Into the Wild – Safari Dinner on the Porch

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It all started with the front porch…

Our front porch is large and I’ve always wanted to make it gorgeous…so this spring…I’m working on it! Several years ago, I moved a marble top table to the front porch that had been inside in our sunroom, but I had no chairs to use with it! I looked and looked for chairs and then one day when I was driving past a local consignment shop, I saw some chairs sitting in front…I screeched to a stop, backed up a little and immediately parked. I wrote a check, loaded them into my car and voila…they were perfect! Sometimes it takes a while for a plan to come together, but decorators always say that it’s best for a home to look collected over time and that’s a good thing because it takes me a while!

Several years went by and I kept trying to find just the right planters to go by the front door, but nothing ever seemed quite right. But…when I was in Richmond a few weeks ago, I finally found some amazing and huge terra cotta planters at my favorite boutique – Creme de la Creme, and I just knew would be perfect by the front door and I was right!

From there, I purchased pillows and a blanket to spruce up the rocking chairs and brought out some vintage metal basket weave planters (those are a whole story for a different day). Then, I replaced my old rickety bar cart for a new rattan bar cart and things were starting to look good!

And as the story progresses, my friend Kim (see her Instagram here) sent me a picture from Pinterest of a fabulous safari themed table and said, “you should do this on your front porch”! What a great idea that was and that’s how this post came to be!

Between the two of us, we have just about everything you would ever need to throw any kind of party you could think of! She pulled up in her car with things from her party closet, some things were purchased at Home Goods, and some things came from my party closet, and together, we created this safari themed table scape and bar cart! I was a fun way to spend an afternoon…we got our creative juices flowing! The only thing missing was the real party, but we have this one in our back pocket for later! Keep scrolling for the ideas…and, look forward to more from the two of us!

As luck would have it, I just happened to have the perfect outfit for the theme! I’m wearing a blouse from Ann Mashburn paired with a sleeveless white top from Bella Dahl, older Frame jeans (similar here) and animal print espadrilles from Staud (similar here) – scroll down to see the full outfit. My necklace is from French Kande and the sunglasses, of course, are from Amazon!

I purchased the vintage rattan ice bucket for Baldy and gave it to him along with some bourbon glasses for Christmas several years ago!


In the picture (to the right), you can see that we used a zebra hide layered with a flax linen tablecloth to cover the table…

Kim’s Blog is…Tables Pour Deux so be sure to check it out!

The brown bowls pictured above are from Haand Pottery. As always, use code CRAZYBLONDELIFE to receive 15% off your order from Haand!

Of all the pictures I took of this tablescape, the one above is my favorite…the detail is so pretty and it captures the feel of the whole theme and it just speaks to me! I found the vintage mother-of-pearl flatware at a consignment shop years ago. I’m always on the lookout for unique pieces that I can use for parties and here on the blog…I might need a bigger party closet soon! Would you all like to see the closet? Please let me know in the comments and I’d love to know if you like this post!

I was in a tremendous hurry yesterday and didn’t have time to post two outfit collages on this post. I went in yesterday afternoon and added them and the outfits are very cute, so be sure to check out the post!!


Below find a boutique of things in this post and a few other safari themed things that you’ll love!


Thanks so much for reading…I would really love to know what you think of this post so please leave a comment!

~XOXO Suzanne

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  1. Harriet says:

    Hi Suzanne! This is the type of post that I enjoy most when reading your blog. It shows your personality and fun nature. And it’s always inspiring to see how and what you do to put your home together. As a person who enjoys entertaining and having guests in my home, I am drawn to posts that show me new ways to entertain. And yes, I would love to see your “party closet.” I wish I had one.

    Your outfit is cute too but I could never were those shoes 👠! Good for you!

  2. Barbara says:

    LOVE IT ALL! FABULOUS! Thank you, Suzanne (and your fun friend!) for such a happy – can’t wait for summer party idea!

    • Suzanne Smith says:

      Hi Barbara

      Thank you thank you! I’m working on more party ideas and hope you love them!

  3. D’Arcy Vandenberg says:

    Beautiful my friend:)
    You know I love a good party and entertaining:) would love to see your party closet! Mine is torn up at the moment as I’ve been redoing and organizing all my holiday and entertaining pieces!!! It’s a disaster and I look like a hoarder!!! I guess that’s part of what we do for a living!!!

    • Suzanne Smith says:

      Hi D’Arcy!

      Thank you so much for reading! I think between the two of us we could throw a fabulous party! And yes…there are days when I feel like a hoarder, but the minute you get rid of something, you need it! Love you!

  4. DEBBIE says:

    LOVE IT!! The vintage pieces pair so well and jungle theme is just spot on!!! 👏👏

    • Suzanne Smith says:

      Hi Debbie

      Thank you so much! This was so much fun to create and I’m glad you enjoyed it!

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