Product Description

If you Google Nell Hill's, more than 47,000 hits come up. Mary Carol Garrity's three stores, Nell Hill's, Garrity's Encore, and G. Diebolt's, in the small town of Atchison, Kans., have become landmarks in the decorating world. Over 75,000 people annually travel an average of 90 miles in search of the special, unpredictable merchandise that Mary Carol chooses. Mary Carol tries to guarantee that their trips are worthwhile by personally providing them with inspiration on how to improve their homes and decor. This book is the culmination of her many years of experience both selling tabletop and listening to her customers most-often-asked questions about entertaining.

Nell Hill's Entertaining in Style is organized around the changing seasons and the holidays and celebrations that go with them. Nell Hill's is renowned for its tabletop medleys, and the book shows you how you can create similar effects. Also featured are creative party themes, delicious menu ideas, and tips to make every guest feel special. This book is ideal for people who are intimidated at the thought of throwing a party. It gives readers Mary Carol's tips and tricks for breaking each step down into a manageable plan.

The book is filled with spectacular photography of the celebrations in Mary Carol's 130-year-old home as well as in the homes and gardens of her friends.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #215645 in Books
• Published on: 2006-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 128 pages

About the Author
Mary Carol Garrity is the dynamic proprietor of Nell Hill's, the home furnishings store in Atchison, Kans., that Forbes magazine has called "one of the hottest little retailers." Ninety-five percent of her customers return several times a year from surrounding cities and from every corner of the country. They come in search of the special, unpredictable merchandise that Mary Carol chooses for her stores. Mary Carol is always on hand to answer customers' questions and offer real-life decoration solutions. Her success shows that she is one of today's top design resources.

Customer Reviews

Least Favorite of 4 Nell Hill Books
I own all the Nell Hill books and this is by far and away my least favorite. The parties described in the book are not special - and the pictures are less than impressive. There is nothing new in this book - and the information presented is not specific enough. I wish the table settings were described in great detail. There are few fun things - the ideas of having a "sip and see" party to welcome a new infant is fun - but the decorations are not. The Nell Hill family of shops are terrific - but this book is a disappointment.

Uninspiring
I found the clunky prose so irritating that any small pleasure I may have taken in this book rapidly disappeared.

According to the author, houses are always homes (and lovely homes, at that), food is invariably fare and home cooks are described as chefs. Even worse, after writing that she welcomes Spring into her house with seasonal bouquets, Ms Garrity informs her readers that, as she doesn't have a yard full of spring flowers, she relies on artificial (and can hardly tell the difference between faux and real). Hasn't she heard of florists? Doesn't the woman possess a sense of smell? Are fake branches really superior because they don't shed leaves all over the floor?

It was also a disappointment to see food mentioned as an afterthought and with far too much emphasis on buying, rather than preparing, a meal for friends. Part of the joy of entertaining (on a small scale at least) is serving food you've made yourself....not necessarily every dish but at least one course.

There were a couple of interesting ideas but, in the main, I found the tables to be uninspired and overdressed......you'd need a search party to locate the food. Serves me right for buying this book sight unseen - there's nothing here which would keep the divine Carolyne Roehm up at night.

One of many of Nell Hill's decorating books...

I found this book to have some good things and some so-so things about it.
First, the so-so things about it: I wish there had been more home decorating samples (examples). Only a few homes were the focus. Although the homes were gorgeous, and the china settings and decorations were VERY pretty, I wish there had been more ideas shown under each Season!

Second, please note that this is not a cookbook. The author does state this fact in the book. The very few recipes shown are not that inspiring and very basic. So please note that this is not a cookbook.

Now about the good things about this book: The photos are stupendous! I own other NELL HILL decorating books and the photos are always the very best! Also, the homes showcased are very pretty (ie: romantic like homes) , as were the china settings and glassware and flowers.