Here are some of our trays and how we use them for living and entertaining…. Beware, there are a lot….
A small silver antique tray in our guest bathroom , its topped with some of my favorites, especially “Pleasure of Japanese Bath”
A hand painted tray, since that is what a lot of people call me, I couldn’t pass this up….
Trays are great for keeping things organized for outdoor entertaining….
A little sterling silver tray holds a few champagne flutes, to toast to a fun evening…
An antique silver tray holds a sterling silver compote and antique glass decanters purchased in the South of France…
This is one of my chicest and favorites, it is always stocked and ready to go for my husband and I and any of our friends who may stop by….
Coffee by the pool…friends were down visiting and we had partied all night long so strong coffee was a must. Plan ahead and set up a “coffee tray” all you have to do in the morning is make the coffee or run to Dunkin Donuts!!!
This gold tray is spectacular when it is set up at night and illuminated by candle light, The Pink wine bucket is from France and is a real show stopper…
Cocktails under the pergola….
A simple tray is under an ornate candelabra just in case any wax drips, it won’t go all over the 200 year old antique table….
My kids hang out here all the time, this is a more rustic Ralph Lauren tray that was a gift from my parents…I love the little Ikat bowl, its usually filled with m&m’s
The Martini tray/bar area…I’m still searching for the perfect bar cart, kinda of with a Frank Sinatra vibe to it, for now this will do.
This tray is filled with chic items, from the gorgeous anemones, the ultra modern candy bowl, over sized swizzle sticks from London to the fabulous vintage cigarette holder from Estee Lauder’s private collection. We don’t smoke but I fill it with Paris House business cards , it was just to gorgeous to pass up!!
This Sterling silver tray is in our Billiard room which is really my husbands room. I try to keep it stylish and I try very very hard to keep the “pink” out , and since I am obsessed with pink it is very hard, (there is an antique chair in this room that I couldn’t resist covering with hot pink velvet fabric, my husband hasn’t commented on it so I guess it can stay!!!)
Ottomans are a creative alternative to cocktail tables especially if there isn’t a lot of space. This is a small area in our kitchen where you can just sit down and have a cup of coffee and read the paper or watch the news. It is French, lovely and very inviting.
My ultra modern red velvet chairs that flank my Great Grandmothers antique library table, I love the mix..the table is topped with a large silver tray that I fill with chocolate truffles and champagne cocktails when I have friends over.. everyone seems to come in the backdoor near our pool, so they can grab a drink and a chocolate as they pass by. The table runner was found in San Jose Mexico, the glass hurricanes were purchase in Vermont at Simon Pierce.
This is one of my Favorites…you can just pull up a floor cushion grab a drink and play a game of cards. This is one seriously fun “tray” it has a glass interior and huge straw like material surrounding it….
Orange is just impossibly chic when it is kept smooth and glossy, this tray has a fabulous purple interior that has hand painted daffodils. It is in a high gloss finish. I always keep a Jo Malone candle on it , some great glasses and flowers. The tray was purchased in Paris…
A simple small John Derian tray I picked up in Manhattan…It is the “Virgo” pattern which is my sign…the little pitcher on it was found on holiday in Malta, feels very Van Goghish to me…
This is a messy tray that isn’t doing much except collecting things I have no place for at the moment. The candle is from the amazing Belle Fleur in NYC, The stone Leaf dish is one of my favorite serving pieces for salad and cheese plates, the little tray the candle is sitting on was purchased in Paris
Ahhh Red Lacquer what more can I say always so fabulously chic, It keeps my kids drinks from spilling allover my Anthropology fabric, this is in our family room where my boys store all their “games” in our antique French armoire…everything is meant to be used, enjoyed and lived in…
a simple little English tray in one of our hand painted rose covered bedrooms, this window looks out onto an English garden and gazebo…if I ever have the time someday, perhaps I will sit here and drink a cup of coffee, read the paper and look down on my gardens????
Getting ready for some wine with dinner, a friend hand painted this tray for me years ago..
This is a removable tray in my office, I keep some of my favorite books and photo albums under it, like this one from my trip to the Middle East…The mask on top is from Venice.
Tea time, the tray is from Santorini Greece, the coffee set is from the Middle East and the little tea glasses are from Turkey… This always makes me smile as I remember being somewhere fabulous in the World…I use Trays all over my home both indoors and out. First of all it keeps things organized, it allows me to make use of all the ottomans and floor cushions I have all over the place, it certainly makes carrying food and drinks outside easier and it looks Chic and Elegant.
xoxo
Bunny
My name is Karyn and I'm a trayoholic…glad to know I'm not the only one! All your trays are lovely!!
What gorgeous trays, darling! I particularly love the red lacquer one!
As for Haute Hippie clothing, try shopbop.com!
xoxox,
CC
What an amazing collection you have! LOVE the zebra one!
I'm with you on this…love to group objects of desire on a tray! I'm sure you know Vincente Wolf the fab designer, I fell in love with large trays because of him… Fab post darling! XO*
I'll be there for cocktails at 5:00!!! I rarely use my trays, so it's great to see how you use yours. Thanks again for more great ideas!!! I love the zebra one and the yummy set-up on it!
KIM
So many trays…I think you must have a massive house and a cleaner
I think just one tray would get in the way here…lol
I have one in the kitchen and I do use it for pots of tea and cup cakes and that's it
However I am nuts about boxes,esp. Hat boxes.:) I love to stack them up in piles and they store all the clutter.