While away the balmy days playing host with the most at home – and, oh, those summer nights.

In association with Città.

SCENE STEALERS Magnolia vase (far left), $259; Gava Brass planter, $109.80/set of two; Radial dining table, from $2190; Vitra Hal chairs, $649 each; all cittadesign.com. Flowers (throughout), ludiamondflowers.com. Plants (throughout), rogerhunter.co.nz. Walls (throughout) in Resene Santa Fe, resene.co.nz. Forest green ceramic vases stylists’ own. (All other items, see overleaf.) PLACE SETTINGS Talo cereal bowls, $22.90 each, lunch plates, $24.90 each, dinner plates, $29.90 each, and coffee cups, $21.90 each; Column teaspoons, $19.90 each, and knives and forks, $29.90 each; Dine Linen napkins, $12.90 each; Rattan coasters, $39.90/set of six, all cittadesign.com. ADDITIONAL ITEMS ABOVE, FROM LEFT Sheesham Rectangle board (with bread), from $59.90, and nibble bowl (with avocado), from $12.90; Talo salad bowl (with granola), from $74.90, and dip bowls (with berries and yoghurt), $14.90 each; Urbania salad server, $64.90/set; Finch dipping bowl (with honey), $9.90; Marble Curved serving board, from $69.90; Linen-blend tea towel, $29.90; Premio Glass tumbler, $19.90; Casa tea towel (patterned), $16.90; Fenris rug, from $1340, all cittadesign.com. Honey dipper stylists’ own.

Now that’s what I call brunch

Raspberry & coconut granola
Serves 6 (plus extra to keep)

2 cups each rolled oats and buckwheat
½ cup hazelnuts, roughly chopped
½ cup Brazil nuts, roughly chopped
¼ cup each sunflower seeds and flaxseeds
2 tbsp coconut oil
2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
2 tbsp water
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
½ cup coconut flakes
1 cup freeze-dried raspberries
½ cup dried goji berries

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Combine the oats, buckwheat, nuts and seeds in a bowl, then spread them evenly onto a baking tray lined with baking paper.
Melt the coconut oil in a pot over a low heat, add the honey and water and stir to combine before adding the cinnamon and vanilla. Drizzle over the ingredients on the tray and toss with your hands to coat.
Bake in the oven for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasional to prevent burning.
For slightly toasted coconut flakes, add them towards the end of cooking (or leave untoasted and add later, with the fruit).
Remove from the oven, leave to cool, then add the fruit. Serve with fresh berries and yoghurt. Store in an airtight container.

ABOVE Donna tray, from $109; Terrarium vase (used as carafe), $69.90; Urbania salad server, $64.90/set; Premio Glass tumblers, $19.90 each, all cittadesign.com.

Blackberry & pomegranate sangria
Serves 6

Ice
2 cups blackberries (fresh or frozen)
1 bottle rosé
250ml vodka
500ml pomegranate juice
Soda water
Sprigs of fresh thyme, to garnish

Half-fill a large jar with ice and the berries, then add the wine, vodka and pomegranate juice. Pour into glasses, top up with soda and garnish with thyme.

ABOVE, FROM LEFT Pop Lounge seat, $2900, Round side table, $490, side table, $690, and Low seat, $890; Sonora cushion covers (iced tea), $59.90 each; Appaloosa Ikat Woven cushion cover (spotted), $79.90; Oro cushion cover (gold), $129; Canyon Woven throw, $184; Iringa Woven baskets, $228/set of two, all cittadesign.com.

Chilled-out entertaining

1. Just relax. There’s no need to tie yourself to the kitchen – keep things simple with prepare-ahead options such as the recipes on the previous page. Make life even easier for yourself by supplementing your homemade menu with treats from your favourite local artisans.
2. Set the table. Create an elegant yet informal theme by taking a non-matching approach to the table. Get the look by stacking dinner plates in various chalky pastels tones alternated with side plates and bowls in different colours. Skip the tablecloth and instead of placemats, drape linen napkins under each setting. Woven coasters provide contrast through the addition of texture.
3. Bring it to life. If you’re keen to include a floral centrepiece in your scheme, opt for one that’s low in a bowl and spills onto the table asymmetrically, so it’s not a barrier to conversation across the table. If yours is more of a buffet-style situation, make an impact by placing a large glass jar filled with bold foliage at one end of the table.
4. Get outta here. Take your gathering into the garden or onto the deck with modular outdoor furniture that can be arranged to suit the mood of your occasion. Add a few cushions and a throw or two to dress things up and provide warmth if needed when the sun sets.

LEFT, FROM TOP RIGHT Ace Dinner Paper napkins, $9.90; Urbania condiment spoons, $12.90 each; Sheesham Round board (wooden), from $49.90, and nibble bowl (wooden), from $12.90; Urbania butter knife, $24.90; Camino serving plate (patterned), $59.90; Donna tray, from $109; Urbania cheese knife, $26.90, all cittadesign.com. Jar stylists’ own.

Perfecting the art of the platter

• As we all know, platters are one of the easiest ways to please a crowd when entertaining at home. With a few simple tricks, you can elevate yours to Insta-worthy status. Step one? Remember those manners and don’t keep your hungry guests waiting while you photograph the spread.
• More is more when you’re hoping to make a statement with a platter. Start with three good cheeses: a soft cheese, a hard cheese, then splash out on something unexpected for the third.
• Serve whole baby vegetables as crudités, and cherry tomatoes roasted with herbs. At this time of year, summer produce, including sliced stone fruit and fresh berries, is a natural partner for cheese. And don’t forget flavour pairings for your platter, aiming to create variety in your textures and tastes: crunchy with soft, salty with sweet.
• If you ask us, you can never serve too many platters, and our favourite way to do so is to layer them all on a coffee table to create a veritable feast that you and your guests can lazily graze on while sipping your sangria.

Words & Styling Alice Lines & Imogen Tunnicliffe
Photography Simon Wilson
Styling assistants Sam van Kan and Annique Heesen