Turkey and Dressing

Less than two weeks to go till Thanksgiving, and I haven’t even done a single post about holiday decorating!  I’m talking now about dressing your dining table for Thanksgiving.

If you are as mad about “table top” as I am, you probably own more than one set of dishes and a variety of table linens.  I own an entire wardrobe of linens for my sideboard, which is actually a beautiful Asian-style table that is gorgeous, but does not get along with my French country dining table and chairs, so it is always covered by a tailored undercloth and topped with another cloth, changed seasonally.  I NEVER use a tablecloth on my table–always place mats, so the beautiful wood and the carving on the apron of my antique dining table will show.  That is, until last Thanksgiving, when we were expecting 10 for a sit-down dinner, and place mats just wouldn’t work.  After carefully measuring my table, I went searching for the perfect tablecloth, and found it at Justin and Burks Antiques in Sellwood (503-234-6414).  Click on the images above and below to see the detail of embroidered squares alternating with lace squares,

sewn into a checkerboard pattern and edged with lace.  It came with twelve lace-edged napkins–what a find!  The silver candlesticks on the dining table are also from J & B–I highly recommend a visit to this wonderful resource.  Since we only have service for eight in our wedding china, I decided to use the Blue Willow pattern I found at a discount store for practically nothing (which explains why I bought 20 plates) because the blue and white looks lovely against the white cloth, and also echoes the blue in the portrait of Lao Tsu, who looks down benevolently on the table as if giving a blessing.  The silver is a combination of my mother’s and our wedding silver.   I found the vintage glassware, as well as my dining table and chairs, at Europa Antiques when they used to be located in Sellwood.   Candles are a must (everybody looks better by candlelight), so be sure to actually light the candles.

Flowers need to be low for a centerpiece, but can be grand for a buffet, or even at the end of the table when it’s “dinner for two.”  We surprised clients last year by setting up their dining table as a Thanksgiving dinner for two, using their own china, silver, and glassware, and adding colorful accessories:  a table runner, napkins, some gourds, pots, and candlesticks.  We found the fall foliage in their garden.

May you have a warm and happy Thanksgiving, filled with friends, family, and good food.

Write a Comment

houzz interior design ideas