Straight out of the 70s, here’s a superb year-round party room, keyed to Pineapple Gold, a then-popular winter hospitality color, against Designer Hector Grant’s green and white background.
This, of course, was the ultimate — a full-time entertaining room — but the details seen here could be applied anywhere.
There’s was a soft rug with a motif of the pineapple, a traditional symbol of hospitality, that could be easily rolled up for dancing. Also there were a versatile modern white pedestal table and chairs set that you can use for informal dining or games.
Don’t miss Sherrill Upholstering’s mini-wing chairs and two chaises from O-Asian Designs, cushioned in Spectrum Fabrics’ “Flight” pattern — all comfortably placed for conversation or just sitting and party people-watching.
The lights were on dimmers and, although there was a bar at the other end of the room, a morriroed table was strategically set up with a coffee urn, a vinyl-covered ice bucket and pineapple-motif glasses, and a TV and radio.
Take an afternoon to put your entertaining room in its party dress. Place every item just as you would that special evening.
Some things that don’t fit in the mood you want to build? Trade them with a friend or at least pack them up — you want everything just right for this party.
MORE: Rattan furniture with blue cushions gave this family room a tropical feel year-round
Look at the spirit-lifting accessories shown with the sparkling mobile server at upper left: a pineapple-all-over round tablecloth, a tall ice bucket from Arthur Miller Associates, and a shiny tin pineapple sculpture from Soovia Janis — any one of which could be a theme builder.
Take stock, too, of your kitchen — and hunt now for recipes you might want to serve.
SEE: Weird retro ways to serve pineapple (& a few good ideas)
A dinner party on the calendar would be a great excuse to buy the Waring Blender, McCormick’s 5th Season spice sets, or Heller Designs’ stackable dinnerware, all shown in our Pineapple Gold grouping below (above).
Then stroll through the rest of the house, looking at it as a guest might. Don’t wait until the doorbell’s ringing to wish you’d bought new towels for the powder room or remembered to put extra hangers in the hall closet.
