One Great Looking Table

I think it goes without saying but I will say it again - we have the BEST CLIENTS EVER!! 

We spend a lot of time talking about all the great ways we can help you create a table that is as unique as you are, so I had to take this chance to share a great table with you.  First, thank you Patrice & Scott for sharing your first dinner party with us.  The food looks great… and the table, well the table is perfect.  

This is one cocktail hour I wouldn’t be late for, and I love all the Juliska on this table.  The blend of Berry & Thread and Pewter really creates a casual elegance that invites you to grab a plate.  This table is also a wonderful example of how you can dress up your casual dinnerware and accessories.  Juliska dinnerware is ideal for everyday – it offers a wide range of shapes and colors and you can put everything in the dishwasher.  But when you layer in some additional serving pieces and add the right accessories the look becomes anything but every day.    Now on the main course!

There are so many great things going on with this table that it’s hard to choose where to start – but I think what I love the most is the amazing blend of “traditional” and “contemporary.”   We frequently get asked how to blend the old with the new and this is how you do it.  The solid gold service plate is a dramatic way to set the stage - It’s oversize and bold -the perfect way to highlight Bernardaud’s classic Palmyre dinner plate.  Everyone knows food looks great on white but a white dinner plate can be boring so the elegant gold trim is a plus.  Now we have to talk about the Philippe Deshoulieres Orsay White salad plate.  On its own, this is a very ornate, very traditional pattern, but here it feels elegant and contemporary.  The bold service plate highlights the gold ornamentation while the understated dinner plate ensures the look isn’t overwhelming.  All of this is set against the amazing texture and contrasting color of the placemat and finished with the classic white hemstitched linen napkin – it’s just right. 

This stylish table is more than just dinnerware.  Check out the sleek lines of the flatware and the unexpected addition of the Crusader serving pieces.  I love this little addition to the table.  It’s easy to get everything in the same pattern, but it’s fun to mix things up a bit.  Plus, the “mismatched” serving pieces will be a welcome addition to other tables –think back to that incredible cocktail hour.  The same holds true of the stemware.  Again, it is easy to get every glass in the same pattern, but the fun is in finding the shapes and styles that best suit the way you entertain.  A great wine deserves the right glass.  The clean lines and elegant shape of the Wedgwood Classic collection wine glasses are the perfect complement to the table.  Plus the iced beverage glass is big enough to pull double duty as more than a water glass – offering plenty of room for you to add ice.   Speaking of pulling double duty; what a great idea using the Juliska serving bowl as a bread basket.   We get asked all the time about if it’s ok to blend looks together and our answer is always centered on encouraging people to be creative– every piece of dinnerware can have multiple uses.  When you look around you will be amazed at all the new ways you can use the great pieces you already have. 

Now I saved the best for last – I have to say thank you again to Patrice and Scott for sharing this amazing table with us!  Our clients truly are the best, and we are inspired daily by their creativity and style.  

We would love to see more great tables so keep those pictures coming.  

Plus visit us on Facebook for exciting news on new collections and trends.

New Year - New Look?

A New Year a New Look

So here we are in 2012 – the holidays are behind us and the clock is reset.  So let me give you an update. Our bridal blogger Annie made the move to the Big Apple.  She is currently enjoying everything New York has to offer (except, I would suspect the weather.  You have to admit LA wins in the winter weather department.) We will definitely miss her posts and I will do my best to follow in her footsteps.  So here goes…

With the arrival of the New Year everyone is talking about resolutions and fresh starts -  so much so that I thought why not talk about a few of the great new looks that have arrived and share some of the fun ways our amazingly talented consultants have for putting together a new look for 2012.

Juliska has a new collection we have to talk about.  Country Estate is a great mix and match pattern featuring a collection of designs that create a complete English country manor.  It’s the perfect blend of charming old world design and contemporary functionality.  Made of durable stoneware, every piece is dishwasher and microwave safe so use it every day – you deserve it! Plus, if you’re not sure about having all that design on one table why not try blending it with Juliska’s classic Berry &Thread White dinnerware.   Or if you prefer a more colorful look you can add Juliska’s Colette pressed glass stemware and accessories.  Explore the entire collection online

 

Country Estate Dinner

Country Estate Mug

Juliska Berry & Thread White

Juliska Colette Green Goblet

Juliska Colette Plum Goblet

Juliska Berry & Thread White Cheese Board

Juliska Colette Green Bowl

 

Our biggest new collection features handpicked favorites from Bernardaud’s restaurant collection.  Until now, this collection was only available to hotels and restaurants, but now we have it and so can you! What better building block for the perfect table than a stylish white dinner plate.  With this in mind, we worked with French porcelain manufacturer Bernardaud to bring together a unique collection of white dinnerware and serving pieces that are as beautiful as they are functional.   Not your basic boring white dinnerware, our collection features contemporary designs crafted in hotel quality porcelain that can stand up to everyday use.  Each piece is sold individually so you can mix and match to create your perfect look.    

