A romantic setting: n’est pas?

Since the doldrums of late February the Pinterest masses have been posting photos ranging from extravagantly draped tabletops with the finest of china to those of the barest essentials in elegant outdoor settings.  Those photos have served as reminders that summer is on its way, and I ,myself, am guilty of daydreaming of warmer nights with my friends and family gathered under the pergola.

Modern and minimal take on setting the table.

My love affair with outdoor dining stems from days at summer camp when I would gather with friends under a shady tree to devour a tomato sandwich and beat the heat. While we lounged on beach towels it was a place where we could share our dreams and laugh as well as trade apples for Ho-ho’s.  The vision may seem a little rustic, but now that I am older I realize how much of what I enjoyed at twelve is eerily similar to what I crave in my late thirties.

Springtime home décor magazines are filled with suggestions on how to set the perfect table, or create the perfect outdoor space for entertaining during the warmer months. Some suggest staging a bar cart outdoors on the patio, while others suggest creating a worldly vibe through your choice of tabletop and linen décor all the way to the myriads of outdoor lightings choices available.

This summer, I shall be satisfied to set my outdoor table using my grandmother’s hand-me-down tablecloth with tomato and watermelon stains from summers past. I would like to think that she too daydreamed of summer magic evenings where she would gather her friends and family under the stars for a chance to exchange dreams and laughter and the occasional Ho-ho.

May I Suggest… you take time to slow down and relive some of your favorite childhood memories, too.

– mary charles