Promotional feature
hen it comes to creating the ultimate summer vibe for your dinner party, letting your personality shine through is key. Interior designer and founder of Poodle & Blonde, Whinnie Williams, swears by finding inspiration in the simple things. Using products from the new M&S
If there is a certain theme you’re obsessed with right now then a dinner party is your chance to bring it to life. Whinnie is a film-lover and so bringing the dazzle of cinema
to her set up was a no-brainer. She did this using candles and strings of lights to give
an ambiance fit for a dramatic scene. By playing with lighting you can transport your
guests to any location – be that a movie set or the Mediterranean.
After you have made sure your dinner party screams you, Whinnie’s top tip for elevating everything is to layer up different textures. Load up your seating with throws and cushions and your guests won’t be able to resist getting comfortable. Embroidered napkins will add an upmarket touch and create some texture on the table.
through is key. Interior designer and founder of Poodle & Blonde, Whinnie Williams, swears by finding inspiration in the simple things. Using products from the new M&S Home summer collection, Whinnie shows us why bringing some sunshine into your schemes always works best when it's about you.
Table inspo can come from anywhere, but a great place to start is with aesthetics you enjoy such as fashion and film. Whinnie adores Californian influences, mixed in with 1970s style and cowgirl references. Using the cool ceramics in the new M&S Home range, she has nailed her personal touch; cacti-inspired pots and vases immediately let the guests know that they’re in for a fun evening. Along with pretty woven placemats and a striped table runner, you can practically feel the sand between your toes with the unmistakably Californian style.
W
Medium Reactive
Glaze Planter
£15
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Ribbed Reactive Glaze Ceramic Vase
£19.50
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Wicker Pendant
Light
£89
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Striped Seagrass
Table Runner
£16
“I like to create spaces
that feel like a movie set
and make people feel
like the stars.”
Whinnie Williams
Create your glorious get together with M&S or shop via the app straight from your phone
Blenheim
Large Sideboard
£899.00
Blenheim
Large Sideboard
£899.00
Citronella 5
Wick Candle
£30.00
Citronella 5
Wick Candle
£30.00
Rattan Round Starburst
Wall Mirror
£59.00
Rattan Round Starburst
Wall Mirror
£59.00
Ceramic Petal
Planter
£15.00
Ceramic Petal
Planter
£15.00
SHOP THE LOOK
Summer your way
Whinnie Williams brings her inimitable style to the table this summer using the new M&S Home collection.
Interior designer and founder,
Poodle & Blonde
Fruit and flowers are pre-packaged pops of colour that bring simple summer energy to table settings – so, be bold with them. Bright bouquets will bring your table alive in ceramic vases from the new M&S Home collection while bowls overflowing with fruits add a seasonal touch.
For Whinnie, being a hostess means welcoming your guests into your own little world. So don’t be scared to show off your unique style.
Interior designer and founder,
Poodle & Blonde
Whinnie Williams
“I love to set the scene and use texture to elevate a space.”
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Set of 4 Tribeca
Dinner Plates
£16
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Printed Tasseled
Outdoor Cushion
£17.50
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Artificial Cactus
House Plant in Pot
£82
COMMERCIAL EDITOR: James Williams Art Director: Tom Chase PHOTOGRAPHY: felix speller
STYLIST: Hannah Franklin Hair & Makeup: jimena lemck Producer: Daniel Gould
Production Manager: Eve Scholes FILM DIRECTOR: Elizabeth Herridge VIDEO Production MANAGER: Matt Gibbs
VIDEO EDITOR: David Davidian LOCATION: Foster House
COMMERCIAL EDITOR: James Williams
Art Director: Tom Chase
PHOTOGRAPHY: felix speller
STYLIST: Hannah Franklin
Hair & Makeup: jimena lemck
Producer: Daniel Gould
Production Manager: Eve Scholes
FILM DIRECTOR: Elizabeth Herridge
VIDEO Production MANAGER: Matt Gibbs
VIDEO EDITOR: David Davidian
LOCATION: Foster House
4 Bring the inside, out
Bringing the outdoors in has long been
an interior style must — but this summer, Kate wants us to bring the indoors outside. Elevate your summer dining by using proper plates: the 12 Piece Amberley Dinner Set from the new M&S Home collection is the ideal candidate for a chic ensemble. Use real cutlery and glasses — not plastic disposable ones — for an easy way to give your guests a real experience.
