Bianco White Serving Platter  ||  Blu Mare Crab Serving Dish  ||  Aladdin Tortoise Shell Flatware  ||  Indigo Medallion/Tied Dye Placemats  ||  Blu Mare Assorted Canape Plates  ||  Puccinelli Classic Glass Pitcher  ||  Puccinelli Old Fashioned Glass  ||  Lastra Bottle Holder  ||  Blu Mare Seahorse Serving Platter

In my eyes there is nothing better than a dinner party.  Good food, good friends, good wine and most importantly a beautifully set table.  And table settings don’t get more beautiful than VIETRI’S.  VIETRI, an American importer of hand crafted Italian goods has been gracing tables since 1983 when the Gravely sisters took a life changing trip to Italy…

The Gravely’s, Susan, Frances, and their mother, Lee, headed to the Amalfi Coast of Italy where they checked into the San Pietro Hotel in Positano. During lunch at the hotel, the three women found themselves captivated by the hotel’s colorful, handcrafted dinnerware. They immediately arranged to meet the artisans at a nearby factory in the town of Vietri sul Mare.  They were so taken by the Italian artisans’ craftsmanship that they ended up spending three days with them, watching as they painted, glazed and fired each piece by hand. A special friendship developed between the talented Italians and the charming southern women. Soon, the Gravelys returned home with an array of “mix-and-match” pieces featuring whimsical cows, horses, rams, and fish- the collection that would become known as Campagna, VIETRI’s flagship dinnerware.

It did not take long for the ladies’ friends and family to express interest in owning these unique pieces. Thrilled that others recognized what a treasure they had found, the women decided they wanted to import the Italian dinnerware and become wholesalers, selling to stores across the US. They named their company VIETRI, a tribute to the town where it all began and a play on the phrase “tre vite,” Italian for “three lives.”

That was thirty years ago, and in the time since, VIETRI has become the largest American importer of handcrafted Italian tableware and home decor products, working with multiple family owned and operated factories throughout Italy. A leader in design, craftsmanship, and customer service, the VIETRI brand both complements the American lifestyle and celebrates all that is irresistibly Italian: a love of life, people, nature, and good living.

And because I couldn’t agree more with the Gravely sisters, I’m thrilled to be partnering with VIETRI and bring you our summer entertaining giveaway.  Above I’ve created my top summer entertaining picks from VIETRI, and we’re giving you a chance to win my favorite, the Blu Mare Crab Serving Bowl valued at $100.  I love this bowl specifically because even if you can’t afford the entire place setting you can easily add it to your white dishes and some amazing placemats like the Indigo Medallion and Tie Dye ones for a great look.   The giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents and will run through Sunday the 21st with a winner announced Monday the 22nd.  We’ll be running this all through Rafflecopter (below) which allows you to earn points for each item completed with a simple click of the button.  The more points you earn the more likely you are to win (and remember you probably already have entry points if you’re a regular reader of the blog).  Happy Monday, and good luck! truly, MKR.

This giveaway is sponsored by VIETRI, however my opinions are 100% my own

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My personal style is always “opposites attract.” From combining feminine and masculine, heavy and soft, to modern and traditional, I believe combining opposites yields the most dramatic and yet surprisingly natural results. But sometimes I just have to indulge in the ultra feminine side of me, as is the case with my perfectly pretty summer table setting!  With just one look at this tablescape, it’s easy to see that living in the South has really started to impact my design aesthetic. This particular table was inspired by vivid summer hues, quintessential Southern style and my favorite summer indulgence: key lime pie. It’s light, fresh, feminine, and perfect for summer!  

And when setting your table, besides your basic etiquette there are a few hard and fast rules I always adhere to:

No. 01 – Think variation in color, pattern and height. I want my table to create interest at every angle and this is easily achieved by mixing colors and patterns, with elements at different heights. By simply placing a napkin between the charger and dinner plate or dinner plate and salad plate,  you can break things up and give your place setting definition.

No. 02 – Don’t be afraid to mix patterns and shades of color. I would have never thought a chartreuse ikat placemat and kelly green greek key napkin would work well together, but I loved the result once I played around with it!

No. 03 – Invest in round white dinner and salad plates. They’re easy and will go with everything. I rely on white plates as the starting point for most of my tablescapes. Just add colorful linens (I love festive napkins) and dessert plates for instant pop. 

No. 04 – Go all out with your flatware. Forget about silver or stainless steel—go with gold or rose gold for something unexpected and unforgettable. I found my gold set at One Kings Lane years ago and the rose gold set featured in this tablescape is a recent purchase from West Elm.

No. 05 – Don’t forget fresh flowers! In my mind, a table is just not a table without fresh flowers. My biggest resource for affordable flowers is a wholesale florist and foraging. Finding a great vendor and planning in advance are your best options for a beautiful, inexpensive arrangement!  See how I created this arrangement right HERE.  

Happy entertaining Loves!  truly, MKR

*Rope Vase  ||  Elephant Napkins  ||  Confetti Champagne Flutes  ||  Mint Julep Cup Vase  ||  Lilly Pulitzer Pom Poms  ||  Fuchsia Striped Straws  ||  Mercury Votives  ||  Citrus Plates  ||  Mercury Vase  ||  Rose Gold Silverware (sold out but I love THESE)

**All images via Rustic White

About a month or so ago I was asked to create a floral DIY for one of my favorites, Delighted Magazine, and this my Loves was the result!  I just adore the way it turned out…the key limes, peonies and that Pottery Barn Whittier vase (on sale now) is just divine.  Now I understand this is actually a pretty massive arrangement, but it could easily be turned into smaller ones by simply using less of everything.  See the full how-to over at Delighted and big hugs to Rustic White for the gorgeous photography.  xo