LA DOLFINA

Created by Robert Rufino, vice president of creative services and visual merchandising for Tiffany & Co. "I wanted to feel as if I were on my own big private ship heading somewhere wonderful.  Some evenings I'd have a formal dinner table.  On others, I'd want something colorful and lively.  I like the idea of bringing a collection of seashells and starfish onto a table with beautiful china, crystal, and silver.  Formal with casual works because it's s-o-o-o relaxing." And he believes that a sense of humor and "wit, as in intelligence," are keys to every aspect of design, especially tables where people gather to dine and relax.

pulling things together for my  Thanksgiving Table.  It's in the conceptual stage right now. I've been throwing things together to help inspire my table top vignette. It's sort of a "beautiful mess" as my friends Eddie & Jaithan like to call it.  We haven't hosted Thanksgiving for several years and I'm really excited! It's extra special too because it's the first Thanksgiving that our son comes home from college! My Mom told me that the Holidays take on extra meaning when your kids come home. I think she's right as I've never felt more in the holiday spirit even though it's hotter than a summer day in the Bay Area today.   I'm even inspired by these turtle shells! I picked up these gorgeous Ikat napkins on sale several years ago at Anthropologie which are the inspiration for my color scheme. I bought these yellow Tiffany & Co. cachepots last month at an estate sale and am thinking of filling them ...