Over the Top and Moon

If ever there was an event to be at in Chicago, it had to be Barack Obama's post-election victory celebration in Grant Park. With the mood around the city and country being so joyous and dreamlike, it may be a while before something like a design show, even one as notable as the DIFFA and Elle Decor sponsored Dining By Design gets the attention it usually would, but for anyone interested, the tabletop event is being held in Chicago today, tomorrow, and Saturday.

DIFFA bills the event as an opportunity for designers to create "over the top tabletops." And with the only real guidelines for the designers being that their tables must seat ten and be contained within an 11' x 11' space, the result is pure fantasy. Think grand chandeliers and cascading lighting, towering centerpieces, bold colors pairings, and eclectic materials like feathers.

As much as I like many of the avant-garde dining installations, some of my favorites actually lean towards the more traditional. Tables like the one designed by Margaret Russell for Elle Decor in 2006, and this pink and white tabletop with Moroccan lanterns and bamboo rattan pendant lamps.

And in the spirit of the election and new president, I thought it would only be fitting to include an image of the New York Times installation by Doug Wilson for Design Within Reach.


images: umbrella tabletop: DIFFA Los Angeles - Dining by Design - Table Hop & Taste - 2008, originally uploaded by mralenlin, loved the walls, pink and patterned