A Backyard Tablescape in Beautiful Purple and Blue
Welcome to another episode of Tables for Friends – this beautiful backyard tablescape is courtesy of Deborah my dear neighbor and friend. We had so much fun with this!
If you’re not familiar with the Tables for Friends series, it’s where I go to a friend’s house and set a table using all their things. They get possible new combinations of their tableware, and I get to play with all the pieces!
This Backyard Tablescape Started with a Walk
Deborah and I often go on walks together around our neighborhood park, and one sunny day when I went to pick her up, she said “Come and see my backyard!” She had done some work on it, and especially since I’d never actually been back there, I was eager to see.
What a darling spot! I immediately fell in love. That beautiful table under the trees was just crying out to me for a tablescape! So I asked if she would mind if I set one. Fortunately for me, she didn’t! So we made a date.
The Tablecloth That Laid the Foundation
While we walked, she told me the story of this lovely tablecloth. When she and her family moved here from California 20+ years ago, Deborah was a new mother. Since it was her job that was bringing them here, she came up before her husband and daughter, but brought her infant son.
They rented a house in the neighborhood, but it was, shall we say, very sparsely furnished! So she bought this tablecloth to liven things up a bit, and she and her son spent many happy hours with it. It made their temporary house feel like a cheerful home. So many memories!
One of the unfortunate things Deborah and I have in common is that we’ve each lost a son. One of the things that makes it a little easier to bear sometimes is having and using special things that remind us of them. This tablecloth does that for her. And it made me really happy to be able to honor him with this special backyard tablescape.
Going Through the Linen Drawer!
Oh boy! Now the fun starts! Like most of us, Deborah has a linen drawer with way too much stuff in it. We started pawing through it, and decided to get everything out where we could see it all.
Also, I got to hear all the great stories about where things came from. That’s honestly one of my favorite things about tableware – there are stories everywhere!
Lots of Color for our Backyard Tablescape
I’ve been in kind of a bright color mood lately, and these purple placemats were just the thing! I love the playful pattern on the tablecloth, and the solid color sets it off perfectly.
Then since we were leaning purple, the napkins came out next. I decided I’d just let the colors and patterns run wild and see what we got! It was great that their everyday plates – their wedding set! – were perfect with the napkins. And the neutral was a nice place for the eye to rest with all that color and pattern running wild, as it was!
Adding More Color
As Deborah was showing me through her cupboards, I was fascinated by these gorgeous blue martini glasses! The blue in the bottom of the glass matched the blue in the tablecloth almost exactly!
I grabbed those along with the beautiful flatware and water glasses.
And that dappled shade was so inviting!
Backyard Flowers for the Backyard Tablescape
Deborah had lots of flowers in her yard, but these hydrangeas were my first and only centerpiece idea. Their blues and greens and creamy pinks and purples were just right for this table and really tied everything on our al fresco tablescape together.
Other Ways to Use This Table Setting
Isn’t this just a lovely spot for outdoor entertaining? And this color combination would be great for any dinner party tablescape – or even a brunch. Mother’s Day, Easter, a spring or summer birthday, a graduation. Especially if the birthday person particularly liked purple!
And My Friend Liked Her Table!
And best of all, Deborah liked how the backyard tablescape turned out! It’s always so fun to see your own things through someone else’s eyes. And I absolutely love creating tables with new pieces – that’s such a gift for me. And since setting tables is my love language, making something beautiful for my friend with pieces that mean a lot to her was my gift back.
Thanks so much to Deborah for sharing her special things with all of us! I’m inspired all over again!
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The table came out lovely and how fun for your friend to see her stuff used in a new way. What a fun series Barbara, I only wished we lived closer. 😉 I love that it’s all monochromatic but yet vibrant & festive. XO- MaryJo