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Setting a magical Thanksgiving table can be fun, easy, and beautiful all at once! I am sharing a table you can set for your Thanksgiving holiday with an easy going French Country flair that has enough elegance and chic for even the most discriminating mother-in-law.
It’s a table set with things you love, little touches for each guest, so that it is a personal table for your family, friends, and you.
If you are fortunate enough to have a dining room, you can set this table far in advance, and put a big check mark next to that box on your list. Thanksgiving Table, = set . The bonus is that you can enjoy your gorgeous table for a little more time than just a few hours when you really don’t have time to drink in its beauty and charm.
If you are coming over from Kim at Sand & Sisal, welcome! I’m so happy you are joining me today.
I’ve also teamed up with some of my blogging friends to bring you fabulous Styled + Set Entertaining ideas for Thanksgiving, hosted by Lory at Designthusiasm.
Each one of my fabulous friends will be sharing her best entertaining tips for Thanksgiving! You can see the complete list at the end of this post.
By now you know that I’ll show you several options that I played with. I try to see what the options are in small ways for every special table setting. No big deal, but I think that when I show you those options, some of you might love one more than the other. That’s the beauty of setting a table, there is no right or wrong way to do it.
As long as you think it’s beautiful, it’s right!
Let’s begin….I hope this inspires you in some way to create your own Thanksgiving table with a little touch of French Country magic.
LAYER YOUR TABLE WITH COLOR AND TEXTURE.
For this table, I started with a gorgeous flax linen French tablecloth. Heavy, with a delicious nubby weave, it has black stripes for a little pop.
I love these plates! It’s almost impossible to find a set of ironstone with colored designs, these are exceptionally pretty. Brought over to France from England by a family in the late 1800’s and used by generations, they have such charm and style, just right for a casual elegant table.
With their multi-colored floral design, a black plate underneath the stack grounds them, and gives them the frame they deserve. I layered the salad plate over the dinner sized plate.
The plum colored glasses are ones I’ve had for ages, they seemed just right for this table. I mixed in our new gold rimmed Moi et Toi glasses, and a pear in an antique gilt rimmed cordial glass echoes the antique sterling and gold vermeil salt cellars and place card holders at each place.
USE THE POWER OF WORDS.
Thanksgiving is the time we reflect on what we are thankful for. Why not give everyone a thankful thought on their plate?
I printed out several different options on my computer, then cut each page into a circle to place on each place setting.
A menu works beautifully, too. This is a detail I love to add to almost every holiday table. It takes so little, is practically free {if you already have a printer at home} and really lets your guests know that you are looking forward to spending time with them at your table.
ADD LOVING DETAILS.
One of the biggest family holidays of the year deserves something special on the table. The centerpiece for this table is a matching antique French ironstone tureen filled with seasonal flowers in lavender purple, light greens, and plums layered with eucalyptus leaves and artichokes from the farmers market.
Beautiful, but not fussy. And inexpensive because you make it yourself.
The more you can add to each placesetting to make each guest feel loved and special, the better. I added these sterling and vermeil salt cellars I bought in Italy, each one has a small sterling spoon for the salt, but also a slot to add a name card.
For this table, I wrote “grace” , “grateful”, “thanks” and “thankful” – a scripture would also be so appropriate for Thanksgiving, don’t you think?
TIE IT UP WITH LOVE.
The holidays are the time to serve dessert with style. These miniature apple pies {made by chef Lisa of DeliciousTable – recipe coming in November} are baked in individual white baking dishes.
To serve them up with style, I tied a silver fork to each little pie with a gorgeous bright green satin ribbon. Who wouldn’t love that?
Here are a few that are waiting for those who may want “seconds” – even after all the turkey and other culinary delights, some of my guys can still split a second dessert with a second cup of coffee.
Sometimes a simple dessert can be just the right thing.
Tied up like a gift, it’s the perfect ending to a perfect gathering.
SOURCES:
Antique Floral Dinner Plates | Antique Floral Luncheon Plates | Linen Bon Appetit Napkins | 19th Century Floral Tureen
French Country Linen Tablecloth | Antique Silver & Vermeil Salt Cellars set of 12
Now that we know each other a little, I’d love to keep in touch. Before you go, I’d love for you to join me for every post. The little sign-up box to get the latest in your in-box is on the top right.
