Set for Summer

Stylist extraordinaire Karin Lidbeck Brent shares some of her favorite tablescapes and offers tips for creating your own.

BY LYNDA SIMONTON

White Out

Keep entertaining simple and beautiful with an all-white palette. Stylist Karin Lidbeck Brent says that a neutral color scheme works well for coastal homes. “The modern simplicity of a white tablescape pops against the gorgeous summer backdrop of blues and greens,” she notes. Mix and match pieces with different shapes and styles to create a table with layered interest. Here, the theme extends to the flowers: white gerbera daisies fill rustic glazed pots.

Patriotic Party

What could be more classic coastal than a lobster feast with an all-American tablescape? Alternating the blue- and red-striped placemats and napkins keeps things fun and unexpected. “Red, white, and blue tablescapes work from Memorial Day to Labor Day,” says Lidbeck Brent. “Collect an assortment of tablewares in this palette and mix it up all summer.” And don’t skip out on the lobster-themed plates. They make even an intimate gathering feel like a party.