NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner

Cece Barfield Thompson detail NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner copy

It is always a pleasure, in the midst of winter, to visit a room abloom in a profusion of orchids. This week welcomed the annual New York Botanical Garden 2019 Orchid Dinner, transporting us to Singapore, one of the world’s greatest orchid cultures and the inspiration for the upcoming 17th annual Orchid Show. Sponsored by Hearst, Veranda and Louis XIII cognac, the dinner features designers who took their cue from this exotic locale to create dazzling tabletops with creativity and drama.

Brockschmidt and Coleman NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner

Inspired by Singapore’s black and white Edwardian houses, Brockschmidt & Coleman set a bamboo fantasy with a tablecloth in a graphic Quadrille pattern accented by an explosion of fuchsia orchids in a stunning centerpiece by Elizabeth Spencer Designs. China, flatware and silver from Replacements and napkins from Leontine Linens completed the chic vision.

Brockschmidt and Coleman detail NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner

Cece Barfield based her table on a blue and green scheme anchored by a tablecloth of Bennison Cinnabar.

Cece Barfield Thompson NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner

Herend’s pretty Blue Garden and florals from Plaza Flowers completed the picture.

Cece Barfield Thompson detail NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner

Chicago designer Shelley Johnstone‘s table brought a breath of spring with Clarence House pink checks,

Shelley Johnstone NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner

Penny Morrison plates, her own glasses and bamboo flatware, Julian Mejia napkins and centerpiece florals by Plaza Flowers.

Shelley Johnstone detail NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner

Also hailing from the windy city, Brynn Olsen worked with a Schumacher chinoiserie pattern and Joseph Noble Inc. for their exotic chair covers

Brynn Olson NYBG Orchid Dinner 2019

and collaborated with Kneen and Co to create a dramatic custom Marie Daage porcelain pattern. Flowers by Lady Fleur.

Brynn Olson at the NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner

Architecture and interiors firm Craig & Company went to the dark side with their lush and luxe table.

Craig & Co Orchid Dinner table

Caskata’s Hawthorne Onyx, with its jewelry-like gold and platinum mix set the tone. Glamorous Nason Moretti stemware, House of Hackney napkin rings, SFERRA napkins (courtesy of Chicago Luxury Beds) and a lush botanical centerpiece by Jayson DeGeeter completed the scene.

Joan Craig NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner

Paris Forino‘s ebullient table started with Jim Thompson’s vibrant embroidered Heliconia Dreamin‘.

Paris Forino NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner

And while I don’t have any more details, I loved the tropical and exotic feel!

Paris Forino detail NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner

Cathy Kincaid created a clever tablecloth with a grid of Samuel & Sons trim, anchored by a fabulous centerpiece by Sebastian Li in a John Rosselli ceramic fish container.

Cathy Kincaid NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner

And one of my favorite Mottahedeh patterns, Sacred Bird, sits under embroidered napkins by Leontine Linens.

Cathy Kincaid detail NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner

Brittany Bromley‘s table featured an orchid covered elephant under parasols trimmed in Timothy Corrigan’s new Chevallerie passementerie collection.

Brittany Bromley NYBG 2019 Orchid DinnerOn a tablecloth of Schumacher silk taffeta hand painted orchids were festooned under place settings by Julia B.

Brittany Bromley detail NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner

The lighting was especially challenging and I wish I had gotten a better shot of Phillip Thomas‘ beautiful table.

Phillip Thomas NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner

On a tablecloth of a brand new Manuel Canovas pattern, Phillip layered mats from Kim Seybert and R. Haviland & C. Parlon‘s Syracuse porcelain.

Phillip Thomas detail NYBG 2019 Orchid DinnerWhile I didn’t get a good shot of Robin Henry’s entire table, I loved the details of her Gucci inspired table that she commented referenced the over the top “tacky” family from Crazy Rich Asians.

Robin Henry at the NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner

Another fun table I couldn’t capture properly was David Netto‘s.

David Netto NYBG 2019 Orchid DinnerOn a tablecloth (and napkins) made of a classic Pierre Frey toile, he layered Bauhuas  contemporary plates by London based Darkroom with Pagodas from Frontgate.

David Netto detail NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner

Connecticut based, Swedish style antiques and design experts Eleish Van Breems were inspired by 1926 Singapore, where “Art Deco style intersects with dramatic performances of Chinese opera on the street and at the great Singapore opera theatre, Lai Chun Yuen” … celebrating the “beautiful Vanda orchid and the blend of cultural influences that is Singapore to this day.”

Eleish Van Breems NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner

Their thoughtful table included, among other sources, Rogers and Goffigon linen, Augarten porcelain and Lalique crystal.

Eleish Van Breems detail NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner

Juliska produced a lovely table in blue and white

Juliska at the NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner

with their own tabletop products.

Juliska detail at the NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner

Colin Cowie created a dramatic and luxurious table for sponsor Louis XIII cognac,

Colin Cowie for Louis XIIl Cognac NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner

starring the signature crystal bottle center stage.

Colin Cowie detail NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinnerall photos by Stacey Bewkes for Quintessence

Apologies to the other lovely tables that I either didn’t have time or good enough light to shoot. As always, it was an inspiring evening of great design for a wonderful cause, this year raising over $500,000 to benefit the Garden’s orchid research collection.

18 thoughts on “NYBG 2019 Orchid Dinner

  1. Stacy, thank you for this incredibly beautiful recap of the amazing tables.. what a gorgeous event!! Congrats to all the designers. Veranda is So proud to be celebrating 10 years of sponsorship!! Kate

  2. Stacy,
    What a wonderful post!! It was such a lovely night, and all the tables were so magical!! Thank you for caprturing the spirit of the evening so eleqouantly!! Xo Rhonda (and Edie).🙏🏻🌺

  3. So extraordinary! Thank you for eye feast Stacey. I can’t imagine how much this is to take in at once! 😊

  4. Thank you for your thoughtful report and for featuring Brynn Olson’s table Stacey. I had a wonderful time collaborating with Brynn and her team on this event for the second year. It’s alway fun to play with the many styles and colors from Marie Daage to come up with the dinnerware design. We paired the it with silver flatware from Robbe & Berking. I was fortunate to be at the event this year and what a treat it was to see all of the gorgeous table designs and florals in person! If your travels bring you to Chicago, please stop by our new showroom. xx, Mary Jeanne Kneen, Kneen & Co

  5. Thank you for the beautiful posts and description. It was great fun learning about the black and white houses of Singapore and love learning more about orchids every time. I love seeing and reading your orchid blog every year.

  6. Each table exudes artistic talent, taste and drama. I would have loved to have been there. Great photographs, and I too need bamboo cutlery!

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