This week, gift ideas for a host by Gilly Ferguson, Contributing Editor
Fresh ideas to take along to your next dinner party plus the on-trend tablewares I’ve got my eye on for me
For the kitchen
Full disclosure: I can’t cook. By that I mean, whenever my six-year-old has toast, she asks for it ‘like mama makes it, with the black bits’. It’s lovely that she’s a fan of my work, but when it comes to hosting actual adults, I need my kitchen/tableware to do the wowing – all showy serving boards, suspiciously clean aprons and wham, bam, thank you damson dishes – while I wing it with ‘picky bit’ platters and cocktails. My hero pick? Le Creuset’s oven/BBQ/foolproof one-pot wonder.
For the table
Dressing a table, on the other hand? That’s right up my street. I tend to stick to a two-colour palette, with neutral placemats at the core. I’ve also been known to wrap napkins, candlesticks, basically anything in velvet ribbon bows. Obsessed. When it comes to colour, burgundy is the new neutral – and works for all seasons, coupled with mustard yellow, sky blue or, right now, sage. Truthfully, I’m not a massive fan of gaudy greens and reds, but burgundy and sage nod to the occasion (Christmas) and work for birthdays, bat mitzvahs and every celebration in between.
For the host
Wine. Chocolates. Flowers. They’re gifting go-tos for a reason. But when it comes to marking special occasions, why not dabble in some DIY? The internet is awash with genius gifting ideas. Split a pack of dinner candles into smaller sets, and tie with a ribbon. Fill a jug or candle holder with homegrown stems (I love mimosa). Or – if you have the time and/or inclination – give a delicious home-bake complete with an equally delicious new dish. Baubles are a great, easy winter gift for hosts, plus they’ll keep the memories rolling into Christmases yet to come.
For the guest
When it comes to hosting, sure – the multipurpose table, the makeshift dining chairs, the spontaneous sofa bed – they’re all winners for getting guest-ready. And then there’s the finishing touches, which I get far too excited about. From low-level, portable mood lighting, to decadent diffusers and room scents wafting as guests arrive, to the slow pour-and-clink of the Picante-filled crystal tumblers – these are the little luxuries that I love. Guaranteed to make guests feel at home (and by home, I mean, boutique hotel).
