my new house seems extra-appropriate for outdoor entertaining – there’s a huge front porch plus a lovely backyard, and the weather right now is exceptional for lingering dinners and leisurely brunches.
i’ve amassed a bit of an arsenal of entertaining supplies over the past few years. lots of pretty napkins in bright prints from furbish, tons of taper candles, and several block-printed tablecloths and suzanis that can dress up a table quickly.
here are a few of my essentials for making it easy this summer to entertain!
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| i love fleur de lis juice glasses for wine and cocktails – mix up the colors and sizes, you can find these guys just about anywhere, so it’s easy to start a collection bamboo folding chairs are a chic and practical solution for extra seating. they look good enough to keep out all the time but fold up nicely to store away i keep a stockpile of cotton napkins that can mix and match on hand for parties – any sit down meal calls for a grown-up napkin in my book. i love these blue and white blockprinted ones — you’ll see tastemakers like mark sikes, hannah seabrook and instagram fave maura endres frequently using them (they know they’re a style steal!) |
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| placemats are perfect for elevating a brunch to a festive fete. i keep a stack of these pink tasseled moroccan placemats on hand – i recommend buying at least 8 when you’re purchasing place settings. 12 if you can. i’m not huge into plastic plates – but there’s a time and place for everything, and if the meal calls for melamine, i really like these dinner plates by charleston artist lulie wallace bamboo flatware is a classic (see above-listed styling stars for proof). you can pick up a 20 piece set on sale for just $26 |
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| you guys know i have a stack or two or textiles, and more than a few suzanis up my sleeve. they’re amazing as tablecloths – just be careful, if they get wet the colors can bleed, so make sure everyone is on their best behavior (i recommend coasters and placemats!) if i had to pick just one item that’s essential for a diner party, i’d go with taper candles. mix up the colors, leave them burning well into the night and you’ll find everyone seems a bit more interesting over candlelight! globe lights really are magical strung in the backyard. they transport an ordinary outdoor area into a bit of a wonderland. |
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| more textiles, more tablecloths. this block-printed one is a fave, and so easy because you can throw it in the wash after a party, and it never really needs to be ironed. splurge-worthy, i love these palm tree plates from anthro. it’s not always practical to serve everyone on fancy dinnerware, but if it’s a smaller party, i’ve stocked up enough to do it in style (otherwise just rent!) and finally candlesticks are a must. i’ve been collecting brass ones for ages, so i’ve built up a good supply of differing heights. etsy is a great source for them! |
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