If you are like us, planning a gathering starts with the initial elation of decor choices, elaborate menu design and unexpected touches that get the imagination going. And then comes the overwhelm. But it doesn’t have to be that way — a little strategic forethought and calculated creativity goes a long way, according to local design expert and founder of The Still Collective Lori Sperling. We sat down with Sperling to talk about how to make deciding on the details fun and where you can add special accents to make this year’s holiday gathering shine.