ELLE Decor style director Parker Bowie Larson has decorated many an empty space over the course of her career as a home-design editor, but this project was extra-special: several rooms in her new home on Long Island’s North Shore, which presented the opportunity to flex her designing muscles on her own behalf, with the help of AnthroLiving’s home collection. To celebrate the new space and the new season, Parker hosted a few friends for an early-summer brunch that showcased her southern roots, her impeccable eye for design, her expert entertaining tips, and one of a kind pieces from AnthroLiving.
Parker likes to welcome her guests by bringing the outside in, so she framed French doors that lead into the entertaining space with blooming plants in textured planters of varying heights. She brought that same energy indoors with fresh flowers throughout the space.
The open doors and generous windows provide abundant natural light that gives the dining area a natural indoor-outdoor feel, casting gorgeous shadows through the translucent pastels of Ramona Bowls and Glinda Dessert Plates. She paired the latter in a layered look with scalloped Eyelet Dinner Plates.
“Having a mix of color and textures is key when thinking about your table,” Parker says. There's no need to stop at the plates, either: Patterned napkins, like this Lithuanian Linen Set, and flatware in your preferred metallic finish, like this Beacon Set, will contribute another dimension.
For this occasion, Parker finished preparing the food, like the bagel-inspired smoked-salmon toasts above, before her guests arrived, so she would be ready to meet them at the door with a drink in hand. Fresh herbs are another easy way to embrace spring, both in a meal and as part of a flower arrangement.
When setting the table, it's helpful to bring everything to a central prep area, just as you would in the kitchen with ingredients for a recipe. That way you can see all the color, texture, and pattern options at once and create smaller moments within the larger scene, as Parker did with the Calle Candleholders.
And speaking of candles, there’s nothing wrong with throwing out the usual rules and putting out tapers in daytime. “I always like to have varied heights for the center of my tablescape, so I used a mix of candleholders, cake stands, and platters to make the table look full and festive,” Parker says. Unscented smokeless and dripless candles don’t get in the way of the mood or, more importantly, the food.
That menu is also crucial to any event, of course. Parker brought memories of summers in the Carolinas, where her parents grew up, to her new home with dishes she was raised on, like flaky southern biscuits. “I grew up outside of Richmond, Virginia, but we spent our summers further south,” she explains. “My favorite place to visit is Charleston. The food, culture, and design scene is like no other. If I ever leave New York, that is where you’ll find me!” She also laid out individually portioned brunch classics—quiches, the smoked-salmon toasts, fresh fruit, muffins—at room temperature so her guests could eat at their own pace.
Rounds of mimosas (non-traditionally served in Morgan Coupe Glasses rather than flutes) by the Mora Sectional Sofa were the ideal way to start and end this festive brunch. When presenting a signature cocktail, Parker recommends having a batch ready in a pitcher, like the Isla Spritz Pitcher she used, as well as wine and Champagne bottles nearby as backup. “You never want your guests to feel unsure about how to ask for what they need,” she says.
Parker spread out the snacking with a cheeseboard, crudités, and dips on the Sonali Oval Coffee Table in the living space. “Having an open flow is so important to maximizing your space when you don’t have much to work with,” she notes.
And to manage the often frenetic pace of hosting a gathering, Parker always keeps one central tenet in mind: “I like to follow the rule of putting others first and yourself second. When you do that, your guests inevitably have a good time!”
Shop more of Parker’s AnthroLiving picks below:
Anthropologie Glenna Platter
Anthropologie Sonali Oval Dining Table By Anthropologie in Beige
Anthropologie Ramona Bowls
Anthropologie Isla Spritz Pitcher By Anthropologie
Anthropologie Morgan Coupe Glasses
Anthropologie Ramona Cake Stand
Art Director: Mandi Hayes, Creative Producer: Hannah Miller, Talent Director: Jennifer McLawhorn, Prop Stylist: Raina Kattelson, Wardrobe Stylist: Emmy Briggs, Food Stylist: Drew Aichele, Hair & Makeup Artist: Julianna Grogan.
