HOUSE WARMING PARTY WINDSOR

The grounds of the property were stunning, which enabled us to come up with a plan to make the house itself a key visual feature. We installed a marquee, of which two walls were glass so that the view of the house was unobstructed. We also incorporated one of the garden features into our design so that everything felt nicely integrated. A timber pergola covered in climbing roses provided a very natural walkway and we installed a transparent marquee over the top to create a grand entrance to the main marquee. We also took advantage of a decking area overlooking a small lake – it was the perfect setting in which to serve guests with arrival drinks before moving into the marquee for dinner.

The party theme was black and gold, with a hint of The Great Gatsby thrown in. It gave us the opportunity to transform the marquee interior into a rich and luxurious looking space, with plush décor, a gold mirror bar and a black dancefloor. Round tables were covered with black tablecloths so that the gold cutlery, gold-detailed glassware and plates and gold napkins would make a statement. Reminding guests of the reason for the party, we installed a large screen and shared images and videos of the house transformation.

Dinner was a triumph. We worked with our client’s choice of caterer, a specialist in traditional Lebanese cuisine based in Knightsbridge. Continuing the Eastern theme, belly dancers and an Arabic band provided plenty of after-dinner entertainment.

As darkness fell, the lighting scheme we’d designed for the house and gardens really came into its own and, finally, guests discovered the purpose of a rather intriguing red carpet. It led to a viewing platform from which everyone could enjoy the wonderful surprise of watching a heliosphere performance – the perfect finale.