From Publishers Weekly
Lowell is an excellent host. You can tell by the way he invites readers into his book, engaging directly with them, encouraging them to try new things: "See? Now you really can do this!" as if they're watching one of his Discovery Channel shows. Part decorating manual, part cookbook, with etiquette tips for entertaining sprinkled throughout, Lowell's book promotes his philosophy of entertaining: the goal is to create an environment in which everyone's comfortable, including the host. Lowell advocates easy table decorations and recipes that only look hard to create. He includes tips for thematic decorative tablescapes ("[I]t's not about the table, love, it's about what you do on it") and "Ridiculously Easy Recipes" that require more organizing and assembling than cooking, combining prepared foods with fresh ingredients. Recipes often complement tabletop displays, like the terracotta flower pot centerpieces that mesh with the menu for "Lunch on the Sundeck" (Chilled Avocado Soup, Grilled Beef Salad, Frozen Key Lime Pie). Serious cooks might balk at Lowell's suggested shortcuts, but those pressed for time will lap them up. 150 color photos not seen by PW. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Television's ever upbeat designer and decorator Lowell shows in pictures and text how to throw a memorable party. In this volume, he expands his horizons to include food as well as decoration. He wants to make a party fun, freeing the host from exhausting pre-event preparation but still making the scene one that guests are unlikely to forget. For a simple design concept, Lowell places flowers, vegetables, and fruits around a table, noting, "There are no mistakes in nature." Even apples make good place-card holders. Painted dowels glued to candle holders make elegantly tall rose holders for a more formal look. Lowell's recipes call for ready-made foods and mixes that gain individuality and creativity by addition of a few extra ingredients. Frozen macaroni-and-cheese stirred with some roasted red peppers and added cheeses easily fools guests. Frozen peas whipped with dill and cream make a simple starter. But some dishes require fresh ingredients, so Lowell does a veal stew from fresh meat and then simplifies it with frozen pearl onions and some canned white beans. Mark Knoblauch
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

From the Inside Flap
For would-be hosts and hostesses, entertainer extraordinaire Christopher Lowell shares his secret for unforgettable parties: the perfect marriage of sumptuous, quickly prepared food and festive decor. Using experience culled from his eclectic career as an entertainer, which has included stints in theater, the art world, and classical music, in addition to his critically acclaimed interior design and lifestyle television programs, Christopher Lowell shows anyone how to turn an impromptu get-together, a cozy dinner, or a wedding reception into an absolutely fabulous soirée. With detailed how-to instructions for creating dramatic tablescapes and recipes for super-simple and tasty meals, Christopher Lowell channels his you-can-do-it approach to party planning.

Peppered throughout the book, invaluable entertaining tips and essential shortcuts transform even the most harried person into a party-planning savant. By creating a simple tablescape such as Asian Zen Squared or Crystal Blue Persuasion, you can turn an ordinary meal of Chinese takeout into an extraordinary evening. Christopher Lowell, the Hassle-Free Host is brimming with countless ideas to turn common household objects into sensational party props. For more ambitious hosts who dare to dabble in the kitchen, dozens of delicious recipes, including Chilled Avocado Soup, Grilled Beef Salad, and Frozen Key Lim Pie with Macadamia Nut Crust are perfect for the fussiest guests and are organized into convenient menu options. Made from mostly on-hand ingredients and time-saving convenience foods, the recipes are fast, adaptable for any number of guests, and completely foolproof. Mix and match them with any of the tablescapes, for any kind of party, in any room of the home, for an endless number of combinations.

Christopher Lowell’s expert advice will keep even the most hesitant host hassle-free and make any party fun, relaxing, and festive, no matter what the occasion.

About the Author
Christopher Lowell is the author of three books and host of The Christopher Lowell Show, one of the most popular Discovery Channel daytime shows. His eclectic background as an actor, artist, classical pianist, creative director, and teacher of interior design has given him both the skills and the authority of someone who has truly paid his creative dues. On his show, Christopher brings his practical experience and talent to people looking for problem-solving ideas. He has launched the Christopher Lowell Collection at Office Depot, an expanding line of linens and tableware at Burlington Coat Factory, furniture with Flexsteel, lighting with Catalina, his own line of paints, and is frequently featured in many Home Shopping Network events. He lives in Los Angeles.

