• About Coco
    • Meet Coco
    • Press
    • Contact
  • All Posts
  • Interiors
    • Kitchen
    • Bath
    • Bedroom
    • Living Room
    • Outdoor Living
  • Style
    • Fashion
    • Best of
    • Travel
    • Design On Sale
    • Coco's Projects
  • Coco's Faves
    • Resources
    • Wishlist
  • Shop - Bring Style Home
  • About Coco
    • Meet Coco
    • Press
    • Contact
  • All Posts
  • Interiors
    • Kitchen
    • Bath
    • Bedroom
    • Living Room
    • Outdoor Living
  • Style
    • Fashion
    • Best of
    • Travel
    • Design On Sale
    • Coco's Projects
  • Coco's Faves
    • Resources
    • Wishlist
  • Shop - Bring Style Home
Search
Contact Us
[email protected]
310.275.4189
Newsletter Sign-Up
Please join our mailing list
entertaining
share
home design ideas

Build-As-You-Go Patio Dinner Party

February 6, 2018
  • Share

Is it just me or did January fly by? I wrapped 2017 by throwing an over-the-top winter dinner party for about 30 of my family and friends — and I’m just now getting around to sharing it with all of you! Better late than never!

If you watch my Instagram Stories, you know this was definitely a design-as-you-go project… so this one goes out to all the readers who are willing to fly by the seat of your pants!

share

The 24 hours leading up to the party were a whirlwind.

 

With literally nothing else done other than purchasing silver dollar eucalyptus branches and renting a tent and chandelier, I decided now was not only the perfect time to go to dinner at Katsuya with my dear friend Alyssa — but to also split a round of sake and endless sushi.

 

What are the kids saying these days… you only live once?! Yeah, that.

 

Anyway, I returned to my completely undecorated patio around 11:30 p.m. feeling tired and uninspired about how I was going to transform this space in time for my guests to arrive.

 

The countdown was on, so I rolled up my sleeves and worked until 4 a.m. hauling furniture around and figuring out the layout. I wasn’t kidding — nothing was set up!

 

While I don’t recommend going into your projects without a vision, I must say, I’m pretty proud of how this turned out!

share
share

Here’s how I was able to transform my patio over the course of about 20 hours:

As you all know, I don’t pride myself in my flower arranging abilities, but I found 6-7 foot tall silver dollar eucalyptus branches from the flower mart — and voilĂ ! A centerpiece! I bought 4 bunches at $7 per bunch. Each bunch had about 4 branches. I used clear super tall vases, which I purchased from the mart for $15 each.

After trimming any extra leaves off the bottom of the branches, I placed stones in the bottom of the tall vases and put two branches in each vase. I later used the extra trimmed pieces of eucalyptus as garland alongside some twisted plaid ribbon down the center of the table.

Other than renting the raw linen table drapes, I used my own white plates, silverware, bamboo folding chairs ($23/piece), and crystal stemware from Williams Sonoma.

share
share

Other details included votives, hurricane candle holders, and linen napkins, which I made that day (er, morning) by cutting cococozy fabric into 18″x18″ squares. It’s always fun to incorporate my own textile designs into the table wherever I can!

You can shop similar items (below)!

share

Dorset Water Glasses

share

Bamboo Folding Chairs

share

Faux Silver Dollar Eucalyptus Branch

share

Emma Dinner Plates

share

After seeing how this all came together last minute, I was reminded that when you take care of the details and provide a nice environment — it’s so worth it to see people having a spectacular time! After all, that’s the point of these parties, right?

xo

P.S. Follow along @cococozy on Instagram to see more from the house — or to watch me run around the house in the middle of the night preparing for my next dinner party!

Photos: COCOCOZY

previous
next

related posts

from the shop

Meet Coco - Bring Style Home

A Los Angeles native, Colette Shelton, also known as “Coco”, is an entrepreneur, design blogger and home furnishings designer.

Read More  

Looking for Something?

