Consummate Hosts

"I love having company," declares Stiles Colwill, a decorator who resides with Jonathan Gargiulo at Halcyon Farm, a 122-acre horse farm outside of Baltimore that has been in Colwill's family for some 60 years. "Stiles' parents entertained a great deal here, and the fun has never stopped," says Gargiulo, a partner in the New York antiques firm John Rosselli.

Among Colwill and Gargiulo's greatest pleasures is putting together informal meals for the cadre of friends they've come to consider family. On this occasion, the couple invited a group of longtime pals for a relaxed dinner in the garden, taking every measure to foster an elegant midsummer's evening of lively company and delicious food in a beautiful outdoor setting.

"We were inspired by the garden," says Colwill, explaining the pink and green color scheme. Tablecloths and toppers were made from bright cotton prints. "Custom linens are a worthwhile splurge," says Gargiulo. "They're special and you'll use them again and again." The guests were instructed to wear something pink, a sartorial challenge, says Colwill, to get everyone into the party spirit.

Setup began on the morning of the dinner. "We're lucky to have a wonderful team," says Gargiulo of the farm's indispensable staff. Ruth Edwards, who runs the house, helped select tableware. "It never bothers me to mix and match," says Colwill, referring to the stylish combination of antique china, ancestral silver, mismatched glasses, and contemporary chargers.

In addition to hurricane lamps and votive candles, garden-themed Staffordshire figures and miniature garden implements that the couple has collected over the years further enlivened the tabletops. "If you've got it, use it," Colwill says.

Meanwhile, Gargiulo worked with gardener Gary Baverstock to assemble luxuriant bouquets of shocking pink and red peonies for the centerpieces. A profusion of snapdragons, forced white lilies, hosta leaves, and branches of variegated red-berried elder filled a large antique urn atop the buffet table. "All of the flowers and plants came from the property," says Gargiulo, "which makes us appreciate them even more."

Colwill and Gargiulo devised a seasonal menu that incorporated favorite, time-honored recipes. "Simple is best," says Gargiulo, who prepared the meal. "Choose foods that can be made ahead and served at room temperature." Passed hors d'oeuvres included scallops wrapped in bacon, cheese puffs, and sausage biscuits -- old-fashioned savory bites that no one could resist.

Later, guests helped themselves to a buffet of Maryland crab cakes, stuffed beef tenderloin, baked asparagus, minted potatoes, and Try and Guess Salad, a recipe handed down from Colwill's mother. "It's always a hit," says Colwill of the decidedly retro aspic dish that has become one of the farm's "great culinary traditions."

Guests sat at two tables with place cards to ensure that couples separated and everyone mixed. For this special group, Colwill and Gargiulo brought out slipcovered antique Chippendale chairs in lieu of the usual less-than-comfy outdoor furniture. "It was an unexpected detail that our friends loved," says Gargiulo. "When it was time to go inside for coffee and dessert, without being asked, everyone picked up a chair and carried it indoors."

"My mother had a motto: Good friends, good food, and good drink make for good times," says Colwill, reflecting on a memorable day. "And you know? She was right."

When planning a party, "be prepared!" say Stiles Colwill and Jonathan Gargiulo. Here's how they give a gathering a personal dimension without a lot of fuss.

• Food. Community-based cookbooks are a great source for traditional, homey recipes, such as Colwill's mother's Try and Guess Salad. Gargiulo loves to pore over cookbooks published by churches, firehouses, and ladies auxiliaries.
• Table settings. Keep your eyes open for things that are always useful to have on hand, such as wonderful containers for flowers. A great and inexpensive source for vintage tableware is eBay.
• Accessories. Have fun with what you have. Take those collections off of the shelves and put them to use on your tabletop. Colwill and Gargiulo's Staffordshire figures were clever conversation starters.
• Linens. Custom linens are an effort -- and a treat -- you'll never regret. The summery pink and green fabrics that Colwill and Gargiulo selected beautifully reinforced the party's garden theme. Gargiulo insists on 22-inch square napkins -- at least. "They just feel luxurious," he says.
• Flowers. If you've got a garden, let it inspire you. "Even if you don't have flowers, a vase of branches with interesting leaves can be an unexpected presence on a table," says Gargiulo, who has used variegated dogwood this way.
• Conversation. Place cards might not seem necessary when guests are close friends and family, but they ensure that everyone mixes, which always makes things livelier. "Sometimes we'll ask the men to change places between courses," says Gargiulo.
• Drinks. Concoct some fun cocktails to get the party rolling. Bartender George Lee's Southside recipe is one of Maryland's best-kept secrets and always a topic of speculation among guests.
• Seating. Let your dining room chairs make an appearance alfresco. "Guests don't expect to sit on Chippendale chairs outdoors, but in fact, it's what people used to do," says Colwill. Slipcovers are a fun way to add a splash of color and make the chairs look less formal.
• Fun. Colwill's playful combination of antique china, heirloom silver, and inexpensive glass pieces prevented the tables from feeling pretentious and overly formal.

RESOURCES: Green glass chargers from Pottery Barn, potterybarn.com; custom table linens and slipcovers by Kathryn M. Ireland through John Rosselli (T); seat cushion fabric by SeaCloth through John Rosselli (T).

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