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The most
frequently
asked
question
I get as
a party
designer
is “how
do I
make my
buffet
table
look
professional
without
spending
a lot of
money?”
Create
levels,
and use
a lot of
fabric.
Not just
any
fabric,
use some
old (but
clean)
sheets
for your
base
tablecloth
and for
concealing
your
levels,
then run
down to
the
fabric
store
and pick
up some
fine
nylon
net -
costs on
average
99 cents
a yard.
Or go
crazy
and
spend
two
dollars
a yard
for some
tulle.
The
netting
ads life
and
lift,
use milk
crates
or
sturdy
boxes to
create
levels,
these
two
simple
ideas
add
dimension
and
interest
to your
table.
How to
prepare
your
netting:
for
every
one foot
of table
you will
need at
least
two feet
of
netting.
Better
to get
too much
and tuck
it under
the
table
then to
have a
dead
spot.
A few
days
before
your
party,
buy your
fabric
and
unfold
it. You
don’t
want
creases
from the
folds.
Wad your
netting
into a
ball and
keep it
in a bag
(the
smaller
the
better).
When
you take
out the
netting
it will
be
wrinkly
– and
ready to
use as a
throw on
your
food
table.
The more
wrinkles
the
better;
it
creates
height
in the
fabric
and
prevents
that
flat
food
table
look.
Place a
sheet or
a table
cloth on
your
table,
set your
boxes at
the
center
and
conceal
the box
with
another
cloth so
it
doesn’t
show
through
your
netting.
Throw
the
netting
across
the
table.
DON’T
MAKE IT
NEAT!!!!!
You’re
going
for
controlled
chaos.
Use the
levels
to rise
up a
basket
of bread
or a
vase of
flowers.
Place
the food
platters
on the
table
around
the
levels
allowing
the
netting
to get
crushed,
but not
straightened.
Let the
netting
pucker
around
the
plates.
When
your
party is
over and
your
netting
is
filthy,
throw it
in the
tub with
some
warm
water
and a
little
dish
soap.
Rinse it
out and
let it
hang to
dry.
Once its
dry
store it
wadded
in a
ball in
a bag,
that way
its
ready
for your
next
party.
Bettina
Zacar
bettina@gypsybijoux.com
Bettina
is the
resident
party
designer
at the
Lankershim
Arts
Center
and has
been
making
parties
pop for
local
Los
Angeles
galleries,
theatres
and
private
parties
since
1999.
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