Match Pewter Archives – McKenzie Interior Design

May 29, 2023

It’s time to freshen up our tables – spring is here! Let’s recap the fun from our recent Spring Tea Open House~

Vintage Touches

Paige Minear of The Pink Clutch mixed vintage pieces dear to her heart, plus custom monogrammed napkins by Emily McCarthy.

Vintage Touches Blogger Power! Mandy and Paige

Waiting on Martha‘s, Mandy Kellogg Rye kept a soothing green palette for her table and incorporated topiaries.

Green Goodness table by Mandy

Erika Preval of Charm Etiquette refreshed our manners – start on the outside for the cutlery, leave politics out of the conversation, etc. She even offers classes for everyone to enjoy – young people, adults, corporate situations – remember good manners will open doors the best education cannot, as says Clarence Thomas.

Vintage Finds

We fell in love with the jasmine tea from Just Add Honey and will add it to our next menu. So many flavors; if you attended, please let us know your favorite!

This guy knows his teas!

A special thank you to Christi, our ambassador of Gien, Terrafirma, Le Jacquard Francais, Match Pewter and Royal Crown Derby, as she brought in so many delicious layers of textiles and plates for us to play with.

Gray goodness with Gien, Match Pewter, Terrafirma and Le Jacquard Francais table linens So many choices! Paige Minear, Jermail Shelton, Jill McKenzie, and Erika Preval Charming Paris small plates

Our current Gien special of 20% off all new orders ends on April 26th. Call or email us for more details.

Thanks to all who came out for our Spring Tea Open House! If you couldn’t make this event, visit the showroom soon – spring inspiration abounds!!

We had so much fun pulling together these Valentine’s table settings, and we think you’ll have even more fun pulling them off for yourself and surprising your loved one with a special dinner at home this holiday!

Sure, there’s something about a night on the town, but does it have to be on Valentine’s day? The crowds, prix fixe menus… We suggest saving the big night out for another evening and celebrating at home. After all, it’s more cozy and comfortable and with the right tablescape, you can set the mood however you like!

We’ve created three designs here – one more casual, another a bit fancier and a third setting that sets the stage for a true holiday celebration:

First up, a casual supper setting. Perhaps you’ve just started dating, so you don’t want to go overboard just yet. This place setting featuring Libeco linens, a Match Pewter Dinner Plate, R. Wood Studio Dessert/Salad Plate all topped off with a silver heart ornament (could double as a sweet gift!) by Eric Cortina, offers a sentimental feel where a classic french bistro meal such as croque monsieur and a simple salad would be perfectly suited.

Also featured in this setting is an R. Wood Studio Small Scallop Bowl, Two-Piece Salad Set, in red glitter, a Tart/Pie Server, also in red glitter, a simple red spreader, an Acrylic Dolce Vita Water Goblet and Tumbler and Vintage-Style Flatware.

With this setting, things are getting a bit more serious… Although they’re kept casual with the Acrylic Lente Tumbler and Highball glasses and white Vintage-Style flatware. The le Jacquard Francais tea towel, turned place mat and Libeco Linen napkin, both in tones of strawberry and red give a nod to the holiday celebrated. But it’s really the Match Pewter Convivio dinner and salad/dessert plates that elevate this setting. The three heart ornaments by Eric Cortina offer a little something special, while also doubling as a gift.

A creamy lemon shrimp risotto would be an ideal compliment to this setting, and would certainly impress your loved one! Take a bit of the stress off your plate by turning to a local bakery for dessert…

Finally, with our third setting, we’re looking at a proposal-ready tablescape, so beware! This is your classic Valentine’s surf and turf place setting… It’s grounded by a tea towel place mat by Le Jacquard Francais and an April Cornell Essential Napkin in pink. The dinnerware is a combination of Match Pewter Viviana Dinner and salad/dessert plates and a bread a butter plate in Royal Crown Derby‘s Mikado pattern. This tablescape’s crowning glory is the Royal Crown Derby, Mikado coffee/tea service – it’s even more stunning in person!

Also featured in this table setting are the Acrylic Dolce Vita Water Goblet and Wine Goblets, and Vintage-Style Flatware in Black. Add a few flowers and some candles, and this tablescape will be over the top!

And there you have it – three table settings that are sure to knock your loved one off their feet! Plus, those recipes = a guaranteed success of a Valentine’s dinner! Pop into the steve mckenzie’s showroom today to pick up a few of these items to help create your perfect holiday tablescape, and maybe even the perfect card for your special someone…

With the close of the holiday season and start of the New Year comes much more than added pounds and a new found determination to check items off your to-do list… There are holiday engagements to celebrate!

The magic of the holiday season must really wear off on the couples out there who were recently engaged – we’re sure it has something to do with bringing family and friends together and celebrating a joyous time. It’s just the perfect time for many to begin the next chapter in their lives!

In addition to celebrating your recent engagement, the start if the New Year also signifies the start to the wedding planning. And with that comes a very fun activity, creating a wedding registry.

Here at steve mckenzie’s, our unique registries (which aren’t just for weddings!) are comprised of:

New pieces from Mitchell Black Art available at steve mckenzie’s now! Add your monogram to any of our pillows or linens for a custom creation!

Monogrammed anything, especially napkins, a pillow with the married couples’ initial, throw blankets, etc.

