Dinner table design By Elizabeth Licata, designed by Martin Kemp Designs Photography by KC Kratt. The words “restraint” and “understated” appear infrequently in Martin Kemp’s aesthetic vocabulary, and nowhere is this more evident than in his creations for the festive dinner table. With a growing reputation for innovative and striking party décor, Martin Kemp Designs generally focuses on large events such as the Sisters Hospital Black and White Ball, corporate events for Hodgson Russ and Ingram Micro, and upscale weddings. For this issue of Spree, Kemp shared some of his ideas for a more intimate event: the private dinner party. Whether it’s Thanksgiving, New Year’s Eve, Christmas, Chanukah, or simply a very special evening with friends, the dinner table is often the focal point. In order to illustrate just how dramatic a focal point that table can be, Kemp has created four settings to inspire your next special event. He notes that all of these settings can easily be done without the help of a florist or designer, with materials available at almost any craft shop and florist. Note the use of massed carnations (perfect for creating sculptural floral centerpieces) and fresh moss; these are two of Kemp’s design trademarks. Gilded Age This is a multi-layered design, with a moss tablecloth and liquid lamé skirt covered in gilded ferns, ivy, and other shiny floral items; votive candles; and vintage Bavarian china. The centerpiece is a ball of carnations covered in glitter, flanked by smaller carnation balls. With this setting, Kemp recalls Buffalo’s glory years when people would do anything to impress their guests (including hiding tiny gemstones in the place settings for guests to find). Autumnal Here is a traditional Williamsburg Thanksgiving dinner setting, with no cloth or placemats. The flowers are orange roses and sunflowers, while leaves and single blooms are used on each napkin in place of a name card holder. Crystal and china are both from Villeroy and Boch. New Year’s Eve This very festive setting includes a white damask tablecloth with runners down the side and center, streamers coming from the chandelier and every light feature, and a pound of confetti glitter to make the whole table sparkle. The china is Johnson Brothers Castles of England; the crystal is Rosenthal. The crystal has since been donated to the Buffalo Philharmonic for their Tablescapes fundraiser. It was part of a table Kemp designed and donated to the auction. Winter Solstice A classically elegant design, this table features a runner down the center of fresh moss, orbs of flowers (carnations) made to look like snowballs, and forty votive candles. The china is antique Havilland; the crystal is Atlantis Elvas. Many thanks to Martin Kemp and Barbara Timlin for the hours they spent creating these tables for Spree. Martin Kemp Designs is located at 68 Allen St., 884-7700. Back to the Table of Contents Back to Top