Salt & Sundry owner on gifts, outdoor parties and more

Amanda McClements, owner and creative director of the Washington, D.C., home boutique Salt & Sundry, was a recent guest on the newspaper's Home Front online chat. Here is an edited excerpt.

Q. I need new cutting boards but I am overwhelmed by the selection available. I'd prefer some attractive wood ones that can be displayed in the kitchen. What is your favorite wood for cutting boards, both from a durability and appearance perspective?

A. My favorite wood is black walnut, both for its gorgeous tones and durability. Maple also makes a great cutting surface.

Q. What are your top three hostess gift ideas if you're invited for a beach weekend?

A. To make sure you get invited back, I'd bring a few Turkish towels for the host to enjoy, fixings for Bloody Marys one morning and a great bottle of champagne.

Q. I need a wedding gift on a budget of $100. What can you suggest?

A. One of our most popular wedding gifts at Salt & Sundry is a nice slate cheese board paired with a trio of French cheese knives. It's under $100, and everyone can put it to good use! With the extra budget, you could even get a gift card to the couple's local cheesemonger.

Q. My outdoor cushions and furniture always look dirty. Any tips on how I can best maintain them?

A. Grab throw pillows and colorful blankets from inside that are easy to wash. Drag them outside when you're entertaining to cover up the rough spots. Bringing the indoors outside is a key to making an outdoor gathering look great.

Q. Do you know a commercial shampoo that can be used to clean outdoor cushions?

A. Do you know what I did last weekend? I pressure-washed my patio and ended up throwing my cushions in the mix, too. All force, no finesse, but they look better! In the past, I've also used gentle dish soap and a scrub brush to freshen up outdoor pillows and seat cushions. Most outdoor fabrics can take a lot of abuse.

Q. What is the best way to clean a wood cutting board?

A. Use hot, soapy water to get the board clean, dry well and then every few uses or so, apply a natural oil to protect the surface. I love Christophe Pourny's cutting board tonic, which we sell at Salt & Sundry. It's made from walnut oil and white vinegar.

Q. Any ideas for food that can sit outside during a picnic?

A. I try to think of foods that are great (or even better) at room temperature and are easy to eat with your hands. I love making Spanish-inspired pintxos - put cubes of hard cheese, cured meat and a salty pickled vegetable on a skewer. Grain salads are another great room-temperature option (think farro, barley, etc.). Pre-portion them in small jars with lids so guests can eat right out of the container.

Q. Are there any good alternatives to citronella candles or bug zappers? I find the lit candles to be distracting and unpleasant when eating on my patio.

A. If you can run an extension cord to your outdoor space, a good old box fan works wonders to keep bugs away!

Q. I am thinking of throwing an outdoor pizza party. I have a portable woodfire grill, but do you think it would be too much of a hassle to let people build their own pizzas? I just fear keeping the ingredients (especially meats and cheeses) safe in the outdoors, but I think it would be fun.

A. We're kindred spirits! This is one of my favorite summer parties to throw. My advice is to get organized: Have several sheet pans to move pizzas to and from the grill, and keep all of your toppings on a table right beside the grill. (And keep everything cold until you're ready to top!) Guests love the DIY aspect, and if you can embrace a bit of chaos, everyone should have a blast. I did this once in high winds with toppings flying everywhere, but we all had a good laugh and eventually dinner.

Q. I am struggling to find a theme for a big party in a couple of weeks. I am somewhat inspired by your Bauhaus dinnerware, and I am wondering if you have suggestions for drinks, menu or decor to help make this an incredible night.

A. Work off that modern color scheme of the Bauhaus plates with a few low jars of white and deep-purple flowers, simple linens and plenty of tea lights. Pre-batch a pitcher of boulevardiers (a great classic cocktail for summer with rye, vermouth and Campari) so you're ready to pour when your guests arrive. Then keep the meal light and summery - maybe a big bowl of pasta with roasted tomatoes and heaps of fresh herbs? I hope it's a blast!

Q. Do you have any ideas for cocktails that will impress but that aren't really involved?

A. Try mixing up a punch in advance, chill it well and transport it in hinge-top bottles. Then you have a delicious cocktail without having to bring along a mobile bar. One favorite that's super simple: Take a bottle of dry sparkling wine and mix with one-fourth cup of lemon juice and one-third cup of a sweetened syrup such as grenadine or Royal Rose lavender-lemon syrup. (A funnel helps get it back into a bottle!)

Q. I am always noncommittal when putting things on my walls. I have many beautiful prints and many things with sentimental memories for me, and I would love to start adding them to the open spaces in my flat. Can you recommend a framing pattern for me? For example, should I have all matching frames, or should I be eclectic and have a bunch of fun frames that speak to me in various ways?

A. I hear you - I have serious commitment issues when it comes to hanging pictures. I've been talking about a gallery wall in my living room for … 10 years. But, yes, go for it! I think matching frames can unite really different subject matters and art, but I love the look of mixed frames holding everything from old vacation photos to art sketches and bits of vintage textiles. I've loved using Framebridge (framebridge.com) to get moving on actually framing those old pieces, and they have a great service that can help you map out an arrangement on your wall.

And remember, there really are no rules. Check out gallery walls on Pinterest, and you'll see that there are many beautiful ways to showcase art you love.

Q. How did you come up with the name for your store?

A. I often joke that salt is my favorite food, but it's certainly one of my favorite things on earth. I can't live without it! The "Sundry" part came as a nod to the sundry shops of the past that contained all kinds of practical treasures. Put them together, and you get the eclectic mix of goods we stock and, of course, salt.