When I close my eyes and picture summer, I’m barefoot in our backyard. There’s condensation on a glass somewhere, and people I love are within arm’s reach.
A few weeks ago I asked what you wanted a roundup on, and the answer was summer entertaining. There are a few directions we could take this, but I figured we’d start with tablescapes, which happen to be one of my love languages. Collecting for the table is one of my great joys, and I’m a devout believer in mixing and matching, especially in summer!! Nothing needs to feel too precious.
One more thing before the finds: my friend Rachel Hardin shared this podcast episode with Priya Parker, who wrote The Art of Gathering (a book I relied on heavily while planning our wedding). A fun listen, and it gave me a few table topic questions I hadn’t heard before:
What was your first concert, and who took you?
What’s the most rebellious thing you’ve ever done?
What’s the best way to eat a potato?
What is one thing you own that you’re confident no one else (at the table) does?
And a few of my old standbys, in case they’re new to you:
If you owned a strip mall, what five stores would you put in it?
If your partner/spouse/best friend could get rid of one item in your closet, what would it be?
What was your last rabbit hole?
What is the worst thing you got in trouble for in school and was the punishment fit for the crime?
If the above doesn’t make it obvious, I am a firm believer that a great table topic is one of the best things you can bring to a dinner party.
Now, let’s start with the base. I apply the same philosophy to tables as I do to outfits: a reliable foundation, then fun, layered (potentially vintage) things on top. I’m a realist, which means many of my reliable base items below are on Amazon (everything below I literally have):
Lighting: Candlelight is my preferred lighting choice, followed by table lamps. Hurricanes (we are on the coast which means wind) are a nonnegotiable when it comes to candles and a mainstay on my summer tables.
Amazon hurricanes (I use three of these at an 8 person table)
Antwerp hurricanes (My MOL got me two of these and I use them the most)
Amazon candles (Basic is fine; I prefer cream to white)
Amazon tablelamps (Great value, fun colors, warm light)
Bug Prevention: Not sexy but part of the game.
Amazon fly traps (These things work! Make sure to hang them away from the dining area.)
Thermacell mosquito repeller (I don’t like scents near food so this thing is great)
Table Basics: These generally go with any table and are items I use a lot (layered with more fun/unique pieces).
Bamboo flatware (You can find the real deal vintage, but I just bought sets for 12, throw them in the dishwasher, etc. It’s nice to not feel precious about them.)
Bamboo serving set (Same idea as above)
La Rochere bee glasses (These are as classic as they get. I will sometimes switch up water glasses to be more fun, but these are a great standby and we use them all the time.)
Crate and Barrel wine glasses (I’m a wine glass snob, but when it comes to entertaining you need good, not great, wine glasses. This way you can throw them in the dishwasher, have plenty as people switch from white to red, etc.)
Accoutrements: Other helpful things…
Cocktail napkin holder (Necessity. I switch out paper cocktail napkins depending on season. My favorite are Caspari.)
Tablecloth clips (I only use these in extreme wind, but nothing is more annoying than a tablecloth blowing up and ruining our tablescapes.)
And now for the fun part! Think layers, textures, and color.
Roughly clockwise, starting top left:
Floral tablecloth (loveeeee Lisa Corti)
Red spiral taper candles (on sale!)
Vintage ball candlestick holders (so good)
Fish place cards (could def make these by hand too)
Polka-dot glass tumblers (have the brown and use year around)
Vintage frog salt and pepper shakers (adorable; great gift)
Rattan placemats (any woven texture will do, but these are great)
Blue splatterware dinner plate (very similar to my set from France)
Vintage coral linen napkins (want these for myself)
Bamboo flatware (same as above)
Roughly clockwise, starting top left:
Green gingham tablecloth (gingham = summer)
Rattan vase (I want this)
Vintage mother of pearl salt and pepper shakers (buy them before I do, they’re amazing)
Vintage silver shell place card holders (love a small detail like this)
Vintage swirled glass tumblers (could be used as cute small vases too)
Gurgling cod candle (amazing host gift to have on hand)
Yellow linen placemats (classic and elegant)
Mochaware dinner plate (I’ve recommended these before and stand by them. They are amazing.)
Brown patterned napkins (get a mix of colors and mix/match)
Bamboo flatware (same as above)
A few notes before I go: I post more regularly on Instagram, especially summer entertaining. Come hang over there! It’s fun. I have oodles of tabletop vintage finds that I’m planning to dump in a story.
I’ll also share, in the spirit of transparency, that these posts take a surprising amount of love and time to put together. If it’s something you’d like to keep reading, the single most helpful thing you can do is forward it to a friend who might appreciate it.
Enjoy being barefoot this holiday weekend.
Finders keepers,
SN
Some of these links may earn me a small commission, which I appreciate, since this whole thing runs on love.
And thank you for reading! If you’ve made it this far, the nicest thing you can do is subscribe and send this to a friend.
Okay another fun table topic: “what is your favorite bean?” It is silly and low stakes and always fun!
I visited the Gluggle Jug factory in Stoke on Trent and they show me how they make them Gluggle! Love those fish pitchers. 🐠