With all these new looks it’s easy to want to toss everything and start over, but if you’re like me replacing everything is not an option – so for us it’s all about layering in the new with the old.  This is where having a team of creative people to turn to pays off.  They have dozens of great ideas for blending the old with the new but here are my favorites.

#1 Add Some Color

So your dinnerware is all white – this is  a great place to start and food always looks good on a nice white dinner plate, but a splash of color can be just the pick me up your table needs.  Maybe serve salad on a colorful glass plate like Juliksa’s Colette Plum, or the textured Lighter than Air from Ocean, or add a colorful water glass into the mix.  Colorful linens are also a fast way to add some color and texture.  If you’re looking for something more dramatic how about adding serving pieces that have a bold colorful pattern.  Royal Copenhagen’s Mega Blue or Mega Black collection is a great choice.  Based on Royal Copenhagen’s traditional designs, the mega collection takes the signature elements of the pattern and then takes them to the next level creating a new contemporary flair. 

Mega Blue Dinner Plate

Mega Blue Large Serving Bowl

Lighter Than Air Green Salad Plate

      

#2 Accessorize

A great looking table definitely needs the right the right accessories – plus, let’s face it, they make serving a lot easier.  Now here is a place where you can really have some fun.  Maybe you like pewter, or perhaps stainless steel is more your speed.  Classic, traditional, rustic, contemporary and on and on – the choices are almost endless.  Whatever your style, adding new serving pieces and accessories is one of the easiest ways to update your table and give it a whole new look.  Here are a few our newest additions.  You can find more everyday table accessories online

Michael Aram Black Orchid Large Bowl

Mary Jurek Galaxy Butter Dish

Calisio Salad Bowl 

   

 

#3 Keep the Dinnerware– Get new flatware & glasses

Why not? Sure dinnerware may get all the attention but stemware and flatware can be superstars too.  With so many interesting shapes and styles of glasses to choose from gone are the days of the boring predictable kitchen glasses.  Among our most popular glasses is the classically styled Simon Peace Barre.  This collection is both functional – generously sized so adding ice to your favorite drink is no problem and beautiful – the clean lines, round shapes and footed design mean this glass looks great with almost any dinnerware.   As a bonus, Simon Pearce hand makes each glass in their Vermont workshop so each piece is a unique work of art.  

Simon Pearce Barre Stemware

If footed glasses just aren’t your style another favorite is the stemless O collection from Riedel.  Uniquely designed to highlight what is best about each wine variety, these glasses are also great for everyday use.  They’re lightweight and well priced and they can easily pull double duty on your everyday table and at cocktail parties. 

Find more stemware looks online

Reidel O Stemless Wine Glasses

 

When it comes to everyday flatware you really have a lot to choose from, and I do mean a lot.  But if you’re like me and polishing silver is a task you dread, then stainless steel you can toss in the dishwasher is definitely the way to go.   If you like a clean simple look – you have to check out the Elan Flatware set.  The 45pc set includes 8 place settings and serving pieces, and it’s only $75!  If you prefer a little more design then take a look at Juliska’s new Berry & Thread flatware. This collection offers European sizing and is sold open stock so replacing a piece that gets eaten by the garbage disposal is easy.  Another great look is the Gabriella collection from Match.  The antique finished pewter handles are matched with stainless steel implements so it’s easy to care for.

    

Whatever path you take I hope you have as much fun creating a new look for 2012 as I did.  The choices may seem overwhelming, but in the end finding the look that is just right is worth it.  I didn’t do it alone, and you don’t have to either.  If you need some more ideas or just want to have some fun just stop by.  Or just stop by and say hello

Until next time…  

Mission Makeover- Dinnerware Edition!

Frances & Victor Matheus

35th Wedding Anniversary

Frances & Victor Matheus were married on May 8, 1976, and have been happily betrothed for the past 35 years!  Fran’s brother and Victor were army buddies, and when Victor laid his eyes on Fran it was love at first sight.  From that day on the two were inseparable.

Thirty- five years later, after purchasing a beautiful new dining room table, this lovely couple decided it was also time to update their wedding china. Fran and Victor felt it was time for a dinnerware makeover in order to complement the new look of their dining room and coincide with their current lifestyle.  They decided this was a perfect anniversary gift to themselves. 

