Casablanca Cool

Good grief! It is actually cooler in Casablanca than in the Kansas City area right now!!! Not officially summer yet here, and the temperatures are hovering in the 90°-93° range for several days straight! Since I won’t be boarding a plane to that cooler destination in Morocco, I created a dining environment that can take me there in spirit.
(When you reach the bottom of this post, see who I DID travel to see!!!)

Our deck hosts a 6-ft. table covered in an easy care 90″x132″ gold crinkle taffeta tablecloth from YourChairCovers.com. A deep red beaded organza runner adds visual interest and helps to break up the expanse of gold color. I didn’t include chairs for this demonstration, but something natural like bamboo or wicker would look great!

Cooling turquoise blue Bormioli Rocco Inca glass chargers anchor each place setting. (These beautiful chargers were also used in Ocean Blue -Starfish & Seashells.) Amber dinner plates from Pier 1 add another layer of color. The final piece is a glass faux mercury-lined sorbet from World Market, a different color at each setting. See how the blue sky reflected in the glass resembles a swimming pool or ocean? Cooling and soothing!

Glassware from Pier 1 includes a deep purple stem for wine (purchased 12 years ago!), a water glass with a different jewel tone at the bottom at each place setting, and a lovely shot glass, both from Home Goods. Each has a beautiful gold pattern – noted in this last picture – that ties the trio together.

Silky polyester napkins are cinched at the waist with red gemstone-flecked gold napkin rings.

I created a lush high/low centerpiece made up of multiple glass and metal elements.

I love these muted gold Casablanca Lanterns from Z Gallerie! I bought them in two sizes a few years back. I’m not sure if they still have them, but I’ve seen similar ones in other stores.

These sleek hot pink glass vases are from Hobby Lobby. I embellished them with amber glass tassels and filled them with palm fronds.

I have been waiting for years to use these multicolored cylindrical candle holders!!! I bought them on closeout in the large and small sizes at Gordman’s 7 or 8 years ago with a tablescape like this in mind.

These fun fabric votive holders are scattered on the table to add a little extra color, texture, and light.

To add to the ambience, I hung multicolored miniature chandeliers among the existing bistro lights on the deck overhang. In the center is a gathered bundle of colored ribbon first used in a Christmas setting some years ago to decorate a bar cart. The ribbon adds movement and texture as it sways in the summer breeze.

A small table off to the side, covered in a Pier 1 fringed and beaded throw, serves as a mini bar. (To see this throw used in an autumn setting, visit Morocco for Two on this site.)

A melange of colorful shot glasses line up on a gold melamine tray. (To see another appearance by these cute little shot glasses, visit Cinco de Mayo 2013 on this site.) For a little drama, height and fragrance, I added a martini glass filled to the rim with whole star anise. Additional shot glasses strewn with baby bracelets (first used as napkin rings in Diwali My Way) add a little more flair.

Here, a smaller version of the gold Casablanca Lantern from Z Gallerie lights guests’ way around the bar.

Colorful, fragrant lemons and oranges piled high in a gold glass vase with a pattern very much like that of the dining table linen.

A red silk throw lie beneath colorful pillows piled on a bench.

This tablescape in my head for a LONG time!!! I’m glad to have finally been able to bring it to you! Thanks so much for stopping in!

While attending my husband’s med school reunion, I FINALLY got to visit with blog buddy DIANNE of Dianne’s Creative Table!!! One of the most FUN, TALENTED, CREATIVE, INTERESTING, HOSPITABLE, and BEAUTIFUL souls in this world! We hit up an estate sale, then shopped, lunched, and shopped some more in historic downtown Franklin, TN, before visiting her gorgeous home.
Thank you so much for your incredible Southern hospitality, Dianne!!!