One of my favorite pieces in Collection I is our Parish Cachepot. Based on the original pair that belonged to Sister Parish, these cachepots with their hand-painted penwork are beautifully crafted and very distinctive.
 

Each cachepot has a removable zinc liner that makes filling the cachepot very easy. I like to use ferns for an everyday look. Or, a pile of clementines brings a pop of color. For a party in my office last fall, we filled the cachepots with apples (top image).

But, as fresh fruit and flowers are not always practical, I was very excited when Jeanne and Linda at Sophie Dahy Designs approached me about making a custom inset for the piece. The bottom two images are arrangements they worked out for me that slip right into the Parish Cachepot and look remarkably realistic. To see more from Sophie Dahy Designs, visit their website:

www.sophiedahydesigns.com.

Or, to speak with Jeanne and Linda about making a custom inset for your Parish Cachepot, e-mail: jeanne@sophiedahydesigns.com.

One of the best ways to ensure for easy entertaining is to always have your bar set up. If the bar is stocked and in plain sight, your guests will feel comfortable enough to go and help themselves. Aside from the usual alcohol and sparkling water, I suggest using small cans of Schweppes, Coke, club soda, ginger ale, V8 and fruit juices. Large bottles of soda can go flat. Small cans are exactly one serving size, so if you open it, you use it up.

Use nice big trays. I like to put the alcohol, soda and juice on one large tray, with a smaller tray next to it containing glasses and an ice bucket. (BeeLine’s Tray Chic tray will be available in early Fall. The mahogany tray with rounded handles and faux shagreen pattern will be sold separately from the ottoman and at 30” square would make the perfect large tray for your bar!)

When it comes to glasses, I like to use stemless glasses with a flat bottom. They are very versatile and can be used for wine or cocktails. Try finding them at Treillage or through William Yeoward.

And, every bar needs cocktail napkins. Linen napkins aren’t always practical, so paper ones are okay. I prefer plain paper napkins with no designs.

Cheers!

One of the most sought after pieces of my room for the 2009 Kips Bay Decorator Show House (featured prominently in the August issue of House Beautiful) is BeeLine’s Tray Chic Ottoman. This amply-sized piece, with its tufted nutmeg colored leather, French nailhead trim and carved, turned legs is beautiful to look at but also quite practical. Placed between two sofas it makes the perfect conversation area – you can put your feet up on the ottoman, or the perimeter is wide enough to sit comfortably. The removable mahogany tray is inset in the center of the ottoman so anything you put on it – your glass of wine, flowers or candle, for instance – will stay securely. The inside of the tray is a beautiful faux shagreen pattern in ivory with an antique glaze patina.

I am pleased to announce that the Tray Chic Ottoman is currently in development and will be available through your closest BeeLine agent in early Fall. We are currently taking advanced orders. If you are interested, please call (212) 935-5930.
 

I can’t stress enough how important it is to write thank you notes. I understand that the task can get a little dull, so I like to add interest by writing on postcards instead of an expected piece of monogrammed stationery. The images on some postcards are stunning or very humorous. And, with postcards, you are able to customize your note for the receiver. When I was traveling recently, I came across a postcard with an image of cows. I knew immediately to send it to my friends who have a farm in Maryland.

I have begun to grow quite a collection of postcards. They are so inexpensive – oftentimes free, and you never know when you’ll be able to match up an interesting postcard with a friend or family member.

I also love to use postcards for gift-wrapping. If you wrap a gift and use a postcard on top as the giftcard, the present can really look quite chic and special.
 

PICNIC SANDWICH RECIPES

For All Sandwich Recipes:
1 loaf thin-sliced white or whole wheat bread
Each recipe makes enough filling for approximately 30 half sandwiches.

To Assemble:
Spread half the bread slices with the filling and cover with a slice of fish or meat, if recipe so indicates. Place the other piece of bread on top. Cut each sandwich in half on the diagonal.

Chicken with Chutney Mayonnaise
½ cup Hellmann’s mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Major Grey’s Chutney, finely chopped
2 poached skinless chicken breasts, finely chopped

In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise and chutney. Mix in the chicken. Refrigerate, covered with plastic wrap, for at least an hour. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before assembling sandwiches.

Pimento Cheese
1 pound sharp Cheddar cheese, grated
1/3 cup Hellmann’s mayonnaise
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
One 4-ounce jar pimentos, drained and fully diced

Put all ingredients in a food processor and blend, or thoroughly mix with a hand mixer in a medium bowl. Refrigerate, covered with plastic wrap, for at least an hour, or overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before assembling sandwiches.

For more picnic sandwich recipes, see page 206 of An Affair with a House.