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meet the experts •Above: Just add guests...Keep surfaces clear, create conversationspaces & make it easy for people to help.Vicki has great cheat ideas forfeeding & seating everyone &creating a welcoming mood:• Small tables can be enlarged byputting a large board over themand dressing them with a gorgeousbig table cloth or you can choosean extendable table. (Vicki saysround and oblong tables helpconversation flow but you need thespace to accommodate them.)• Use the kitchen bench for storingthe platters of food if the diningtable is too small.• Unfinished spaces (her family hasa big shed in the country wherethey hold parties) can be decoratedwith old Persian rugs and lamps,creating a cosy atmosphere.• Floor cushions can provide quickextra seating.• Pick up some spare dining chairsat charity shops.• Lighting is terribly important; lampsare great or use unscentedbeeswax candles to createinexpensive but beautiful ambientlighting.• Colour is inviting. Don’t haveeverything stark white, add some“pops”.• Make space in the bathroom byusing hooks on the doors orkeeping a smart covered laundrybasket at hand for dirty washing.with islands in the centre are perfectfor entertainers. People can floataround them, you can lay food out andeveryone can access it, you can usethem as extra serving areas.“If you can avoid having thedishwasher between the stove and thesink it helps. It allows someone to behelping by stacking or unstacking thewasher without getting in the way ofother activities,” she says.For dining areas, a fresh coat ofpaint always “tarts” things up accordingto Vicki. But you could also considersome quick, new ready-to-hang curtainsor a splash of wallpaper. “To quicklyclear spaces, or keep them clear, usebaskets in small spaces to organisenewspapers, put magazines onshelves and de-clutter. De-clutteringis the first step to happy entertaining.”There are a few tried and truetricks in Vicki’s armoury but she sayscreating a feeling of welcome, thatspecial atmosphere, is what reallymakes visitors enjoy your home.“Welcome starts at the front gate.Make sure the gate works and theentrance is well lit. Ensure the housenumber is visible and that the buzzerworks. The hallway should be the firstglimmer of the welcome to come. Thiscan be achieved by a small consoletable, some art work (done by yourself,the kids or store bought - new orsecond hand), a rug and perhaps alamp. Flowers work miracles too!”she says.“Concentrate on the entertainingareas if time’s against you,” she says.“Don’t be afraid to close a bedroomdoor or two ... keep your focus on theareas where people will sit, chat andeat and at least one decent bathroom.”Vicki warns against blocking furnitureagainst the walls; it limits people’schance to gather and chat. “Bring thefurniture forward, group some chairsand put a coffee table in the middle,then you have a conversation area.Get Creative Quarterly Autumn 2011 23