For Lantern and Lunar

Lanterns hung with care

For this Lunar New Year celebration, I decided to collaborate and co-host with a good friend. We thought it would be a vibrant start to this year of the tiger to invite a fun mix of friends for good conversation and food. At the heart of this evening, a line of silk lanterns hung with care that seemed to magically float above the dinner table.

A bountiful SETTING

For a step in the right direction, every Lunar New Year celebration should be bountiful. Fresh camellia greens, beautifully ripe clementines, petaled orange calendulas, ‘Rubicon’ red spray roses, lucky candy, and giant Ferrero Rocher filled our tabletop.

A LAYERED VIEW

To build on the bountiful setting, I wanted to add height and intrigue to the table setting. Giant ‘Schubertii’ firecracker alliums in pairs of two (for good luck) added texture and height to the centerpieces. Linen napkins tucked into wine glasses for an uplifting finish.

LET’S BRING IT TOGETHER

In one view, the string of silk lanterns floating just above the firecracker alliums create an intimacy that plays throughout the evening. Classic zodiac placemats, bamboo baskets, and porcelain dinnerware complete the aesthetic.

SHADES OF RED

Although the guests never see the setting in daylight, the evening is a spectacle in itself. LED par lights surround the perimeter of the space and wash the original brick walls in swaths of red. From the red lucky candy, the silk lanterns, and spray roses, to the ambient glow of the uplighting, all the shades of red are deeply special to this Lunar New Year celebration.