Up, Up and Away With Summer Dining

Hey there! Summer is just one week away and today I'm sharing a summer tablescape with you that I've set in our dining room: Up, Up and Away with Summer Dining! It's just part of a summer tablescape blog hop I'm hosting for readers. See further in my post for direct links for lots more inspiration on tap, with a great list of stylists also sharing their summer tablescapes today.

The inspiration for my tablescape today came from spotting a colorful set of  Williams Sonoma salad plates late last year on eBay. I loved the colors, bought the set, and made plans for my summer tablescaping. They are called Montgolfiere, after the Montgolfier brothers (Joseph-Michel and Jacques Etienne), French aviation pioneers. The brothers invented the Montgolfier-style hot air balloon, and launched a successful ascent with Jacques-Etienne on board in 1783.

Shortly after purchasing, the US intelligence detected Chinese surveillance balloons flying over various military sights in February 2023, collecting....oh right, weather information. I thought, great, this would shoot holes in my balloon tablescape as a badly timed idea, but never fear, we shot down one of the two confirmed balloon drones. Not that anyone would forget that bit of history, and I'm getting off course here.....

I had the idea of having paper hot air balloons as part of my tablescape, but that was easier said than done. Amazon provided an inexpensive source, but they were intended to be suspended. I wanted them to stand on the table, so I improvised.

I hot-glued skewer sticks to the dangling strings between the balloon and its basket (made of tissue paper). I then used two of the wicker drink holders as baskets for the bases, which gave them both stability and the weight needed to stand on their own. For the centerpiece, I used a recent perennial plant purchased - none other than a balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus). I will plant the balloon flowers this week. I mixed in a few balloon-like hydrangea blooms too, as well as a few of my daisies which are just beginning to bloom in my landscape. I liked the golden color coordination of the sunflower placemat, the rim on the salad plates, and the centers of the daisies.

Flatware is new, a casual bamboo, and the "glassware" is a gradient set of blues and greens, in a carefree acrylic. I first used this acrylic set five years ago, which can be viewed in a seaside tablescape, here.

The pattern play of the stripes, dots and checks came from items readily available in my dish and linen inventory, all of which have been used in prior tablescapes.

I liked the idea of playing with lighting the balloons also, so I placed battery votives in the baskets, which provided more weight too. This was prior to setting my floral centerpiece. Wouldn't it be fun to have this in an alfresco dining setting? My recent work in readying the landscape with power washing and planting was not conducive for this primetime photoshoot!

Consistent with my style, I've provided a source list of most all the items I've used today in my tablescape (no affiliations). 

Source List for Up, Up and Away With Summer Dining

Tablecloth (Kate Spade), DInner Plates - HomeGoods

Chargers, Wine Cooler (as Planter), Salt & Pepper (All Royal Check), Napkins (Blue Santorini) - MacKenzie-Childs

Bamboo Flatware, Wicker Cup Holders, Paper Balloons - Amazon

Salad Plates (Wms Sonoma, Montgolfiere) - eBay

Sunflower placemats - Hobby Lobby

Acrylic Glasses - Pottery barn

Now, enjoy yourself with this complete list of stylists who've curated their individually styled summer tablescapes as part of this blog hop. The links will take you directly to their blog post.

Panoply - Up, Up and Away With Summer Dining

Home is Where the Boat Is - Hydrangeas and Butterflies

Everyday Living - Welcoming Summer With A Garden Tablescape

Life and Linda - A Boho Alfresco Tablescape

Corner of Plaid and Paisley - Summer Plaid and Polka Dot Picnic

Living With Thanksgiving - Summer Blessings

Debbee's Buzz - Alfresco Bee Theme Table and Florals

The Painted Apron - Boats, Floats and Fish!

The Little Yellow Corner Store - Pucker Up Lemony Tablescape - It is Time to Have a Bee-utiful Day!

The Cat's Whiskerz - A summer picnic tablescape for Canada Day

Pandora's Box - Summer Blues

Me and My Captain - Florida Blue Crab Summer Tablescape

From My Carolina Home - Welcome Summer Tablescapes

The Bookish Dilettante - Summer Tablescape:  Old Glory

My Thrift Store Addiction - Summer Picnic Brunch under the Texas Mountain Laurel

Red Cottage Chronicles - Lemon Tablescape for Summer

Hyacinths for the Soul - Long May She Wave

Celebrating Everyday Life - Create a Chic Seashell Table Setting This Summer

Dinner at Eight - A Summer of Colors

Bluesky at Home - Pretty Table for a Ladies Dinner Party

I appreciate your visit today, and hope you'll leave a comment, letting me know you were here. I enjoy interacting with my readers, but please note if your comment publishes as anonymous, I have no way of knowing who you are, so please leave your name. 

Rita C. at Panoply

Parties I Share With: Pieced Pastimes, Love Your Creativity, BNOTP, All About Home Common Ground, All About Home Follow the Yellow Brick Home, A Stroll Thru Life, My Wee Abode, My Family Thyme, French Ethereal SYS, Eclectic Red Barn TFT, Southern Sunflowers Home Matters, Grace at Home, My Thrift Store Addiction, Our Hopeful Home, Karin's Kottage, County Road 407 Farmhouse Friday