If you are new here, you might want to VISIT MY APPETIZER “HOW TO” HERE >
{this is a beautiful way to serve a few appetizers at any time, but especially during the holiday entertaining season.}
Up next on our tour, Jennifer of Town & Country Living .
and these friends are also sharing their Thanksgiving table settings and beauty!
Hosted by Designthusiasm
Please click below to visit today’s posts:
Monday’s Posts
Maison de Cinq | Decor Gold Designs | Maison de Pax | My Soulful Home
Bless’er House | Ella Claire | French Country Cottage
Tuesday’s Posts
Designthusiasm | Cotton Stem | Randi Garrett Design | Citrine Living
Celebrating Everyday Life | Kelley Nan | Life on Virginia Street
Wednesday’s Posts
Taryn Whiteaker | On Sutton Place | Julie Blanner
Zevy Joy | Finding Home Farms | Setting for Four
Thursday’s Posts
Shabbyfufu | Sand and Sisal
French Garden House | Town and Country Living | Becky’s Farmhouse
Love this tour, and as always, your table is beautiful. Those deserts are such a great display with their green ribbons, and can I just have those for dinner, please?
Ginger
Thank you Ginger. I agree, the pies look like a little gift on each plate. They are so good! You can have them for dinner, wouldn’t that be fun?! Thanks for joining me today for this Thanksgiving inspiration tour. xo
Your tablescape is beautiful!
Thank you so much, Doris. It’s so nice to see you here!
Omigosh, Lidy, it’s stunning! Starting with the gorgeous tablecloth, adding those lovely plates and all those wonderful glasses!! I love it!! And then top it off with that exquisite centerpiece!! Magnifique!
Thank you Lory! It’s always a joy to join you on this inspiring tour.
Lidy, what a stunning Thanksgiving table filled with beauty and love! The pies are a perfect finish and any guest would feel special!
Thank you Pam! Those little pies are a sweet touch, aren’t they?
So pretty Lidy and I have actually had some of those plates in the past, so it was fun to see them here! Great tips too!
Thanks Janet, it’s always a joy to set a pretty table, and when the dishes are so beautiful, it’s easy!
I love the plates! “…split a second dessert” made remember Thanksgiving of 1989. My oldest son was 15 then and we’d had friends over for the holiday. He had two helpings of everything and a slice of each pie (apple. pumpkin, mince, and pecan). He and his younger brother disappeared with one of their friends, while the adults continued to sit at table, talking and enjoying the day. He was back, an hour later, declaring “I’m hungry Mom. What have we got to eat?” And proceeded to make himself a turkey sandwich, followed by another slice of pumpkin pie and apple pie. We hadn’t even started the clean-up! Cooking for adolescent boys was always satisfying – they basically ate anything and everything.
I absolutely love this memory!! Isn’t it the truth? I love that, hungry after all that eating, but when you are a growing young guy…bottomless.
I only had girls, until my girls brought boys over.
But some of their girlfriends actually ate more than two bites as teens, and it was always such a joy to cook for them!
Hope you are having a beautiful October, Mary,
Lidy, those little pies are so adorable! Great idea to wrap them up with a big ribbon and a fork! Very clever.
Jennifer, thank you, they are adorable and also so very good! I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving.
The table is absolutely gorgeous Lidy! I can just imagine the amazing beauty in your kitchen and dining room on Thanksgiving Day…your attention to detail is evident in the way you present each place setting and the use of color and textures and levels. Love how you have stacked the dessert plates and placing the exquisite centerpiece on a pedestal adding great visual effect…You wow your guests and family with the most stunning table which makes them feel so very special!!!
Thank you Shirley! I love the colors and textures on this table too. Plum, inspired by your plum fall colors!
Your tables are so gorgeous Lidy – I love that you did all different ideas and creative options in your tablescape. But I must admit, your linens and your second bouquet with the hydrangeas and artichokes really have my heart. Your linens are so adorable!! And artichokes in a floral setting just look so beautiful!
Love hopping with you – and happy fall!
Sheila
xo
Thank you so much, Sheila! I love the artichokes mixed in with the hydrangeas, too. Happy Fall!