Toronto interior stylist Chad Burton is making waves with his unconventional approach to holiday table settings, creating visually stunning arrangements that capture the year's most notable entertaining trends. Known for his bold design sensibilities, Burton was tasked with conceptualizing an eccentric lineup of tabletop designs, gift wrapping concepts, and holiday decor schemes that challenge traditional festive aesthetics.
Intimate Dinner Tablescapes
Burton's table for two demonstrates that intimate dinners deserve the same festive treatment as large gatherings. His design features towering stacks of dishware, textiles, and organic elements that create dramatic visual impact. I see a lot of creators making these wild and wonderful stacks and combinations and sculptures, Burton says of the current trend in table settings.
The sophisticated arrangement includes layered Ginori plates that hint at the multi-course meal to come, while a Colours of Arley tablecloth and vintage tiger-striped napkins create their own feast for the eyes. Among the most personal touches are baby Chinese eggplants nestled in egg holders, each labeled with diners' names. Even when you're making a big design statement, it's those little touches that your guests will remember, Burton emphasizes.
Professional Plating Techniques
Meanwhile, Toronto culinary expert Louise Borins of Into the Kitchen shares professional strategies for making holiday meals as visually appealing as they are delicious. In today's social media-driven world, Borins notes that earning accolades requires food that looks stunning on the plate. It makes people feel special that you've gone to the trouble of caring to make it look remarkable, she says of mastering plate composition.
Borins advocates for a thoughtful approach to plating that emphasizes white space and careful placement. Less is more. When food is served on a platter, you want to give it air and not fill it up from end to end, she explains. Her techniques include using restaurant-style plastic bottles for artfully dispensing dressings and sauces, and incorporating garnishes that complement the dish, such as pomegranate pips, chili flakes, and sesame seeds.
Creative Gift Wrapping Solutions
Burton also introduces Bojagi, a traditional Korean cloth-wrapping technique he discovered during his time in South Korea. Using cloth in an artful way allows a present's packaging to become part of the gift, he explains. While Burton used designer silk scarves for his demonstrations, he notes that any beautiful textured or patterned scrap fabric will work effectively.
For wrapping challenging shapes like double wine bottles, Burton provides step-by-step instructions: Lay the scarf out flat like a diamond. Place both bottles on their sides, bottom to bottom with a three-inch gap, about four inches above the bottom point of the scarf. Wrap the bottom point over the two bottles and roll them toward the top point. Raise the bottles to stand next to each other and tie the ends into a handle with a double knot.
Alternative Holiday Decor
Beyond traditional ornaments, Burton suggests using personal collections to create unique holiday displays. His own tree features spent matchbooks collected from restaurants during his travels. The typography and colours of the boxes are always fun and unique, he notes. Anything you collect that a ribbon could be tied onto and is of ornament size is fair game.
Ontario florist Beth Puttkemery of Smells Like Flowers finds inspiration in unexpected places, including the grocery store produce aisle. This season, she suggests festive garlands of bright red chili peppers. That's a big trend, to have a garland of something that you can weave through your arrangement, Puttkemery says. Both she and Bowen Island floral designer Hitomi Gilliam recommend amaryllis as a central flower for holiday arrangements, suggesting that limiting variety while using abundant quantities creates elevated displays.
For gift-giving guidance, etiquette expert Susy Fossati provides spending benchmarks based on relationship levels, ranging from $10-20 for acquaintances to $50-200 for immediate family members. However, she emphasizes that a handwritten card remains non-negotiable regardless of budget. A personal note adds warmth and meaning, Fossati affirms.
