Tablescape 101: Supper at Sundown

Shop the picks: 1. Mercury glass votives | 2. Savoy gold champagne saucer | 3. Fishnet woven placemat | 4. Acacia wood salad servers | 5. Jardine dining chair | 6. Acacia wood plates | 7. Green woven baskets

As the sun rises higher in the sky and we move closer to summer, why not welcome the warmer weather with a little alfresco dining? When you're setting your table be sure to keep the surroundings in mind. Lucky enough to have a striking cityscape view? You wouldn't want to detract from the breathtaking view, so keep the table simple. Alternatively, you might be sat under a terrace of climbing roses, so you wouldn't want the scent of your tables blooms to conflict. Here, we set up a table on the buildings rooftop with a stunning view of the city beyond. Rather than echoing the concrete and grey of the view, we decided to soften the scene by adding warmth with an organic tablescape. The tablecloth was a DIY project, using a canvas drop cloth, painters tape and spray paint to create the stripe design. The cloth was sprayed with gold paint, and once it was dry, a stripe pattern was made using painters tape and then sprayed over with white paint. The white againt the soft, shimmering gold stands out in dusk lighting. As the sun sets light pillar candles in lanterns. You can then layer the scheme with metallic elements such as mercury glass votives, hammered metal salt and pepper shakers, wood appetizer plates, zigzag wood napkin rings and vintage champagne glasses. For a no-fuss modern centerpiece that is easy to transport, opt for woven baskets and arranged potted succulent plants. Just be sure to throw in a few pebbles and rocks to hold the basket down if it gets windy! Do you like to dine al fresco? - Manvi
// Photography & styling by Manvi-Drona-Hidalgo | Stationery by Fig. 2 Design Studio