Is your Friday night table in need of a refresh? Then I’ve got just the thing for you:we’ve teamed up with The Social Kitchen, London’s chicest option for event styling and crockery hire, to give one lucky winner in London or Hertfordshire UK a design consultation and luxury table setting hire for a Friday night to remember!

I’ve long been a fan of The Social Kitchen’s founder, Dani Tucker, who’s Jewish herself – I’ve had the pleasure of working with her on photoshoots and adore her wonderful cookbooks – and I’m just blown away by her incredible knack for taking table settings from the ordinary to the extraordinary. She’s renowned for her bringing new ideas to the table (literally), and her unique stylings come together to create unforgettable experiences. 

She’s got the most impeccable taste – and I love how she shows that Jewish doesn’t have to equal stodgy and boring, one Shabbat or holiday tablescape at a time! And even if you don’t turn out to be the lucky winner of our competition, Dani’s shared some fabulous ideas for easy DIY upgrades – read on for her tips!

Inspiring Tablescapes 

The Social Kitchen was inspired by Dani’s beloved late mother, Shally, who loved nothing more than hosting family and friends at home, creating magic through her spectacular cooking and effortless hospitality. 

This sense of warmth and belief in the power of hospitality is the heartbeat of everything The Social Kitchen does. And while The Social Kitchen is known for their epic event styling – they work on lots of gorgeous Jewish weddings – you can work with them for any event, from the grandest to the most intimate, like a Shabbat or holiday gathering at home. 

They’ve got a beautifully diverse range of products carefully curated from around the world, including decadent glassware and stylish crockery and cutlery in a huge variety of colours and sizes, designed to be mixed and matched. Add in some vibrant accessories, and you’ve got everything you need to create an unforgettable look.

And when you work with The Social Kitchen, you’re not just getting style – they’re also known for their top-notch service. They’ll take care of every last detail – and are also available to offer support on the day of your event if needed.

Dani’s DIY Tips 

Dani shared three great ideas for DIY ways to upgrade your own Shabbat table, drawn from her years of experience in styling. 

1. Mix and Match
   Throw out the rule book and blend different styles, colours, patterns and textures! For example, you could pair old and new by taking an heirloom (or thrifted!) lace tablecloth and layering it over a modern fabric to give your table an elevated twist. Mix up your textures by pairing light pink matte plate with a jet black shiny charger. Or you could opt to have a completely different style of wine glass at every place setting for a whimsical look – the possibilities with this one are truly endless!
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2. Decorate Your Own Challah Cover
   If you’re crafty, you could sew your own from scratch, or buy a gorgeous Jewish embroidery kit – but if you’re looking for something a little simpler, Dani suggests buying a pillow case (or repurposing an old one) and decorating it by doodling with permanent markers! Do it solo, or get your friends and family involved – if you’ve got young children, this could be a really sweet way to create a special family heirloom together! 
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3. Recycled Vases
   Dani suggests saving jam jars you’ve finished, peeling the labels off, and repurposing them as flower vases! For a dramatic look, use one colour of flower and tie a large ribbon bow round the top of the jar, leaving long tails draping along the table.

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