It’s time to talk turkey day. My mother used to set her table two weeks before Thanksgiving. The other day I resisted the urge to start pulling out place sets on my dining table. The acorn never falls far from the tree. The rules have changed since mom strategically placed her lovely 5-piece place settings with the matching gravy boat. After years of working with so many talented tabletop stylists, I have picked up some very resourceful tips… the first one being that there are no rules. Make it yours with just enough tradition mixed in. Besides, the “tablescape” draws them in but it’s the food that everyone will remember.
It does not have to be orange and brown. It’s natural to think of a harvest color palette for Thanksgiving, HOWEVER, check out this amazing pottery in rich indigos. Imagine a lush arugula mix in the serving bowl.
Oven to table. Gone are the days of multiple vegetable bowls. This cookware is so gorgeous it belongs right on the table. Layer it on a marble or wood board (Target has some great ones) and serve it up.
Add an organic element to each place setting. A spring of rosemary, thyme or lavender along with a place card is a sweet way to personalize each plate.
Forget a fussy, tall centerpiece. Design a simple runner with something right out of your back yard and mix in several small votives. If a yard is not an option, Trader Joe’s has silver dollar eucalyptus ($3.99 a sprig) to garnish your table that won’t block anyone’s view of “Aunt Marilyn.”
Tradition. This is my favorite tip from prop stylist Kim Phillips. She always mixes in an heirloom piece or two that reminds us of past traditions. These vintage-y salt cellars remind me of the ones my mom had in her china cabinet. It can be a pie server or that gravy boat that takes us back to Thanksgivings past and most definitely makes us smile.
Party “flavors.” Send them home with a treat. Inspired by Milissa’s pumpkin bread, this is a yummy way to remind them how special family and friends are on this day of thanks. From all of us at Terracotta Design Build, we wish all of our friends a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Many thanks for the inspiration content and images: foodiesfeed.com, elephant ceramics handmade by Michele Michael, Dansk cookware, Crate and Barrel, Pinterest, brit+co, etsy.com, and lilluna.com
