CALDER CLARK DESIGNS

napkin ring roundup

Calder Clark — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:00:54 +0000

I’m one of those die-hard napkin nuts- a pretty napkin makes a table. I was raised in a cloth-only household, and I take great pride in ironing mine to crispness and setting our table each night- even the wee ones get a real deal napp’un. So it only figures that I die over the below napkin rings, even if they do create a bit of artful chotchke on the table once removed. The hot pink World’s Fair 1939 vintage bakelite perisphere one takes the cake- and they also exist (though rare) in root beer bakelite, aka “poor man’s tortoise”! Die again.

{one/two/three/four/five/six}

for the kiddos

Calder Clark — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:00:08 +0000

When you have a flower girl like this . . .

Then how can you not design some high jinx + silliness at the kids’ table?

Start out with a playful place card- like this die cut wood plaque with calligraphy wood-burned name.

Lure them in with a fun party favor. Ours was a foundation of play foam (addicting stuff) topped with a plastic globe ornament (December wedding!) filled with silly band bracelets, glow-in-the-dark balloons, and other trinkets.

Switch up the centerpiece. Little folks don’t care about les fleurs, mes amis. We had our florist plant wheatgrass from which were “blooming” flower lollipops. You can imagine the reaction!

Let the centerpiece be lighthearted. Chargers = damage/not necesssary. Teak flatware was easy to grip, curly straws make everything taste better, who doesn’t love those wee birch pencils, and a craft paper topper made for lots of “art” throughout the night!

{all images via Heather Forsythe}

For more kids’ table ideas, click here!

coastal linen love

Calder Clark — Thu, 09 May 2013 13:00:51 +0000

Firstly, I want a name like Elizabeth Archangeli. Period. That last name wields some serious power! But I digress. Elizabeth is making these absolutely lovely coastal-inspired linens out of her Vermont studio, as spied on Food & Wine . . . and I just had to share! Would make for fab girlfriend gifts, or dress up any ho-hum party you have coming up.

{compass rose napkin, anchor chain napkin, ship’s wheel napkin}

{friendship napkin, sea fern napkin, paradise napkin}

happy anni to the holubas!

Calder Clark — Sun, 05 May 2013 13:00:44 +0000

Talk about a WONDERFUL couple. The Holubas were married at French Huguenot and dined and danced the night away at Lowndes Grove. Each beautiful sunset moment was captured by our buddies at A Bryan Photo, and I haven’t seen a sunset like it since. Seriously. Their gorgeous day was featured here, go check it out.

I enjoyed every moment with these two, with their folks, and with their friends. Random aside: Robbie’s groomsmen were some of the nicest, most interesting/debonair/gentlemanly people I’ve come across in all my years of herding bridal parties to and fro. Kristen and Robbie are welcoming their first wee one this May, and we can’t wait to see pix! Congratulations, y’all!

{a bryan photo}

fridays at the ford

Calder Clark — Fri, 03 May 2013 13:00:53 +0000

We’re super pumped to be back down in Savannah at Henry Ford’s historic old home, the Ford. We’re knee-deep in chiffon and boxwood, happy as clams in a week-long install. It’s our Spring fling of sorts, and we’re absolutely honored to be putting on another grand affair for a precious + super cool couple from Chi-town . . . which brings back memories of another fabu Chicago couple, Bridget + Rob. Have a splendid weekend!

{a bryan photo}

The Local Palate May 2013- featured!

Calder Clark — Thu, 02 May 2013 13:00:31 +0000

We were thrilled to be tapped to produce + style a Mother’s Day brunch for The Local Palate, a killer Charleston foodie magazine whose pages are always filled with the latest gossip on grub, booze, the scene, everything gastronomy. Hoping your upcoming Mother’s Day is just as sunny and relaxed as the one we mocked up for you!

{shot by Andrew Cebulka}

trumping leontine

Calder Clark — Wed, 01 May 2013 13:00:08 +0000

I never thought I’d say it, because it’s pure sacrilege. But I’m gonna go there: I think Julia B. has up-and-trumped ole Leontine. Leontine can still be the lady-in-waiting, don’t despair- but JBL is the new reigning queen of STUNNING tabletop linens, monogrammed goodness, heavenly bedding, and more. I could say something snooty and poserish like “ooo I just can’t wait till one of our girls uses these at her wedding”, but y’all- let’s face it . . . at $135/napkin, it isn’t probably going to happen anytime soon. *wink* A girl can dream, though!

Below, the ones that are keeping me up at night:

The Calais Dinner Napkin from Julia B. Linens = my all-time fave.

Julia B. Linens’ monogrammed Signature Cocktail Napkin = the ultimate girlfriend gift.

Paris is always a good idea- (the Julia B. Linens Paris place setting).

The Biarritz napkins from Julia B. scratch that pompom “itch”.

The Versailles dinner napkin – so aptly named!

isabelle de borchgrave

Calder Clark — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:00:26 +0000

Enamored with Isabelle de Borchgrave‘s incredibly (or shall I say- incroyable!) paper “lace” veils and wedding gown details. It may be THE height of chic to commission your veil out of le papier, via a French artiste. Read more about her here . . . .

rocks that rock

Calder Clark — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:00:54 +0000

For the love of agate!

{one/two/three/four/five}

tabletop pop quiz

Calder Clark — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:00:15 +0000

Multiple choice pop quiz: which of these are we using at one of our upcoming bashes?

a.) Top left: equestrian-meets-rocker-chic always works.

b.) Top right: a little glitter goes a long way.

c.) Bottom right: tassels are welc on everything from napkins to drapes to key fobs to purses to jewelry.

d.) Bottom left: smoky tumblers are my jam.

{via}

answer? e.) all of the above, but not all at one event, mind you!