It is impossible to deny the thrill of attending a dinner party and encountering a fancifully set table. As a guest, you feel honored to witness the thought and care the host has devoted to creating an inviting setting and a special mood for the gathering. As the host — let’s just admit it — you are showing off. It’s fun to receive compliments on your creative flair. Everyone wins here.

But where to start?

“Start with what you love,” said Angela DiSimone, proprietor of Avis Aldine, a curated vintage housewares boutique on Magazine Street and a pro-level tablescape designer. “Setting a table is a form of storytelling. What is important to you?”

Do you have treasured items from loved ones who have passed? Gems collected on world travels? A collection of interesting twigs, coins, feathers

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