Stand Up

Who can't use a cakestand during the holidays? A truly great one will make your homemade desserts look fantastic, your store-bought treats look homemade and your starters stand out. Here are three...

These wood cake stands from Anthropolgie will bring warmth to your table and mix well with just about anything. Think hors d'ouevres, an array of cheese or stack them and top with snacks. 

Martha offers a plethora of gorgeous cake stands through Macy's and this one is no exception: imagine it topped with any number of decadent layer cakes.

Ebay and Etsy have a wide variety of vintage stands that will bring a unique quality to your table--find a color that contrasts with the rest of your serving pieces to really stand out. 

Cheers!

Buiding a bar?  Here are some great finds that can make your bar shine...

Simple and elegant, this large black tray from Crate and Barrel would provide a dramatic background for metallic pieces.

This Como tray would add an element of the exotic to a bar--you could go either way, making it more modern with some simple glass pieces or take it over the top with I Dream of Jeannie carafes, Moroccam tea glasses and other jewel-like glassware. 

A set of kaleidoscope trays would be perfect for the bar--use the large one for glasses and the other sizes for snacks or garnishes.

Bar tools. Easy. 

Like a small sculpture you can use to open bottles. 

I mean, it isn't shaped like a razor blade, but I still think people would use it and compliment your sense of style. 

So simple, so affordable and so useful.

The king of cocktail shakers, this design from MoMA was designed in 1957.

Classic and so useful for making drinks. 

Great looking carafe, what else can I say?

Drama! Add it to your bar with this...not as tall as it looks, so get five and use them to serve mixers. 

A special decanter that just screams, "This is my favorite thing to drink!"

Simple and all-purpose, these glasses from Williams-Sonoma still have a lot of character due to their supernatural thin walls. The smaller ones are perfect for a casual glass of wine while the larger size makes a generous cocktail. I use th m for everything. 

These are far fancier, with a big splash of midcentury panache and would add some shimmer to your bar.

Yes, you could buy wine glasses in every shape for every vintage on the planet. Or, you could buy these great looking, all-purpose glasses for $1.99 and save your money for wine. Plus, when your tipsy guests are having a great time and break one, you won't cry,

Linen cocktail napkins are simple, yet durable and this blue is what I would consider a neutral that is not neutral.

J'adore! I am buying these for me...

Sometimes mixed color sets seem a little infantile, but with cocktail napkins it is kind of fun. They also act as a drink signifyer and the scalloped edge makes them feel very special. 

These straws are perfect for summer drinks and, while plastic striped ones are fun, these are just killer. I will have them.