HOST WITH THE MOST

The designers behind lifestyle brands Bethan Gray, Chilewich and Dinosaur Designs share how they approach at-home entertaining with style and spirit, as well as the dream guests getting a chair at their tables.

“We entertain in our garden a lot, so a typical lunch might involve a long table surrounded with friends and family of all ages. We designed our garden to have a jungle feel with lots of large-leafed green plants, so you do really feel transported and connected to nature. The vibe is informal, with everyone getting involved, milling about and enjoying themselves, but the magical moment comes when we all sit down together. My husband is the chef in our house, so my role is to make people feel welcome and at ease. I’ll burn frankincense and rose oil on arrival, make sure everyone has a drink and introduce people who haven’t met. Massimo might pre-prepare a couple of key dishes and then he and his ‘cooking buddies’ will make more throughout the afternoon—long, leisurely lunches often blur into dinners in our house!”

– Bethan Gray, Bethan Gray

We asked Bethan for her top three invitees, dead or alive. “Firstly, Charlotte Perriand, who has always been an inspiration of mine. I’d love to talk to her about how she achieved what she did as a woman in her era and gain some insight into her design process; to swap stories with her would be such a treat. I’d also love to invite Henri Matisse, give him some paper and scissors, and ask him to capture the mood of the evening by taking inspiration from our garden—that would be a nice memento. I’ve thought a lot about my third choice and I’m afraid my late Welsh grandmother, my Nain, has beaten David Bowie to the spot! I would love the chance to spend time with her and find out more about my gypsy heritage. Plus, she was always so wonderful at making people feel comfortable. I know she would get on like a house on fire with Charlotte and Henri, and if we were lucky, she might even play us a tune or two on her harp, just like her great, great grandfather John Roberts and his nine sons once did for Queen Victoria.”

“When entertaining, cocktail hour is essential for me, even if it's Sunday brunch, which becomes even more special thanks to fresh orange juice and champagne. This time allows everyone to make a transition from the outside world into a new shared space. It sets the tone. I always prefer to have a sit-down meal because it’s more intimate. Prepping food as much as possible beforehand is mandatory for me. It’s such a pity to be rushed to prepare—that anxiety takes all the joy out of hosting.”

– Sandy Chilewich, Chilewich

So, who’s in Sandy’s top three? “For a dream dinner party, I've got to have a comedian. Robin Williams would be great. My dad, who I miss a lot, would be super. And I'd invite Amy Schumer, another comedian. I guess I need comedy in my life right now. These are stressful times. It's important to try and laugh!”

“We love to have dinner parties at home and love to start with french Champagne and a selection of cheeses, olives and seed crackers. Steve is a great DJ and has a wonderful playlist on Spotify. He always creates a good vibe.”

– Louise Olsen, Dinosaur Designs

As for Louise’s ultimate guests? “It would be great to have John Lee Hooker if he brings his guitar, Aretha Franklin and Voltaire. It would be a lot of fun!”

Ready to be a host with the most? Shop Lane Crawford’s curated edit of home interior and entertaining essentials below.