Taigan Fetch Magazine by Taigan

When L.A.-based decorator and entertainer extraordinaire Joe Nye was growing up, his mother gave a black-tie dinner party every month—in the middle of rural Nebraska

That these sophisticated events took place in what Nye describes as “literally in the middle of nowhere,” is remarkable enough. There were fresh flowers, lovely linens and china, and even dancing after dinner. But still more remarkable to Nye, looking back, is “how natural it was for my mother to do all the cooking, the flower arranging, setting the table by herself. Having guests in her home for these long fun-filled evenings was something she enjoyed—it wasn’t a chore and she embraced it.”

Her son has embraced the same brand of “elegant, unfussy” entertainment his mother was known for, and in his beautiful new book, Flair, he shows the rest of us how. The book’s subtitle is “Exquisite Invitations, Lush Flowers, and Gorgeous Table Settings,” and in the sections on each, he offers up boundless inspiration and countless tips. Cheap blue and red glassware mixes with Blue Canton dinner plates and red toile tablecloths for an elegant take on good old red, white, and blue. A place card can be as tongue-in-cheek as a convention-style “Hello, My Name Is…” at one modern table setting. For a Chinoiserie themed lunch, he elevates the lowly pink carnation by cramming them overflowing into julep cups and making a tablescape.

Flair is the next best thing to an invitation to one of the designer’s talked-about parties. The flowers are breathtaking, the tables stunning, and there is a really useful “giftbag” in the form of a well-researched resource guide and Nye’s advice on everything from how to create a quick invitation to the best way to polish silver.

Pictured above, from left:
This red-white-and-blue table setting is perfect for an elegant Memorial Day or Fourth of July lunch or dinner. The cover of Joe Nye’s Flair, available at Hollyhock, features a Chinoiserie themed lunch. A single yellow Fuji mum in a teacup makes a great—and fast—individual centerpiece that is especially effective with the blue-and-white color scheme.

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