Trends - The Garden Tablescape

Tablescapes are hot right now. Back in my yachting days, we didn’t have a term for it, or any great sources of inspiration other than print magazines and books, which quickly went out of date and notoriously harder to search.

I kept an old-school paper scrapbook with clippings from my favourite magazines of ideas I loved. Some seem so out-dated now, and some I still adore.

You know me and I can’t go past an opportunity to eat outdoors, which is hard sometimes in the unpredictable Irish climate, but I’ve decided to grab a shawl and seize the moment from March onwards!

Gardens are particularly lovely spots to eat. It is a special treat to be surrounded by the results of your hard work and of the people that perhaps lived there before.

Here I styled a raspberry linen tablecloth with pure white china, horse chestnut napkins with sage green accents and matching cushions. I love the change from the ordinary, the depth of hue from the linen accessories, the flowers, the wine and the food.

With an aspiration to eat as little meat as possible, find the recipe for this refreshing couscous salad with halloumi here. It is perfect for a Summer’s evening with a glass of wine and leaves room for a little sweet indulgence afterwards.

And now for dessert, the best bit - a chocolate brownie platter, with berries, salty pretzels, toasted nuts and Pink Lady apples. I love luscious food to share and graze on, things you can keep coming back for and linger longer at the table.

Share your garden tablescapes with me here on Instagram to join the community #alwaysbringapicnic.