Martha Midgette is a Raleigh-based interior designer appreciated for her fresh, empathetic ability to blend old with new. She designs and refines homes that grow richer in meaning, fond memories, and hospitality with each passing season. Through her namesake studio, Martha Midgette Designs, she leads large renovations, new builds, and intimate room design projects across North Carolina and the East Coast. Outside of her work, she’s likely searching for the perfect piece at a weekend flea market, hosting dinner parties where the tablescape steals the show, or spending family time in the North Carolina mountains or on the beach with her husband and their two young boys.
How do you like to entertain? What is the vibe (where, feeling, how)?
My favorite definition of hosting comes from Justin Earley’s Habits of the Household: “Entertaining is designed to impress and showcase your abilities—it’s often formal, planned, or ‘all out.’ Hospitality, by contrast, is about welcoming and serving others. It can be informal and spontaneous, but it always makes guests feel at home and included. Even for a planned or fancier dinner, I aim for hospitality in every detail, even if it is a hosting event.”
This is my goal for every gathering in our home – whether it’s happening in our dining room or on the back porch. Making guests feel relaxed, seen, and valued is so important to me. Dinner parties are my favorite to host – the kind that feel effortless yet thoughtfully put-together with warm lighting, layered textures, and conversation that flows as easily as the wine.
What are you serving?
I’m definitely not the cook. I design, decorate, plan the menu, shop, and then delegate cooking to my husband so I can play the role of “hostess,” making sure guests have what they need.
Our go-to dinner is beef tenderloin with two sauces: homemade chimichurri and horseradish, paired with grilled asparagus, twice-baked potatoes, and a Caesar salad.
Most prep can be done ahead of time, and grilling allows everyone to socialize before coming together as a group.
For a girls’ night, I love a cozy pajama party with pizza, wine, and an ice cream sundae bar while a romcom plays in the background over lots of chitchatting and laughter.
What are you sipping?
I’m a sucker for a signature cocktail. An espresso martini when dessert rolls around? Yes, please.
When I’m dining out, though? I’m ordering a dirty vodka martini with blue cheese olives.
What are you wearing?
My uniform is pretty straightforward: a classic button-down, tailored jeans or pants, and a pair of flats or stylish tennis shoes. When hosting, I almost always reach for black or patterned outfits because something's going to splash or smear when I’m in hostess mode. I just want to feel comfortable and confident, not worried about what I’m wearing while I’m trying to enjoy my guests.
What are you listening to?
I’m not going to pretend I’m great at creating playlists. I usually rely on Alexa or a friend’s music tastes. For a late-night gathering, you really can’t go wrong with a ‘90s playlist, in my mind. It takes me right back.
How do you make your guests feel special? How do you make them feel at home?
It’s all in the thoughtful touches. A handwritten place card, a cocktail ready upon arrival, or a dessert worth staying for. This takes some preparation, but it’s worth it to show you care about your guests and also appreciate their presence.
If you are hosting a dinner, what is your go-to centerpiece?
Fresh greenery or seasonal florals in a low vessel, always with place cards. I love layers that feel collected, personal, and timeless. Picture lots of little vases with single stems. The low floral arrangements help to not obstruct the view across the table.
How do you end a celebration?
With dessert around the living room fireplace or outdoor firepit, shoes kicked off, and lots of laughs. The best gatherings are when no one wants to go home because you’re hosting such a great party!
What is inspiring you right now?
I’ve been loving vintage magazines lately, and during a recent estate sale, I stumbled across a 1971 issue of House & Garden with the headline article “Gala Presents and Parties” and “Secrets of a Great Party Giver.” Every detail is memorialized in time, yet somehow still feels timeless — the way a good party always does.
My favorite line:
“You can gossip your head off; be rather extravagant about the wine, and you don’t have to use a stopwatch to get the soufflé in on time. No one cares if it’s late.”
It’s proof that the art of gathering hasn’t really changed. Good company, good food, and a touch of imperfection make the best memories. I’m hoping to host a dinner party soon using the exact menu from the magazine.
How are you prepping for the holidays?
I start early! I gather items to set my tablescape and walk past it for a week or more to see if anything is missing, needs adjustment, or if I should start over completely. I also plan a color palette, sourcing what I can from the yard or purchasing special touches such as flowers, vintage tableware from the flea market, or borrowing from my mom.
What is your favorite Half Past Seven product to entertain with?
Glassware. It turns the simplest drink into a moment. The Starry Night goblet in Citron is versatile for holiday and spring tablescapes. But also, the trays are my favorite for carrying drinks and desserts from one space to another.
Let’s play this or that…
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Charger or Placemat: Charger.
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Stemmed or Stemless: Stemmed for table settings, stemless for pre- and post-drinks. It’s practical yet elegant.
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Red or White: White because neutral works with everything. Now, if we’re talking wine, Red.
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Tablecloth or Bare: Depends! I love a custom tablecloth. But I also love letting chargers have their moment.
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Votives or Taper Candles: Taper candles, because they remind me of my great-grandmother, Mama Moore.
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Formal or Informal: Both have their place, and I love that about hosting. It can be different things and look many different ways.
