Grateful Harvest

Autumn is a season of harvests and of celebrations. And at the end of November here in the States we gather with family and friends for a holiday centered on gratitude. Thanksgiving is a special holiday, my favorite holiday! I focus on setting a table that is both welcoming and festive, comfortable tinged with sophistication.

Greg recently returned from Israel where he had been on business, bringing with him this gorgeous table runner. It was hand-woven in Jerusalem's Armenian Quarter and has a luxurious weight. I laid it directly on the table so that it would really stand out against the beautiful wood tones.

The depth of color in the runner was a perfect counterpoint for the dishes I chose. The chargers are burnished gold, with a beaded edge that adds a different type of texture.

Next come white dinner plates rimmed in gold. They're topped with fall-themed salad plates that have deep vibrant color and are aptly named "Harvest".

There are four designs on the plates that I purchased last year in the post-holiday sales.

They remind me of Old Master still-life paintings!

Four framed panels in blue, green and red are set on a primarily green background with tiny vines and flowers. Sparkling gold threads are woven throughout. Green and gold became the colors I would repeat in other elements on the table.

I used cut crystal stemware rimmed with gold, paired with one of my favorite antique mall finds. High and low pairings are one of the most effective ways to bring interest and individuality to tablescapes.

Figural salt and pepper shakers are a fun way to set a table apart and they tend to be inexpensive. These are the only "Thanksgiving" elements on the table and change it subtly from a fall table to a Thanksgiving table.

This pretty set on the opposite corner matches the salad plates. I also used them for Autumn Arrives with Color.

I loved how the sun played on the table and around the room.

Along the runner I placed a number of pumpkins in several colors. It was as though the pumpkins in the plates had become three-dimensional! I also added faux berries in an orangey-red.

My wedding sterling sits atop casual cloth napkins in a green deeper than the runner.

I've updated the vignette on the buffet with a colorful turkey plate.

Greg's unexpected gift has provided a beautiful base to build a grateful harvest table!

Thank you for visiting!

Table resources
Salad plates | Williams-Sonoma 'Harvest Pumpkin'
Crystal stemware | Waterford Marquis 'Hanover Gold'
Flatware | Reed & Barton 'Eighteenth Century'
Figural salt & pepper set | Fitz & Floyd