Scot Meacham Wood is answering questions from the audience at Kravet 

Home owners start thinking about sprucing up their homes in the months before the holidays, and often whole design projects get started this time of the year.  However, Fall at the San Francisco Design Center has generally been business as usual.  But this year has been different.  Back in early September the city’s trade center for fine furnishings held a new series of events as called “Fall Into Fabrics”, which included an afternoon with Barbara Barry, a presentation by Laurel Sprigg about the ins and outs of window treatments, and the introduction of leather master artisan Beatrice Amblard’s collaboration with the Queen of Alpaca Sandra Jordan, combining leather and fabrics in handbags and home accessories. 

Carolers in front of the Kravet showroom

Most recently, in perfect time for holiday preparations, Kravet hosted an event sponsored by the San Francisco Design Center and California Home + Design magazine.  Fellow interior designer  Scot Meacham Wood, also known for his splendid blog “The Adventures of Tartan Scot”, took the audience through the entire process of preparing for a holiday party.  From the moment you commit to a date to the minute you close the door on your last guest leaving, Scot did not miss a beat.  In his typical humorous fashion and accented with his charming Southern drawl, he covered everything from selecting guests and invitations to decor, music, cocktails, table settings and food, all with the same agility with which he entertains.

Floral arrangement by Scot Wood on a table with tabletop by Ralph Lauren

The event got off to a great start with Scot greeting guests at the door, carolers from the San Francisco Concert Chorale singing behind him, and a ginger-infused glass of Champagne beyond the threshold, served by none other than Rhonda Hirata, the Design Center’s Marketing Director. Now that is service! If you talk about entertaining you better make it a party, and a party it was with various cocktails flowing.  After ample time to enjoy delicious bites and generous libations the presentation began.

Rhonda Hirata serving Champagne cocktail to arriving guests

Large magnolia and pine wreath by Scot Meacham Wood and a generous serving of liquor by
Anchor Distillers

I have known Scot for quite a while since we worked together at Ralph Lauren way back when.  He was part of the visual team, dressing mannequins, creating window displays, setting up the Home Collection vignettes, and decorating the huge Christmas tree.  But back then I had no idea the time it took for him to do the latter and how tedious it must have been.  Since Scot’s explanation the other night I now know that  to get that perfect glow each branch of the tree had to be wrapped back and forth with lights repeatedly, which would take hours and hours.  But I was not surprised knowing Mr. Lauren’s attention for detail.  That hard work has paid off well for Scot who can whip up a gorgeous wreath in minutes, as he showed firsthand.  He can also set a beautiful table with the same ease.  Around  the showroom were tablescapes by Ralph Lauren, Hermès (courtesy of Gump’s) and Williams Sonoma, each with a different version of a holiday table.

Scot putting the finishing touches on a wreath

Holiday breakfast tablescape by Williams Sonoma

Placesetting by Hermès with custom menu by Lulalina

But decorating was not the only thing Scot shared with everyone.  Pat McIntosh, who is not only the showroom mananger of Walker Zanger and writes a blog called “You Are Invited To…”, but also has her own line of custom invitations called Lulalina, joined him to talk about the pleasure we get out of receiving elegant invitations and reading beautiful menus.  My favorite tip of hers was to put photos of the guests from the event on the back of the gorgeous menus and send them to them afterwards including a thank you note on them.  Tres charmant!

Pat McIntosh sharing her secrets for designing invitations

Custom menu by Lulalina on a place setting by Ralph Lauren

And now for the all important cocktail: bartender Chase from Tonic Beverage Catering showed the audience how to make three quick and simple holiday cocktails.  He stretched the importance of straining when using thicker and textured ingredients like cranberry sauce, an element in one of his delicious concoctions.

Chase making a cocktail

Tips for entertaining by Scot 

• Choose your guests wisely.  Have a good mixture of introverts and extroverts, as well as people who know each other and people who should one another.
• Send beautiful invitations rather than evites.
• Decorate the house to make everyone feel welcome.  Prepare the table the day before so that the flowers had a chance to open and you have time to make adjustments if needed.
• Lots of votives can fix a million problems.
• Greet guests with a delicious custom cocktail and also offer interesting non-alcoholic options.
• Off-set your menu with Vegetarian selections.
• Have a main location for food, but also spread some around the entertaining space.
• Get buffet hoggers away by introducing them to other guests.
• Play instrumental music not to interfere with conversation.
• Finish the evening with miniature desserts to allow guests to recognize that the celebration is coming to an end.

Audience enjoying Scot’s presentation

For more ideas on holiday entertaining check out Scot’s blog in the weeks to come.  I would also love to hear your favorite holiday entertaining ideas.

Photography by Kirsten Clarke

Cheers,