John sets up distinct gathering areas in the garden so guests mingle away from the kitchen. Encouraging people to kick back is as simple as pulling furniture into a group and putting out snacks and games. A vibrant bar scene doesn’t need to involve a vine-covered arbor. Set up a folding table in any nook, cover it with printed fabric, and add tall flowers or branches in a big copper bucket. “Going big with the flowers give a bar an exciting feel,” John says. “It’s instant atmosphere.” Entertaining outdoors is a chance to shake off formality. John uses an Indian sari as an oversize, flowy runner, letting it puddle on the ground. “You could also buy a few yards of fabric and drape it over your table,” he says. Mix-and-match patterned cushions brighten vintage metal chairs. Sticking to a blue-and-white palette keeps the look cohesive. “You’re outside, and it’s bright. You’re competing with intense colors, so I like to go intense on the table too,” says John, who juxtaposes hot and cool colors: pink and coral against blue and aqua in the place settings, vases, and flowers. Down the center of the table, flowers from the garden, bowls of fruit, and farm-stand berries still in their paper baskets emphasize the informal feel. John uses metals—like brass trays and copper Indian bowls—as a neutral. “They’re a kind of grounding color,” he says. Printed plates from DBO Home stand out against contrasting chargers. “I love how chargers pop a plate off the table to add another layer,” he says.
