Big turkey, little table?

Entertaining in small spaces

(Philip Baltz Company-Fashion Wire Daily)

In this story: Double-duty furniture Keep decorations simple Votive candles a festive option Forget a huge turkey RELATED STORIES

By Sara Nolan
Fashion Wire Daily

NEW YORK (FASHION WIRE DAILY) -- Crowding around the kids' table holds a special place in our holiday memories: spilling cranberry cocktail on your Laura Ashley sailor dress, arguing over which greasy-fingered cousin gets to break the wishbone, and, most of all, pretending to act like grownups in a bid for a seat at the big table next year.

You're at the big table now.

Only problem is, it's no bigger than the kids' table, and you and your grown-up friends are crowded into a space no bigger than the breakfast nook you were relegated to at those family functions of yore.

Such tight quarters may be a charming aspect of city living, but they're not conducive to holiday entertaining.

Unless, that is, you take the attitude of successful restaurateur Diane Ghioto.

"The whole thing is, people would rather be cozy than have a lot of space," she says. "It's more conducive to conversation."

Ghioto honed her hosting skills entertaining friends in her home, before opening Isla in downtown Manhattan earlier this year. The cozy but cool Cuban-inspired restaurant is a testament to her theory of creating "zones" for guests.

"Whether it's putting big pillows on the floor around the coffee table, or creating a bar area, then people can feel like they at least had an intimate conversation with a few people."

Ghioto's "zone" notion works especially well for those of us whose living space necessitates intimacy.

For a studio apartment with a bed and table as its sole furnishings, for example, toss an exotic tablecloth or piece of fabric over the bed, and load it up with plush pillows that invite people to lounge, sultan-style.

Or devise a means of making it a tabletop. Get a cheap sheet of plywood, cover it with a decorative tablecloth and use it as your buffet table or bar.

Achieving coziness without clutter is the crux. Traditional holiday decorations of the large centerpiece/snaking garland sort can often undercut attempts at comfy elegance.

Jennifer Pfieffer of New York's Magnolia Florist, along with co-owners Angelica Calvo and Mauro Gomes, specialize in designs that "compliment the space, not compete with it."

The Magnolia crew, three friends who decided to indulge in their passions for floral design and flowers by opening the store in February, have been lauded by none other than Martha Stewart: The grande dame of "Martha Stewart Living" recently had them on her show. They also count Calvin Klein, Kate Spade, Donna Karan, Escada and Michael Kors among their clients.

Pfieffer suggests using seasonal elements like kale and cabbage for interesting touches of texture during the holidays. But the most important thing is to work with what you have. If you've got a fireplace, for example, use that as a focal point.

"We would definitely appoint the fireplace with really beautiful greens," says Pfeiffer. Putting some candles on the hearth adds warmth without being overwhelming. And, as Pfeiffer points out, "they add atmosphere without taking up space."

And if space is one thing you don't have, keep it simple.

"You can get small votive candle holders and fill them with small arrangements, and just line them all up and down the table," says Pfeiffer. Use hues that match the season -- Pfeiffer suggests orange tulips, orange freesia, or russet colored roses -- and pack them in tightly.

"It's very easy to do yourself," Pfeiffer adds. "You could just buy ten stems of a flower and do a bud to a vase. Be generous with them, but keep it small."

Intersperse votive candles and you have the perfect lighting for a sophisticated city dinner among friends. And with an arrangement like this you can skip the ceremonial removing of the centerpiece; this one is user-friendly.

The cooking is the real test. Even for budding gourmets, the logistics of serving a full-fledged turkey dinner are rather off-putting, to say the least. Use your space specifications as an excuse to add some personal flavor to the menu.

"You could do something really fun like turkey quesadillas or empanadas," says Ghioto. "Or, you could have almost an entire turkey dinner on a skewer, served over stuffing, with a gravy and a cranberry sauce on the side.

That way, there is no big carcass on the table. Ghioto points out that this kind of dinner lends itself to easy pre-preparation, and cuts out the possibility of a "major-league cleanup afterwards.

It minimizes all that." Top off the meal with bite-sized pecan and pumpkin tartlets, and your guests are sure to walk away with more appreciation for less-is-more entertaining.

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