Interior designer Sophie Paterson has collaborated with Bramblecrest to share her top tips for dressing your table for alfresco dining this Summer. Sophie has used Bramblecrest’s Mauritius Corner Sofa with Firepit Table & Benches for her beautiful tablescape which can be purchased online here. The firepit table is now a permanent addition to her family friendly garden and she can’t wait to roast marshmallows on it with her children!
Sophie Paterson is a high-end interior designer based in Surrey and London who specialises in luxury residential interiors for both private clients and developers in the UK and globally.
She founded Sophie Paterson Interiors in 2008 and has steadily grown the business into a successful and world recognised design studio. Sophie gained experience initially in the property development sector, exclusively designing the interiors and interior architecture for a high-end developer in London before launching her own studio to cater to the growing demand for her services from private clients and other high-end developers.
Sophie has shared her top tips for dressing your table for alfresco dining this Summer.
“I love using big ceramic vases with oversized foliage or flower arrangements – it has such a big impact for an event. We use vases of flowers inside our homes when we have a special event, but it isn’t something people often use outdoors. It’s a great way to add colour and impact to your table or terrace.”
“I love using hydrangeas in the summer as they last so long and if I don’t have time to go and buy flowers, I cut a few branches of foliage from the olive or beech trees in our garden.”
“Add a small sprig of foliage to your place setting. I tuck it into the napkin ring – again olive foliage is very effective for this.”
“Greenery adds so much life to any space indoors or outdoors.”
When it comes to furnishing a terrace or outdoor area don’t be scared to mix different styles of furniture together in the same way as you would in an interior. The Mauritius range from Bramblecrest combines rustic and contemporary elements – with its chunky rattan and anthracite coloured aluminium frame it can be combined with other materials and collections with a more contemporary and minimalist design or even teak.”
“I dress our outdoor terrace in the summer months with cushions, solar powered table lamps, throws and decorative pots – creating an outside room for entertaining.”
Sophie’s Top Tips
- To add colour and impact to your table or terrace use big ceramic vases with oversized foliage or flower arrangements.
- Add a small sprig of foliage to your place setting and tuck it into the napkin ring – olive foliage is very effective for this.
- When it comes to furnishing a terrace or outdoor area don’t be scared to mix different styles of furniture together in the same way as you would in an interior.
- Create an outside room by dressing your outdoor terrace in the summer months with cushions, solar powered table lamps, throws and decorative pots.
- Use a firepit to create drama and a cosy atmosphere, it really draws everyone to it.
- Use fruit as decoration – blue and white bowls filled with piles of lemons looks very Mediterranean and afterwards you can use them for cooking or a gin and tonic!
- For dinner parties in the evening use faux battery-operated candles, it creates a very romantic and cosy atmosphere without the worry of someone setting something alight.
- When hosting birthday parties for kids, use bunting – plastic ones can be taken out time and time again to create an instant celebratory but chic look on your terrace. It is much more environmentally friendly than balloons you can only use once.
Mauritius Corner Sofa with Square Firepit Table & 2 Benches (shown in all images above)
SRP £3,299