‘Round-the-Corner Inspiration for Trimming the Holiday Table
On a hunt for holiday tabletop decorations, Jeanne Benedict sails down the aisles of Gelson’s looking for rock salt.
“Rock salt, rock salt,” she mutters, scanning the display. “Ah, here it is. It’s only $1.69 a box, and you can use it to imitate ice crystals. Some people use silica gel, but that’s not good around food. And a lot of people use sugar, but in Los Angeles, that can attract flies and ants.”
This is decorating for the holidays, Jeanne Benedict style. The entertaining expert on the “Ask DIY” show on the Do It Yourself cable network loves combing unexpected places for raw materials that, with a little creative alchemy, are transformed into unique table decorations. Sure, she appreciates fine china and crystal as much as the next party designer, but nothing gets her blood going like some 16-gauge plastic-coated insulation wire.
We asked Benedict to come up with some inventive table decor for the holidays using inexpensive components readily found at places such as hardware and grocery stores. She created two “tablescapes,” one minimalist and elegant, the other casual and funky. We began at the North Hollywood Gelson’s, where Benedict grabbed a cart and went shopping.
She finds some red pillar candles and grabs several in varying heights, at a few dollars each. Four martini glasses are found for $19.79, and a bunch of cut purple orchids is $7.99.
Next stop is the North Hollywood Home Depot, where Benedict searches for colored plastic-covered insulated wire. She chooses a few feet of 16-gauge wire in yellow, orange, red and green (at about 12 cents a foot), then goes in search of screening.
On the way, she picks up some self-adhesive shiny silver foil tape (used for plumbing), which can be wrapped around wineglass stems or used to decorate vases; Benedict cuts a decorative edge with scissors and molds it around the rim of a clear bubble vase. “For the holidays,” says Benedict, “you always want to throw some metallic in there.”
In the ceramic tile aisle, Benedict picks up a small square green tile (36 cents) and pronounces it a great chopsticks rest. Larger tiles can be used for trivets. She ultimately chooses mirrored tiles (six 12-inch square tiles for $9.97), which can be place mats, hold hors d’oeuvres trays or be used as a base for candles.
Museum wax (a stiff wax used to anchor items) is an indulgence at $10.49 for a 13-ounce tub, but Benedict prefers using it for holding up displays because the wax is odorless, colorless and very strong. Modeling clay would be less expensive, but it takes a long time to dry. “Sometimes decisions on what to buy come down to either time or money,” she says.
Back at the home that she shares with husband John Sparano, a writer-director, and 2-year-old son Dylan, Benedict, the author of “Sophisticated Entertaining: Spirited Food for Grown-Up Parties” (H.P. Books, 2000) goes to work creating her tablescapes.
The first is a minimalist, Asian-inspired design using a centerpiece created with the rock salt. First, Benedict drapes the table with a few yards of glimmering white and gold organza she found at the downtown L.A. fabric district for a few dollars a yard. Then she peels off several feet of plastic wrap and runs it down the center of the table to protect it. Tablespoon-size globs of museum wax are formed into little cones and placed a few inches apart on the plastic. Bare branches from the backyard have been prepped in advance: Benedict dotted them with hot glue, then dipped them in rock salt and coated them with spray glitter to look like snow and ice crystals (branches of curly willow can be substituted). The branches are pushed into the wax, and the rock salt is sprinkled over the plastic and the wax bases of the branches. She tucks under the edges of the plastic wrap and covers any bits that show with more rock salt. For the final touch, tea lights are embedded in the salt covering the table center.
Places are set with mirror-tile place mats accented with an orchid set in salt-covered museum wax. The orchids are hearty enough to last through the meal, Benedict says, but she’s not opposed to realistic-looking silk flowers.
Square crackle-finished celadon plates, a matching cup and chopsticks sit atop the tiles. Benedict deftly folds a pink cloth napkin into a lotus pattern and places an orchid blossom in the center. “Napkins are a good way to add drama for not a lot of money,” she says (napkin folding books are available for the novice).
For a funkier tabletop, Benedict starts with a few feet of black fiberglass screening, which is lightweight and flexible and can be cut with scissors. She trims it into the shape of a Christmas tree (a template of any design can be drawn first on freezer paper). Thick white glue is squeezed into spirals on the tree (a plastic trash bag sits underneath to catch any oozing glue). While the glue is still wet, she sprinkles on colored glitter. When it’s dry, she’ll place the tree on top of a bright green tablecloth in the middle of the table.
The martini glasses get jazzed up with that plastic-coated wire, which Benedict winds around the stems then bends (with the help of pliers) into various shapes: a tree, a spiral, a candy cane and a star.
The table is set with holiday plates from her collection, the glasses, the red pillar candles grouped together, and some silver and gold ball ornaments scattered around the table, which add dimension.
“You should never be afraid of what people think,” Benedict says of trying new looks. “I think a second opinion is always good, but it’s better to go for it than not. Take a risk in life.”