Pool Parties & Picnics
Summer Entertaining Inspiration
A Splash of Silliness
We believe that you can throw a festive family party and still be elegant—even when hosting outdoors. We set the table with shatterproof melamine dinnerware and acrylic glasses for practicality, atop ceramic bamboo chargers (those don’t get moved around) upon a colorful tablecloth (this one is actually just a length of fabric from a thrift store)!
To delight wee guests, we like to give them a prop to play with—in this case, squirt guns! They are a sure-fire way to get the kiddos giggling and the party started. The squirt guns make a whimsical juxtaposition alongside more proper elements, like this stunning tablescape of seashells and fresh fruit. We love a nonfloral centerpiece for hot summer days, when blooms tend to wilt! Final touches include linen napkins, handwritten place cards (yes, even for a pool party!) and colorful French lollipops to keep little fingers busy so the grownups can relax.
Backyard Oasis
It doesn’t take a lot of effort to create a luxurious little haven in your own backyard. Layers of linens, textiles, and a plethora of pillows create a sumptuous and serene setting for laid-back lunches and sunset dinner parties. Mixing and matching blues and crisp whites is the classic summer palette, along with bamboo flatware and swirling and bubbly glassware that captures the essence of the sparkling seas with every sip. With minimum fuss and maximum tranquility in mind, our uniform for these al fresco occasions tends to be a chic caftan, bare feet, and a golden bangle or two!
Picnic Like a Gourmand
Venture into the Great Outdoors with delicious things in tow and set up a feast to remember. Fresh air makes everything taste better! We created an Alps-inspired picnic reminiscent of my childhood spent with family in the French mountain town of Chamonix—a place where the food is of paramount importance, meant to be savored for hours-upon-enchanting-hours as the adults chatter and the children cartwheel in the grass.
Along with foraged berries and crusty baguettes in wicker baskets, we infused a few elevated elements to transform the humble picnic into an affair to remember, with arrangements of romantic garden roses, a wooden table we dragged outdoors and draped with a cherry-red Souleiado tablecloth from Provence (intentionally askew, like a playful smirk) and chairs (you don’t have to sit on the ground for it to be a picnic)!
Simple fare starring the abundance of the season takes center stage, from sweet cherries to luscious figs and this delicious preparation of ripe, summer tomatoes baked into traditional French tarts that combine flaky pastry, tangy Dijon mustard and a sprinkling of fresh herbs.
