Hosting & Toasting with HOSTED founder Kelly Gaudreau

Our Story

Growing up, my daily chore was setting the dinner table. This sparked an early love of tabletop. From a young age, I wanted to “wow” my family, even for our regular Wednesday night roast beef and mashed potatoes. I would spend hours folding napkins into intricate triangles and learning to fashion pockets for the utensils, long before the days of YouTube tutorials.

My parents entertained often and made the ultimate hosting duo. My mother was a wonderful cook. She dressed to perfection beneath the apron she wore until she joined the table. My father was an interior designer, passionate and gifted in making things beautiful. He was, like me, a true Gemini and lover of gatherings. Entertaining was the embodiment of his generous and talented spirit. He believed that opening your home meant opening your heart.

As a little girl, I watched my father set the dining room table for holidays and dinner parties. I followed closely behind, doing quality control. I ensured that the flowers on the china were correctly aligned and the glasses were in their proper place. My parents believed it was important for children to watch and learn. I loved seeing that table come to life. But, even more, I loved the life at that table. It was the place for the ordinary every day and also a stage for life’s big announcements, milestones, and celebrations.

H O S T E D was born from these sweet memories, a passion for gathering and a love for all things beautiful. It is a home for artful and unique tabletop pieces sourced from around the globe. The collections are thoughtfully chosen to stir excitement to entertain and spark joy in every guest welcomed.

Life’s greatest moments are waiting. Open your home and your heart. Host and be hosted.

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What inspired you to open your shop centered on beautiful entertaining?

Honestly? My story is a little like Lilly's... It started with needing a little more personal Joy and purpose. After I “retired” from practicing law, I poured myself into motherhood and volunteering, which I loved, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was still missing. I had more space in my days, but I didn’t quite feel like me.

I found myself wanting to entertain more; planning dinners, setting a beautiful table, making those ordinary evenings feel special. Hosting gave me a deep sense of love and gratitude for the people around my table. It provided the connection I was craving and ignited childhood memories of my parents, who entertained with so much grace and joy. Setting the table became the embodiment of that love; it felt like a quiet but powerful way to say, you matter to me.

But sourcing the pieces I envisioned was always a challenge.  Everything I wanted was either impossible to find or wouldn’t ship in time. Meanwhile, friends started asking me to style their tables, and I’d spend hours hunting down “just right” pieces online. By the time I sent out my third design board, I thought: maybe this is it, maybe this is the thing I’m supposed to do. I just needed the courage to bring it to life.

How do you make a holiday table unique?

I always start with the family’s own style and the feeling they want to create in their home and for their guests. Some people are more red and green traditional tartan types, while others want shiny metallics in silver and gold. For me, it’s about more than color palettes. It’s about how the table feels. Does it feel nostalgic? Does it feel glamorous? I’m a big believer in personal touches. Heirloom ornaments, your grandmother’s candlesticks, the slightly chipped platter you use every year because it holds memories - that’s what makes a table come alive. It’s not about perfection, it’s about connection to both past and present. 

What Lilly elements do you find the most interesting to work with?

Lilly's linens are my favorite. They are bright, vibrant, and they tell a story on their own. I always say that setting a table is like creating an amazing outfit: the linens are the dress, the plates and glassware are the shoes, and the rest of the tabletop accessories are the jewelry. Lilly's linens never need too much dressing up though; they’re bold enough to carry the whole look, yet versatile enough to build upon!

In three words, how do you want your guests to feel at a dinner party?

After practicing law for over 15 years, saying anything in ONE word is pretty much impossible for me. I always, ALWAYS want my guests to feel:

1. A sense of belonging, whether I've known them for 1 day or 1,000. 

2. Present and living in the moment

3. Having an absolute blast that they don't want to end. 

From Amelia, Kelly's Daughter:

What’s the best Lilly gift you have ever received?

A pink hand-me-down from my mom's best friend’s daughter. I wore it when I was 3 and was so sad to outgrow it! Technically, my older sister was supposed to wear it first, but I claimed it as mine because it was BRIGHT pink (my favorite color) and I thought the "Lilly lace" looked like a necklace. I’ve always loved being fancy and still do!

How does wearing Lilly make you feel?

Feminine and bold all at once. The brand is unique and I love the eye-catching patterns. I also like to stand out as both girly and a little fearless. If my dream of having my own fashion brand comes true one day, I hope my designs capture confidence and femininity like Lilly does.

This holiday season, what’s on your wish list?



This year I started learning French at school, and it’s become my favorite subject! I think the language is so cool! Because of that (and my love of fashion), I’ve been begging my family to take a trip to Paris between Christmas and New Year’s. I can’t imagine anything more special than being in France during the holidays. But even if we don’t go, Christmas will still be my favorite time of year. It always feels like pure magic, like anything is possible.