Kate's look would be perfect for a patio
or courtyard garden – but the natural design cues work for more limited outdoor spaces too. When entertaining
on a balcony, for example, having the right lighting will elevate the scene. We often overlook lighting on warmer nights – but it always makes the evening last longer and feel more magical.
String up festoon or raffia lights to add
a touch of brilliance to your balcony, trees or fences. And with the lights twinkling, everyone sat around the table is sure
to have a warm glow.
2 The dream palette
It can be remarkably simple to layer up
a palette of neutrals and natural textures, giving you an elegant outdoor space that glows from the afternoon into the evening. And the building blocks of Kate's neutral base — from plump cushions to proper crockery — are all available from the new spring/summer M&S Home collection. Simply add pops of colour using cut flowers and herbs — allowing you to update the look throughout the season based on what's available.
3 Layer up accessories
Once the seating and colour palette
are sorted, you can start to lay the table. Kate has started with a crisp and calming
base layer, like the Pure Cotton Striped Tablecloth from M&S. Build on this with arrangements of rattan accessories, earthy ceramic vases and candles to populate the centre of your table. Add delicate touches, such as embroidered napkins, to bring little details your
guests will love.
Tuck herbs or dried flowers into napkin rings as a wonderful way to reflect
your natural surroundings and gently
bring colour into the fold. Larger floral arrangements and bowls of vibrant fruits also make for fabulous centrepieces
that contrast with the neutral theme.
”
Kate Watson-Smyth, Design Writer & Author
When it comes to summer evenings in the garden with friends, comfort is key
“
”
Kate Watson-Smyth, Design Writer & Author
When working with neutrals, you get these lovely warm tones
that feel so effortless.
“
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Set of 4 Tribeca
Dinner Plates
£16
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Floral Outdoor Cushion
£17.50
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Amberley Jug
£12.50
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Ridged Glass
Tealight Holder
£5
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Large Reactive Glaze Ceramic Vase
£39.50
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Acapulco Alva Pure Cotton Outdoor Cushion
£25
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Pure Cotton Striped Tablecloth
£25
Create your glorious garden get together with M&S or shop via the app straight from your phone
Create your glorious garden get together with M&S or shop via the app straight from your phone
Melbourne Garden
Egg Chair
£499.00
Melbourne Garden
Egg Chair
£499.00
Pure Cotton Diamond
Tufted Cushion
£19.50
Pure Cotton Striped
Bolster Cushion
£15.00
Rattan Picnic
Hamper
£40.00
Rattan Picnic
Hamper
£40.00
Porto 4 Seater Garden Corner Sofa Set
£999.00
Porto 4 Seater Garden Corner Sofa Set
£999.00
SHOP THE LOOK
Interior Designer
Sophie Robinson,
For me, summer entertaining
is the more, the merrier
– and I love parties that can
spill out into the garden and carry on into the evening.
”
“
Sophie often draws her inspiration from warmer climes and travels around places like Morocco, Spain and the Mediterranean. When it comes to these inspirations, blue geometric prints, easily combined colours and pure cotton checked throws will draw the eye.
Layer these patterns with colourful accessories, like the fluted glass vase Sophie chose for the centre of her table – fill wit
h artificial poppy stems to add a juicy
pop of colour, too. Adorn your chairs with
parrot cushions and line your benches with sumptuously soft Acapulco Hermosa pads
to bring comforting textures into the mix.
Rustling together a gorgeously colourful escape in your garden is easier than you
might think with the new M&S Home collection. Then, all you need is a good weather app on your phone and you’ll be ready to host a summer social to remember.
