If spring’s arrival has you dreaming of garden parties, look no further than Crate & Barrel’s new collection of outdoor furniture and accessories. Designed in collaboration with English expat Jake Arnold—interior designer to the stars and founder of The Expert—the collection just launched and will transform your backyard into a fanciful setting for long, lingering lunches.

In designing the line, Arnold merged the charm of vintage European garden furniture with the glamour and fantasy of his adopted home in Los Angeles. Think curvaceous ironwork, ticking striped fabrics, and lots of rattan. “Escapism is a big part of my work. I want this collection to whisk you away,” he says.

“Something as small as a bistro table can turn an outdoor space into a getaway,” notes Arnold. Case in point: the painted metal bistro dining set calls to mind the cafe tables tucked within English gardens, while its whimsical, sage green silhouette nods to Hollywood Regency style.

Shatterproof Tableware

Dining alfresco doesn’t mean sacrificing style. Arnold designed a collection of BPA-free plastic tableware that’s so elegant, you’d never guess it wasn’t the real thing. The acrylic drinkware boasts a highball, lowball, and stemmed coupe inspired by Czech etched glassware. The drinkware features the faintest amber tint.

Pair these silhouettes with more casual styles like earthy linens and melamine plates. The latter features a textured base and raised bamboo trim detail that replicates the look of ceramic plates. Everything is shatterproof and lightweight, making them easy to carry outside.

Decorative Accessories

The collection also includes accessories for elevating outdoor dining. A lidded wicker serving tray keeps bugs at bay and has a pretty twisted rope-style handle. It’s the same motif that decorates the outdoor lanterns, which are made of rustproof cast aluminum in a bronze finish. They look lovely as tabletop hurricanes but are sturdy enough to be placed on the ground to illuminate your dining area. Try clustering a set together and popping citronella candles inside for added pest control.

Along with tableware, the collection boasts furniture pieces like chaise lounges in the same style as the bistro set and teak sofas and chairs. Arnold took inspiration from antique tapestries for throw pillows, adding to the Old World European vibe. Contrasting the striped cushions with a patterned throw pillow works well thanks to the change in the pattern’s scale.

When hosting an outdoor soiree, include multiple places to rest nibbles and drinks. This woven rattan side table is generously sized and provides a nice textural counterpoint to the other furniture. Just as it does indoors, mixing up materials helps create a curated look on your porch or patio, too.  

Shop these pieces and many more from Jake Arnold’s new outdoor collection for Crate & Barrel, available now at crateandbarrel.com.