Christine Schwalm Design

This weekend I hit up Design Nerd Expo '10--better known to laypeople as the Architectural Digest Home Show--and came away with lots of great ideas and sneak peeks into what's new out there.  One element I saw consistently was the use of potted succulent plants grouped en masse as centerpieces.  This works out perfectly for several reasons.

First off, you may already have a few around the house.  Succulent plants are popular for their easy maintenance and wide variety.  Second, they're low enough to make conversation across the table easy.  And third, they work well with both formal settings or a relaxed tablescape based on their containers.  I particularly like the Benjamin Moore setting in the first picture which uses varying plants and containers to create interest.