I Keep Seeing These Three Design Details All Over the Riviera – This On-Sale Anthropologie Bar Station Nails Every One
Its whimsical silhouette, powder-blue finish, and glossy tiled top capture everything I love about the South of France
Riviera this, Riviera that. If you’re anything like me, your feeds have been inundated with fabulous people summering on the world’s most fabulous coastline. It’s a stylish scene – not just because of the spritzes or superyachts, but because of the little unmistakably South of France design details mingled throughout its many beach clubs.
I just found one of them hiding in Anthropologie’s sale section: the Lillie Outdoor Bar Table. The lower shelf comfortably fits an extra-tall bottle of Clase, the upper one your outdoor glassware, but what really caught my eye were its coastal cues: a playful steel silhouette, a wash of powder-blue, and an unfussy tiled top. Because if there’s anything we've learned from the French, it’s that there's nothing less chic than trying too hard.
It only looks like delicate ceramic. The Lillie Table's tiled top is actually glass-reinforced concrete with a glazed finish, perched on matte steel legs and built to stay outside.
At just under four feet wide, you don’t need a sprawling terrace to make a splash. Even if the rest of your outdoor entertaining setup is relatively simple, this sinuously detailed steel design immediately becomes the focal point. A small-backyard hero piece, if I’ve ever seen one.
Don’t let the small footprint fool you – there’s room for the good bottles, the glassware, and even a couple of (ideally coordinating) counter stools without compromising its breezy elegance.
I also appreciate the generous overhang, a seemingly unimportant detail that makes all the difference. This way, you can actually pull up a few stools and let it behave like a proper bar, rather than somewhere to simply park the bottles.
It might be late summer, but I don't think this is where the story ends. I’d absolutely move this 'outdoor' bar into a sunroom, living room, or even a generous hallway. It’s just too good to spend nine months in storage.
Anthropologie's Outdoor Lillie Collection
Did I mention beautiful DNA runs in the family? The bar table belongs to Anthropologie’s broader Lillie collection, and I’ve wanted every last piece since it debuted.
One drink often becomes three: a cocktail, a shared bottle of wine, a glass of water. This darling side table handles the overflow with whimsy, though I’d be just as inclined to place it between two armchairs or chaises, where it’d do wonders for an otherwise sleepy seating group.
The counter stool comes with a contrast red patterned cushion that sings against the whisper-blue frame – exactly the kind of unexpected color pairing I love at a great beach club. Two make for an intimate setup, but the bar is generous enough to seat four, with two along the long side and one at each end.
Martha Stewart recently told me she’d never host outside without a little church and state: one area explicitly for eating or drinking, another for lingering. A coffee table like this gives the party cue to wander – a small detail that, according to Martha, makes guests far more comfortable.
How I'd Style It
Late summer is, in my opinion, the chicest time to host. Here’s how I’d style the Lillie collection for a Riviera-coded reverie.
They look like cut crystal, but these LoveShackFancy collaboration champagne flutes are actually acrylic, so feel free to bring them outdoors without worry. Currently on clearance, I wouldn’t hesitate to snap up a set or two.
An uninspired patio umbrella becomes a whole lot more Amalfi with a clamshell base. This one by Business & Pleasure has enough presence to catch your eye from across the backyard.
The Riviera palette isn’t only blue. It often sneaks a little pink, too. Katie Kime’s Watermarks Ice Bucket brings the perfect color play and saves you from constantly disappearing into the kitchen.
Your backyard should feel like an escape. Whether that’s somewhere in the South of France, South America, or otherwise, we’ve rounded up the resort-style outdoor furniture and decor to take you there.
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