It’s that time of year when family gatherings take center stage as we begin making plans for the upcoming holidays.
Yet, gathering together around the table and sharing our lives with one another isn’t a cherished event that we need only enjoy on occasion, it’s a blessing we can delight in each and every day!
Encouraging and inspiring families to be richly blessed by sharing time together around the table is definitely my passion – and even more so – it’s the passion of my dear friend Jenny Davids, co-founder of Hen House Linens.
Jenny and I met while I was writing my first cookbook. I fell in love with her beautiful table linens and was immediately drawn to her passion for hospitality. In fact, the majority of linens featured in the photos in my cookbook and here throughout the blog are Jenny’s beautiful creations.
What I love about Jenny is her commitment to family. Jenny wisely sees meal times as a cherished time for reconnecting with each other. Her passion for gathering families around the table to connect is a noble one, and it’s what inspired her to create Hen House Linens – a wonderful company founded on the principle of bringing families together.
That’s why I’m so excited to finally have my sweet friend Jenny here as a guest, so each of you can get to know her too. Jenny is a beautiful woman inside and out who is using her many talents, passion and energy to encourage and inspire others.
And did I mention that she’s also a kind, generous soul?
Not only is she sharing a few of her favorite easy entertaining tips with us below, but Jenny’s also offering us a wonderful opportunity to adorn our tables with beautiful Hen House Linens at 20% off!
But before you run off to go shopping …
First, I’d love to share a bit more about Jenny. And of course, share a few of her best tips for easy holiday entertaining. And if you subscribe to the Hen House Linens newsletter, you’ll receive even more helpful tips and inspiration for creating memorable family gatherings.
Kelly: Welcome to The Nourishing Home, Jenny. We’re excited to have you over for a visit. One aspect of Hen House Linens that I especially admire is your heart for simplicity and beauty in the every day. I’ve really noticed a difference in how our family dinners go when we take a quick minute to set the table with your cheerful linens. Can you share more with us about your passion for bringing families back around the table together?
Jenny: We live in a time where more and more of us are embracing healthier eating. We’re putting more thought into what goes into our bodies, so why not put more thought into how it is presented. We put a lot of time and care into preparing a meal for our families, so why downgrade the experience by serving it on a paper plate with a paper towel? Paper products are disposable. Our meals should not be. Our time with the people we love is meant to be special and cherished.
As you mentioned, when dinner is served with cloth napkins, people sit up a little straighter, linger a little longer, become more present in the moment. It’s a visual and textural reminder that this experience matters. I don’t know how many times I’ve hosted friends for dinner at our house and when the cloth napkins come out, the “oh my, how fancy” chorus begins. I’ve even seen it happen with a bunch of teenage boys over a large box of pizza. It’s a powerfully good feeling to create cherished moments together, and it’s so simple to do. Really!
Kelly: I also love that your linens make it so easy to have guests over and create a warm, inviting atmosphere of casual elegance without a lot of effort.
Jenny: Yes. We firmly believe that all you really need to do to create beauty is set a simple table. That’s why we create linens that easily mix and match. So it’s really easy to set a warm and inviting table in a snap! Hen House Linens are designed to be used every day, but can also dress-up your table for whatever entertaining you have in mind. Our pretty patterns coordinate to create any kind of look you want from eclectic to modern to casual to elegant!
Kelly: I think a lot of us can be shy about entertaining guests, because we make it more complicated than it needs to be. Can you share with us some of your favorite tips for easy entertaining?
Jenny: Entertaining definitely doesn’t have to complicated. I’m happy to share a few of my favorite tips for effortless entertaining…
• Set up a beverage station and make it extra special by including cloth napkins. This way you can offer your guests a beverage as they arrive, which sets the stage for lots of mingling and good conversation.
• Also be sure to set the table before guests arrive. It’s creates a warm welcoming atmosphere that helps set the tone for a fun, relaxing evening ahead.
• Have interesting elements on your table. I believe the best tablescapes are the ones that use what you have. No need to spend money on fancy floral arrangements. Instead, keep it simple. Cut flowers, greenery or branches from your own yard (or borrow from a neighbor), but keep arrangements minimal and low, so they don’t hinder eye-to-eye contact. I also like to pepper the table with conversation starters, such as shells from a vacation, or old photographs to bring visual interest.
• Be eclectic. One of my favorite ways to use our beautiful palette of casual table linens is to pair them with vintage china for a modern update. I also mix our fashion-forward colors with my own heirloom linens.
• Keep the focus on the people you’ve gathered. Hospitality at its heart is about building relationships and encouraging others. So remember to keep it simple and spend more time enjoying your family and friends!
I think it’s easy to see why, I adore Jenny. Her simple, thoughtful approach to creating memorable moments with family and friends is such a blessing!
I also appreciate her kind generosity in offering us the opportunity to save 20% off her beautiful creations now through November 30. Hen House Linens truly make family meal times special and memorable, which is why I’d like to invite you to check out their table inspirations gallery for lots of beautiful ideas for entertaining.
And also be sure to “join the roost” by subscribing to the Hen House Linens newsletter for even more helpful tips and inspiration for creating memorable moments around your family table today and every day!
Some of the fun ways Jenny and her team enjoy time with their families … Tailgating in style, and they recently hosted a Dinner on the Dock for 100 people with their children serving as wait staff for the event! And of course, they all enjoy simple, everyday meals with family and friends!
More About Hen House Linens
Jenny is such a humble, sweet person. She wanted to be sure I shared the fact that Hen House Linens is not only a family-run business, it’s a friend-run business too! Jenny started Hen House Linens with her good friend and former college roommate, Katherine Poole. Katherine serves as Creative Director, designing the beautiful fabrics, packaging, and more, as well as provides good laughs throughout. Along with Katherine, Jenny is blessed to have a whole host of wonderful friends who jump in to loan her their houses, their stuff, their children and themselves – for photoshoots or whatever else comes up. It’s truly a company that lives out its mission of bringing family and friends together!
