Expert Advice: Summer Entertaining with Mrs. Robertson - Remodelista
Photographs courtesy of Hilary Robertson, unless noted. You might not know the name, but you will no doubt have seen her work. And on top of that, Hilary recently came out with The Stuff of Life, a book that we consider Required Reading. An outdoor dining setting. Summer fruits displayed on a pedestal. Pierce the metal of the jar, add a straw, and you have a spill-proof container. Bamboo Picnic Tumblers from Terrain are reusable, dishwasher-safe, and biodegradable (they’re made of bamboo fiber). RM: Napkins of choice?HR: I prefer using cloth napkins and I collect vintage ones that are monogrammed or simply embroidered. Torn denim used as napkins. It’s good to use something recycled whenever possible. A Turkish Bath Towel that Hilary uses as a tablecloth and picnic blanket. RM: Anything else?HR: Another natural material that feels summery and makes a fun table runner is raffia; I buy it at Jamali, in New York City’s flower district. Mrs. Robertson’s display genius lies in the tension between objects and the energy created by her groupings. RM: Entertaining staple?HR: I have lots of painter’s hardware store drop cloths that I use as blankets, tablecloths, and sometimes as a sun shade suspended from a tree or some bamboo poles. For after-dinner lounging: The Solig Mosquito Net with sheepskin rugs and a few pillows. RM: Any other outdoor ideas?HR: When I want to create a romantic scene, I make an outdoor room: I hang a mosquito net from a branch over a pile of sheepskin rugs or a table–a pair of saw horses and an old door make a great garden table.