Holiday Tables in the Garden : Intimate Gatherings

This Holiday season we will be dining outdoors! Living in such climates as southern California and Florida for most of my life has usually permitted such niceties. This year I was torn between what my “table vibe” would be. Do I want something more rustic, vintage and colorful? Or do I want to go with an elegant minimalist decor? Generally speaking, I tend to lean more into the rustic/vintage, but with an abundance of neutral dried materials left over from a recent job, I was torn. So I went to the drawing boards and pieced together two mock ups. The first table you see below is my take on a old classic with a garland center made up of foraged vine, seeded eucalyptus clippings, seasonal fruits and candle sticks. I used all vintage tableware with mis-matched floral china, aged silver, tasting flutes and a beautiful amber glass water jug. With French wine and a cheese platter I did a little nod to the the french country side. Set against my green house studio with hanging moss and afternoon light, it was quite a sight. What do you think?

Now, to bring a little more elegance to the table. With thanksgiving being such a lavash meal with family style dishes I tend to lean into a more minimalist approach these days. It truly is the meal that should shine on the table. With this table below I used a mix of fresh and dried florals with floral frogs to create these little arrangements. I went for elegance and simplicity with neutral whites, gold and silver, vintage china and mercury glass votives from west elm. To be honest, I truly love both tables, there is a place for both styles always in my heart. So… what kind of table will you be styling this holiday season?