tablescapes - how do i decorate my dining table?

I am often asked to style my client's dining room tables, and I'm not always sure I get it right. There is the practical side of me that says have one piece that you take off or even leave on the table when the table is in use. Then there is the side of me that wants to make it look magazine ready, whether practical or not. 

As many of you know me, you will guess that I almost always go practical. But for those dining rooms that are not often used, sometimes it's nice to have something really pretty to look at each time you walk by.