Television personality, author, speaker, stylist, and hostess extraordinaire Frances Schultz is on-air host of the Emmy Award–winning Southern Living Presents on Turner South network and a frequent guest on The Christopher Lowell Show and other programs. Former New York editor of Veranda magazine, author of Atlanta at Home and Atlanta at Table, and coauthor of Ryan Gainey’s The Well Set Table, she is a frequent contributor to Veranda and writes also for Town & Country, Town & Country Travel, and New York’s Quest magazine. A native of North Carolina and distinguished graduate of the University of Virginia, Frances currently resides in Manhattan.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Setting a great table should be a labor of love. While at a glance the following tablescapes appear spectacular, look closer. What you'll see are lots of ordinary household items put to extraordinary use. You'll see that the tablescapes in progress may look sketchy at best, but that once the food, flowers, and candles are added, everything looks fantastic. We did this purposely so you wouldn't freak out midway. Each setting has a detailed list of the things I used, but feel free to substitute whatever you have on hand-and I mean it! If you get caught up in exact translations, then you haven't heard a word I've said. Got that? Use our tablescapes as launching points for your own.

Here's how we've tried to make that easy for you: For the most part, we intentionally stayed away from fine silver and pattern-specific dinnerware. Everything was purchased at mass-market national chains-we stayed away from the chi-chi specialty stores. By keeping the focus on texture, solid colors, simple containers, and make-it-yourself lifts and levels, much of what we've used can be reused again and again. Note how we've done a lot of mixing and matching. Don't be afraid! Do it with confidence, but be deliberate and consistent.

A tablescape should be balanced and functional. Remember that height and scale are what create drama, so when in doubt, go higher! And as in interior design, the eye always goes to color. Many of the tables we show you are done on simple plywood, which can be stored when not in use. So you see, it' s not about the table, love, it's about what you do on it.

Most of these tablescapes can be shopped for and prepped way in advance and assembled in less than an hour tops! So get most of it done while the heat is off. That way you'll have time to play because, hey, that's all this is-having fun!

At the end of this section, we even show you how to throw your own fancy shindigs for big crowds and multiple tables. If it seems too ambitious at first, let the fact that it can save you thousands be your motivation.

Once you see the delight and sense of wonder on your guests' faces as they come to your table, you'll be hooked on tablescaping!

Oh, and don't forget to check our super-simple menus and recipes, too. Even if you've never stepped foot in a kitchen, you'd be surprised at how easy the food thing can be. Now you really can do it!

WITH A GRAIN OF SALT...

...is how you should take our lists of what you'll need. Our lists are really suggestions. We know you may not have or want to bother with buying all the stuff we show here. Use what you have! Improvise! Whatever you do will be great just because you're doing it-you know? You're making the effort. You're getting people together. And that's what really counts.

Petal Pushers

This tablescape proves that one simple idea executed with symmetry and in mass can dazzle even the most discriminating guest. The key is to use identical containers and only one or two kinds of flowers, but lots of 'em. We cheated on the tablecloth and just used fabric right off the bolt. Because we needed lots of flower petals here, inexpensive carnations fit the bill-literally.

What you can do with this:

Springtime luncheon or dinner

Wedding or anniversary luncheon

Sunday brunch, just because

Baby shower

Dining al fresco

...or by the book:

Brunch for a Bunch,

Lunch on the Sundeck,

Al Fresco Feast,

Fresh Summer Favorites,

Here's what you'll need:

3 yards fabric

Ten 4-inch-square glass containers

Ten 15-inch white candles

10 small candleholders

3 dozen carnations

1 dozen accent flowers

Florist's clay (a sticky claylike material you buy in rolls at florist shops and hardware stores) or any moldable adhesive material, such as Duco Stik-TakT

6 votive candles and holders

Six 12- to 14-inch squares, depending on the size of your plates particleboard or Masonite

Pale pink latex paint

6 white cloth napkins, starched and ironed

Everyday flatware and china

You can do it!

We chose a color scheme of dusty rose and chartreuse. Just drape the table with fabric and create a hedge down the center by lining up ten inexpensive square glass containers (most florist shops sell these for around $8 each).

