Hello Friends! I’m so excited to be sharing my outdoor lilac tablescape with you today along with 13 of my blogging friends just in time for summer get-togethers! If you’re a long time friend of the blog, then you know just how much I love creating tablescapes! I also shared some exciting news about a BIG ‘ol dream of mine coming true in book form HERE not to long ago about tablescapes. Our lilacs are finally in bloom here in New England, and even though they only last what feels like a fleeting moment, I couldn’t resist creating this casual – elegant lilac tablescape outdoors. Come and see!
Last spring, we extended our outdoor patio area and created this dining space on the side of our barn. You can see the whole project HERE, and what it looked like once we were done HERE.
It really doubled our area to entertain in, and now provides a spot for us to dine outdoors surrounded by trees, that feels like a mini get-away!
Lilacs hold a special place in my heart. When I was a little girl I used to love laying under the huge lilac trees at my grandmothers house, daydreaming up at the sky, and smelling their delicate fragrance. She would let us pick however many our tiny hands could hold, and then my sisters and I got to see how many rooms in her house we could fill with vases of these beautiful flowers.
One of my first goals when we bought our house 8 years ago was to plant some lilac trees. We have 6 total now, and just outside our kitchen windows we have 3 Boomerang Dwarf lilac trees, which is where I picked my flowers to create this centerpiece.
A simple large glass vase, overflowing with tiny, delicate purple blooms creates a casual feel for this outdoor dining experience.
A round woven tray, placed in the center of my table, helps ground the centerpiece on top of the layers of white table linens.
I casually draped a white ruffled linen tablecloth over our picnic table, and then in the center, diagonally draped one of my favorite window pane dish towels I picked up from Target a few years back. If it looks familiar, it’s because that is the same dish towel I made two throw pillow covers from, and sadly Target has not had those dish towels since ๐
To create the place settings, I used marble chargers beneath white scalloped plates, topped with a tiny lilac stem for an elegant feel.
Linen check napkins, play off of the window pane dish towel pattern, and antique french cutlery, give this outdoor get-together a vintage European feel! I shared recently about my favorite antique silverware, and found this set on Etsy, straight from France!
While they might look elegant, I picked up these wine goblets at HomeGoods in their outdoor dining section. They appear to look like glass, but are actually plastic, perfect for outdoor dining!
Barbara Borowy says
I can almost smell the beautiful Lilacs!
Bre says
Thanks Barbara! They do smell divine!
Andrea says
Oh Bre this was so lovely!! I adore lilacs and I hope to plant more very soon. I loved every detail – especially the vintage silverware!! Stunning! ๐
Linda Williams says
Your Outside Space is Gorgeous! Some times it takes a while to get things done or changed, but in the end, it’s worth it. Love your Blog. Have a Great Weekend!!
–Linda
Nan, Odessa, DE says
What a memory! What a grandmother!
Love the table cloth, the glasses and your backyard!!!!
Where can I buy that table cloth?
Happy summer!
Bre says
Thank you SO much!! You are too sweet ๐ I got the tablecloth from HomeGoods last summer, and I believe it had a “shabby chic” logo tag on it ๐ It adds the perfect amount of frill without being too much.
Ashley Stringfellow says
Bre, this is so stunning! I love the layers of beautiful linens on the table and the lilacs are just the icing on the top. Beautiful!
Bre says
OHH Thank you so much Ashley ๐ You are too kind!
Shelley says
What a stunning table, Bre! The lilacs are beautiful and I love the sweet childhood memory they hold for you!
Bre says
OHH Thank you Shelley ๐ It sure is!
Amanda Marie says
I love your table, Bre! I’m such a sucker for lilacs. I’m totally envious of all of your lilac bushes. There’s only one variety that will really grow here in north GA. I’ve always loved New England and that’s just another reason why!
Bre says
AWE thanks Amanda!! I totally wish that lilacs would last all summer long ๐