{"id":347791,"date":"2020-11-02T17:49:19","date_gmt":"2020-11-02T22:49:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.mom\/blogs\/the-study\/?p=347791"},"modified":"2021-12-15T05:48:53","modified_gmt":"2021-12-15T10:48:53","slug":"holiday-at-home-brigette-romanek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.mom\/blogs\/the-study\/holiday-at-home-brigette-romanek\/","title":{"rendered":"Holiday at Home: Brigette Romanek Sets a Golden Tablescape in Los Angeles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Brigette
All tablescape photos by Willow Romanek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Can you tell us why you like to set such a beautiful table for the holidays?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dining table is always an important place in our house. It\u2019s where we gather to eat and share our day. It\u2019s extra special over the holidays, when more loved ones join the fray and the conversation is heightened with the excitement of the season \u2014 talk of the year past, our hopes for the year to come. And presents! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doing it over a really festive, happy, beautifully designed tablescape makes everyone feel joyful. In my home, I do a tablescape that\u2019s usually an extension of my tree\u2019s aesthetic, which changes every year. If I\u2019ve placed gold ornaments on the tree, the table will be sure to complement that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What\u2019s your secret for making a table feel welcoming? Are there any must-have elements?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone\u2019s been having such an unusual year. Many people feel out of sorts and unsure of what\u2019s happening. So, this year I wanted to go with a tablescape that had a lot of tradition in it. I used golds, reds and greens to make people instantly feel good, reminding them of something familiar and safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, I always throw something special in there too! This time, I put out a bowl of fruit \u2014 with peaches, apples and mangos \u2014 that doubles as both decoration and something you can grab after your meal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Also, instead of place cards, I used crystals. To determine where to sit, you pull the name of a crystal out of a hat. If you pull out a slip that says amethyst, you go to the setting that has an amethyst. If you pull out one that says jade, you go to the spot with a jade stone. Turning the seating arrangement into a sort of game helps to create a level of excitement and adds some novelty and fun to the occasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Candles are a must-have and my real go-to. They bring such warmth with the beautiful light they give off. They really elevate the entire story, and you can have fun with them too. You don\u2019t have to have a white candle. You can do red or green, or a peach one!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Candles come in such a variety of colors, and you can even have them custom made if you\u2019re really designing something magnificent. I place them all over the table in differing heights \u2014 including tea lights and votives \u2014 making sure I get the proper high and low contrast.
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\"Brigette
Photo by Ye Rin Mok<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What are your own holiday traditions?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every year, the tree is decorated by my girls and my husband, Mark, and we watch A Charlie Brown Christmas<\/em>. We open presents early Christmas morning, and no matter how old my daughters get, their presents always come in a big bag from Santa. After presents, my wonderful mother makes a huge breakfast, and we enjoy time with loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In terms of holiday decorating, where do you splurge and where do you save?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I like to splurge on the tree itself. My ornaments are always a mixture, though. There are some that I collect, that I\u2019ve had for a long time. And then, I\u2019ll get a few new, inexpensive ornaments that are seasonal and can be bought at any store. The newer ones usually highlight whatever my aesthetic is for that year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aside from the ornaments, are there other decorations you always put up?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have stockings that I\u2019ve had since my girls were born, which I made, and we hang them on the mantel every year. I love introducing new ideas and decorations, but the holidays are also about reflection and continuity. Bringing out the same family treasures each year helps remind us that family is really what the holidays are about!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shop Brigette Romanek’s Holiday Table<\/h2>\n\n\n
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