I love creating spaces that welcome guests and family for parties, dinners, and celebrations! A living room or family room in your home should invite people to gather, to sit and talk, and to feel comfortable. I have 5 can’t-fail tips that make your living spaces so enticing that your guests won’t want to leave!

Cynthia Ferguson Designs - see the full project here.

Don’t Make a TV the Focal Point

When a television is the first thing you see in a living space, it can be off-putting! Especially when it’s switched off and is just a big black box. I like to use art as the focal point of a room - it tells a story about who you are and what you like. Art can be a great conversation starter, and it makes a room feel much more welcoming!

Cynthia Ferguson Designs - see the full project here.

Offer Plenty of Seating

No matter what size room you have, it’s great to offer a lot of seating for your guests. In the rooms I design, I’ll add ottomans that can double as stools, or accent chairs that can be pulled over to conversation areas. The more the merrier is the rule in this room!

Cynthia Ferguson Designs - see full project here.

Light It Up

Layered lighting is fantastic in an entertaining space! You want the option to have a bright room for a celebration, but softer lighting for conversation. I always plan overhead lighting, natural light, and plenty of lamps in my projects. Be sure you have enough tables for drinks and plates, too!

Cynthia Ferguson Designs - see full project here.

Soften the Look

Extra comfort and texture are key to a welcoming space, so be sure you add plenty of pillows and throws. That way your guests will be able to settle in and feel right at home!

Cynthia Ferguson Designs - see the full project here.

The Final Touches

Fresh flowers are the perfect way to create a celebratory look! I love to have fresh flowers in my spaces even for a night in with my family! Other great touches include accessories and books. They’ll give your guests clues about who you are and what you like - and they give you plenty to talk about!

Use these ideas to create welcoming spaces that are perfect for entertaining! And invite me, too!!

Until next time,

-Cynthia

I absolutely love having family and friends visit during the holidays! Planning those dinner parties and get-togethers are half the fun for me, but I know some people find it to be stressful. The key is to not try to make everything perfect, but to enjoy every moment! So I’ve put together 4 of my best tips to set a stress-free - and gorgeous! - holiday table:

Cynthia Ferguson Designs

Mix high and low

I like to use three categories of items on my tables: current, vintage, and precious. Current could be something you picked up at a store that isn’t necessarily expensive, but you love it! Vintage could be china you inherited from your grandmother, or a great piece of silver you found at an antique store. And precious - well that’s something that holds more sentimental value than monetary value. Then it’s all layered on the table; it makes the look approachable, but still special!!

Cynthia Ferguson Designs

Fresh flowers

Always have fresh flowers or greenery on the table. It could be a bouquet professionally done, or a bunch of seasonal flowers from your local market, or even fresh-cut greenery. If budget is tight, spread the bunch of flowers out by using single bud vases lined down the middle of the table for greater visual impact!

Cynthia Ferguson Designs

Make it personal

If it’s a family gathering, use some vintage pieces passed down to you. If it’s a bunch of friends gathering, make simple place cards, tie ribbon to the back of each chair, and thread the place card through the ribbon

One of my own collections!

Use your collections

There is nothing better than a collection. Maybe it’s a collection of salt and pepper shakers. Maybe a collection of monogrammed napkin. Perhaps a collection of mini nutcrackers. Use your collections to make your table about you and your personality. People are gathering around your table because they want to spend time with you. Show them a little about you through your collections. Don’t have a collection? Start on by searching on Etsy or going to your local thrift store. Start with what speaks to you and go from there!

Use these tips to create new memories this holiday season - and remember to have FUN!!

Until next time,

-Cynthia

Next week is Halloween! If you want to celebrate the fun of the day but you don’t have little kiddos, there are still so many options for getting a little spooky while staying on the more chic side of the spectrum! Here are some of my faves:

Table design by Cynthia Fergusion

I found these amazing skull plates at TJX, the flatware at Crate & Barrel, and the platter at Home Sense, proving you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a gorgeous look! The black-and-gold palette gives this outdoor table a lot of drama, without a lot of kitsch.

Hudson Grace

This feather art from Hudson Grace adds intrigue and a tiny bit of spookiness, but looks incredibly chic!

Pumpkin by Hot Skwash (isn’t that the best name?!)

I was at a jewelry store when I saw this fab silky pumpkin. It reminds me of one of my favorite companies, Hot Skwash! They offer beautiful pumpkins like this that will give you a luxe look for your Halloween decor.

Table design by Cynthia Ferguson

And here’s a look at a dinner party I had last year at Halloween. With lots of candles, a spooky palette, and just a touch of faux webs, I created a Halloween mood that was hip and haute. 

Try these ideas to take your decor from silly to seriously sophisticated!

Until next time,

-Cynthia

Next week it’s Thanksgiving here in Canada – a time to gather with friends and family over a fabulous feast and a gorgeous table! I love to design not only a gorgeous room, but also a great tablescape for my guests and I pull inspiration from so many sources. As I travel, I get a lot of great ideas from restaurants around the world – for colours, design ideas, or for table settings!

This restaurant in Majorca has me dreaming of a non-traditional Thanksgiving tablescape!

For example, a recent trip to Majorca has me thinking about gorgeous cobalt glassware and plates for a more non-traditional Thanksgiving table! Can I just say that the lavender planted near our table also was a heavenly experience? Maybe I should add a few springs to my centerpiece!

A restaurant in Denmark designed by Vernon Panton.

Speaking of non-traditional colours, I’m crazy for this mix of purples, blues, and oranges in a restaurant in Denmark, designed by Vernon Panton! The lighting and that incredible ceiling installation are inspiring some ideas not only for a party at my house, but also a design I’m cooking up for my client’s dining room.

A private dining room at Cecconi's in West Hollywood, featuring a Damien Hirst!

I was lucky enough to enjoy a fantastic dinner at Cecconi’s West Hollywood, in a private dining room that included this beautiful Damien Hirst! The orange in this piece is more in line with a fall-themed Thanksgiving, but I also am inspired by the tiny butterflies that flutter across the painting. I may have to pull out my butterfly-patterned china!

The next time you’re dining out, consider the decor as much as you do the menu – you never know where you might find your next inspiring idea!

Until next time,

- cynthia