If you search “Boho Chic Tables” on Pinterest, we promise you’ll find variations you never knew existed. And, if tribal colors and hippie style maxi-dresses first come to mind, stop those thoughts. With a soft or bold color palette, fresh flowers, candles and your favorite dinnerware, you can create a gathering that makes al fresco dining with a Boho twist even more fun!

Summer's in full swing and I've been itching to throw a Boho-Chic dinner party since it started. So being the "I'll use any excuse to throw a party" person that I am, I whipped one up. For this table setting, I collaborated with Lenox to share this stunning Marchesa by Lenox Painted Camellia collection to create a chic, west coast style dinner party, brunch or shower tablescape. It was more fun than I ever expected and I couldn't be more excited to share it with you!

Our home is all about entertaining and we do our fair share most especially in the summer, so I'm always looking to be inspired with new and fresh ways to set my tables, both indoors and out. For this setting, I wanted to share how to create your own unforgettable gathering and take a semi-formal setting from the dining room to the great outdoors of where I live, in Sonoma County.

Boho Chic style is all about an effortless approach, layering, mixing and matching colors, which makes it even more fun because you really can't do anything wrong. To set this table, I knew the Painted Camellia by Lenox pattern and the coordinating pieces of it would do most of the work, so I wanted to keep the rest of the table simple and uncomplicated. The pattern is designed with vintage floral blooms in really soft aqua and pink coral hues and is Made in the USA. It’s crafted of fine bone china, trimmed in 24K gold and is as striking as a Marchesa gown on the runway. Underneath the 5-Piece placesetting, I used a Marchesa by Lenox coral charger plate. The charger is trimmed in silver and played off the gold rims just the way I hoped it would, giving the placesetting almost another dimension.

I'm all in when it comes to using stemware and crystal, so naturally there is Lenox gold rimmed stemware on the table. I like the Eternal Gold collection because it's timeless, and works with everything from whiteware to fine china. Stay tuned because you're going to see it with denim soon! The collection is made of lead crystal and accented with 24 karat gold around the rim, so it has weight and brilliance. I typically use an all-purpose glass and a goblet so that I'm covered for those who drink red or white wine, but I also like using an all-purpose glass for water.

To show the difference between using fine china in a more formal setting inside and a casual setting outside, I set my dining room table first and then took the look outdoors. I love the way the dinnerware looks against my black table and how the Marchesa by Lenox Imperial Caviar gold flatware accents it. I have a thing for hammered handles, so you'll be seeing a lot of this pattern for awhile. The finishing touch? Mini-boxes of Sugarfina Champagne Bears on the butter plate at each placesetting for guests to take home. If you haven't tried them, they're made with Dom Pérignon Vintage Champagne, which is obviously a perfect pairing choice for Marchesa and they taste...absolutely divine.

For my linens, I used a blush, hand-made and hand-dyed table runner made of flour sack material and coordinating napkins, made with love by a wonderful little company, MERC Textiles (coming soon!), in Evergreen, CO. The color coordinated perfectly with the soft pink hues of the Painted Camellia pattern and the fabric was a little rustic and frayed at the edges, just as I wanted. If you've never worked with this material before or one like it, don't under estimate it. Like gauze, it's effortless and does exactly what it's supposed to do for a fold, puddle, or knot. I changed up the placesetting here to show off the black salad plate, because it's clearly not to be missed.

About the napkins, they are actually the size of tea towels, which is my new favorite thing. I like to be able to fold, stack or knot them, depending on my table setting (or mood!) and this size or any oversized napkin gives you flexibility.

I almost freaked out at the flower market when they didn't have what I needed the day before the photo shoot, so needless to say...I won't be going back there anytime soon. BUT, I'm happy to report that I lucked out at Whole Foods. Perfect white hydrangeas, spider mums, and just the right shade of pink gerbera daisies were waiting just for me. And, a REALLY nice guy found the extra gerbera's I needed in the cooler. The rest of the flowers, including those gorgeous blush-colored Juliet roses (they're the ones that look like peonies) came from my garden. #luckygirl

I used all clear vases, containers and bud vases so the dinnerware, flatware, linens and flowers were the focus on the table. I like to mix and match vase styles and sizes to make it interesting and it's always fun to see what shakes out that you sometimes didn't plan. It's definitely THOSE moments that drive my passion for designing, curating and setting tables as much as I do.

Okay, it's time to take this party outside! From here, you can get a better view and feel for using fine china outdoors and enjoying it al fresco style. I love using my china outdoors and you should, too!

Brunch, lunch or dinner, the yard, garden or around the pool are my favorite places to host. Wood tables, benches, linens blowing in the breeze and that feeling that nothing has to be perfect, is what Boho-Chic entertaining is meant to be.

We moved everything outdoors including my silver candlesticks, because I love silver and firmly believe it should be used everywhere instead of living in a cabinet. I've had my candlesticks forever and they happen to be made by Reed & Barton, which is funny because Lenox now owns the company.

As I set the table outdoors, I loosened things up a bit to feel more casual, puddled the runner at each end of the table, re-arranged the flowers a bit, added olive branches down the table, tucked a few blooms into the weave of the branches to create a floral runner, and scattered a few single and double stems in bud vases. I like these particular vases from Design Ideas because they're simple and market like, come in a variety of sizes and since they're a little heavier than most bud vases, they don't tip over easily. For an evening event, I would add loads of votives and string lights to the runner and above the table.

When it came to using the gold flatware outdoors, I felt like a traditional setting might be a little formal for what I was looking for, so I "bundled" the fork, knife and teaspoon, tied it with a 3/8" pink double-faced satin ribbon and decided I liked it both ways. Twine, greenery or another color ribbon would also work nicely and don't be afraid to alternate napkin folds or way you set the flatware.

Favors: Sugarfina Mini Champagne Bear Boxes

I used the same treatment on the napkins indoors and out, tucking them under the charger plates, adding color and dimension to the each side of the table. On the outdoor table I knotted the napkins at each end of the table, did the same with runner and swapped out the silver candlesticks for brass. The knots and brass were a nice twist.

Mixing casual, natural and modern elements such as the Painted Camellia pattern is a simple approach to creating a Boho-Chic and relaxed atmosphere for al fresco dining and casual fun. Once you have the atmosphere down, cultivate good conversation, pour in some really good drinks, add simple, but stunning food and enjoy!

xx/deborah

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