You’re Hosting: A Harvest Party

Go to: Idea Chíc

As the first frost approaches, it’s time to pull up all those squashes and pumpkins and gather friends to share in your end-of-season bounty. Set the tone with harvest-inspired invitations and paper goods from this Glendale shop (and e-retail site), where co-owner Julie Sandusky designs all of the company’s gorgeous pieces. Among our favorites are Idea Chíc’s popular letterpress greeting cards and custom invites (created in-house with help from her husband, David, and the pair’s 1930s letterpress, named Hazel). The duo can help with everything from invitations to paper goods and favors: Use sheets of their orange chevron paper as placemats and send your friends home with sachets of mulling spices—and maybe a few surplus veggies, too.

You’re Hosting: A Bridal Shower

Go to: The Entertaining Shoppe

Yes, you could celebrate your best friend’s upcoming nuptials with a shower decked out in kitschy plastic baubles—or you could visit this Denver-based website, whose owners curate a beautiful selection of party goods for just about any themed event. We have our eye on the Kitchen Wedding Shower with a farm-to-table feel; the setup is complete with pretty galvanized cake stands, burlap table runners, and vintage flatware.

5280 Home Autumn 2015
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Bonus: For each theme, the Entertaining Shoppe offers free menus, activities, playlists, and more, making you look like a party-throwing genius. (We won’t tell.)

Editor’s Note: The Entertaining Shoppe announced that it is closing to focus on its Party in a Can concept after this story’s publication. Silver lining: You can visit the storefront at 1804 South Pearl Street between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.on Saturday, October 24, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 25, to score 30 percent off the shop’s remaining inventory.

You’re Hosting: Thanksgiving Dinner

Go to: The Lark

This perfectly styled neighborhood spot in Country Club shows off classic tabletop pieces and seasonal decor that feels fresh (but never trendy). Choose handsome staples—serving plates, utensils, pitchers, vases—from established lines including Simon Pearce and Arte Italica to give your turkey feast instant elegance. Then make the kids’ table pretty and hassle-free with colorful polycarbonate glasses and goblets and dishwasher-safe plates by Le Cadeaux.

Bonus: Pop into La Cache next door to pick up chic mismatched china, perfect for serving up pie and coffee. All proceeds from this charming consignment shop benefit Children’s Hospital Colorado, making your dessert course especially sweet. 400 Downing St., 303-871-9605

Holiday-Prep Tip: Before you start carving your roasted bird this holiday season, swing by the Knife Guys, a locally owned knife- and kitchen-supply shop in Baker. Here, experts will sharpen your knives for $3 each (and save you from the embarrassment of a mangled turkey).

You’re Hosting: A Gameday Buffet

Go to: Swoozie’s

Walk through this colorful party-supply shop in Cherry Creek North to find playful touches—everything from mascot-clad napkins and party favors to colorful ice buckets—that will make in-home tailgating as much fun as the real thing. (Yes, you really do need those Broncos tumblers.) An e-retailer with nine brick-and-mortar stores in seven states, all owned by Denver’s Gart Companies, Swoozie’s balances its themed goods with a regular stock of adorable baby gifts, custom invitations, birthday-party accessories, and swag for kids and tweens, making it a must-visit after football season, too.

This article was originally published in 5280 Home Autumn 2015.
Hilary Masell Oswald
Hilary Masell Oswald
As the former editor for two of 5280’s ancillary publications, Hilary Masell Oswald split her time between the vibrant design-and-architecture scene in the metro area for 5280 Home and the always-changing field of health for the annual 5280 Health.