When setting the table for a gathering of family and friends, one is presented with an opportunity to create something very special and unique. It is quite amazing how you can use pieces that have been traditional staples of the dinner table for years, but tweak them with a few new ideas and - voila! A fresh new tablescape!
A few years ago I worked on a series of tablescapes at the Ohio Design Centre, and I would love to share them with you. The first is a fairly traditional Thanksgiving table. I started with a richly woven shawl because I loved the colors and pattern. It did not fit the table like a tablecloth, so I did not even try to make it look like one. Instead I set it at an angle on the table, showing off the lovely burled wood. Then I used traditional “Friendly Village” china, set on gold chargers.
Continuing with layers of texture, I used small wicker baskets filled with artificial fruit as place markers; each one had a hand-lettered nametag held in place with twine. In the middle of the table, large pinecones added more references to nature in a casual way, and cranberry pillar candles shone through seeded-glass hurricanes. The final touch was a beautiful centerpiece that celebrated the bounty of the season. Instead of lots of flowers, this arrangement was composed of fresh greenery, pine branches, fruit, a few red roses and some wonderfully unexpected tropical blooms. Reds, greens and golds in all their variations, as well as a variety of patterns and textures, made this table a rich tapestry - a suitable background to celebrate family traditions.
I hope you continue to enjoy this blog as I explore wonderful design inspirations. In addition to a variety of design discoveries, I will be adding more holiday tablescapes. So, please join me in celebrating this holiday as you “Live With Style.”
