Do you love to entertain but feel bored by your usual table setting? I sometimes get into ruts in this area, mostly due to lack of time, and that is why I love Table Style written by Liz Belton and Rebecca Tanqueray, styled by Liz Belton and photographed by leading interiors photographer Debi Treloar. With so many beautiful Summer days ahead you will find lots of ideas in Table Style to apply to your own soiree whether on your city balcony, large patio, or your dining room.

From the cover of this book to the very last page, there are so many beautiful ideas and tips for setting your table nicely that do not involve a lot of money.  Take these flowerheads for example — they are suspended above a table in basic mason canning jars with twine…

And this more masculine style is quite alluring…

More pretty and unique styling ideas…

Table Style is divided into two key sections, the first is The
Elements and it examines the components of a properly set table by explaining how dinnerware, flatware, napkins, flowers and candles can really influence the look and feel of mealtime.

The second section, The Occasions, is brilliant because they aren’t centered around keeping tradition as much as reinterpreting them in a more personalized way. The Holiday table isn’t weighed down with ornate gold, dark red and evergreen – instead it is fresh and a bit Danish modern with red, gray, white, natural linen and felted wool place mats and napkin rings. Their are nineteen occasions in this section: classic elegant dining, a vintage tea party, kid’s party, baby shower, father’s day meal, autumnal dinner, supper for two,
cocktail party, relaxed supper, eastern banquet, weekend breakfast, lazy brunch, summer BBQ, chic contemporary dining, mother’s day brunch, picnic in the park, Christmas lunch and a garden lunch.

Finishing the book, there is a final part that examines international place settings
and shows exactly how to set your table according to the type of meal that you plan to present. Settings include British afternoon tea, English afternoon tea, American formal, French formal, Chinese informal and Japanese informal.

By the way, did you even know that there even was a difference between British afternoon tea and English afternoon tea? Me neither!

Have a lovely weekend!

(images: holly becker)