how to entertain outside in style
TRICIA GUILD OBE, FOUNDER OF DESIGNERS GUILD, REVEALS HER TAKE ON SUNNY-WEATHER SOCIALISING
To me, entertaining outside is a vital part of life
– it’s our relationship with the wider landscape, be it urban or rural. I prefer rectangular tables for dining. I love textiles on a table rather than hard surfaces, so I use a lot of our Lario linen, which comes in an array of colours. I take around three colours, often blue, green and one other, then mix them up with two sizes of place mats and napkins.
I enjoy mixing pattern and plain, sometimes florals and stripes or ombre,
and I generally prefer a range of place mats, rather than a tablecloth, which can feel a little heavy in the sunshine. At the moment, I’m loving marble prints, which I pair with corresponding plain linens.
I like outdoor dining to be relaxed and informal,
though not always casual. I always lay the table properly and have candles and flowers or foliage. I’m not a fan of a stack of cutlery and plates left at the end of a table. I don’t have a table plan but I do have an idea of where I would like people to sit and mix.
I place flowers, such as dahlias, in small vases, or succulents in pots,
so as not to interrupt the flow of conversation or the food. I light votives in small ceramic pots or glass jars and either dot them or line them up. I prefer single stems of seasonal flowers and foliage over large bouquets. They look beautiful and last much longer.
I love square seating areas, with a mix of chairs and benches,
where people can come and go for pre-dinner drinks or cocktails. I often serve negronis, margaritas or Martinis with nibbles like crudites, Parmesan biscuits and pickled cucumbers served on rustic chopping boards and in small ceramic bowls.
In a drinks area, I’ll have a runner that links with the dining table
and an eclectic mix of glassware. Although it can be fun to choose a theme for the evening and make the bar area a totally different experience. It’s vital to have enough space for lots of ice and slices of lemon, fruit, herbs and salt.
As well as exterior lighting,
which I can control and dim, I arrange masses of candles in jars and hurricane lamps that add instant atmosphere.
If it’s going to be nippy
in the evening, I prepare some throws and shawls for people to keep warm and comfortable while staying outside. If it does rain, I’m afraid I would encourage a hasty retreat inside!