How to Set the Perfect Autumn Table

Earlier this fall we had the pleasure of collaborating with Lisa Rieves, owner of The Front Porch of Vinings, to design a dinner party bursting with the colors of autumn and BIG on style. The backdrop could not have been more perfect; we staged our table setting in Lisa’s beautiful home and this provided direction of the rest of decor.

As you know, we love starting with floral and the centerpiece for party was no different! Floral was purchased from Trader Joe’s the morning of the event – this really gave us that fall color and helped establish the palette. Our selections included roses, gerber daisies, sunflowers, and little petite daisies.  But we think the actually came from a walk together with Lisa through her beautiful garden gathering hydrangea, ferns, branches and vines. We set the centerpiece in a lovely lichen and moss-covered urn Lisa already had and combined the greens and flowers for an abundant, yet casual arrangement. The floral, coupled with Lisa’s beautiful distressed candlesticks, set the stage for the rest of the tablescape.

We then turned to Lisa’s gorgeous open shelves, abundant with dishes, glasses, serving pieces and more – this is when the fun really began! Lisa purchased her Gien and Le Jacquard Francais from our showroom and it looks just stunning presented this way in her home!

As the base for our placesettings, we chose these beautiful, boxwood placemats, which can be found at The Front Porch of Vinings. The green makes such a lovely, lush grounding for the charger and dishes, coming up next…

We then turned to this beautiful Pont aux Choux (in Cream) as the charger from Gien. We love the detail the scalloped handles provide.

The dinner plate is Gien’s Pont aux Choux in Taupe, which sets an earthy, autumn tone to the overall setting.

The Gien Chanterelle dish acts as our salad plate and offers detail and interest to the overall setup.

We then completed the placesetting with a Chanterelle collection bread plate, Gien soup bowl (in Taupe) and vintage silver-plate cutlery, tied with twine from The Front Porch of Vinings, and a Le Jacquard Francais napkin.

For the beverage service, we used a beautiful cut-glass stem vessel as well as a Ball Mason Jar to add a bit of that down-home, comfortable fall feel.

Here is a quick look at the layers all coming together:

The finished look combined with the floral created a truly magical fall evening!

Together, Steve and Lisa had a wonderful day setting the perfect autumn table!

We want to thank Lisa for opening up her beautiful home and collaborating with us on this fun dinner party.

*All photos by Katheryn McCrary Photography

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Tabletop Tuesday – Taken with Tulipe by Gien

We’ve been taken with Gien’s Tulipe faience china pattern for some time now and we’re thrilled to have finally made this pattern the stars of a Tabletop Tuesday post here on the blog for steve mckenzie’s!

While it offers an absolutely classic sensibility to any table setting, we’ve found it can become quite modern – especially with paired with Gien’s Allure pattern.

This tabletop post begins with a graphic black and white dinner plate from Gien’s Tulipe collection.

The salad plate pattern aligns perfectly with the dinner plate, when stacked.

This stunning pewter Gabriella flatware by Match 1995 was an ideal match with these plates!

Now comes a modern edge, with the dessert plate in Gien’s Taupe colorway.

Bring in the blue! This canapé plate offered us a much needed dose of color.

Placing this Libeco Linen napkin on the diagonal helped to add texture and softness to the setting.

With all the colors and textures going on already, this tabletop didn’t call for added pattern; instead we completed the formal setting with a pair of clear water and wine glasses.

A simple pop of purple floral offers a natural element and completes the tabletop. Bon appetit!

Please stop by the steve mckenzie’s showroom today to begin pulling together a tabletop that’s ideal for you and your lifestyle. At steve mckenzie’s we love to create tabletops, which are unique to each family!

#FlashbackFriday steve mckenzie’s edition…

We’re throwing it back a bit on this Friday, featuring some recent happenings here at steve mckenzie’s. As always, we’re beyond grateful when McKenzie Designs is featured or when the happenings here at the steve mckenzie’s showroom are brought into the limelight!

steve mckenzie’s appears TWICE in the April 2017 issue of House Beautiful!

That’s the Le Cadeaux “Havana” plate right in the center!

We are pinching ourselves here to have been featured two times in the most recent issue of one of our very favorite shelter publications, House Beautiful – especially to see Steve’s name in “The Experts” section!

McKenzie Designs “Bold, Bright and Beautiful” renovation featured on StyleBlueprint

Click here to check out the full feature of our recent Candler Park renovation and let us know which part is your favorite in the comments below. You won’t be surprised to learn that French Blue range from La Cornue was the top feature for us!

It’s a “Garden Party” in the April 2017 issue of Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles

We’re delighted to see our Jardin Extraordinaires collection by Gien in this absolutely gorgeous spread in the latest issue of Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles. This feature is putting us in the spirit of springtime!

You’re invited to our Spring Tea & Open House!