Fran brought her Lenox “Fontaine” china into GEARYS, and with the help of our staff she was given a modern makeover by simply adding a few accents of color and texture.  Although their wedding china is no longer their personal taste it is still sentimental.  By using accents of their original wedding china and incorporating different textured chargers, contemporary flatware and colorful linens, we were able to breathe new life into this traditional paisley dinnerware pattern and make it work for their current lifestyle.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Pretty in Pink...

Something Blue...

Think Green...

Check back soon for more of the GEARYS Bridal Dish!

xoxo,

Annie

Bridal Spotlight: A GEARYS Favorite Couple

Mr. & Mrs. Ryan Walch

Allison & Ryan Walch

Married on May 21, 2011

I had the absolute pleasure of spending this past Saturday afternoon with a GEARYS Favorite Couple and their bridal registry consultant, Szilvia.  Allison and Ryan Walch were selected to be featured in our store front window and are an absolutely delightful and down-to–earth couple. 

Their Story: In a Nutshell

Allison, a freelance journalist, and Ryan, a film editor, are native Angelinos born at Ceders Sinai and are coincidentally both TWINS!  They met online and instantly connected.   After happily dating for a year, to the DAY, Ryan decided he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Allison.  The two love-birds took a romantic vacation to Santa Barbara to celebrate their one-year anniversary. On the 3^rd day Ryan awoke Allison at 7am out of excitement to pop the question!  He showed her a video montage that he had made commemorating their first year together, which concluded with the most romantic words… “One year ago today you stole my heart, and every day since has been amazing.”  He then asked for her hand in marriage.  A thrilled and love-struck Allison of course said “yes”.  Ryan later told her that he had bonded with her family over picking out her engagement ring and they had been in on the surprise the entire time! 

Just over 2 years later they are husband and wife and couldn’t possibly be happier and more in love. 

Unlike most bridal couples, Allison and Ryan took an “anti- bridezilla” approach to planning their wedding by letting the public plan the wedding by casting votes!  Like myself (however she is MUCH more seasoned), Allison is a blogger!  She created a blog for the LA Times Magazine called “Plan My Wedding”, where her readers were able to vote on wedding related decisions (ie. her dress, wedding cake, honeymoon destination etc.)  and essentially plan their wedding! 

Check out PLAN MY WEDDING:

Allison’s Former Blog: http://planmywedding.latimesmagazine.com/

KTLA Coverage of Their Wedding: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheAkornberg#p/a/u/0/bb3RZ9OP3jE

Another KTLA clip: http://planmywedding.latimesmagazine.com/2011/04/engaging-you-a-recap-of-your-votes-on-ktla.html

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PlanMyWedding

Twitter: PlanMyWeddingLA and WriteUpUrAli

Allison is currently working on a new blog about the new adventures of married life!  She is an incredibly talented writer and I look forward to following them on their journey as a married couple!

Allison’s New Website:  MRS. Guided http://www.mrsguided.com/

Now onto the REGISTRY!

Before we began the registry redemption process we had our couple pose next to the front store window where they were featured!

View inside the store:

View from the store-front (pardon the slight Glare due to the California sun):

With the help and guidance of their blog followers and our GEARYS bridal registry consultant, Szilvia, they selected a gorgeous pattern by Mottahedeh & Co. for their formal dinnerware.

Chinoise Blue

They chose a delicate Christofle pattern, Royal Cisele, for their flatware to compliment the Chinoise Blue dinnerware.

For their casual, everyday China, they decided upon a classic Juliska pattern, “Berry and Thread” in white.

Allison and Ryan were incredibly sweet and appreciative of the experience that they had during their registry process.  They both mentioned how fortunate they were to have worked with Szilvia who made them appreciate the art of selecting their dinnerware. Also to comprehend that it is more than just dinnerware; it is an investment in their future as a couple.  They look forward to using their new china services at parties with friends, with their children and at their first holiday party, thus viewing it as a window into the future.

Congratulations to Allison and Ryan. 

With love,

Your GEARYS Family. 

Xoxo,

Annie

A Ferrari INSIDE the store, sitting atop Teacups? It’s True!

In celebration of Italy’s 150^th Anniversary of Unification, the city of Beverly Hills is hosting a week long event in conjunction with the annual Father’s Day car show (Concours d’ Elegance) on Rodeo Drive:  La Dolce Vita Beverly Hills!

In honor of this celebration, we decided to participate by bringing in a fabulous collection of Italian Jewelry. To demonstrate the great strength of our fine china we brought a vintage Ferrari (1967 Ferrari 275 GTB) into the store through the front door, and have it displayed placed atop 4 Richard Ginori ‘Fiesole’ Italian porcelain tea cups! 

How did we accomplish this amazing feat? See for yourself….

Watch the VIDEO on youtube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQsnVr45lHs

Ciao Bella!

Annie