Entertaining by Design: A Guide to Creating Meaningful Gatherings

In this breezy debut, interior designer Gross shares ideas on how to host sophisticated events for a variety of occasions. Holiday meals fall on the more formal end of the spectrum, with Gross suggesting readers could decorate the dining table with small gift-wrapped boxes and use gold place mats to complement a green and “berry red” color scheme for Christmas dinner. Gross also includes suggestions for less formal events, contending that “decorative paper plates are fine” for a backyard barbecue and that homemade chili or meatballs can elevate a game day party. Music recommendations are provided for each of the 16 events. For instance, Gross advises playing Mary J. Blige and Motown hits at the spring buffet dinner, and suggests that an acoustic guitarist would bring the “chic cocktail party” to life. Gross also features recipes, describing how to make pan-fried haddock for a “moody formal dinner” and mixed berry crumble for a “lush garden luncheon.” Some of the suggestions are no-brainers (she recommends hiring caterers for the cocktail party and asking friends to help with setup), but Gross provides some useful rules of thumb, as when she outlines what tableware to include depending on the formality of the event. This will spark hosts’ imaginations. (Oct.)