With a piece of sticky florist's clay, affix the small candleholders to the center of the bottom of each container, then put in the 15-inch tapers. The candleholders don't need to match because they'll be covered with petals later on.

As an alternative to conventional placemats, you can have the hardware store cut six squares of particleboard, as we did. Paint them pale pink and let them dry. These become the base for building the place setting, which might include a charger, which is optional, and whatever you need for the first course, the main course, and your dessert.

Place the chargers (if using) on the square mats and arrange the napkins in the wine or water glasses. If the napkins are crisply starched, they'll add a nice amount of height to the table. If they're not, they'll sort of flop over, but that's okay, too.

Set the rest of the table with stainless flatware, mix-and-match glasses, and everyday china. You can do that, right?

Save this part for last so the flowers will be as fresh as possible: With scissors, cut the petals from each whole flower where the petals meet the stem and fill the containers to about an inch from the top. Now you can stop here if you're looking for a minimal effect, or...

...add chartreuse bachelor buttons for a little contrast and because they don't need water to last through a dinner party. If you'd like to use a more delicate-as in perishable-flower, place each stem in an individual vial (available from the florist) and bury it in the other petals.

For the votive candles, consider using them in the color of your second flower to carry that color through the tablescape. If not, white is always fine, too. We used one at each place setting.

REMEMBER

Whatever you do, be deliberate. In this case, it's symmetry and strength in numbers-arranging objects in mass-that do the trick.

COLOR YOUR WORLD (the best way)

The eye goes to color, so spread it evenly around the table for visual balance.

DON'T BE AFRAID...

...to mix and match, as long as each category of item is the same. For example, the style of the wineglasses might be different from the water glasses, but all the wineglasses should be the same and all the water glasses the same. Ditto the plates. You get the idea.

Asian Zen Squared

The Asian Zen look is appropriate for just about any kind of sit-down affair, whether you're serving Asian food or not. Here again, a single element used in quantity is a design strategy that is both flexible and dynamic. By using simple square glass containers, you keep your floral bill low even as the visual drama escalates.

So there you have it-simple, easy, sophisticated, versatile, and unisex enough to impress your most discriminating guest. And best of all, the inexpensive props you buy can be used again and again. Love that!

This would work for lots of occasions:

Romantic dinner

Banquet for the masses

Dinner for the boss

Cocktail party

Instant party with take-out

...or by the book:

Bollywood Boulevard,

Fancy-Schmancy,

Here's what you'll need:

Fifteen to twenty 2-, 3-, and 4-inch-square glass containers

Black Krylon spray paint

3-4 yards black plastic vinyl or black poly-silk, or simply a black tablecloth

Duct tape or staple gun

5-6 rattan or grasscloth placemats from an Asian import store (like Pier 1)

18 "architectural" flowers, such as protea (shown) or bromeliads

A few handfuls of polished pebbles, green glass or black (available in craft stores)

Twelve 2-inch chartreuse votive candles and small votive holders

Everyday flatware

Napkins, napkin rings, plates, and stemware, all of which can be interchanged as you see fit

You can do it!

Spray the interior of the glass containers with black Krylon spray paint and let dry overnight. Often a few light coats are better then one thick coat, which can drip. Once sprayed, invert the containers on newspaper while still wet, so they'll drain.

Cover the tabletop by stretching vinyl or fabric tightly over the top and securing it underneath for a clean, tailored look. If you are using your existing table, duct tape will do the job and can be removed without damage. (If the tape leaves a bit of sticky residue, you can remove it with Goo-Gone.) If you're using a plywood top, use a staple gun if you've got one.

Place matchstick, bamboo, or grasscloth placemats end to end down the table' s center. Placemats are just as good as-if not better than-an actual table runner because you can use them for other purposes.

Arrange your now painted and dried containers down the center of the table atop the placemats. To avoid them looking too lined up like little soldiers, go for a scattered, random effect. You might want to play around with the arrangement until you get one that pleases your eye. But don't sweat! Once you add the candles and flowers, trust me, it will look great. Be sure to leave upright the containers that will hold flowers; invert the others to act as lifts, levels, and candleholders. Just remember to disperse the flowers and candles evenly down the table for visual balance.

