With Thanksgiving a mere week away, it's time to set the table! I spent the weekend searching through my closets for seasonal decor and found my tablescape inspiration in a vintage Chinoiserie urn (there's more to Turkey day than cornucopias and gourds!). While not a traditional choice for a seasonal bountiful table that is generally drowned in moody browns and oranges, this Chinoiserie chic centerpiece is a vibrant twist on tradition with its hand painted fauna and unexpected colorful pops of pink and high-gloss black.
To add dramatic flair and modernize the urn, I paired the urn with a pair of high-gloss black peacocks (scored at Home Goods). Peacocks.. turkeys, they're both birds and oh so appropriate for a Thanksgiving table! The overall effect is a statuary table runner. I wanted the florals to be light and simple (as not to overtake the focal point of the urn), so I picked up a seasonal bouquet with pinks and Fall brassy tones from our local market.
Inspired by the gilded glamour of the Chinoiserie urn, I decided to go for gold by adding copious amounts of gold spray paint to Fall leaves and wishbones (saved from prior Thanksgivings). The gilded coat elevates these organic elements to chic.
In lieu of a tablecloth, I dressed the table with a vintage French linen sheet. The soft organic linen grounds the glitzy drama of the tablescape and adds a layer of warmth sure to encourage friends and family to gather around the table. I also like the symbolism of having an heirloom linen, emblazoned with an old French family's monogram, as the cornerstone of my Thanksgiving table.
Brass chargers layered with crisp white Vintage dinnerware, and topped with a bright orange pumpkin, compliment the Chinoiserie centerpiece without fighting for too much attention. Unexpected pink napkins compliment the colors of the Chinoiserie urn and are corralled by vintage French curtain rings. Faux leaves inscribed with gilded names (I love gold Sharpies!) serve as simple name cards.
Design Notes
Creating an unpredictable and inviting Thanksgiving Tablescape.
- Rethink the Palette. You can avoid the expected dark and heavy seasonal colors while still honoring the season. Pops of bright orange modernize the Thanksgiving table in a pop art fashion while at the same time saying "hello pumpkin". Pinks are the perfect soft counterpoint to brown(ish) seasonal elements.
- Transform and Honor. On a day that's all about being thankful, think of ways to honor the past by incorporating them into your tablescape. Vintage brass curtain rings make stylish napkin holders while vintage bed linens double as table cloths. An antique silver pitcher would be a lovely vase.
- Mix n' Match. Mix vintage silverware and dinnerware with modern high-gloss drama. Pair simple with sophisticated.
- Affordable Glamour. A can of gold or silver spray paint can elevate almost any item to glamour. Seasonal elements outside your door, such as leaves, pinecones and sticks, are free accessories perfect for spray paint gilding.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Images by Brooklyn Boheme.
