|
|
|
THE GREAT INDOORS: Attention-getting Thanksgiving table settings
Meg and a crew of Philly design heads assemble a variety of Thanksgiving table-setting ideas.
THE GREAT INDOORS: Attention-getting Thanksgiving table settings
Reporter Meg Augustin takes you inside some of Philly's most fab dwellings to showcase our city's unique grasp on design and architecture.
Thanksgiving is upon us and that means open belt buckles and leftovers for days. But for those looking forward to hosting the holiday feast, Thanksgiving Day is about more than just food prep. Whether it’s your first time hosting the family dinner or you’re simply looking for new ways to entertain the crew, you know the big day also calls for a touch of décor.
Plopping down paper plates and 2-liter bottles of soda may make entertaining a little easier, but if you really want to give your guests a holiday feast to remember, a few simple flourishes can set the mood. We’ve put together four Thanksgiving table ideas, all with different families and occasions in mind, with help from designers Ashley Hannan and Naomi Stein. Along with ideas and tips, home shops Terrain and Hello Home have provided some of their favorite for-purchase tabletop items to help you get the ball rolling.
RUSTIC AND FARM-LIKE
Simple and inexpensive tableware such as a white Ikea tablecloth and blue-and-white kitchen towels 
keep things easy and worry-free when stains inevitably occur. If you aren’t stocked with simple linens, pick up something like this one from Terrain. The simple piece will work for multiple seasons and occasions and can handle a few stains.
When stopping by the grocery, grab a few extra rustic fruits like pears or apples for decoration. Or do as we did and reuse your Halloween pumpkins. While any colors will work, we loved the pop of orange against the simple country blue.
With this table theme, we suggest buying a case of Mason jars — which can be found at grocery, general or craft stores — and using them for drinking glasses and candleholders for later dinners. While you're at it, grab a cheap pack of brown paper bags. These versatile sacks work as a variety of canvases. Set them beneath each place setting with a guest’s name for an easy place card. If you’re in the mood for family sharing, place a few bags on your entry table or sideboard and ask guests to write down what they are thankful for. In the end, you have a sentimental and interesting piece for scrapbooking or framing. These cheap bags can also be used to encase leftovers to send guests home with, or as a distracting “coloring book” at the kids table.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY
“Thanksgiving is about family and food,” says local design blogger Ashley Hannan, “I thought a large 
centerpiece would impede both good food and good conversation.” Instead, this setting incorporates natural elements such as fallen leaves as a table runner. Gathering a few raked leaves is cheap and really makes your table pop. Natural colors continue with an ivory tablecloth and taupe placemats, as well as the pinecone candlesticks purchased at a local thrift store. The simple setting gets a pop of color from the ruby-red pomegranates and a glow from the firelight. Here, Hannan uses leaves to increase the height of the table, but pomegranates also make great place-card holders. The fruit’s natural crown makes it easy to slip a piece of paper in for an easy seating chart.
For this table, it would be easy to set food out in oven-to-table cookware, such as these bakers and terrines from Terrain. These made-in-the-USA, earthy pieces are perfect for the harvest holiday and can either work as a family-style serving dish or can be bought in the “petite” size for an interesting single-serving dish for each guest. Whether you chose to serve food on the table or on a sidebar, a simple wood cutting board such as this tree-ring one will make carving and serving all the more fun.
FOR THE URBAN DWELLER
“I envision this being a young, contemporary city Thanksgiving gathering,” says local interior designer 
Naomi Stein. “No formalities, but that doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy a little fancy.” With less food to cook and less table-space to cover, a more intimate and adult gathering means you can get a little more elaborate with the table setting. Here, Stein used traditional China with a more fresh and preppy polka dot table to modernize and balance the table. “The color scheme of orange, blue and gold felt very fall to me while still being fresh.” Gold is used throughout the table to make elements pop, as with the gold chargers from Pier 1 and the vintage butterfly glasses. A larger centerpiece is possible with a smaller round table and fun effects — like a pagoda and sea fan — make for a good conversation starter. “I think a good table setting should mix modern with traditional, have a little sparkle, a little candlelight and something unexpected,” says Stein. So if you’re dining with less, get a little creative with your table and keep your guests guessing.
For such occasions, more modern elements would also work. Utilizing larger centerpieces work on small, round tables so go for something unexpected such as this three-tier tray from Hello Home. Place interesting fruit in it or use it to serve traditional items such as cranberries and sweet potatoes. You could also opt for an interesting beverage server. A handmade carafe from Hello Home incorporates an amber crystal ball as a lid, which can be placed under for an interesting visual effect. If you’re attending a smaller city gathering, such an item would make the perfect hostess gift.
THE CLASSIC APPROACH
If natural or rustic looks aren’t your cup of tea and an ornate tabletop just won’t do, a more classic 
setting can still be made to pop. Here we’ve rethought the Thanksgiving cornucopia and utilized ideas and images of excess. Like table #2, we’ve kept the centerpiece low to facilitate conversation. The centerpiece re-imagines the cornucopia with rich wood tones and succulent fruits. Pick up lush looking fruits such as pomegranates, figs and grapes and let them spill out onto the table. Leave fruit whole or cut it open right before serving dinner for a more succulent appeal. Gold Chilewich placemats from Sur La Table to make ordinary white dishes sparkle while low-lit flames keep gold and glass sparkling. Utilize colorful and interesting napkins to reflect the fruits you’ve bought, enhancing the opulent theme.
For such a table, we recommend getting good glassware. Set out a decanter or similar vessel — like this set from Terrain — of wine to make the setting seem even lusher. For this look, you don’t need to spend a lot on tableware. But to make sure the fire’s glow seems warmer and your modern cornucopia fuller, gold elements and good glass will really make your classic table seem regal.
Now that your table's set, it’s time for the fun part. Bon appétit!
If you'd like to see your home or business featured in an upcoming The Great Indoors, email Meg at megan.augustin@citypaper.net.
- Activism
- Arts
- Arts Events
- Books
- Dance
- First Person Fest
- Last Chance
- Museum
- On the Fringe
- Philly Artists
- The Curator
- Theater
- Visual Art
- Arts News
- Artist Profile
- Arts Preview
- Street Art
- Been There, Done That
- Big Ups
- Comedy
- LOL With It
- Stand-up
- Critical Mass
- DVD
- Events
- Friday Fill-in
- Ice Cubes
- In Memoriam
- Interview
- Just Do It
- Just Opened
- Kaleidoscopic
- LGBTQ
- Art Phag
- Mailbag
- Movies
- Film Fest
- Movie Review
- On set
- Scenester
- screening
- trailer!
- Music
- 10 Track Mind
- Album
- Album Review
- Concert Review
- DJs
- Local Support
- Now Hear This
- One Track Mind
- Philly Bands
- Show
- Somebody Else Was There
- Song
- The Showdown
- concert photos
- jazz
- DJ Nights Blogged
- Night Watch
- Now See This
- Poetic License
- Printed Matter
- Radio
- Shopping
- Coveted
- Fashion
- What We Heart
- TV
- 24
- Idol Hands
- Mad Men
- ProjRun
- True Blood
- Useless Lost Recaps
- Couch Potato
- Shore Trash
- Turned ONN
- TopMod
- Video Games
- Free Online Game
- PSP
- PlayStation 2
- The 1-Upper
- Wii
- Web Junk
- CAGE MATCH
- Free Online Toy
- Weekend Omnibus
- Win
