Pepper Design Blog

Beautiful Inspiration… and Styling Tips from the Pros

When it comes to beautiful presentation few do it better than the bona fide Stylists, so I thought it might be fun to take a quick look at one of my favorites for a few ideas and inspirations for a future party. Lo Bjurulf is a prop and food stylist for Agent Bauer:

An earthy garden party complete with veggie centerpieces, beautiful blue glass bottle displays and enough casual draping and carefully placed silverware to create a realistic and stunning table. This would be so fun this summer and easy to pull together for an impromptu gathering – everything on the table could probably be found in your kitchen right now, from simple plates and glasses to veggies from the fridge!

This next one is one of my favorites – I think of it as a Moroccan Barnyard Dinner Party!

The images are whimsical and imaginative but offer great inspiration for thinking out of the box. What I love about the storyboard is how it highlights the understated importance of staging a party so that it’s as eye-catching for all of your guests as you’d hoped it would be.

Staging basics offer a few rules we often forget, like:
*decorating at all eye-levels (bright pillows on the floor, a show stopping centerpiece mid-height and a beautiful chandelier just above the head – or how about those billowy curtains in the backdrop?)
*choosing the proper setting (no need to find a barn…)
*incorporating colors that work well together (be it complimentary or contrasting)
*and don’t forget the finite details that makes everything come together (such as the flower blossoms scattered like confetti in the image below or the softly stacked afghans that leave guests appreciative of a considerate hostess on a chilly night – I actually attended a party where they were readily available and I couldn’t wait to start my own collection for guests).

So beautiful! I’m so inspired by these images and the creative possibilities…

Designing a Dessert Buffet on a Budget

When I came across this wonderful post over at Amy Atlas I new I had to share – who doesn’t love a beautiful, well thought out show stopper like a pearly white dessert buffet designed and decorated in a very wallet friendly way?

Wedding Obsessed created this delightful table spread for only $40! Going to show that it can be easy and affordable to build a beautiful bar at an easy price. {And it’s so lovely to look at…}

On the menu:

1. 1 bag of large marshmallows
2. 2 Bags of heart shaped chocolates
3. boxes of sugared doughnuts
4. 2 of Boxes of Oreo Cakesters (imitation whoopie pies)
5. Popsicle sticks
6. Mini yogurt pretzels (aka yotzels!)
7. Mini marshmallows
8. 6 dollar store jars (favors)
9. Pink mints
10. Mini cupcake mix with frosting and cherries
11. Mini meringues
12. Heart shaped cookies
13. Sparkling water

Total Cost: $40.00

Decor came in the form of pretty cake stands, spray painted white frames (a quick and easy project with thrift store pictures) and an old desk with a fresh coat of paint.

Keeping to the mission of cheap, cheap, cheap, labels and containers were made out of cut up Valentine’s Day cards, and jars disguised with paper made the perfect containers. Brilliant!

Handmade Paper Bunting {So Easy & So Pretty!}

I love the look of paper flags draped around a room, outside from tree to tree, or even as the backdrop to a dinner or dessert buffet. There’s something sweet and festive about the idea and it creates instant party ambiance.

Jump over to this quick tutorial for detailed step-by-step directions from Project Wedding to create your own.

Tissue paper cut into rectangles, glue and string are the only materials needed for this quick version (perfect for a Memorial Day picnic!).

Wrap your newly created bunting around an empty gift wrapping paper roll or paper towel roll for easy storage and transportation. This would be perfect for a birthday, shower or even wedding (image strings of soft whites and creams hung around an outdoor venue). Can’t wait to try it out.