“Fall entertaining is pure theatre. That’s why we enjoy it – we have license to lay it all out and the result is universally appreciated. If you don’t go to town, your guests feel cheated,” shares Tim Gledhill, founder of Huddleson Linens, an exquisite European linen company designed in Los Angeles by an Englishman. Gledhill adds, “I’m an advocate of anything goes at this time of year – so long as you make an effort. Mix old and new – modern and traditional – express your personal taste and style and have fun with it.”  KDHamptons asks Tim to share his top  entertaining tips for the season, below:

“When I dress the table, I think of the mood and atmosphere I’m trying to create with the occasion. Entertaining is most successful when the host, the menu and the decoration are all somewhat aligned. If you’re a very casual person don’t try to host an overly formal dinner: it will make you – and your guests – uncomfortable.”

“There is no need to be too literal – just because it’s fall doesn’t mean everything has to be fall colors if your personal style is more minimal and monochromatic. On the other hand, when setting the table you are only decorating for a few hours so you can be a little more daring than when picking more permanent design elements. The golden rule of entertaining is to do something that feels special to you – and that will make your guests feel special. Those are the times when great memories are made.”

“As a child growing up in England, I always cherished the ceremony of celebrating special occasions – birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, Sundays, whatever it may be – with a beautifully set table and a wholesome home-cooked meal. It was a way of showing that we cared about each other. Far from making these events stiff or stilted it made them feel warm and loving,” says Gledhill.