Fresh Flowers on a Summer Table

I've always liked the idea of dining outside. Fresh air, dappled shade, the scent of flowers, a gentle breeze. But I'm brought up short by the reality of 90+ temps and humidity, alternating with a week's worth of thunderstorms.

So we're dining inside today, with a table set as though we were outside! I started with a table runner strewn with delicate wildflowers, a gift from Miss J.

Centering the table is a vase filled with fresh flowers plucked from the grocery. I thought these had the easy charm of wildflowers. The vase is flanked with pillar candles, picking up the aqua tones of some of the florals in the runner. I set the candles on coasters, an easy stand-in for candle holders.

I just love this runner! It's almost painterly with watercolor effects. 

The plate stack begins with a ruffled charger that I thought mimicked the petals of a giant flower. The charger is topped by dinner and salad plates with a lattice design that you may remember from a table for la Fête nationale. Vintage iced tea glasses with a wispy etched pattern and silverplate flatware complete the place setting.

Keeping to the theme that this is a table set outside, the napkins were simply laid between the plates. Flowers subtly outline the handles of the flatware.

Try as I might, I couldn't catch the scent of the flowers in the photos! 

The garden elements — flowers, lattice, pottery (in the coasters) — and the mix of soft colors bring casual outdoor flair to this indoor table.

Silver elements help to brighten this overcast day by reflecting fleeting sunlight.

Add some fresh flowers to your summer table for an outdoor feel!

Thanks for visiting!

Table Resources
Runner, napkins | Maison d'Hermine 'Colmar'
Plates | Block 'Blue Skies'
Silverware | Wm Rogers 'Daybreak' or 'Elegant Lady' (still researching!)
Iced tea glasses | Tiffin-Franciscan 'Margo'