Style isn't always something you wear. Sometimes, it's something you create.
For Elisa Della Pello, style is found in thoughtful details, meaningful conversations and the feeling guests carry with them long after a meal ends. That philosophy is the foundation of Set the Table, her boutique tablescape business in Whitehouse Station, which is redefining what it means to entertain with intention.
Although Set the Table officially launched in 2025, Della Pello's passion for creating beautiful spaces began decades earlier. From her Whitehouse Station studio, she helps clients throughout New Jersey elevate everything from intimate dinners to weddings with thoughtfully curated tablescapes.
Growing up in a family of eight, dinner around the table was a daily tradition. Her mother cooked nearly every evening, and one responsibility never changed.
"'Lisa, go set the table,'" Della Pello recalls hearing night after night.
What seemed like a simple chore became the foundation for a lifelong appreciation of gathering. Choosing the dishes, arranging the silverware and preparing a place for everyone taught her that a thoughtfully set table represents something much greater than décor.
"It always made everybody have a place at the table," she says. "I want people to feel like they belong."
That sentiment continues to guide every decision she makes.
After owning a gift store and children's boutique earlier in her career, Della Pello eventually stepped away to focus on raising her family. Once her children were older, she found herself ready to return to retail, but this time with a business that reflected her own creativity and lifelong love of entertaining.
"I wanted something that was more me," she says.
The result is a concept unlike anything else in the area.
Part neighborhood gift shop, part event design studio and part rental service, Set the Table gives customers the opportunity to create memorable gatherings without purchasing an entire collection of specialty dinnerware they'll use only once.
Guests can mix and match from dozens of plate patterns, glassware styles, chargers, linens, flatware, runners and decorative accents. Some prefer to design their own tablescape, while others select from pre-styled collections inspired by destinations, holidays and seasonal celebrations. She also offers delivery, setup and cleanup, allowing hosts to enjoy the event.
The concept, she says, is a little like combining Pinterest, Rent the Runway and a neighborhood boutique into one experience.
But while beautiful tables certainly catch the eye, Della Pello believes hospitality has very little to do with perfection.
"People remember their feeling," she says. "Everything else is just icing on the cake."
Hosting doesn't require a five-course meal or custom china. It can be pizza and wine shared around a patio table. It can be a birthday celebration inspired by someone's favorite color or a simple bouquet arranged with fresh flowers from the local market. What guests remember most is feeling welcomed, cared for and included.
That perspective has shaped Della Pello's design philosophy as well.
Sometimes inspiration begins with a destination, like the warm colors of Tuscany or a seaside escape filled with shells and weathered textures. Other times, it starts with a single color palette that grows into an entire tablescape layered with linens, candles and carefully chosen details.
Whether she's creating a French Riviera-inspired dinner, an Italian harvest table or an elegant holiday gathering, every design tells a story.
"I get inspired by a lot of different things," she says. "Then you start to build an arsenal of design in your head."
As autumn approaches, Della Pello expects entertaining to embrace rich, welcoming colors. Traditional plaids, warm browns, burnt oranges and deep reds are making a return, complemented by touches of blue woven throughout seasonal palettes. The result feels perfect for the slower pace and cozy gatherings that define fall.
Yet for Della Pello, what matters most are the relationships built around the table.
During the interview, Della Pello became emotional while discussing the customers who have supported her business. The friendships she has formed through years of retail are among the most meaningful parts of owning Set the Table.
"I definitely care about my customers," she says. "They're good people."
That genuine appreciation extends beyond the store's walls. This fall, Della Pello plans to expand the experience even further by opening a Mahjong studio inside the shop, creating another opportunity for neighbors to gather, learn something new and spend time together. She's also planning an end-of-summer soirée featuring local farmers, seasonal flowers and beautifully styled tables designed to celebrate community.
In the end, the most memorable tables aren't defined by expensive dishes or elaborate centerpieces. They're remembered for the conversations shared across them, the laughter that fills the room and the unmistakable feeling that someone saved a seat just for you.
Discover curated tablescapes, rentals, and unique gifts at setthetablenow.com.