ALICE NAYLOR-LEYLAND
‘Insta-aristo’ and Vogue contributor Alice Naylor-Leyland, founder of Mrs Alice tableware and homeware, lives in Cambridgeshire with her husband Tom Naylor-Leyland (son and heir of Sir Philip Naylor-Leyland, 4th Baronet) and their three children Billy, Nancy, and Felix
I long to be outside, whatever the weather, with a long serving table laid out in the shade under a tree or under parasols. Guests can drift around among separated circular tables, and help themselves from big bowls piled high with pastas and salads. I always fill the middles of tables with flowers, and I’m mad about peonies and poppies. Amanda Brooks of Cutter Brooks (cutterbrooks.com) also does the most lovely flowers made of paper. They’re wacky, but you can reuse them over and over.
My style is bucolic with a touch of whimsy, in keeping with the English countryside: our garden in Cambridgeshire slopes down to a river, so it’s a bit The Wind in the Willows. I’ve been bringing indoor furniture and homeware out into the outdoors for a homely feel, and having a bit of fun with my outdoor chairs, designing blue gingham ruffled seat-pad cushions and table linen to match, for extra texture and layer.
Just because you’re outside doesn’t mean you can’t play around with soft furnishings. You can go maximalist or minimalist with your table laying – there’s no right or wrong – but the key to setting a beautiful al-fresco table is always to lay it before your guests arrive. Otherwise, you will be running around all day like a headless chicken.
The food is very much my husband’s domain. He’s a big foodie and organises food festivals up in Malton in Yorkshire. When I cook, I keep it simple. I hate that thing of still cooking when friends arrive.
This summer, we’ll be hosting friends we might not have seen for over a year, and we like the kids to entertain themselves and run around in the garden and make dens. I don’t often go to restaurants. Hosting at home is part of our lifestyle in the countryside – it’s what we’ve done for years, and it’s heaven.
As night falls, I set hurricane lanterns on the table and also spread them around it on the floor, boxing it in with a carpet of lights. Of course, in this country, you’re only going to host outside if you’ve checked the weather forecast. If there’s likely to be a passing shower, I always have umbrellas and blankets to hand. If there’s a 10 per cent chance of rain, just do it – we don’t really have any other option!