Kiera Valente ’13 | Staff Writer

To kick off the second quarter the interior design class’ annual tablescape competition took place last Thursday in Cleminson Hall. Groups of students designed a table around a certain theme, said Marianne Vukas, the interior design teacher.

“A tablescape is a way to set a dinner table that has a wow factor,” Vukas said. “It is usually very dramatic.”

This year’s tablescape project consisted of six different teams, said Vukas. The themes were Winter Wonderland, New York Christmas, Beauty and the Beast, New Years Eve, Holly Jolly Holiday and Night on the Red Carpet. Each team had between three and five students and were judged by teachers.

The winning team was New Years Eve, which consisted of all freshman, said Vukas. The members of the winning team were Emma Rooney, Elanore Walker, Alex Boucher and Carolyn Poleski all ’16.

“With all the themes we had thought of (New Years Eve) was the one we could come up with the most ideas for,” Walker said.

The tables were judged by teachers and community members on their aesthetics, place setting accuracy, menus and creativity of theme, said Vukas. This determined first place, New Years Eve, second place, Winter Wonderland, and third place, Night on the Red Carpet.

“I am always amazed at the creativity of students,” Vukas said. “I can’t say that I had a favorite; they are all so different.”

Between introduction to the unit and execution, the class spent five weeks learning about things they would need to know for the competition, Vukas said. They were given one class period a week to meet with their groups.

“We first view a variety of tables to get inspiration,” Vukas said. “We learned about proper place setting, the difference in plates and the element of art.”

After figuring out what students wanted to do with their table they had to get the decorations together, said Vukas.

“We all contributed different items to the tablescape,” Rooney, a member of the winning team, said. “We also went to The League Shop to borrow china.”

Patricia Brinker, who owns The League Shop, and has allowed students from Vukas’ class to borrow china for this competition for eight years.

“She (Brinker) is very generous to the students,” Vukas said. “She opens up the store for students without any hesitation.”

After the tablescape competition was over anything borrowed from The League Shop was boxed up and given back, said Vukas.

“It was a very big surprise that we won,” Rooney said. “We are very thrilled though.”