Welcome to Modern Pineapple! For quite awhile, I’ve had this idea rolling around in my head of sharing ideas on elements of elegant entertaining and hospitality. It’s everywhere, from how we treat ourselves and our homes every day, to hosting dinner parties and houseguests, to the experiences we have as guests in hotels and new places.

Being raised in southern Virginia, pineapple motifs and its symbolism were omnipresent. In colonial times, pineapples were a rarity from the Caribbean islands and brought back by speedy ships to coastal towns to go to the local confectionary shops. A hostess’s ability to have a pineapple showed her status, and that she spared no expense to ensure her guests’ dining pleasure.

These days, we’re not boasting about our abilities to get fruit for our centerpieces (well, maybe sometimes we do), but the pineapple still represents welcome, good cheer, warmth and affection for gatherings. I’m excited to share what inspires me in entertaining and hospitality — which is what I’m calling my ‘modern pineapple’ — and hope it inspires you too.