Pear Lamp in grey glass by Tracy Glover Studio

Lamps, side tables, accessories for your new home

Match Pewter Flatware

Match pewter flatware – unparalleled quality matched with stunning good looks; made to be enjoyed ever day

To start a registry with steve mckenzies, simply visit our showroom and we’ll work together to create a list of items you’d love to have – anything from furniture and dishes/flatware to glassware, bar ware, table linens, artwork and even coffee table books! Miami Beach Coated napkin – Limited Edition in Blue Aqua We understand you’ll want a practical registry with items that are able to be transformed from the every day to special occasion. With our reputation as “Atlanta’s Best Tabletop,” the team here at steve mckenzie’s has the expertise and unwavering sensibility to work with you to select pieces you’ll love for years to come and will look forward to pass down to your children. Once your registry has been compiled, we can prepare an order that can be e-mailed. Couples are also encouraged to list steve mckenzie’s as a preferred store, which guests can contact by phone, e-mail, website or in-store to select gifts. Contact us today, so we may begin designing a custom registry to celebrate your upcoming nuptials, or any other event. You’ll love living with these special items from steve mckenzie’s!

No matter how you celebrate Thanksgiving, there’s a good chance there’s a great meal involved… And a great meal deserves a great place setting. After all, they do say, you eat with your eyes first!

Now, we’re not necessarily talking about a super-formal setting, with eight pieces of flatware that you have to be an etiquette expert to know how to use, we’re suggesting you simply think about your meal and the style gathering you’re hosting, and create a place setting you and your loved ones will be comfortable with.

To help with this, we’ve created three different place settings to share as examples – one for a casual buffet style Thanksgiving dinner, another for a nicer, family style feast, and the final one, which lends itself to a more formal meal:

Buffet Style Thanksgiving Place Setting

This place setting is ideal for a casual, buffet-style meal and features acrylic Mario Luca Guisti drink-ware – perfect for those more clumsy relatives; 🙂 no broken crystal here! A Match pewter charger and R Wood plate, in our exclusive Red Clay colorway, adds a festive touch. And that fabulous Road salad plate is only $10! To mix it up, and bring in a fun, seasonal element, we’ve added a pair of vintage turkey salt and pepper shakers from Steve and Jill’s personal turkey collection (pretty cute, right?!?). The TAG place mat and napkin will transition beautifully to Christmas – we love double duty items like these!

Family Style Thanksgiving Feast Table Setting

If you’re planning a meal that’s more family style in nature, you can get a bit more detail-oriented with this place setting, as everything’s done at the table, i.e. your family and friends won’t be milling around filling their plates and glasses. This setting features a Match Pewter charger, salad, bread plate, and glasses, which all add a bit of sparkle to your table. The plate and coffee cup are by Royal Crown Derby Mikado, in their cantaloupe colorway, which brings in some needed warmth to the overall look. The placemat is a round shagreen acrylic placemat, which makes for easy care – something we can all use more of around the holidays! Finally, the napkin is Libeco linen. Here, we’ve added a special touch of whimsy with another Vintage turkey item from the McKenzie’s collection, and “planted” a faux orchid in it to bring some life and greenery to the table.

A Fabulously Formal Thanksgiving Table Setting

Here, we’re really setting the stage for a spectacular meal with a place setting that will be equally as fantastic. We’re using Julie Wear China, inspired by their home state of Kentucky; the salad plate is from their Bluegrass line and the dinner plate and charger are part of the Cheval collection. Agate coasters from Rab Lab make the perfect perch for some special glassware. Even with our most formal setting, we’ve taken the opportunity to introduce one of those vintage turkeys Jill and Steve love so much, this one bringing out the deep tones in this beautiful china. To help set off the darker brown of the linen napkin and place setting, we opted to go with a tan, round acrylic place mat (who says fancy dinner cleanup can’t be made easier?!?).

And there you have it, a place setting for each type of Thanksgiving meal!

If you’re looking for more inspiration for your Thanksgiving table, the folks at Veranda magazine published an article a while back all about setting the perfect table. You can find it here. It offers an organized way to consider the overall tablescape, and which elements make the most impact.

Finally, we’re in the midst of finalizing our own holiday menu, but wanted to share a delicious sounding recipe for a stuffed mushroom appetizer, from Ina Garten’s Barefoot Contessa’s Thanksgiving 2.0 episode – click here for the goods.

YUM – we can’t wait to taste those! Let us know which new recipes you’ll be trying this year.

We hope these place setting ideas inspire you to create something beautiful for your loved ones this year – and help to make your meal even more special… And from our steve mckenzie’s family to yours, happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Although the calendar says it’s time for Halloween tricks, we’re already thinking about this holiday’s treats. The time to start thinking about client gifts is NOW!

A special client gift is an ideal way to thank them for trusting you with their projects and their business. Below we share four top holiday client gift ideas to get your gift-giving wheels turning:

Blenko Water Bottles
Handmade in West Virginia, this classic shape is welcome in any home as a pitcher, vase or color accent. Shown is the mini water bottle in Seabreeze. Other colors are azure, crystal, cobalt, amethyst, clover, kiwi, topaz, tangerine, and spring green – all available in mini or regular size.

Alicia Adams Alpaca Classic Throw
Woven from luxurious 100% baby alpaca fur, these generously sized throws are hypo-allergenic, extremely soft and warm, yet lightweight at the same time. And look at all those color choices! For an extra special touch, consider adding a monogram.

Match Pewter
Your client enjoys entertaining so you know a beautiful Match Pewter tray, or other accessory, will be enjoyed for years to come. Hand engraving is offered and it’s time to pre-order these personalized pieces.

Candles, Soaps & Room Sprays by Juls Candles
The quality of these fabulously scented goods will be evident to your client, and will be something they appreciate with each and every use. Come in or give us a call to learn about the special scents carried by steve mckenzie’s.

Keep in mind, steve mckenzie’s offers complimentary gift wrapping and shipping services so we can take care of the gift-giving from start to finish. Need some more ideas? Just email us and we’ll be happy to work with you on some customized client gift solutions.