How I Host: A Layered, Laid-Back Gathering with Max Hurd
For this episode of How I Host, we are invited into the layered London home of creative consultant Max Hurd, who uses his eclectic style to curate tablescapes that keep guests talking long after they’ve left
The first time I had friends and family over to this house was well before it was decorated. It was a chance to show people all the mad ideas I’d been dreaming up. I had all these paint swatches on the wall and fabric swatches next to the windows, which made it feel like having dinner on a blueprint. We just sat on the kitchen floor, because I had no furniture, drank wine and ate takeaway Lebanese, and laughed for hours and hours about how crazy and colorful this house was going to be. It was such a lovely, positive spirit to infuse into the space before it underwent a huge decorative overhaul.
Every piece is a talking point, with exquisite shell servers from Maison Saint Cake on a Carolina Irving & Daughters plate
My house lends itself well to hosting, with its uplifting, vibrant colors and walls layered with cherished heirlooms and collected treasures, which make for great conversation starters. My ‘Boy with Dog’ painting is a favorite because it was gifted to me by my grandmother. It had been passed down through her family and originally hung on the walls at Hartwell House in Buckinghamshire. I’d had my eyes on it since I was a child, so I was thrilled to receive it as a housewarming gift.
Where the night begins: a fully stocked bar with gorgeous glassware and an Augarten porcelain croissant dish
Color plays such an important role in both my hosting and my home. The kitchen dining area is painted in Fake Tan by Farrow & Ball, an incredible color that changes throughout the day. In the morning, when you’re having breakfast, it’s a really soft, easy-on-the-eye pink paint, and as the day goes on and the sun climbs in the sky, it changes to cast a very gorgeous gold over the room. It’s perfect if you’re hosting, as it makes everyone’s complexion look flawless. The space makes people happy because they feel like they’re abroad, basking in the warmth of this sort of Mediterranean glow created by the amazing paint.
I love the idea of gathering my favorite people for one last taste of summer, giving them reason to celebrate life before it gets cold again. My family really knows how to party, so I feel very fortunate to have this beautiful house I can host them in. My sisters always end up staying over, which tells you just how late our evenings tend to go on. It’s the kind of home where lunch parties easily roll into dinner parties, as all the best kinds of entertaining should.
The key to a delightfully scented home? Peppering floral arrangements through overlooked corners
Max’s Hosting Dos and Don’ts
DO place treasured items on the table as conversation starters. My favorite is a little shell for salt. It’s fun to be able to say, ‘Pass the shell’, open it, and give it a sprinkle.
DON’T forget to pepper floral arrangements throughout the house, both to brighten overlooked corners and to blow guests away with how delightfully your home smells.
DO use seasonal produce as part of your table decor. Not only will it look great, but it also serves as a solid back-up if something goes awry in the kitchen – which is likely, knowing me!
DON’T forget to make life easier by prepping food the night before. I love to make focaccia, which can stay in the fridge and be whacked in the oven when needed.
DO have something fabulous on hand to offer those who don’t drink. There are no excuses for boring soft drinks when there are so many great non-alcoholic alternatives.
DON’T get bogged down in the details and forget to have fun! What’s really important is quality time with your loved ones. At the end of the day, they haven’t really come for the food; they’ve come to see you.
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