There is perhaps no greater—or simpler—luxury than dining outside at the height of summer. The light lingers longer, the table is dressed with an effortless abundance, and the landscape becomes part of the occasion. At these inspiring outdoor tables, entertaining becomes less about formality and fuss, and more about the beauty of your surroundings and the company you keep. Here are a few of our favorite al fresco dining scenes from the FREDERIC archives.
Think Outside the Patio
The early 1800s dairy barn at Susan Crater’s Connecticut farmhouse sets the scene for dinner parties all summer long. “The scale of the ceilings with a beautifully set table and open doors is magic,” she says. Waldingfield linen by Sister Parish (her grandmother) covers the table. Vibrant orange poppies provide a perfect complement.
Set the Scene
Looking further afield, at Ellie Peugeot’s country home, a 16th-century guardhouse outside Paris, the French designer turned a lovely tree-shaded lawn by the water into the ideal picnic spot, setting a full table with china, glassware, a pretty cloth, and fresh-picked flowers from the garden.
Paint With a Colorful Palette
A lush outdoor setting frees you to take on a bolder color scheme and mix and match patterns with abandon. At sisters Ariadne and Olympia Irving’s vacation home in Melides, Portugal, they furnished a shaded deck area with an inviting L-shaped banquette sheathed in bright stripes around an extra-wide table. Colorful ceramics and glassware are set against a sunny Yellow Vine Tablecloth from their tablewares line.
Just Add Candlelight
With the ocean as the soundtrack, Amelia Handegan employs the ultimate entertaining tool, candlelight, to turn her screened porch in Folly Beach, South Carolina, into a chic alfresco oasis. She likes the bamboo chairs because they easily stack away when not in use; the cheerful tablecloth is from Julia Amory.
Curate Collections
Tucked within his lush garden in Bellport, New York, Thomas O’Brien layers a mix of 1920s Tiffany cobalt plates and 19th-century Japon blue-and-white faience by Creil et Montereau—the same pattern that Claude Monet used at Giverny—over an antique suzani.
Think Naturally
Designers Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch of Roman and Williams turned a 16-foot oak slab with tree-stump seats into a glorious rustic centerpiece for entertaining, surrounded by wildflower meadows at their home in Montauk. The table is lined with handmade ceramics by favorite artisans, glass oil lanterns, vintage pieces, and items designed by the couple.
Set the Bar
Having a well-stocked bar always sets a welcoming vibe. At Susan Hull Walker’s home on Wadmalaw Island in South Carolina, an Ethiopian cloth creates a breezy backdrop for the porch bar, while a hand-embroidered Mexican tablecloth and vibrant violet cushions create an inviting tableau on the wraparound deck.
Don’t Forget the Little Ones
Heavenly views and a princess-worthy tablescape (an antique textile serves as the topper for daughters Olive and Liberty’s kid-sized table) make teatime at Amanda Pickett‘s Mallorca studio any girl’s dream.
