Easter Bloom and Beauty by Alison Damonte
Author:Michelle KonstantinovskyKnown for her bright palette and modern style, Bay Area designer Alison Damonte gave us insight on how she plans to set her Easter table.
With Easter falling around the first days of spring, there is an awakening in nature after a thankfully, rainy winter. This year I’ve been fascinated with the super bloom in Death Valley and the blanket of wildflowers covering an otherwise barren landscape. Inspired by this rare event, I updated the traditional pastel Easter table with a modern, muted palette of blush, apricot and terracotta, reminiscent of the desert landscape paired with classic black and white accents.
Easter Sunday is a great day to spend with friends and family, so keeping things casual, but chic, was the goal. I imagined a brunch that was easy to pull together with versatile, mostly unbreakable tableware and no-cooking-required food that allows everyone to kick back and relax. If the sun is shining, I plan to take the fête outside to soak up the super bloom beauty and sip on chilled prosecco!
Dishware
Food always looks great on a crisp white background. The thin black rim on these enamelware plates is a classic twist that works for year-round tablescapes. They are perfect for a casual party or a picnic, because they are unbreakable.
Glassware
I own dozens of these glasses and use them at work and home. Their thin form makes sipping anything from water to cocktails and wine feel more elegant. At less than $3 a pop if a guest breaks one I am not heartbroken!
Tina Frey Covered Server
Tina Frey’s resin tableware and accessories are available in a kaleidoscope of colors. I love visiting her shop in San Francisco’s Dogpatch neighborhood to take in the whole rainbow. This covered serving dish with bunny ears is a whimsical nod to Easter without being childish and is a practical addition to an outdoor fete.
Napkins
I am an advocate of using real linen napkins, no matter how many guests, as they make any party feel a bit more dressed up. These beauties from Australian designer Shilo Engelbrecht remind me of an abstract bouquet. Plus, the pattern will help hide stains.
Tablecloth / Blanket
Made in San Francisco, this blanket works equally well as a tablecloth or, if the weather is nice enough, a picnic blanket. The subtle tie dye effect and neon surging is unexpected and modern.
Confetti
A smattering of this confetti across your table will evoke the superbloom without requiring a drive to the desert.
Vases
These rose vessels by egg bring a sculptural element to the table. The soft orange color would easily work for summer and fall parties, too!
Florals
Use one type of flower per vase for a chic, no-fail arrangement. I love the graphic pop of anemones, which grow in California and are reminiscent of the wildflowers in Death Valley. Although available in many colors, in white these blooms are a fresh take on the traditional all-pastel Easter decor. If you really want more color, these sherbert colored poppies are just spectacular and would create a monochromatic look with the rest of the table, which is really modern approach to florals. If you’re lucky and can find a few varieties of blooms you like, I’d place several small vases down the center of the table each with one type of flower per vase.
Macaroon Cake / Macaroons
Craftsmen and Wolves make the most delicious and exquisitely beautiful pastries in San Francisco. Their cakes are truly works of art that are sometimes so beautiful it is hard to imagine eating them– your guests will definitely be impressed! I love their inventive take on Easter with this carrot cake topped with lime-flavored macaroons. If you don’t live in San Francisco, a variety of colorful macaroons would work just as well.
Rebel Within
Since this is brunch and I like to sleep in, I’d pick up the famous Rebel Within muffins from Craftsmen and Wolves to serve along with the macaroon cake. Warmed and sprinkled with the CAW Tobassco salt, these would pair perfectly with a glass of Prosecco or rose. With their hidden, soft-cooked egg center, they are the epitome of an adult Easter egg hunt.
