"Classic," was usually the answer when I asked for the origin of a particularly gorgeous tablecloth, fancy china, or chivari chairs in a rare color. So I was curious what would await me before my visit. What I found so surpassed my expectations that I don't even know where to begin.

Most important for you, my readers, might be the two showrooms in which customers can meet with a Classic rental specialist and their own florist. Mock-setups with centerpieces can be created on the spot, by playing with colors and choosing from a vast inventory of beautiful linen, china, silverware, glasses, chairs and seat covers. Susan, the General Manager,told me later that these rooms are so highly in demand that they are booked constantly. "Sometimes tables have to be set up in the hallway because we are so busy," Susan added.

To get a glimpse of the large selection of extraordinary tabletop rentals, the company has developed a special website: UniqueTableTopRentals.com. Among my favorite tabletops are the golden tablecloths and overlays set with amber swirl plates. The flatware, knives, forks, and spoons can have either antiqued gold swirl handles or copper handle twists. Amber-colored glasses, matching napkins, and napkin rings in similar hues complete the picture in Rembrandtesque colors. For every wedding or every party there is the right china available: from traditional gold-rim china to contemporary square or scallop-shape plates. If you still cannot find what you had in mind, more items can be shipped from other warehouses in other parts of the country.

A couple of times per year, Classic's regional managers meet and, according to the latest fashion, decide which new items the company will acquire. This season's hot trend is color-coordinated napkins and seat cushions. Other hip, new rental items are lounge furniture, fun space-defining open tents, and elegant draping of openings.

On our walk through the 70,000-square-foot warehouse we passed rows and rows of neatly stacked color-coded rental items. In the openings between the departments, crews were busy ironing tablecloths, seamstresses sat behind sewing machines, and workmen stripped colonial-style, folding bamboo chairs to refinish the lacquer. There is so much dishwashing to be done that the detergent is stored in 10-foot tall drums. More than 220 people work full time in this facility. A night crew of 25 stocks the trucks with their fabulous clear and opaque tents, inlining, lighting, and everything else which is ordered, so that the day shift will be ready to go in the morning.

With such an emphasis on quality, it is no wonder that the Zagat Survey and the Special Event Magazine voted Classic the number one rental company in the US. In addition to winning numerous other awards and prizes, the company has been nominated for Best Tent Installation for their San Francisco Modern Ball design in 2006.