It was a picturesque, breezy summer afternoon when I hosted the first in a series of summer luncheons. A table was set amidst a composition of pretty flowers and a luxuriant canopy of shade trees. Sounds of songbirds mingled with animated conversation and laughter. The borrowed garden of my gracious neighbor provided a warm season tapestry of foliage, vibrant irises, cheerful daisies, and colorful wildflowers. An ideal backdrop for hosting a garden party for close friends.
When I entertain it’s about creating an unforgettable experience and lasting memories for my guests beyond the meal served. From the dinnerware to the music, each detail given thoughtful consideration. For this stunning setting, I wanted to start with a more formal look, my design inspired by the beauty of the natural surroundings & Williamsburg, Virginia. So I began with the china, a white linen tablecloth that I purchased in Italy, and vintage goblets. The china served as a focal point on the table, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to “borrow” an entire place setting for four from a collection that draws inspiration from the archives of Colonial Williamsburg offered by Williamsburg Brand.
The Virginia Blue china by Mottahedeh for Williamsburg Brand was inspired by traditional Chinese export ware and was the perfect complement to my color scheme of oranges & blues. Unexpected floral pairings anchored the centerpiece of blue hydrangeas with lush roses in shades of deep orange. A study celebrating the start of early summer. Pearlized ecru borders & boldly scaled accent plates provided another layer of detail and pattern. The originals match a set used on a Tidewater Virginia plantation on the eve of the American Revolution, bringing a sense of history and heritage to my Colonial Williamsburg inspired tablescape while complementing the elegance of the garden setting.
Designer/ Vicki Gladle Bolick-Photo/ Kutchi Toribio
When designing a tablescape build the foundation first, there is no better way to elevate the dining experience than choosing a great tablecloth. Since I wanted the Virgina Blue dinnerware from Williamsburg Brand to be the focal point I added luxury linens in soft white, setting the stage for a more formal luncheon.
Designer/ Vicki Gladle Bolick-Photo/ Kutchi Toribio
I love mixing old with new when building a tablescape. Creating a sense that the tablescape is evolved rather than staged. I used Williamsburg Royal Scroll flatware for elegance and simple formality.
Designer/ Vicki Gladle Bolick-Photographer/ Kutchi Toribio
I never use more than three colors when designing a tablescape. Think unexpected pairings, I used bold oranges and blues in my design with varying hues. Shades of orange were the perfect compliment to the Virginia Blue china by Mottahedeh. For holidays such as 4th of July simply add red!
Designer/ Vicki Gladle Bolick-Photo/ Kutchi Toribio
Let your food tell a story. Carrying on with my garden theme, I served sliced Blood Oranges arranged in a floral pattern on the Virginia Blue china by Mottahedeh for Williamsburg Brand.
Designer/ Vicki Gladle Bolick-Photographer/ Kutchi Toribio
I often pair cut flowers with potted plants. In this table design, I used traditional elements such as English Ivy with the unexpected, an exotic orchid.
Designer/ Vicki Gladle Bolick-Photographer/ Kutchi Toribio
The tiered centerpiece of flowers & assorted citrus fruit provided a stunning and eye-catching focal point. A nod to Colonial Williamsburg.
Designer/ Vicki Gladle Bolick-Photographer/ Kutchi Toribio
I kept the tablescape layered for a more natural feel, mixing materials, shapes and sizes. The Williamsburg Brand Virgina Blue china added an air of elegance, so more attention was paid to symmetry.
Designer/ Vicki Gladle Bolick-Photo/ Kutchi Toribio
Unexpected pairings of fruit and flowers brought organic texture and contrast to the formal setting.
Designer/ Vicki Gladle Bolick-Photographer/ Kutchi Toribio
For this tablescape, we used Virginia Blue china by Mottahedeh from Williamsburg Brand & Williamsburg Royal Scroll 5Pc Flatware by Reed & Barton.
Williamsburg Brand is the official licensee for Williamsburg, Virginia. Williamsburg Brand collaborates with more than 40 of the industries top design companies to draw inspiration from Colonial Williamsburg Archives. For more information or to shop their products visit the Williamsburg Marketplace. We used Virginia Blue china by Mottahedeh from Williamsburg Brand & Williamsburg Royal Scroll 5Pc Flatware on our tablescape. All other items were from my personal collection.
Although this post is sponsored by Williamsburg Brand, all opinions are my own. As always, we will never share a product with our readers that we don’t completely love & adore!
Special thanks to my ever so gracious neighbor Cheryl Hayduk for lending us her beautiful gardens for the day, and also to The Flower Post for creating the (always stunning) floral arrangments.