Neutral pieces in the garden are timeless
but it’s the bold colours in Sophie's looks
that dazzle guests. Sophie recommends adventurous shades within a tight palette for a cohesive scheme. Picnic bowls and plates from the new M&S collection are the perfect place to start; citrus fruit patterns will
add a zingy splash of colour to an outdoor
dining setup. Try pairing them with wavy
blue watercolour side plates to make
a Mediterranean palette that will sing
in the sunshine.
Impactful shades should definitely have
a seat at your table this summer and you can find them in the Lois Garden Armchairs in cobalt from the new collection. What’s better than sipping an aperitivo in the garden on furniture that makes a statement?
Interior Designer
Sophie Robinson,
Not everything has to match.
In fact, it’s kind of nice to
have things a little haphazard.
But, it’s key to keep the
palette quite tight
”
“
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Set Of 4 Summer Fruits
Picnic Side Plates
£12
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Citronella Colour Change Light Up Candle
£10
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Set of 2 Lemon
Outdoor Cushions
£25
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Tropical Print
Outdoor Cushion
£12.50
Sophie Robinson
Colour queen phie Robinson
shares her top outdoor looks using
the new M&S Home collection.
summer
All set for
collection from M&S Home, you’ll have everything you need to put on a glorious garden get-together – even if that's a last-minute checking of your weather app before getting friends round to enjoy the outdoors.
Interior designer and TV presenter Sophie Robinson is a colour expert who revels in bringing joy to a space. A fan of the easy going approach, Sophie thinks that balancing playful patterns with pops of zesty colour are all you need for last-minute magic this summer.
ummer events can be weeks in the making – but, realistically, we don’t want to spend hours planning for every occasion. With this season’s
S
Advertisement Feature
COMMERCIAL EDITOR: James Williams
Art Director: Tom Chase
PHOTOGRAPHY: felix speller
STYLIST: Hannah Franklin
Hair & Makeup: jimena lemck
Producer: Daniel Gould
Production Manager: Eve Scholes
FILM DIRECTOR: Elizabeth Herridge
VIDEO Production MANAGER: Matt Gibbs
VIDEO EDITOR: David Davidian
LOCATION: Foster House
Create your glorious garden get together with M&S or shop via the app straight from your phone
Create your glorious garden get together with M&S or shop via the app straight from your phone
Set of 4
Fruit Placemats
£14.00
Set of 4
Fruit Placemats
£14.00
Pure Cotton
Checked Throw
£29.50
Pure Cotton
Checked Throw
£29.50
Large Lemon
Picnic Bowl
£10.00
Large Lemon
Picnic Bowl
£10.00
Lois 4 Seater Dining
Table & Chairs
£399.00
Lois 4 Seater Dining
Table & Chairs
£399.00
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Small Ridged
Glass Vase
£9.50
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Set of 2 Tropical Print Outdoor Cushions
£25.00
Interior designer and founder,
Poodle & Blonde
Whinnie Williams
“I like to create spaces
that feel like a movie set and make people feel like the stars.”
Create your glorious garden get together with M&S or shop via the app straight from your phone
Create your glorious garden get together with M&S or shop via the app straight from your phone
SHOP THE LOOK
COMMERCIAL EDITOR: James Williams
Art Director: Tom Chase
PHOTOGRAPHY: felix speller
STYLIST: Hannah Franklin
Hair & Makeup: jimena lemck
Producer: Daniel Gould
Production Manager: Eve Scholes
FILM DIRECTOR: Elizabeth Herridge
VIDEO Production MANAGER: Matt Gibbs
VIDEO EDITOR: David Davidian
LOCATION: Foster House
SHOP NOW
Set of 4 Tribeca
Dinner Plates
£16
SHOP NOW
Striped Seagrass
Table Runner
£16
![](https://media-s3-us-east-1.ceros.com/dennis/images/2023/05/03/8c5a9ed2a49c3f0b2b9bcbaf7f5eac49/pl-05-t47-1006v-v0-x-ec-0-1.png)