View All Posts

The Classic Bouquet

COCOCOZY x FTD

Read More
Join our mailing list
Sign Up Now

Recently Pinned

Gift a bouquet - Just do it :)

Shop my latest design!  
I am so into soft luxe these days. Click photo to shop this terry jogger from Vince.
write a comment
  • Share

One response to “Build-As-You-Go Patio Dinner Party”

  1. Debbie Elder says:
    February 6, 2018 at 10:01 AM

    What did you have to eat at the party?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

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

Instagram

Keep it simple. No need for bells and whistles an Keep it simple.  No need for bells and whistles and fancy things to make your house a home.  In this picture, a plant, two chairs I found at the flea market, a layered rug situation and some modern art...de-cluttered space can be equally as inviting as one filled with memories and treasures.  If you are stuck with how to decorate, I say keep it simple.  Purge and start with the basics.  Full disclosure, this is a shot of my living room from a few years ago when I first moved in...I didn’t even have drapes up when this was taken.  I have since added pieces and changed out furniture and added a 2nd sofa...but it started super simple and it was lovely back then.  When the world is swirling around us and making no sense, how are you keeping things simple at home?  #socococozy #bringstylehome #cococozy
Pre-pandemic throw back photo to where I was last Pre-pandemic throw back photo to where I was last year.  Clueless as to what was to come.  Was in Paris, with my mom, enjoying her summer apartment in the middle of the 6th arrondissement.  I had just left the U.K. visiting friends for a few days in London and the Cotswolds.  None of us knew that this summer 2020 would be so different.  Today, I can only hope this time of tumult and great divides leads somehow to a future of calm and harmony.  Going backwards in time is not an option.  Pushing forward is.  Happy Sunday to you.  Where were you last summer?  Where do you imagine you’ll be next? Xoxo #socococozy #bringstylehome
Incredible living room before and after as designe Incredible living room before and after as designed by my good friend Steve Jones @bettershelter!  I went on a tour today.  I also went on a tour a year ago when he first got the house.  See my stories. Swipe to see what this room looked like before.  Life lesson from a room transformation:  When faced with the daunting and not so pretty, look to do the work, and you can make changes to bring  out what is good.  Right?  This home by the way is going on the market soon and is in one of my favorite parts of town, View Park.  What changes have you made lately that have turned bad into good? #socococozy #bringstylehome #remodeling #homerenovation #californiadreaming
“Be patient with yourself it has been a funky fe “Be patient with yourself it has been a funky few months in the world.” My friend Manon texted this advice to me today.  She is right.  A little patience and a lot of kindness to yourself and to others during these unusual times will go a long way.
***
Am in my living room right now looking at these pretty flowers in that white urn I found lying around.  The urn works (see Flower Power highlights for backstory). Thinking on who I might send one of these bouquets to today as a little act of kindness.  Still working on the patience piece of her advice! 🤪 Who might you send flowers to?  How can you be more patient with yourself? Happy Saturday!
*
*
*
“The Classic bouquet by COCOCOZY” is a limited edition design available at @ftdflowers and @proflowers. 🌸 (tap link in profile to see more) #socococozy #cococozy
Hi! Finally something to smile about! 😂 Exciti Hi!  Finally something to smile about! 😂 Exciting flower news today as I debut the first ever COCOCOZY designed bouquet in my latest partnership! Tada.  Here is The Classic by COCOCOZY exclusively on @ftdflowers + @proflowers as part of their #herestoher initiative!  Swipe left to see it up close.  I wanted to design a super lush classically beautiful bouquet that would look good in any home during the fall/winter.  Roses, eucalyptus and so much more in soft whites and greens.  I am so happy with the final product.  What’s great is that this hand tied bouquet comes in a box straight to your door and you can put it in any vase.  If you swipe left you can see it in my breakfast room.  Perfect for sending as a birthday gift, celebration, expression of love or friendship, a business gift, a thank you to someone or I recommend ordering for yourself every couple of weeks to cheer up your space as we stay at home more!  I plan on getting them weekly!  Anyhoooo...I’m linking to the bouquet in my profile.  Have you ever ordered flowers for yourself just because?  Who might you send these to?  #socococozy #bringstylehome #cococozy
Follow on Instagram
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Interiors

  • Kitchen
  • Bath
  • Bedroom
  • Living Room
  • House Tours
  • Outdoor

Style

  • Fashion
  • Best of
  • Travel
  • Design on Sale
  • Coco's Projects

About

  • About Coco
  • Press
  • Contact
  • View All Posts

Join our mailing list

Sign Up Now
© 2021 Cococozy | Terms & Conditions