WITH ROSANNA FALCONER, CREATIVE CONSULTANT AND TABLE LINEN DESIGNER
"I am a table linen designer, creative consultant, and lover of all things colourful. My tablescapes - which started as a new year's resolution in 2018 to hold more dinner parties - have featured in Vogue, Glamour and The Independent, with clients including TikTok, Habitat and Salvatore Ferragamo. I launched table linens in spring 2023 - an ode to the Pink City of Jaipur where I was lucky enough to live for 6 months. The limited collection of tablecloths, napkins and cushions combines my pencil drawings with the ancient heritage craft of block printing. My paintings are traced by hand, cut into wooden blocks and hand-printed by talented artisans."
FAVOURITE TAPERED CANDLE FROM CANDLE FLAIR?
45cm in pale green. Both the height and the soft, muted colourway were impossible to find before Candle Flair came on the scene! I love the way this green charms with blues and pinks too… It reminds me of pale eucalyptus foliage. An elegant leading character on the table who doesn’t try to steal the show!
HOW DO YOU LIKE TO INTEGRATE CANDLES INTO YOUR HOME OR TABLE TOP?
On the table, they are invaluable to add height, movement and of course light. For dinners, I turn off all artificial lights except perhaps a couple of lamps. I use a mix of pillar candles, votives and tapers around the room too. I can’t resist the sense of occasion that a taper candle gives the table. I use them outside too. And the godsend with Candle Flair is the fact they don’t drip so my block printed tablecloths are saved!
THREE FAVOURITE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS FOR TABLE TOP INSPIRATION?
@kittengraysonflowers for otherworldly, dream-like, sculptural flowers in line with the seasons of the year
@bonadeaofficial for the finest tableware in town. I want everything – from the plates to the tiny salt cellars!
@fionaleahydesign because she is the original and absolute best.
Your biggest achievement to date?
The geek in me would probably still answer getting into Cambridge University in what felt like a Legally Blonde scene. But launching my own table linen brand and seeing every aspect through – from drawing the print to managing the P&L and packing the orders – that has brought together all the skills I’ve gleaned in my career thus far. A portion of profits and all event proceeds go to Vimukti Sanstha – a non-profit for under-privileged girls in Jaipur. That aspect of was crucial to me from its inception.
Favourite 2024 tablescape trends?
As a person who witnessed the negative effects of cyclical trends in the fashion industry, I’ve actually been thrilled to see that both fashion and interiors seem to move away from that hamster wheel of ‘what’s hot and what’s not’! I certainly think there are moods…particularly when it comes to colour. But (perhaps to my detriment!) I don’t think my approach has ever been governed by trend. I look to the seasons – both for food and flowers – and let that guide me!
TABLESCAPING DO'S AND DON'TS?
There’s so much pressure around a ‘dinner party’; there has been for years. Starched napkins and stiff floristry are luckily becoming a relic of the eighties. Personal touches are the talking points that your guests remember and cherish. Nobody talks about the expensive crystal glassware on the way home - it’s the conversation, the food and perhaps a few standout, personal touches that stay in your guests’ memory.
One of my greatest learnings of monthly dinner parties is that with classic pieces in your arsenal - white plates, timeless glassware - with that, a host only needs a small final flourish to make an impact. For example, brightly coloured napkins or a few choice blooms in bud vases.
Remember, your guests are there to enjoy themselves. A full tablescape will mean you can’t serve on the table so ensure there is an alternative (whether a serving area or an attentive host). An overcrowded table is a mistake aesthetically too - know when to stop.
My ultimate table mixes classic pieces you can use time and time again with unique designs that spark interest. A beautiful tablescape brings so much joy; it gets the party started and sets the tone for the evening.
Top tips for hosting guests?
Try to ensure your guests know 1-2 other people… But ideally not more! This is an opportunity to introduce new people. It brings such energy to the night! Talking of introductions, I hate to sound like Bridget Jones but… introduce with thoughtful details! Ideally not “Joe is an architect with 2 children” but something like “I’ve known Joe for 20 years. He’s an architect and you both love Comporta in Portugal!” My other main tip is to cook ahead. I skip starters; everyone prefers to move around with a cocktail and some good olives. I usually add Twiglets to that mix too. I slow cook the main course – usually a tagine or ratatouille – then serve it with lots of colourful sides. For pudding, it’s got to be brownies (see below) or a fruit tart in summer.
Go To hosting recipe?
My ‘Hot Date Brownies’. They’re based on this fantastic recipe by Jo Pratt but rather than
cranberries and walnuts, I stir in chopped dates and Mars bar pieces. It is easy to make the night before then serve with ice cream. If you want to charm your guests so much they will never leave, pair the brownies with a glug of Nigella’s hot fudge sauce.
If you had three people to invite from anywhere in the world to your dinner party who would they be?
JJ Martin - for me, she’s the ultimate polymath. I adore the world she has created with her brand La Double J. It is a world of exquisite, joyful colours and beautifully-crafted prints. We met on the Belmond Venice Simplon Orient Express (what a start) and since then she has taught me so much about how to embrace my creativity and look after my mental health (she is very spiritual).
Anita Lal - the founder of Good Earth. I am in awe of the world she has created with her lifestyle brand. She began in 1996 looking to preserve the crafts of India (starting with the pottery of the khumbars). That ethos remains as strong today with stores spanning Mumbai to Jaipur.
Finally Joanna Lumley. I just want to sit back and listen to her stories. She radiates such warmth.
What's next for you?
It’s been a year since I launched my table linens. I think it’s time to get these prints on some other pieces for the home… ;)
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