Tomorrow officially marks the first day of summer and although it’s pretty gloomy and rainy in Seattle today, I couldn’t wait one day longer to share this summer PNW inspired tabletop! When I initially began brainstorming design elements and the color palette for the summer series of FORTUNATE FEAST I gravitated towards muted tones. But immediately after Seth and I decided that the rainier cherry would be a significant ingredient in the recipes for this summer series, I knew a blast of color explosion was the only way to go! Summer is that time to relish in the beauty of light & color, and of course endless fun in the sun! You can see my moodboard and palette for the table and decor elements in last week’s post here, as well as where to shop the details.
Knowing that red would be a significant color on the table for this series, I chose colors that I felt would be able to stand against and compliment the cheery and bright color. I knew early on in the design process that I really wanted to create floral centerpieces that were robust, wild and full of color. A trip to the wholesale market, as well as Pike Place Market the morning of the shoot lent beautiful poppies, vibrant yarrow, lush peonies and some PNW wild flowers that finished off the arrangements.
Being that our intention behind this entire series is to pay homage to the beauty of the PNW, I made sure to pull a few floral elements right from my own yard to finish off the arrangements – the lone magenta snapdragon was the cherry on top of the center arrangement. I also absolutely love the whimsical character of scabiosa pods; their prickly texture against the clean cobalt blue of the vintage bottles a stark contrast to the full arrangements. Flowers can be such a valuable and important element when entertaining as they are one of the easiest and quickest ways to bring charm, beauty and interest to your table. Pop a few full blooms in fun vintage jars and voila!
When you are working with a chef as talented as Seth, it’s a bit easier to be inspired by the recipes and use them as a means to developing your design. Knowing the cherries would be prevalent throughout many of the courses of our summer feast, I thought the cherries were adorably cute as a welcome treat at each setting. Using the chartreuse color of the napkins, I created matching place cards with each guests name on them, as well as the menu detailed in simple type. I always think it’s so fun to give your guests a peek of what’s to come…bellies rumbling before the meal even begins is a GOOD thing!
Also, although it can often be an easy oversight in entertaining, I think it’s always a great idea to have a water glass on the table even if you’ve created a fun signature cocktail to add to the mix. I chose some beautiful cratered vintage mid-century glasses in an amber tone to compliment the table design, while contrasting against the brightness of the other design elements.
I couldn’t be happier with how everything came together, including the beautiful white backdrop of the french doors in Monica and Seth’s lovely home. Summer is such a thrilling season to celebrate, and I’m all too excited to share all the recipes of our summer series in the coming weeks, including a fun DIY too! Stay tuned for many more bold and brightly colored images to inspire your upcoming backyard bbq’s and festive summer nights! Happy summer friends!
FF Collective : {photography : Monica Hines | food and recipe development : Seth Hines | styling and art direction : Jenn Elliott Blake | custom graphics & titles : Amy Moore | chairs lent from : sara ewalt.
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