Now it's time to place water in the cubes you've designated to hold your flowers. Then place your candles on the cubes you've designated to act as votives.

Arrange your flowers, cutting them short enough so you see very little stem-mostly just the flower blossom. At this point you can simply set the table and stop there for a clean, tailored effect, or...

...for a little more whimsy, scatter a bag of green glass tumbled pebbles to break up the line between the placemats and the black tablecloth. Your centerpiece is now complete.

For the place settings, we combined matte black dinner plates against wicker chargers topped with celadon salad plates. But feel free to use what you have. Even a simple white everyday plate with a nice green napkin will give a pleasing result. Your everyday stainless flatware never looked better than against a black background, and if you can also tie in napkin rings in stainless-all the better.

Take the Cube and Run With it!

They're a must for your entertaining closet: square glass cubes that can be left plain or spray-painted whatever color you choose. Simply arrange them down the center of the table, either symmetrically or asymmetrically, and fill them with a limitless variety of elements. Take a look:

...Fill with black polished rock and a single stalk of curly green bamboo.

...Arrange with white orchid blossoms in water for an Asian flair.

...Insert live moss and "plant" with a single flower to look as though it 's really growing.

...For the holidays, fill with pea gravel and paperwhite narcissus bulbs. Or fill containers with miniature Christmas ornaments and weave white lights through the cubes.

...An array of dried beans can add great texture. Use sand and cactus to create a southwestern flair.

...For kids, try a brightly colored plastic tablecloth (great for those spills) and fill the square containers with multicolored jellybeans. Tie helium-filled balloons to weights and bury them in the jellybeans so they float overhead-wow! A big-time, professional-looking birthday party at minimal expense. Who knew?

Crystal Blue Persuasion

If you look at this finished "formal" tablescape and think no way can I do that, remember your guests will probably be saying "No way did YOU do that!" And that's the point. You can create a memorable party that makes you look like a pro, and it's a lot easier than it looks.

The idea here is to create an elegant, shimmering oasis. By night, it's a candlelit blue lagoon; by day, a cool crystal palace. More importantly, this tablescape is ideal for transitional parties that start, say, at three in the afternoon but don't end until evening (you little party doll, you!). Even better, most of what you have on hand or buy goes back into your cupboard, ready for another use or another party-love that!

A little word of warning here, however: Keep in mind that this is one of those tables that doesn't really come together until the flowers, candles, and food are in place.

This is why the accompanying photos show the various stages in building this tablescape-so you know what to expect and don't chicken out. Our version is set up for dessert and cordials, but there are other possibilities....

This tablescape would also be great for:

Tea party or buffet luncheon with finger sandwiches and pick-up food (without candles and moon lights)

Romantic evening buffet (with candles or moon lights)

Cake station for a wedding reception

Baby shower buffet

Anniversary, adult birthday party, or any grown-up occasion where you want to project a more formal attitude without looking pretentious

...or by the book:

Pasta, Basta!,

Fresh Summer Favorites,

County Fare,

Celebrate!,

You can do it!

Place your basic blue fabric (or tablecloths) directly on the table to cover it. On top of that layer the iridescent sheer fabric, which you'll later gather and pucker around the lifts and levels to create movement and dimension.

Slide push-on lights between the plain fabric and the iridescent fabric. When on, they'll create a luminous moonlike glow. Note: We found these lights needed air circulating around them because of their automatic fire-prevention shut-off gizmos. When we placed one under an inverted cylinder, it shut off and never came back on again-bummer. But under the thin, sheer fabric, they were fine. If you feel at all insecure about using them, omit them and simply add more votives. We even used plain drinking glasses turned upside-down as little stands for the votives, to bring sparkle into the middle of the table.

Now you're ready to begin laying out what goes where. The flowers and candles should be the tallest things on the table, so keep them toward the back. Keep your food lower and closer to the front so it's within easy reach of your guests. Use your imagination and spend the necessary time to lay out your entire table before you begin gluing.

Now heat up the glue gun and follow along:

...For the cordial station, place an artificial hydrangea under a large, inverted cylinder. Glue a simple glass plate on top. This will support the after-dinner decanter.

