We’re knee-deep in spring and many of us can feel the urge: drink, eat, and be merry outside. It’s not quite beach weather, but the fresh air makes for perfect patio dining. This month, we put together an airy table that combines that al-fresco air with a rustic, yet polished look.
How to get the look
Keep the look simple and unified with just a few colors; neutrals and muted tones work to achieve a more relaxed look that can carry over from spring to summer and even fall, depending on how a table is accessorized. To get our perfect rustic look, we chose Jars stoneware. The dishes, made in Provence, France, are heavier than bone china and porcelain, but very durable and have a unique crackled texture achieved with a special reactive glazing process. The Jars Vuelta line comes in three colors (ocean blue, pearl, and grey) that are easily mixed and matched, as we did with the blue accents on the mostly pearl table to add a little whimsy. The unique scalloped shape of the cereal bowl stands out especially among the coupe dinner plates.
Keeping with the rustic neutral palette, we used linen napkins from Chilewich, in “flax,” with a complementary “moonstone” runner in Chilewich’s patented acrylic weave. Developed by a husband-and-wife designer duo out of New York to be durable, resilient, and easy to clean with a warm cloth, Chilewich runners and mats come in many contemporary patterns to suit different styles and seasons.
No dinner party is complete without wine glasses! For patio dining without the risk of tipping, stemless is key. Riedel “O”-series Cabernet/Merlot and Riesling/Sauvignon Blanc glasses allow guests to refresh themselves with both red and white wine. Keep a natural wood tray to the side with a spirits decanter and glasses for those who want to fix themselves something stronger.
As a centerpiece, the vintage-style charm of pewter - an old-world, non-tarnish metal alloy of tin, copper, and antimony - adds polish to the cornucopia of delights in a Match wine bucket, which can also be used for flower arrangements, along with Match pewter cocktail glasses and decanter beside it.
The trick with any table is to pick a mood, a story, and stay with it. Our table has just four colors, really: beige tones, natural wood, ocean blue, and pewter silver. Keeping table accessories like the metal Robert Welch pinch pot set and Match pewter condiment trio within that scheme elevates the rustic simplicity to a breezy, fresh sophistication.
