Enhance the joy of eating alone

A tray with various tea implements on it.

Fiona Leahy on how a pressed napkin can make all the difference to dining right now

Images courtesy of Fiona Leahy   Thursday 23 April, 2020   Short read

LONDON —  Restaurants may no longer be on the menu, but that doesn’t mean that meals at home can’t be made into a special moment. Dining solo daily, if you are isolating alone, can feel a bit of a non-event — enter Fiona Leahy, UK-based interior designer and event stylist, to offer inspiration for how to upgrade your tray set-up, whether it’s for morning, noon or night.

Morning 
‘This tray was inspired by the silver, domed, double egg cup – one of my favourite Soho Home pieces, which brings a bit of old-fashioned glamour to breakfast. I made pale blue, marbled eggs to go inside and picked a bright orange tulip from my garden to put in a bud vase – instant sunshine. Then, I added the Rosa linen napkin and Country House teapot, cup, saucer and jug to complete my tray.’
A tray setup for lunch.
Noon 
‘Inspired by the black and white china of the Burleigh collection, for this set-up I created a fresh lunch setting to go from desk to garden. I paired the pale blue plate with the Rosa linen napkin and the Country House wine glass. A stem of apple blossom from my garden in a vintage bud vase adds a light floral accent.’
A tray setup for cocktails.
Night 
‘For my new cocktail-hour ritual – something I so look forward to and have never done at home prior to this period – I created a Martini tray. I’ve laid out the Barwell cocktail shaker and matching Martini glasses, wasabi peanuts in my Soho Home Treats Tin and a blossom from my garden. A vintage, Italian, linen scalloped napkin with an applique of a lady holding her Martini provides the perfect finishing touch. Cheers!’
Interested in becoming a member?