Maison Margaux's Louisa Preskett on setting the perfect summer table

Over these balmy mid-year months, we're asking a selection of experts from our members and current Brands of Tomorrow to share their top tips on how to curate the best summer ever. Here, we speak to Louisa Preskett, Director of shoppable/rentable luxury homeware label Maison Margaux (one of our Brands of Tomorrow 2023) to share her time-honed tablescaping skills so you can create a sun-drenched alfresco dining experience that will be remembered by your guests well into the autumn...

Every year I host a birthday lunch for around 25 people in early June, in my garden overlooking the river in Henley. It’s a beautiful summer celebration and here are my top tips from over the years.

Whenever I lay a summer table alfresco, I tend to choose something bold and colourful when it comes to table linens. Outdoor dining is always so much more fun and brings me great joy as you can really allow the table to emulate the garden or space you are in. Recently I have loved using our Maison Margaux X Christopher Farr Tablecloth and napkins (pictured below) as it really pulls in the blues and greens that nature has to offer. Alternatively, a core favourite is our Green Petals Tablecloth that I pair with Rattan Placemats.

Next, I go about setting. For crockery, I work with the rule of three: always having a dinner plate, a salad plate and a bread plate on the table. I also believe a fully laid table is much more enticing to a guest when they first come and sit down. Our Margaux Olive Plates are perfect in their simplicity and are made here in the UK by master craftsmen who have been working with bone China for generations. 

If you want something more colourful then I love to use our hand painted Gisele Plates (pictured below) which are all made in Europe and add a real pop to a table. Depending on the crowd I also love to mix and match which is what our range is all about. Then last but not least I add my favourite Bamboo Cutlery (a summer must) and some fun waterglasses.

Flowers are an absolute must for summer dining and with such a huge selection, it's easy to understand why. I love cutting them from the garden or even just buying them from my local supermarket as they have such great options. Once I get them home, I tend to arrange them in an assortment of vintage vases I have collected over the years. 

For food, I tend to set up a separate table buffet-style, and pile it with fresh salad options. We have a variety of beautiful serving dishes and I like to use our Cabbage Platters and white Pearl Collection the most. I prefer a much more relaxed approach when eating outside and never feel the need for table service.

Drinks are obviously very important, and I always have a jug or two of Paloma or Margarita dotted along the table. I love to serve these in our Cactus Glasses as they are so on theme.

I always think a seating plan is important for large lunches and love pairing people with others whom they may not have met yet or who I know will instantly connect. I always go a little OTT when it comes to name cards as it really adds a special touch, whether it's using vintage place cards or working with an artist to create something unique for each guest. It's a really fun way to make your guests feel welcome.