Ready for Summer Entertaining + Giveaway

By Kate Riley June 1, 2015

I welcome this time of year, the transition from a regimented school schedule to a relaxed summer schedule – June and July are months we take it easy and invite friends into the backyard for much merriment. We had a group over to our house yesterday and my brother’s family stopped by for a barbeque. Knowing guests were on their way I spent Saturday cleaning and planting and then Sunday preparing food and drinks.

I was invited by World Market to participate in their summer campaign focused on outdoor entertaining, so with gift cards in hand I paid a visit to my local store on Friday to stock up. In summer I like to use my potting bench as a beverage bar on our upper patio, it has a nice view of our hobby vineyard and is a great place to lounge and chat with visitors.

beverage bar wine barrel side table

World Market is an easy one stop shop for food and drink items too, I picked up some cheeses and savory treats, sparkling juices, mineral water, and two bottles of wine and they make it so easy to fill a large drink dispenser with sparkling soda or juice infused with citrus for a sweet summer refresher.

outdoor beverage bar

 

sparkling limon over ice

 

white wine ice bucket

 

tray of glasses

 

Bugs bug me, especially swatting them away so I purchased a few domed and covered containers for local cheeses and homemade chipotle hummus – pictured are the willow dome (in stores), painted food dome, and striped storage bowl.

domes and treats

 

crackers and hummus

 

cheeses

 

food domes

 

potting bench bar

 

To spruce up the yard with botanicals, I added plants in trios of containers from my stash and mixed them at different levels: herbs, succulents, annuals, ferns, the medley keeps it interesting.

wine barrel end table

 

trio of plants

 

trio of container plants

 

On the round dining table I used a fringed striped picnic blanket that caught my eye as a tablecloth, also a genie lantern, the lagoon beaded chargers and paisley napkins.

picnic blanket tablecloth

 

drink please bell

 
The cheeky little “drink please” bar bell makes me laugh since anyone in need is two steps away from the beverage bar… it may turn itself into a drinking game. :)

potting bench beverage bar

 

sodas in bucket

 

If it’s sweet instead of savory you prefer for your beverage bar, this video offers more inspiration:

 

This week is your chance to win a $200 gift card from World Market to welcome summer to your home, enter via the Rafflecopter widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*This post was sponsored by World Market, thank you for including me in the #worldmarketlove4outdoors campaign, all styling, photography, and opinions are my own!

23 comments

  1. Wow I love the Limoncello dispenser, I want to transform our garden this year and entertain more. Fingers crossed mine looks as great as yours

  2. Love World Market! I always visit them when I’m in Austin & San Francisco where my kids live, no stores here in N.Y. . Great idea, using potting bench as a bar.

  3. It’s all so fabulous, I can’t wait to get outside an start having parties!

  4. Your outdoor space is beautiful. I love World market, I could spe

  5. I LOVE your Entertaining Bar. Did you find the great Beverage Dispenser at World Market?
    I wish I could have entered, but alas, I don’t have Instagram. Oh, well, I love World Market, my favorite store!!, and this post!!!!

  6. Your outdoor space is so cute! I need to food cover/domes in my life ASAP.

  7. Gorgeous set up! Thanks for the awesome tips and ideas. I’m new to the interiors blogosphere and recently came across your blog and am so glad I did!

  8. Love this, beautiful! Huge World Market fan too. One of the only places my husband can tolerate shopping with me! :) Thanks for the great opportunity!

  9. Beautiful backyard space from what I can see! I love those accessories, bugs bug me too so those are great ideas to have!

    Lauren Baxter | LB Designs
    xx

  10. I just purchased the Potting Bench from World Market, I love it, can’t wait to finish planting my flower pots and then I am going to have the perfect place for a food & beverage station when I entertain!

  11. Would love to splurge at World Market!! What a lovely yard you have for entertaining!

  12. So fresh and gorgeous!!!!! As always!!!!!! Just curious, where did you get that cool looking white succulent planter (on fringe blanket/tablecloth) ? Love the shape!!!
    p.s. I use my potting bench as a mini bar cart too! Adore all your “shared” inspiration!!!!

  13. Kate,
    I meant to say, thank you for sharing “YOUR” inspiration!!!! Mixed my words up!!
    You are the inventor of CREATION!!! I cannot wait to read your blog on a daily basis, especially since I am in Nor Cali as well!!! #almostneighbors
    Kimber

  14. What’s not to love about World Market. Can’t get enough!

Leave a comment!

Keep the conversation going! Your email address will not be published.*

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Lately on Instagram (@centsationalstyle)