November 06, 2017

A THANKSGIVING DINNER INSPIRED BY OUR CHILDHOOD

November 06, 2017/ Laurén

Photo by: Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

We were so honored to have our Thanksgiving dinner featured on ELLE Decor. It was especially meaningful because this Thanksgiving table was inspired by our childhood. It was our rendition of the table our mother and grandmother would create for the holiday. Our grandmother had wicker cornucopias as the centerpiece of the table with an abundance of overflowing fall fruit -- it was really beautiful and always stuck with us. So we did our own take on that -- using the brass bowls and pedestals to house pomegranates, tangerines, figs and grapes.

The color palette was dictated by our childhood dining room, which had a burgundy vintage oriental rug and deep raspberry upolstered dining chairs. Those jewel tones were the starting point of our palette and mood. Our grandmother’s china and goblets were emblazoned with gold so we decided to play that up by using copious amounts of brass in this interpretation. Then we modernized it by going with a bare wood table and benches.I am obsessed with the carrera marble chargers from Borrowed Blu. On one hand, they have this classic elegance but on the other, they are pretty unexpected.

Sissy designed the flowers and here's what she said: We wanted to create rich and abundant florals. We started out with amaryllis (a Christmas favorite) in a deep burgundy as the focal point and then added maple leaves, purple clematis, coral ranunculus and peonies in burgundy and a pink so light it almost looks white. The coral ranunculus also nestled in brass bud vases right on the guest’s plate to accompany the place card, and in clusters scattered amongst the bowls of fruit on the table.

Concept, Design & Florals: Twink + Sis

Photography: Jenne Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Tabletop: Borrowed Blu

Linens: Town & Country Rents & Events

Misc. Tabletop/Candle Holders: One Kings Lane, Crate & Barrel

Table & Benches: HD Buttercup

Turquoise Hutch: Horchow

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! xx

October 06, 2017

TWINK + SIS HALLOWEEN DINNER PARTY

October 06, 2017/ Laurén

It's spooky season! We were so thrilled to have our Halloween dinner party featured on ELLE Decor. Today, I'm so excited to share even more images and details from our Halloween celebration with you.

THE DESIGN: We wanted to create a stylish and dramatic Halloween dinner party for the adult set. Something fun and festive, without losing the beauty of a sophisticated dinner party.

The first two key elements of our table were the black flatware and the Jarrahdale (light grey/green) pumpkins. Those two elements were actually the jumping off point for the whole design.

We purchased the pumpkins from a local pumpkin patch and they really made the table. We knew from the start that we wanted to forgo orange and do something a little more unusual. We were completely in love with these pumpkins and just wanted to cover every inch of the table in them.

Once we had settled on black and the pumpkins being key aspects, that dictated everything else as we moved forward. We added light grey plates, flowers in deep red/purples as another contrast to the lighter colors, and smokey brown (goblets) to finish it off. We also thought that using classic silver for candlesticks, vases and goblets, added a perfect moody touch.

We have a rule to always use fresh elements, wherever possible — even at our kids' parties. Whether it be pumpkins, flowers or evergreens, having an abundance of fresh, seasonal items really creates the most beautiful effect.

The plate decorations are actually chestnuts! We really wanted to have the flowers be a bit spooky and unusual. So when we came across these little brown monsters, we knew they would be the perfect unexpected addition to the table.

We loved the glass cloches. We placed some of the black birds, branches and the chestnuts under them. They created a great eerie vibe.

Make the most of your investment: Load up on heirloom pumpkins. Not only do they make great party decor, but they will keep your home festive all the way through Thanksgiving!

THE COCKTAIL: Our signature drink for the evening was “The Darkest Night.” It consisted of fresh muddled blackberries, bourbon, lemon juice and simple syrup, topped off with sparking water. It was like a Halloween soda for grown-ups.

