Stylist, Steve Cordony, shares tips for bringing spaces to life with whimsy and nature, creating calming environments that foster connection and joy.
Entertaining is my happiest pastime, whether hosting family and friends for drinks or dinner, or neighbours for Sunday lunches. There is no greater inspiration for me than nature, so whenever I create a tablescape or event in the garden, I draw on the surroundings for inspiration, but soften the space by adding decadent layers you wouldn’t expect when entertaining outside.
Setting the outdoor table doesn’t mean using melamine plates, plastic cups, and disposable cutlery. You can bring in anything you want. I draw on the look and the feel of the surrounding environment for styling themes. I love to load big ceramic or metal bowls with whatever fruit is in season, lemons, apples, or oranges, or dot terracotta pots of delicate wildflowers or fragrant herbs down the centre of the table. An assortment of vases filled with seasonal flowers works well too. I’m very lucky to have a vegetable patch to source from – I like to use what is directly around me, so in autumn that might mean styling the table with baby pumpkins, and in the summer, trails of jasmine, clematis, or garden roses.
When entertaining outside, embrace the idea that it can feel a little more informal, but don’t go so far down the relaxed rustic route that you forget to bring in a little glamour to elevate even the simplest setting when you’re styling outside. Whether it is introducing metallic accents or bringing out the good crystal, fine linens, and china, there should always be a hint of romance in your scene setting.
Just as I would style a vignette on a hallway console or coffee table, I do the same on a kitchen bench, grouping together utilitarian, yet sculptural pieces such as hand-thrown ceramics, a sensuous marble oblong bowl, and a stack of vintage Turkish chopping boards.
A mix of rounded silhouettes lends this kitchen corner nook a friendly cosiness, with the custom-made table’s solid chubby legs and smooth elliptical top, and the bulbous ceramic and glass vessels on top.
When styling with flowers, I tend to use a small variety of three or four different blooms in the same colour palette, grouped together en masse in multiple bouquets at different heights to create a sense of understated abundance.
Having a beautiful house with a wraparound verandah has always been one of my greatest dreams. The dining area set in this corner of the house at Rosedale, overlooking the horses in the paddock and the lush garden beyond, has become my very favourite moment at home.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Georgina Egan, Monique Lovick, Felix Forest
Craving some dreamy home-styling inspiration? Escape into Moments at Home by Steve Cordony, published by Quadrille, available in stores nationwide.
