Holiday Hosting with Erin Gates

Interior designer, author and longtime Kassatex collaborator Erin Gates knows that the best tables tell a story— one layered with color, texture and personality. To celebrate the launch of the Reverie Collection, we caught up with Erin to talk all things holiday entertaining: her no-fail hosting tips, signature cocktail and the inspiration behind this collection. From marbled linens to woven chargers and tortoise resin accents, Erin shares how to create a table that feels equal parts classic, colorful and entirely your own.

Q&A with Erin Gates

On Entertaining

Kassatex: What’s your no-fail trick for making guests feel instantly at home?
Erin Gates: A fire in the fireplace and good drinks that are easily accessible. I like things to feel casual and comfortable, never stiff or formal.

Kassatex: How do you style a holiday table that feels chic, not cliché?
EG: I like to use unexpected color combinations that are NOT red and green at Christmas or orange and brown at Thanksgiving (which is part of the reason we created this collection in richer, fun tones)! I also love mixing and matching china patterns, and having fun flowers and objects on the table that are interesting and layered.

Kassatex: Place cards: must-have detail or skip it?
EG: I hate being told where to sit but then again, I also hate awkwardly trying to find where to sit so I’m on the fence! When I do use them I always keep couples together– I really dislike it when people split couples up and force people into social situations. Also, let people move the placecards around if you’ve done that! No “standing on ceremony” at dinner parties, please– that creates a stressful atmosphere.

Kassatex: What’s the one tabletop item you splurge on every year?
EG: Amazing fresh flowers, for sure. But also I have about 15 sets of napkins. Napkins are such an easy, low investment way to mix up your entertaining style from year to year!

Kassatex: How do you balance “pretty” with “practical” when hosting?
EG: Don’t over decorate the table so that there is no room for drinks, food and comfortable dining! Also try to make your floral low enough that people can see over them or else you will be moving them off the table.

On Cocktails

Kassatex: Your go-to holiday cocktail that never fails to impress?
EG: I make a martini style drink that has no name that people tend to love: 2 oz vodka, 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice, splash of simple syrup, dash of bitters and squeeze of lime. Shake with ice and strain into a coupe glass! Top with rosemary sprig. If you want to be real crafty, make rosemary simple syrup ahead of time.

Kassatex: What drink do you hand to a guest who shows up… stressed?
EG: Wine. Easy, fast, to the point.

Kassatex: Most underrated holiday cocktail ingredient?
EG: Bitters! Adds such a nice smoky flavor.

Kassatex: Martini or Champagne?
EG: Martini– champagne gives me headaches.

On Personal Holiday Traditions

Kassatex: What’s your favorite holiday tradition from childhood you still keep?
EG: Opening one present on Christmas Eve.

Kassatex: The song that instantly puts you in a festive mood?
EG: Mistletoe- Justin Bieber.

Kassatex: If you could only use three words to describe your holiday table, what would they be?
EG: Classic, colorful, layered.

Kassatex: Favorite holiday movie?
EG: The Holiday.

Kassatex: Velvet or Sequins?
EG: Velvet.

On the Reverie Collection

Kassatex: What was the spark that first inspired you to design a tabletop collection?
EG: I love setting a pretty table- I wish I had a whole room just to store tabletop items! Especially now that I have a formal dining room I love, entertaining at our home happens a lot more and has inspired me to come up with different table settings to keep from being stale.

Kassatex: How did you want this collection to feel when someone sets their table with it?
EG: I want them to feel there are options and endless ways to mix and match. I also wanted people to feel like they could use it for casual or formal entertaining.

Kassatex: Were there particular colors or palettes that guided you from the start?
EG: I’ve been leaning a lot more into warm, rich colors as of late and I especially love them paired with cooler blues or greens. I also have been working a lot with hand marbled papers for my new book and home accessories for our shop Gates & Co, and I find it to be such a great scale and style of pattern to go worth anything from plain white dinnerware to formal floral china. You can dress it up or down.

Kassatex: Did you draw inspiration from your own holiday tables over the years?
EG: Yes, for sure. I have a few different sets of china and am always thinking about what patterns and colors could make them feel more modern and fun. I also have been using chargers a lot more and wanted some woven ones in a cooler walnut tone to coordinate with all the walnut dining tables I’ve been sourcing lately. It’s a nice way to add texture to the table.

Kassatex: Which elements of table design excited you most to reimagine?
EG: Linens because it’s so in line with what we do at my design firm, of course, but I have a very special place in my heart for our tortoise resin vase. The shape is totally a classic, but reimagined in such a funky material that is so unique in the marketplace.

Kassatex: Were there any “unexpected” pairings of color or material that ended up defining the line?
EG: I think the marbled pattern with the horn is a bit unexpected- it’s pairing something a bit more classical and formal with something typically more “rustic” or casual but it totally works together!

Kassatex: How do you see these pieces layering with someone’s existing tableware?
EG: I could see the woven charger and horn pieces layering so nicely with casual white or natural pottery plates to create a very “fall” vibe- and I love the marble and ripple linens with more formal floral china in blues or browns!

Kassatex: If you could describe the collection in three design words, what would they be?
EG: Rich, inventive, timeless.

Kassatex: What details do you hope people notice when they sit down at a table styled with your pieces?
EG: The double layered, reversible placemats are really special and offer up options which is so nice to have when investing in new tableware. The heft and weight of the horn items is so nice but not cumbersome. They feel really substantial and durable too!

Shop the Reverie Collection here.