Last, but certainly not least, is our Spring Tea & Open House event at the steve mckenzie’s showroom this Wednesday. As you can see from the details above, it’s going to provide an extraordinary time! We hope you can join us – please share your RSVP with us by clicking here or on either of the event images.

Thank you for joining us on this little #FlashbackFriday of recent press and look ahead at what’s sure to be a pretty fantastic event! We hope to see you in the steve mckenzie’s showroom soon.

Four Reasons to Register your Wedding Gifts with steve mckenzie’s

Get engaged over the holidays? First of all… Congrats! Second, where will you register?!? It’s a question you’ll hear a lot between now and the big day, and deservedly so. Your loved ones want to gift you with that something special, when each time you see it, you think of them.

We encourage you to give your loved ones an opportunity to gift you with items you’ll treasure forever, things you can’t find in a big box store – all while shopping small and local. Register with steve mckenzie’s!

Gien earthenware
Gien Pont aux Choux in Taupe

Why? Here are four reasons we think you’ll be just as head-over-heels for steve mckenzie’s wedding registry as you are with your fiance:

  1. Unique offerings – steve mckenzie’s carries items you won’t see at every chain store. Everything we offer is painstakingly selected by Steve and Jill McKenzie, our own husband and wife team with loads of homemaking and entertaining experience.

    An assortment of R. Wood Pottery, handmade in Athens, GA.
    An assortment of R. Wood Pottery, handmade in Athens, GA.
  2. People LOVE to give special gifts – We make it easy for you to select truly special items for your registry, which your guests will love gifting! steve mckenzie’s offers so much more than tableware – let your loved ones give something as unique as you and your fiance for your big celebration!

    A smaller-scale original work of art by Steve McKenzie - ideal for beginning your family's collection.
    A smaller-scale original work of art by Steve McKenzie – ideal for beginning your family’s collection.
  3. One of a kind art gifts – Our team spends a lot of time creating and curating original artworks that would help to make any house feel like a home. Pick pieces you’ll love forever and add them to your registry. Even small works of art can be the jumping off point for your home’s design. Give someone an opportunity to give your new family the gift of art.
  4. It’s easy! – Registering and shopping registries with steve mckenzie’s is so simple! You’ll work with our team, who will help guide you through the registry process, selecting items you’ll use – and possibly pass down for generations. When it’s time to shop, your guests are welcome to peruse our store, or simply call in to place an order. steve mckenzie’s offers complimentary gift wrapping, and has even been known to make hand deliveries.

    A classic mint julep cup by Match Pewter - use for cocktail hour, a petite vase, or even utensil holder for your buffet!
    A classic mint julep cup by Match Pewter – use for cocktail hour, a petite vase, or even utensil holder for your buffet!

We hope you’ll consider working with our team to create a truly unique registry for your upcoming wedding celebration. Please contact us today with any questions or to get started!

A Fantastic Fall Recipe & NEW Gien Earthenware

Just in time for Thanksgiving, steve mckenzie’s is introducing the new Chanterelle collection by Gien Earthenware.

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This new dinnerware line features a beautiful pattern of woodland mushrooms, fern leaves and forest fruits. And, while Gien Earthenware is manufactured in France, it’s actually dishwasher safe – a real bonus for the busy holiday season!

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If you’re not ready to commit to an entire table of the Chanterelle pattern, adding a few key pieces to your tablescape – while mixing an matching with your current dinnerware – will make the perfect seasonal touch!

Now that you’re envisioning a fabulous fall table, we have an ideal meal to serve on your new Gien Earthenware… Mulligan Stew! This hearty, and comforting dish will warm you from the inside out. A big thanks to steve mckenzie’s friend and team member, Kim Crosby for sharing her recipe with us:

Mulligan Stew
Serves 8

Mulligan-Stew

2 lb Stew Meat
1/4 C flour
3 T vegetable Oil
2 Lb unpeeled potatoes, cut into bite-size cubes
1 C celery, cut into bite-size cubes
1C carrots, cut into bite-size pieces
1 small onion chopped
2 1/2 C water or beef stock divided
1/2 of a .75 oz pkg brown gravy mix
2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes
salt & pepper to taste
fresh parsley
Ciabatta, baguette or other hard crust bread Toss the stew meat with the flour. Heat oil in a 6-quart Dutch oven. Add the meat in small amounts to brown.

Add potatoes, celery, carrots, onions and 2 C water (or stock). Bring to boil then reduce heat. Cover & simmer for about 1.5 hours or till meat is done.Combine the gravy mix and 1/2 C water (or stock) and add to the meat & veggies along with the undrained tomatoes and bring to boil to combine flavors. Remove from heat, top with parsley and serve with crusty bread.

Simple, hearty and oh-so-fall! Please share some of your family’s favorite fall dishes – we’d love to be inspired!!