...For the tart plate, invert four champagne flutes surrounding a moon light (or votive) and glue a plain glass plate on top. Place a few artificial blossoms on the plate and invert a wide glass bowl over that. Then glue the glass serving plate on top.

...The cupcake pedestal is simply a cheap glass vase left over from a commercial floral arrangement and hot-glued to yet another glass plate.

...One of the flower containers is a smaller cylinder placed inside a larger one, with the gap filled with glass marbles-cool!

You get the idea, right? Follow our photos or your own heart's desire.

Now it's time for the fun part...

...Make an uneven row of candles at the back of the table behind the floral containers.

...Create the highest point in the center of the table with long-stemmed iris in mass and yellow artificial blooms (if you like) tucked in around the iris stems. In the other two containers place yellow calla lilies, also in mass.

...For the finishing touches, wrap flatware in crisp white linens and place paper doilies under each dessert.

FROM OUR EDITORS

In this truly hassle-free book, Emmy-winning TV host Christopher Lowell proves that his "if you can dream it, you can do it" philosophy applies to entertaining. Displaying the budget-minded, imaginative gifts that have made him a Discovery Channel guru, Lowell creates 13 themed parties, each featuring a distinctive tablescape and menu. In the spirit of these easy-to-do settings, Lowell concocts simple recipes, ranging from "brunch for a bunch" quickies to an al fresco feast. Definitely delightful.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

For would-be hosts and hostesses, entertainer extraordinaire Christopher Lowell shares his secret for unforgettable parties: the perfect marriage of sumptuous, quickly prepared food and festive decor. Using experience culled from his eclectic career as an entertainer, which has included stints in theater, the art world, and classical music, in addition to his critically acclaimed interior design and lifestyle television programs, Christopher Lowell shows anyone how to turn an impromptu get-together, a cozy dinner, or a wedding reception into an absolutely fabulous soirée. With detailed how-to instructions for creating dramatic tablescapes and recipes for super-simple and tasty meals, Christopher Lowell channels his you-can-do-it approach to party planning.

Peppered throughout the book, invaluable entertaining tips and essential shortcuts transform even the most harried person into a party-planning savant. By creating a simple tablescape such as Asian Zen Squared or Crystal Blue Persuasion, you can turn an ordinary meal of Chinese takeout into an extraordinary evening. Christopher Lowell, the Hassle-Free Host is brimming with countless ideas to turn common household objects into sensational party props. For more ambitious hosts who dare to dabble in the kitchen, dozens of delicious recipes, including Chilled Avocado Soup, Grilled Beef Salad, and Frozen Key Lim Pie with Macadamia Nut Crust are perfect for the fussiest guests and are organized into convenient menu options. Made from mostly on-hand ingredients and time-saving convenience foods, the recipes are fast, adaptable for any number of guests, and completely foolproof. Mix and match them with any of thetablescapes, for any kind of party, in any room of the home, for an endless number of combinations.

Christopher Lowell's expert advice will keep even the most hesitant host hassle-free and make any party fun, relaxing, and festive, no matter what the occasion.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Lowell is an excellent host. You can tell by the way he invites readers into his book, engaging directly with them, encouraging them to try new things: "See? Now you really can do this!" as if they're watching one of his Discovery Channel shows. Part decorating manual, part cookbook, with etiquette tips for entertaining sprinkled throughout, Lowell's book promotes his philosophy of entertaining: the goal is to create an environment in which everyone's comfortable, including the host. Lowell advocates easy table decorations and recipes that only look hard to create. He includes tips for thematic decorative tablescapes ("[I]t's not about the table, love, it's about what you do on it") and "Ridiculously Easy Recipes" that require more organizing and assembling than cooking, combining prepared foods with fresh ingredients. Recipes often complement tabletop displays, like the terracotta flower pot centerpieces that mesh with the menu for "Lunch on the Sundeck" (Chilled Avocado Soup, Grilled Beef Salad, Frozen Key Lime Pie). Serious cooks might balk at Lowell's suggested shortcuts, but those pressed for time will lap them up. 150 color photos not seen by PW. (Sept.) Forecast: With branded products (including linens, tableware and window coverings), three previous books and two TV shows, Lowell is a well-known name whose book will undoubtedly hit big. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

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