CNN: What about in home furnishing? You do a line for Target that's ending this year. What's the most common mistake people make there?
Mizrahi: You know what it is with people? I think people get lazy when it comes to being at home -- they leave things around. I like to think about cabinets. I like to put things away as much as possible. It's like salt shakers on the table? No. You put the salt shakers in a cabinet, and the table looks so much better when it's plain. You know what I mean?
And people just think that bad flowers are better than nothing, but I disagree with that. I think that nothing is way better than bad flowers. You either have gorgeous, gorgeous flowers, or you have no flowers. Like at a dinner party, I prefer no flowers usually to the flowers that people have on the table. That's awful, but it's true.
this from the guy who asked women about their private grooming on live television at a black tie event
view Lady J's profile
Did he ask if the carpet matches the drapes?
view K T G's profile
Based on that quote, I'd prefer bad flowers on my table than him as a dinner guest!
view MsUnreliable's profile
Love him, but he is so all over the place. Have you ever watched his webshow on youtube. Hilarious to watch, I could probably be friends with him too, but if I was dating him or living with him....uh uh no way he would drive me nuts. LOL
view nickel525's profile
What a snob.
And seriously, salt/pepper shakers put away in a cabinet? I could see how that would work for some, but for many that's impractical. But he makes it sound like that should be the rule!
Ugh. Sounds like he's a bona fide asshole. Glad I don't know him personally.
view Mrs.Mack's profile
why have salt and pepper shakers if you're going to put them away? why not just leave it in the cans they came in?
view Lady J's profile
Isaac, why such a hater? What if they're pretty s&p shakers? And who defines what constitutes "gorgeous, gorgeous flowers"?
view stlellen's profile
Right on, Isaac.
view Seaside's profile
He's right - Salt & Pepper shakers on the table along with things like napkin holders, etc start looking more kitschy/diner-y.
I too prefer them put away - if not inside a cabinet, at least over on a nearby sideboard or kitchen counter between meals.
view bepsf's profile
Ok, so I'm something less of a freak about this. Excuuuuse me.
Incidentally, I keep my shakers near the stove, but just for this, I may go and put them on my table. If I can find a place among all the books. Sorry, I just prefer to actually live in my home.
view whytephoenix's profile
Count me as someone who doesn't leave salt and pepper shakers on the table and have never lived anywhere where that is the case. Salt and pepper, even if they're cute shakers, are a condiment. It's like bebsf says, diner-y, it's like keeping the ketchup out, or the butter dish. You put those things out for a meal and put them away when you're cleaning up after.
I don't say it has to go put away inside a cabinet (am I misattributing Jeffrey Bilhuber to the 'no tea-kettles left out on the stove burner' rule?) but the tabletop is not technically shelf space, and I think stuff like salt and pepper shakers should get organized, displayed if you wish, somewhere aside from the tabletop. A bouquet of flowers or a bowl of fruit is all, or nothing. The table should not be set with anything else pertaining to food unless a meal is imminent.
view K T G's profile
although occasionally i like his designs, i think he's become famous b/c he's redonk.
btw, i do put my very cute salt & pepper shakers in my cabinet. i get them down if a meal calls for it. i suppose that makes me a hider.
& as far as the flowers, i'm gonna nod in the direction of that screen.
view mariegael's profile