Ciao Bella!

The founder of the Italianmade ceramics brand Vietri celebrates high summer with a pair of tables suited for all occasions

- BETSY CRIBB WATSON

"A DINNER PARTY is a success when your guests have tasted new foods or drinks, seen a table that is refreshing, and learned something," says Susan Gravely. This approach to entertaining comes naturally to the host, who founded her tabletop line after such a dining experience in Positano, Italy, more than 40 years ago. "We stayed at Il San Pietro hotel and ate in a room that overlooked the Tyrrhenian Sea," recalls Gravely of the trip she took with her mother and sister. They fell in love - with the smell of the pizza; the bougainvillea blooms overhead; and the brightly colored dinnerware, which was handmade by artisans in a nearby town. They brought several pieces home to North Carolina and launched what has since become Vietri, a popular collection of Italian-made tableware that's designed to inspire special meals. "Dining represents a spirit of bringing people together all ages, all types - and enjoying the environment," she explains. "For me, the table is a metaphor for any time people gather. They're talking and appreciating their surroundings, and they leave feeling better."

Supper on the Terrace