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 PS My
Sister Says, With PS Style: Tablecloths, Placemats, and Napkins: Dressing the Table
from a Wardrobe Consultants Perspective
By Annie Payne with Lori Wynne
I am writing this article in Boston. My family and I
are here visiting my sister, Lori Wynne. She is a wife, a mother, and a
wardrobe consultant.
Along with a having a passion for fashion and a soft spot for
good causes, she also has a harmless addiction to table linens. Lori loves
dressing her kitchen and dining room tables almost as much as dressing herself
or her clients. This being said, she has amassed quite a collection of
tablecloths, runners, placemats, napkins and napkin rings. In fact, she has more
placemats than bath towels. Lori's double-door linen closet has one shelf for
towels and two shelves filled to the brim with table linens. She counted 21 sets
of napkins, 14 sets of placemats, 16 runners, and 20 tablecloths.
Table linens serve double duty; protecting your table from
damage and they serve as decoration. Table linens appeal to both Homies
(Home and Garden enthusiasts) and Foodies (Food and Dining enthusiasts) alike.
Both would agree that a well set table makes a meal more enjoyable and
appetizing.
Lori's personal philosophy on setting a beautiful table is,
"Presentation is everything." One or both of her dining tables are always
decorated with linens and centerpieces. In an effort to be "green," Lori says,
she will leave her tablecloth on the table two to three days until laundering
becomes necessary.
"I use cloth napkins instead of paper. In my house, the napkin
stays at the family member's place at the table. After each meal, the napkin
will go back in the ring until its next use. When the linens get dirty, once or
twice a week, I change them. It's like redecorating in a minute's time."
Our
mother set our feet on the path of appreciating a nicely set table. Growing up
in the Clark household, the use of table linens was commonplace. As children we
understood that a formally set table signaled the advent of something
special. Eating at the dining room table, as opposed to the kitchen table,
we sat up a little straighter, held our forks delicately and properly, instead
of the dagger position, and only caught the disapproving eye from our mother
when we tried to compose a symphony by circling the rim of our water goblets
with wet fingers.
Lori doesn't believe that you need to sacrifice civility or
style just because there are children in the home. She says,
"You may think that tablecloths and napkins are not appropriate
for your current lifestyle. On the contrary, I have used cloth linens since the
day I was married, then had two small, messy eaters and now dine with a couple
of voracious teenage boys. The solution is clear plastic placemats over the
cloth placemats when feeding toddlers. Whether in fashion or dressing your table
there's no need to forgo style when living with young children."
She
adds,
"As a mother of two sons and the daughter-in-law of a woman who
wrote an etiquette book, I feel it my duty to teach my sons the proper use of
cloth table linens and to not be intimidated by them. Equally important, I have
taught them to set a proper table. Just like jewelry and shoes, dishes and
napkin rings are the accessories for the table that complete the look you are
trying to convey."
Visiting Lori and perusing her collection of table linens
has rejuvenated my own interest in making a better effort to set a nice table
for my family. She has always believed in making her dinner guests feel
special.
"I want to present my home in the best light possible. Just
like the perfect outfit can make a great first impression, table linens can make
your family and guests feel like you were expecting them, and their presence
makes every day a special occasion."
Lori's tips for table linens
For a casual dining setting
a tablecloth should have an overhang of at least 8 inches. For a formal setting
the overhang could be anywhere from 15 inches to all the way to the floor.
Napkinfoldingguide.com is a website that has instructions and
pictures on how to fold cloth napkins.
Use a rod in your walk-in pantry or
hall closet to hold hangers filled with tablecloths. This keeps tablecloths from
getting wrinkled.
If your collection of napkins is small, keep them rolled up and
upright in a basket on the counter near the table. They will be decorative as
well as close at hand.
Keep napkin rings in drawers with dividers, much like how you
would store jewelry.
Store vinyl or plastic placemats in the same upright cupboard
as you store your cookie sheets. When they are no longer used to protect your
nice linens, use them as cutting boards. They can easily be washed in the
dishwasher.
Don't be intimidated by table linens. If you have never collected linens,
start with one set of at least four place settings of coordinating mats,
napkins, and napkin rings that can be easily maintained by laundering or wiping
clean. They are widely available at many price points.
Annie Payne is a
columnist and humor blogger. She lives in beautiful Western Colorado with her
husband, Robert, and their three kids. Visit Annie's personal blog at Anniethology.blogspot.com.
Lori Wynne is a Pretty
Sister and a Wardrobe Consultant living in Boston, Mass. Her clientele include
businesswomen, authors and housewives. Check out her website at www.fashionwithflair.com to find out how she can help
you look your personal best.
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