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Entertaining

These Outdoor Dining Ideas Take Al Fresco to the Next Level

'Tis the Season.

June 9, 2021
The mercury is rising and the sun is shining, which means it’s time to throw open your doors and windows and migrate to the great outdoors. Whether it’s a casual breakfast for one, supping al fresco with family or finally hosting that backyard barbecue for the neighborhood, we rounded up some fun and stylish ways to take outdoor dining up a notch—courtesy of our latest must-read decorating bible, S is for Style (Rizzoli).
Cloud Toile

Swap in Savory Herbs for a Fragrant Centerpiece

For a relaxed but sublime table setting, Jenni Kayne veered from the traditional route, using fresh herbs as a centerpiece instead of standard cut flowers. Extra-tall candles and sheepskin-covered benches add to the quiet drama.

Sprinkle in Similarly Colored Pieces For A Layered Look

Set in a garden room of clipped, structured boxwoods, Richard Hallberg‘s earthy but refined table setting is a study in neutral-colored materials—terra-cotta, wood, linen, iron, straw.

Reach For Grassy Greens To Create An Indoor/Outdoor Flow

Butterfly chair sling in Citrus Garden Indoor/Outdoor fabric and pillow in Fuzz II indoor/outdoor fabric and tablecloth Grass II indoor/outdoor fabric, both by Studio Bon for Schumacher.Max Kim-Bee
Vintage Knoll chairs by Mies van der Rohe and a verdant grass-print tablecloth add just the right amount of playful polish to this open-plan lake house, where the indoors and outdoors flow together and the vibe is ultra relaxed.

When In Doubt, Mimic Mother Nature's Serene Palette

Earthy elements bridge indoors and out, and unfussy materials such as laminate emphasize the all-are-welcome vibe of Russel Wright’s self-designed home.

Be Fearless with Colorful Tablecloths

Tablecloth in Terence Ikat fabric by Johnson Hartig for Libertine, available at Schumacher.Paul Costello/OTTO
At his kaleidoscopic Los Angeles home, fashion designer Johnson Hartig of Libertine used a boldly scaled ikat as the tableskirt for an al fresco meal—hosted by his rescue mutt, Terence.

Use Planters to Carve Out an Intimate Dining Area

The table runner is crafted out of Nomad fabric by Schumacher.Max Kim-Bee
Towering olive trees in enormous planters create a sense of place for a plein-air dining room at the home of Richard Hallberg.

Check out even more incredible rooms by purchasing your very own copy of S is for Style! Click here to choose from one of three stunning covers. >