Laura Jackson, a renowned broadcaster and co-founder of Glassette, a homeware marketplace, is a master at creating inviting and visually captivating tablescapes. Her recent collaboration with Neptune at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show showcased her talent for combining hospitality with aesthetic appeal. Let’s delve into Laura’s hosting tips and design insights to inspire your next gathering.
Setting the Tone for Memorable Entertaining
Laura believes that hosting is not just about the decor but also about making guests feel truly welcome. She emphasizes the importance of a well-laid table with essentials like a good tablecloth, glassware, and elegant plates to set the tone. However, she advises against turning it into a production, highlighting that the key is to focus on hospitality and making guests feel at ease.
Neptune x Glassette Collaboration: A Feast for the Eyes
For this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Laura collaborated with Neptune to curate a captivating tablescape that exuded warmth and sophistication. The dining table featured a vegetable still life set against a muted background, allowing the natural wood of the table to shine through. Soft neutrals with pops of color from Glassette pieces created a harmonious palette, complemented by an abstract vegetable arrangement that added vibrancy and intrigue. “I wanted to bring the dining table to life with a vegetable still life,” says Laura. “The background was kept deliberately muted, and we let the natural wood of the table show through, keeping the colours of the tableware in soft neutrals with a few pops of colour in the Glassette pieces. Then we added colour and structure with the abstract vegetable arrangement that is a real talking point.”
The stunning tablescape embodies the essence of high summer. The outdoor Pembrey dining table is beautifully paired with Longmeadow dining chairs upholstered in a playful navy palm tree print fabric called Brisa by Christopher Farr Cloth. Meanwhile, the Kew coffee table is elegantly matched with a Kew sofa, armchair, and footstool, all upholstered in the chic blue stripe fabric Raya from Christopher Farr Cloth.
The pièce de résistance is the show-stopping vegetable centerpiece, which features a whimsical arrangement of wonky cucumbers and tumbling tomatoes. This eye-catching sculpture adds a touch of playfulness and whimsy to the overall design, making it a true standout at the show.
Embracing Versatility and Creativity
In Laura’s own home, tablescaping knows no bounds. She advocates for a ‘no rules’ approach, where each gathering can feature a unique theme, from maximalist explosions of color to minimalist elegance focused on textures. Laura draws inspiration from a variety of sources, including her love for yellow – “every shade from neon yellow, hay yellow, butter yellow to light lemon”. Seasonal colors, colours also influence her schemes. “I am currently growing sweet peas in my garden,” she adds. “Their whimsical colours and ombre patterns would be a good starting point for a table setting.” and her travels to discover new styling ideas from diverse cultures and settings.
Practical Tips for Effortless Hosting
Laura’s hosting philosophy revolves around simplicity and genuine connection. She recommends prepping as much as possible in advance, opting for straightforward recipes over complex dishes, and savoring the present moment with guests. By considering how you want people to feel in your home and focusing on the gift of sharing food and time, you can create a memorable and heartfelt experience for your guests. “Think about how you want people to feel in your home,’ she adds, ‘ultimately, they have come to see you. Your gift to them is showing you care through the food and time you are sharing.”
Laura’s top tips for summer tables
- I like to have a few small displays dotted along the table to catch the eye; seasonal flowers or fresh herbs – both add a natural scent too.
- I love napkins as they can be folded in so many fun ways, from swans to fans to envelopes to house cutlery.
- Glassware can be mixed and matched. I like to use different vessels for different things – so tumblers for wine, and wine glasses for sparkling water.
- I usually serve food on sharing platters as this always gets the conversation going and allows guests to curate their own plate – and means they can help themselves to cheeky seconds!
- As soon as the sun goes down, I light lots of candles as they set the mood and citronella candles keep the bugs away.
- And I always have a playlist ready to go – including some optional dance tracks!
