How to Make Your Home a Castle: Add Some Medieval Chic

The Fortress Drum Table and Colossal Pendant Lamp add texture to this room.

Spoiler alert: this fall is going to be positively Medieval. Lazy Susan Creative Director Renee Wightman conjured up a  bold new hand-forged iron group called FORTRESS, a deliberately primitive collection, to speak to an emerging design trend: Medieval-Chic. Consider the pop-culture influences of series such as HBOʼs immensely popular, rough-hewn-yet-mystical “Game of Thrones,” which is getting another boost from its 13 Emmy Award nominations, last year's extravagant Starz Network miniseries of the Ken Follett bestseller "Pillars of the Earth" and last week's theatrical release of an updated “Conan the Barbarian” All share a certain brand of glam-irony. Says Renee, “Weʼre calling it the raw awakening in design. The idea is to create a look-twice effect by juxtaposing this hand-forged iron with sleek contemporary pieces, traditional cut-crystal and fine linens. It adds a whole new level of textural interest, and it just feels truly of-the-moment.”

The imposing throne from the set of HBO's "Game of Thrones," made of hundreds of forged iron swords. 

Red & White and Fun All Over

What would you do with $750,000? We can only imagine what miraculous things the Red Cross of Greenwich will be able to do with the impressive three quarters of a million dollars they raised last Saturday night at the Red & White Ball. In a private jet hangar in White Plains, a group of designers, floral artists and other creative-types had gathered earlier in the day to fashion festive red-and-white themed tablescapes of all descriptions. The event was aptly titled "Help is Here," and we are so very honored to have been a part of this fundraiser.

Just in time for summer, Creative Director Renee Wightman and her team created a lighthearted table-scape entitled Tropic of Glamour. It offered a sophisticated mix of faceted clear crystal, hand-blown glass, white bisque porcelain and metallic silver elements with shapes, forms and textures from nature – shells, pebbles and botanicals.

The table was chock-full of clever take-home ideas. Silver nautilus shells that served as napkin holders were a big hit with the design-minded crowd. White bisque porcelain trays in the shape of banana leaves replaced the standard charger plates, and chunky crystal candleholders of various heights were topped - not with the expected tapers - but rather with life-sized porcelain pineapples, an international symbol of welcome.

Red glass votives were the perfect vase for white tulips.

Silvered Nautilus Shells made great napkin holders.

We were very pleased to have gotten a prime spot right next to all the action on the dance floor and the live auction stage (those prizes!!!!). We were in the most esteemed company -- our neighboring tables were decorated by such design luminaries as Barclay Butera, Michael Tavano for MT Custom and across the room, Charles Pavarini III, who made sure to remind us that the always-marvelous Kips Bay Cruise is coming up in June!!

This is our first year at the annual Red & White Ball, and it has us all excited for decorating fun summer tables and entertaining beachside, poolside and if we must (gasp) inside! Click here to shop this look for your summer table.

And, by all means do let us know your best summer entertaining ideas using Lazy Susan USA products! Leave a comment, or post a photo or two on our wall.