Entertaining, StyleHow to Style an Outdoor Summer Buffet May 8, 2014 When redoing our patio for The Home Depot Patio Style Challenge, I knew I wanted a buffet area. We love outdoor entertaining and plan to really use our space this summer. The buffet is made out of an old factory table that we found at Cline’s Antiques in Charlotte. It was dirty mint green and had no top, so we added a lovely live edge top (from the same tree as our live edge island). Then, it was screaming for some summer styling. My plan for the buffet styling was to keep it functional, but also pretty and colorful. Keeping it Functional: Keeping it functional meant that I wasn’t going to pile tons of accessories on the buffet. Other than the one green plant, I only included things that we would actually use in our summer soirees! That meant silverware, plates, napkins, cups, and drinks. Since I wasn’t adding a ton of accessories, I really focused on the functional items being pretty and fitting my theme. Monochromatic Color Scheme: Nothing says summer to me like color, but for this project, I tried to stay with a pretty monochromatic scheme. I am all for mixing pattern and mixing color, but I thought that using different shades of the same color would provide a beautiful, colorful, but complete picture instead of having a lot of different color moments happening all over the buffet. With a monochromatic scheme, your eye can rest and take in the whole picture rather than zeroing in on different bright moments. I used the peacock blue buffet itself as my inspiration. I started with the vintage green and blue glasses and the vintage green dinner plates. For some dimension, I decided to bring in the mint green tray. And because I believe every project is better with some metallic, I brought in gold. I found this gold mirror at a thrift store and love how it really makes the patio feel like a “room.” Then, playing off the gold, I brought in my gold silverware, the gold cake stand to hold the napkins, and some vintage gold and crystal glasses. Create an Eclectic Mix: For me, nothing says style and sophistication like mis-matched place settings. I know, mis-matched and sophistication don’t seem to fit. But a well-done eclectic mix of materials makes for a pretty table in my book. I pictured mis-matched vintage glasses in varying colors. By corralling them in the tray, they make a bigger statement and are “anchored” on the buffet. To me, it would look cluttered to have all of these mis-matched small items scattered on the buffet. But placing them all in a tray feels purposeful and makes a bigger statement. For the place setting, we have teal blue dinner plates, gold-toned salad bowls, gold silverware, and blue herringbone cloth napkins with fringe. Gotta have some fringe! It is monochromatic and functional, but I think it’s packed with style! Now, I’ve got to start planning out Kick Off to Summer Bash! Sources: Buffet Paint Color: Behr Abyss All glasses: Vintage Mint Tray: Home Goods Brass Cake Stand: Vintage Brass Silverware: West Elm Glass Dishes: Vintage Cloth Napkins: World Market
Bethany @ Dwellings by DeVore says May 8, 2014 at 1:15 pm I would never have thought to use a mirror like that outside, but I love the way it looks! I’ve heard so many great things about Cline’s, but haven’t had the chance to check it out yet. Reply
Lindsay says May 8, 2014 at 2:59 pm Oh Bethany, you have to go!!! You are so close! We literally make trips up there just for that and plan them months in advance because it is awesome. We need to do a blogger meet up and could all go! I had no idea how many Charlotte bloggers there were! Reply
Amber says May 9, 2014 at 11:50 am Okay, I am hitching a ride and we can talk on the way since we are both so busy finishing up school! 🙂 Reply
Beth of designPOST interiors says May 8, 2014 at 1:16 pm Beautiful! I love that color scheme and all the mixing! Reply
cassie says May 8, 2014 at 5:38 pm gorgeous! i love the colors you’ve used- the glassware and the brass! and you look fabulous! Reply
Lindsay says May 9, 2014 at 11:59 am Thanks Cassie! I’m all about some blue and green and I love the tone of brass mixed in. And thanks for your sweet comment about me. It felt weird to be in the picture instead of behind the camera! Reply
Julia@Cuckoo4Design says May 9, 2014 at 6:10 am Such great tips! Everything looks so gorgeous and I still really want the gold flatware Reply
Lindsay says May 9, 2014 at 11:58 am Julia, this flatware is awesome! You would love it. So pretty in person and it adds so much to a table, I think. Reply
Kristin @ bliss-athome.com says May 9, 2014 at 7:10 am This super cute and I love the ecclectic mix! happy weekend! xo Kristin Reply
Lindsay says May 9, 2014 at 11:58 am Thanks Kristin! I feel like I need to rename my blog “Eclectic White Buffalo” because I use that word so often, it’s ridiculous! Reply
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