Late Summer Fruit table and fruit bowl.jpg

Summer has come to its end. The days are noticeably shorter, and the mornings cooler. I started the year with the intention of spending more time with people I love, doing what I enjoy rather than scrolling my life away. So far, so good. We have had shared meals at home, as well as out and about.

We are so lucky to live in a city where the beach is a 20 minute drive in one direction, and the hills are a 20 minute drive in the other. No matter which destination you choose, you are assured of a fabulous time.

There is something reinvigorating about being a tourist in your home town, especially during a warm summer evening. Eating ice cream while wandering along Brighton jetty while lights twinkle on the night sea felt magical, but the nights at home were my favourite. I love setting the scene, although the clean up and putting away is another story entirely.

Looking back at the past three months at The Willows, each gathering had its own colours, flavours and mood.

Summer Tables at The Willows — Key Elements

If you are planning your own summer gathering, these were the elements that shaped my tables this season:

• Layered colour palettes rather than a single colour
• Simple seasonal menus that can largely be prepared ahead
• Fresh or faux flowers in small vessels rather than one large arrangement
• Mixed glassware and dinnerware for a relaxed look
• A balance of warm metals and cool colours

December 2025

Colours: Red, gold, navy, vanilla, sky blue

Flowers: Lobelia in bud glasses

Table styling:

Red and white patterned tablecloth

Navy placemats

Smokey blue tumblers with gold rims

Red multicolour dinner setting

Sky blue napkins

Gold Cutlery

January 2026

Colours: Hydrangea blue, pale green, vanilla, silver, mid-blue

Flowers: Hydrangeas (Faux or real, depending on your gardening skill)

Table Styling

Pale blue toile patterned tablecloth

Sage green table runner

White dinner setting

Silver cutlery

Acrylic wine glasses

Hydrangea-patterned paper napkins

February 2026

Colours: Blush pink, deep red, gold, salmon, plum

Flowers: Fresh fruit; plums, peaches, grapes, nectarines

Table styling:

Dusky pink tablecloth

Gold charger plates

Red multicolour dinnerware

Red wine glasses

Gold cutlery

Bonus:

Sunsets and Cocktails

Colours: Sage green, terracotta, daisy yellow, gold

Flowers: chrysanthemums in yellow and dusty bronze

Cocktails:

Gin Rickey

Black Russian

Espresso Martini

Recipe

Pine-Line Slushie

¼ cup Lime cordial, I used Bickford’s lime juice cordial

1 ½ cups Pineapple juice

1 ½ cups Milk

⅓ of a tin of Condensed milk

½ cup Thickened cream

Added Coconut rum for the adults, to taste.

I slushed this in my Ninja Slushie machine until it was the consistency I wanted; smooth and icy.

This was the clear winner on the day.

Recipe thanks to Stuff Mums Like Facebook Page

Table styling

Striped tablecloth

Terracotta ramekins

Yellow ramekins

Pale green tumblers

Colourful platters

Gold cutlery

Looking Ahead to Autumn at The Willows

Looking ahead to the next months where the days are still warm, but the evenings can get chilly the menus and styling are getting more cosy. I have already started trawling Pinterest for inspiration for the themes.

March is Equinox Glow; a feast of midnight blue, amber and ivory. It is going to be aglow with candlelight.

April - Autumn Harvest; a sensory delight of burnt orange (hello 1970s), sage and clay. This one will challenge me.

May - Soup Weather; mushroom brown, deep olive and cream. This one brings to mind mushroom soup, infused with fresh thyme, garlic bread, a side salad, and sticky toffee pudding. I’m already looking forward to this.

If you enjoy seasonal table styling and gathering inspiration, you might also like my other Sunday Lunch posts here at The Willows Journal.