My Thanksgiving Table

With so much to do before Thanksgiving, I decided to set my table a day ahead.  As much as I like to prepare and plan ahead of time for my table settings, I always make last minute decisions based on color, mood, linens, glassware, china and of course, my whim.  I always call these last minute changes, 'executive decisions'.  It's one thing to put things down on paper or have an idea of what a table setting should look like, but it's a different thing altogether when you have everything before you.

I knew that I wanted to use my beautiful gilded Wedgwood drabware for most of the china, but since I enjoy mixing patterns and colors, I reached for a few of my antique, British ironstone plates.  These pieces are over 100 years old and have a lot of crazing on them.  With age and use, the ironstone has taken on a creamy quality which is perfect for the drabware.  The linens are a mix of brown & pumpkin European jacquard with golden accents and the flatware is old French silver and American bakelite.  The glassware is a combination of contemporary American and antique European etched glass.

Last but not least is the simple centerpiece.  Since I'm not one who gives in to pomp and circumstance, a restrained, yet elegant centerpiece consists of pumpkins, orange-colored kalanchoes, old custard cups and sprigs of fresh bay leaves.

My table is easy on the eyes and nothing distracts from conversation and the Thanksgiving feast before us.  I hope that my table gives you ideas for your decorations this holiday season.  

Enjoy creating a beautiful table!

I found these miniature kalanchoes at the farmers market the other day

and decided to use them for my centerpiece.  I love the autumnal

color of the orange flowers.  

For my simple arrangement I picked two custard cups that I've had

on my collectible Martha by Mail Spice Rack.  Their creamy color

almost matches the old ironstone I'm using.

 The little plants slipped off their plastic pots and 

were placed in the custard cups.

A perfect match!

 With my linens pressed and ready to go, I brought everything 

over to the table to begin arranging.  

 The linens I'm using have a grapevine motif, and although they 

aren't matching pieces, the colors complement each other.

The gilded Wedgwood drabware is among my favorite patterns

of china.  The British ironstone plates are so beautiful that I just

had to pair them with the Wedgwood.

You can see how elegant that rim is with its vine.

 The glassware is a mix of old and new.  I love footed glasses when setting

an elegant table because they look beautiful.

The etched glasses will be used for white wine and the contemporary

glasses will be used for red wine.

That mid-century yellow bakelite flatware has butterscotch undertones 

which work with the linens.  The fiddlehead, oversized flatware is late

20th century French silver.

I love my Thanksgiving Place Cards because they're simple to make.

The kalanchoes are ready to be placed and the fragrant bay leaves 

won't go to waste after our dinner.  

The pumpkins are leftover from Halloween.

The creamy pumpkins started off as spooky white gourds, but with

a month of sitting on a sunny windowsill (being turned every few days),

the minis turned a wonderful pale yellow.

I thought I was going to create this with my china, 

but a last minute 'executive decision'

had me change it.

I removed the fruit bowls and placed the linen napkins on

top of the salad plates instead.

The large pumpkin was placed in the middle and the smaller ones

were spaced out down the middle.  The succulents were placed in 

between the gourds.

The orange flowers of the kalanchoes echo the shades of the larger

pumpkin and the napkins.

A sprig of bay leaves was placed on each fruit bowl.  The bowl itself

was placed directly above the dinner plate.  This will be the dessert bowl 

for our pumpkin custards.

Make sure your glassware is clean and sparkling.  There should be no

watermarks or other unsightly blemishes on your glassware.

My vintage salt and pepper shakers in the shapes of quails 

are at the ready.  I decided to include smaller sterling salt & pepper

shakers just in case.

From my home to yours, I want to wish everyone 

a very Happy & Joyous Thanksgiving!  

David