces for real people living real lives.” Known for imparting rooms with both clean lines and elegance, she says her main focus is “to give clients their dream homes, and to create a total experience that is joyful and rewarding.” Obviously, Bella feels the same way about entertaining, as she demonstrates with her Springtime Bridal Brunch featuring Lenox’s delightful Alice Drew Collage Hummingbird dinnerware and serving pieces.
SPRINGTIME BRIDAL BRUNCH
Guest Stylist: Interior Designer Bella Mancini
LAYERING:
Whenever I entertain buffet style I love to mix textures and create a little tension between materials. For this whimsical Springtime Bridal Brunch I layered contrasting linens; a shimmery silk shantung base cloth with a linen runner embellished with an organic pattern of tiny appliqué ruffles on top.
Featured Product: Collage Hummingbird Dinnerware by Alice Drew (# 836472A), Adorn Crystal Rose Bowl by Lenox (# 8373771A), Footed Dessert Bowl by Lenox (# 836773A), Portola Flatware by Lenox (#815486A), Firelight Signature Crystal Goblet by Lenox (# 818203A)
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Lenox
SPRINGTIME BRIDAL BRUNCH
Guest Stylist: Interior Designer Bella Mancini
TABLE-SCAPING:
Lenox has the most amazing collection of coordinating Collage Hummingbird serving pieces and I decided to use them in unexpected ways. I created a distinct area for food and drinks by using the large platter as a tray to create a foundation for the wine and water bottles, and for the food I used the tiered platters, footed bowls and tidbit plates to add varying height, silhouette and scale to the table-scape. It is a fun and inviting way for my guests to sample all of the many savory and sweet brunch treats and creates an intentional, finished look that is also very pretty.
Featured Product: Collage Plater by Lenox (# 836467A)
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Lenox
SPRINGTIME BRIDAL BRUNCH
Guest Stylist: Interior Designer Bella Mancini
CONTRASTS:
I thought it would be too obvious to choose a blue tablecloth to sit beneath the beautiful Butterfly Collage dinnerware, so instead I chose a happy salmon pink to punch things up a bit. I also pulled in a gorgeous grey linen to use as a runner that perfectly coordinated with an accent color on the plates, which ties everything together.
Featured Product: Footed Dessert Bowl by Lenox (# 836773A)
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Lenox
SPRINGTIME BRIDAL BRUNCH
Guest Stylist: Interior Designer Bella Mancini
FUN WITH LINENS:
To keep things interesting I like to use different linens on different tables - you never need to feel your table linens have to match exactly from one table to the next. For the table where guests are dining, I used a vintage jacquard linen cloth and napkins, which were given to me for my own wedding, and accented the clean look with classic blue hydrangeas set into Lenox’s Adorn Crystal rose bowls.
Featured Product: Collage Hummingbird Dinnerware by Alice Drew (# 836472A), Adorn Crystal Rose Bowl by Lenox (# 837371A) , Portola Flatware by Lenox (# 815486A)
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Lenox