Entertaining Essentials

Because I love playing host and putting together a themed tablescape.

Most of my summertime entertaining happens on Long Island, where we renovated a 1920s shingled cottage, and I love playing host. Artwork featuring bathing gals, sardines, and the perfect wave hangs on the walls of our open-floor-plan home, and shells from my obsessive collecting line the windowsills. Suffice it to say, I love beachy decor (in an elevated clamshell, not a “life’s better at the beach” kind of way), and that extends to my tablescapes. We host a lot, and my tables are colorful and joyful without being messy. I love a theme (like fish or shells), and leaning into that theme (I’ll recruit my daughter Ruby to help me collect shells for place cards and tap my husband Peter to make his expertly grilled clams) so that the decor and meal feel cohesive.

I also think summertime hosting shouldn’t be too precious. Drinks get spilled, candle wax drips, s’mores are sticky—but that all adds to the fun and allure of hosting during my hands-down favorite season.

Here, a slew of entertaining essentials that will impress your guests, elevate your table, and hopefully lead to a very good time.

1. I have little ceramic fish that I purchased roadside in Portugal on my table and adore them. These are equally as charming.

2. Almost too beautiful to use, these handmade silver shell spoons would be stunning for serving condiments at your summertime spread.

3. This guide would not be complete without Lisa Corti, whose vibrant, printed textiles adorn my home and tables. I own the Nizam stripes in a different colorway, but am now yearning for the blue.

4. These napkins scream Italy (they are hand block-printed there) and would transform your summertime table (I’d love to see them with blue glassware).

5. I’d top off my hosting outfit (see 19., 14., & 24.) with our 14k Baroque Pearl Necklace - my go-to dress up statement.

6. Continuing on the theme: absolutely delightful linen sardine cocktail napkins. Serve your daiquiris on these and your guests will be wowed.

7. I am not above string lights and have them strung around our backyard. Now I want to elevate them with these gorgeous paper lanterns.

8. I own, and love, this glass decanter, which is hand-blown in Tuscany. It looks just as good not in use (display on a kitchen shelf) as it does with wine on the table.

9. I’m a big fan of cocktails that use citrus in the summertime (a gimlet, a simple daiquiri) and would happily squeeze some limes in this!

10. For your seaside table: this elegant gold salt cellar. It’d also make a very stylish hostess gift alongside some Maldon sea salt. I’d love to receive this!

11. Potato chips, but make them chic. I’ve been to some very sophisticated gatherings where these Spanish chips are served out of the tin alongside oysters and martinis. So effortless and so yummy.

12. We also own this massive enamel tray and it’s excellent for bringing clams to the grill or serving heaps of corn.

13. Serve your summertime cocktails in these handblown coupes and you’ll be the talk of the town!

14. Party earrings, to match your tablescape for the host with the most.

15. I’m a sucker for a good pitcher; this one is handblown in London.

16. Leave it to our friends at Porta to find good looking citronella candles. No bugs and a beautiful vessel? Done.

17. These are NFS and require a little effort, but nothing like hand-painted place settings for your summertime table.

18. Portable LED lights are great for outdoor entertaining (set on a side table; placed down the center of your table when it’s too breezy for candles; anchoring the corner of a blanket in the lawn) and I especially love this one with a happy woven shade.

19. My dream summertime hosting dress.

20. Forever a fan of shells (collecting, using in my designs) and a good bar setup, this would be a perfect accent for an outdoor bar.

21. Another show-stopping pitcher. This one’s great for beverages or a big bunch of hydrangeas alike.

22. How about an assortment of vintage Murano glass bud vases down the table each with a single stem? I adore these.

23. I brought a few bread bags back from Restaurant Sal (heaven on earth; a must stop if you’re in Comporta, Portugal) and love using them for serving rather than a basket or bowl. Try these at either end of the table with a ripped up baguette or sliced sourdough for your next summertime soiree.

24. These elegant tongs and salad servers will definitely elevate your green salad or corn on the cob service. They’re inspiring me to set a table all in blues, whites, and browns with as many wood and rattan accents as I can find.

25. The shoes I’d wear for the occasion!

26. Big ice cubes are a must for your cocktails.

27. For the messy meals, recyclable paper placemats that are actually chic.

28. This Hermes orange was my maternal grandmother’s favorite color. She had an 8 foot sofa in her mid-century modern, glass-walled living room in this color and this design-y water cooler reminds me of her. She would have served ice tea in it, I might do some kind of spritz or lemon water; either way, you can’t go wrong.

29. Right on theme… I love these vintage wood and silver coasters.

30. One more on my silver trend: these vintage French coupes would be great for serving sorbet and berries or for filling with blooms. Very chic & useful.

31. Ok one more for the bar, the coolest ice tongs for serving summertime drinks.

xx,

Lizzie