THE DESSERT: The cake was created by Whisk & Whittle. It was a two-tierd (gluten-free) chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting. She created the spiders from marzipan and the web from spun sugar.

CREDITS:

Party Concept, Design, Cocktail & Florals: Twink + Sis

Photography: Sarina Cass of Red Anchor Photo

Cake: Whisk and Whittle

Tabletop sourced from: Borrowed Blu

Flatware: Classic Party Rentals

Candles: Yummi Candles

Skull & Blackbirds: Pottery Barn

Pumpkins: Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch

October 04, 2017

MICHELLE STAFFORD'S SPOOKY SOIREE IS ON PEOPLE!

October 04, 2017/ MARLAN

Michelle Stafford threw a Halloween-themed first birthday party for her son Jameson and it's on People!

We had so much fun designing the dessert table -- joining the spooky theme with the first birthday by incorporating a toddler piano and candlesticks into the tablescape, filled with Whisk and Whittle’s creepy crawlers cake, vampire bat cupcakes, caramel apples and skeleton cookies. Then completed the look with beautiful grey pumpkins from Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch and Cheeky’s #MakeMealtimeMatter gold plates. We hand-painted the spiderweb tablecloth based on The House that Lars Built DIY.

October 02, 2017

NEON + SILVER HALLOWEEN

October 02, 2017/ MARLAN

We wanted to reimagine Halloween. Tired of the traditional orange and black, we decided to turn it on its head with neon and silver. Add some white owls, pumpkins and flowers, and voila! Here's a look at the photos from Jenna Elliott, One Eleven Photography.

The spiderweb backdrop was so fun and easy to make. Just washi tape.

Our little ghost pops are vegan coconut bars with goji berry eyes.

Skeleton hands from Michaels were painted neon before serving up the macarons.

Little owls flocking to the coconut cake.

Cantaloupe lent a fresh element while reminding us of Halloween's traditional orange.

Care for skeleton hand soup, anyone? The plates, bowls and cups are all affordable from Target.

Handmade "ghost" tassels floated over the bookshelves.

Mila’s playsuit and headband: Nellystella and Tutu du Monde via Thumbeline | Wings: Fairy Birds

And here it is on 100 Layer Cakelet!

Photos: Jenna Elliott, One Eleven Photography
DIY spider, skulls, skeletons, tassels, cake toppers: Michaels
DIY neon washi tape spiderweb: Office Depot
Coconut cake, macarons: Whole Foods
Ghost bars: Coconut Bliss
Milk glass cake stand: Sur la Table
Silver tablecloth: Town and Country
Dishes, silver trays: Target
Silver glitter box: Paper Source
White pumpkins: Gelson’s

June 01, 2017

VINTAGE CAMPING BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR BRIXTON'S 3RD BIRTHDAY

June 01, 2017/ Laurén

We love going all-out for our kiddos' birthdays. Since Brixton is such a huge Beatles and 1960’s classic rock fanatic, I was really inspired to create a celebration really tailored to his personality and interests, despite the fact that we had decided to have the party at a farm! With summer just around the corner I thought it would be really fun to create a vintage-inspired camping party.

We served a camping breakfast of breakfast burritos, banana-blueberry muffins, fresh fruit, yogurt and granola. Campers sipped on fresh-squeezed orange juice and organic lemonade, as well as cold brew coffee for the grown-ups. Camping wouldn’t be complete without s’mores, so we added a “breakfast twist” by serving S’mores donuts, along with banana birthday cake -- topped with woodland animals, a mini canoe and fresh greens.

I had a lot of fun scouring flea markets and eBay for the vintage camping and summer camp items. We made our own table linens and napkins from various plaid and army green material purchased at the fabric store. I wanted to add a fresh element as well, so we added greens in tin cans, as well as leather-wrapped bunches, to the tables.

Underwood Family Farms is so beautiful and well maintained. There is so much for kids to do there. It completely takes care of the entertainment and activity aspect of the party, which is why we chose to have it there.