Sheila Bridges with Food & Wine Magazine's Editor-in-Chief, Dana Cowin, dishing up dining design at Blue Fin in New York.

• Choose a dining table scaled to fit your room, allowing 30 inches from the wall on all sides for the chairs.
  
• Rectangular tables are more formal, while round tables are more casual and invite conversation.
  
• The best dining chairs have deep seats.
  
• Chandeliers are best hung 30 inches above the table.

Sheila's Fab Finds

• Salt Cellars, $3.95 per set
  Silver-plated napkin ring, $2.95
  Crate & Barrel
  800-967-6696
  www.crateandbarrel.com

Preston Bailey Entertainment Design
212-691-6777
www.prestonbailey.com

Matthew Patrick Smythe, Designer
New York City
212-333-5353

Coach
888-262-6224
www.coach.com

Profundities Inc.
Harriette Cole, Lifestyle Editor and Author
New York City
212-645-3005

DIFFA
(Design Industries Foundation Fighting Aids)
www.diffa.org

Elle Décor
800-274-4687
www.elledecor.com

At Home with Carolyne Roehm by Carolyne Roehm

Preston Bailey's Design for Entertaining: Inspiration for Creating the Party of Your Dreams by Preston Bailey

Featured Restaurants

Blue Fin
New York City
212-918-1400

Fiamma Osteria
New York City
212-653-0100
www.newyorkmetro.com

L'impero
New York City
212-599-5045