Modern Mixed Metallic Thanksgiving Tablescape

Today I’m taking part in the All Things Home Thanksgiving Tablescape Tour with a few {20!} other blogging buddies, and I’ve been working feverishly behind the scenes pulling together a few of my favorite modern Thanksgiving table setting ideas.  If you are new to Making Lemonade, welcome, and be sure to check out the about page and have your tissues ready if you delve into how my blog got it’s name.  😉 Now let me start off by saying that I’m SO ….

Thanksgiving is a time to honor tradition, but you know me– always raising trouble by adding a few modern touches touches that would make the Pilgrims aghast at the sight.  Aghast, I tell you!

Okay, not so aghast.  But mixing silver and gold?  Sinful!

Metallics are always welcome this time of year because they bring light to dark nights.  Gold has been hot recently, but that doesn’t mean everything needs to gilded– especially if you’d rather cozy up to silver, mercury glass, brass, or bronze.  There’s a key to mixing metallics well, just be sure there’s one dominant metal and the rest are sidekicks or accessories to the main metal.  So after I scanned my collection of plates and serving ware, I chose silver as the main metallic and gold as it’s sidekick.  THE ROBIN TO SILVER’S BATMAN, if you will.

It was my goal to keep the table color scheme mostly neutral.  That way, the food becomes the star and really pops against the background.  Neutral tones allow the cranberry sauce, greens, sweet potatoes, and turkey take center stage– and rightfully so, holla!

It all starts with the first layer, your runner or tablecloth.  I chose to use a runner to show off my new table.  😉  But not just ANY runner, a handmade no-sew silver runner that took under 2 hours and $10 to make.  Tutorial will be on the blog later this week, so be sure to check back for it!

Isn’t she lovely?  Sigh.  I loved it so much I also made one in gold.  I’ll share the tutorial for the metallic table runner in a few days, promise!  As you can see, I placed a piece of gold polka dot burlap under the runner across the width of the table.  I kept the burlap all one piece so I could use it for other things, and it’s the gold compliment to my mostly silver color scheme.

Next up come the chargers.  They are inexpensive, usually about $1 at the craft store.  I used square silver charges to make the table feel more modern.  Layered on top are my black and white grapevine dinner plates from Crate & Barrel, they’re at least 10 years old and huge.  LOVE.

On top of the dinner plates are a West Elm salad plates with adorable greetings in gold, found on sale last week.  You *could* DIY these, but truthfully I get nervous about food safety and felt it best to go with ones deemed food (and microwave and dishwasher) safe by West Elm.

Napkins in a neutral color set the stage for silver napkin rings from a thrift store that cost $2 for the entire set.  If you have a great thrift store in the area they probably have loads of napkin rings you can pick up for a song.  I had a few ideas in mind for the napkin rings, but when it came right down to it I realized simple was best and left them alone.

But are you ready for the piece de resistance?  TWIG SILVERWARE.  They are so dainty and lovely.  I want to use them for every meal, all the time.  Perhaps I should just carry one around in case anyone ever needs a fork.

“Twig fork, my friend?”

Placecards are the same ones we used last year– the mixed metallic pumpkin placecards with thankful notes attached— but I switched them up a bit.  I took off last year’s cards and added new ones in a simpler style.  They are intentionally left blank here to protect the innocent.  😉

Once the placesettings are done, the real fun begins.  I loaded up my (super heavy) metal candle tray with goodies!  I kept it REALLY simple, because we’ll remove it to make room for the food.  Plus, I didn’t want to obstruct views across the table with anything tall or fussy.

Because my kids are young and highly likely to grab anything that catches their eye, I used flameless candles for the centerpiece.  No worries, just a lovely flickering light.  Be sure to get unscented if you buy some so they don’t interfere with your delicious food.

Load ‘er up with gourds, silver pumpkins, candlesticks of all shapes and sizes.

Feathers!

Now add your serving platters and plates, ready and waiting for all that yum-tastic food you’re going to cook.  Lining a simple basket with a snazzy cloth napkin adds instant elegance.  As for the squash, don’t worry, that’s just for decoration.  I’m not actually serving an entire uncooked squash for Thanksgiving.  Though it may come to that.

Also, back in prehistoric times when I first started blogging I wrote about how to make silver magnolia leaf plate chargers.  The photos are super old, but the instructions are still there if you want to give it a try– it used to be one of my most popular posts because it’s so very easy!  And it’s actually double layered but this plate is big and covers up the first layer.

A vintage cake stand sits waiting for pie.  Using photo ornaments, I framed a few questions to keep the conversation going.  Not that you need any help keeping the conversation going, if your family is anything like mine.  But it’s a fun gimmick for the kids, hopefully to keep them seated longer than the .25 seconds my kids want to sit for Thanksgiving.

Another quick touch was adding a swag of berries to the backs of the wooden chairs, tied with burlap ribbon.  The berries are on clearance at JoAnn Fabric right now and I already had the ribbon so the cost was $1 for both.

And because I’m me, I stuck a succulent on the table.  Why?  Well, why not?  Next to it I placed an oyster shell from a summer vacation as a makeshift salt cellar.

On the sideboard (more on THAT later, the thrift store score of the CENTURY!) I added a few more details like the DIY feathered pumpkin from a few weeks ago.  See, it CAN transition into Thanksgiving!  Though Christmas might be pushing it.

Okay, here’s a sneak peek of her.  Isn’t she gorgeous?

There’s my faux snakeskin serving tray, holding helpful items like S & P shakers from my Grammie, sugar & creamer from my husband’s Nana, and a teapot from… the thrift store.

I’ve been busy in this room, actually.  Here’s that ugly brown hutch, painted grey and blue.  Can’t wait to show you the whole thing!

The bar cart awaits your order.  Cranberry martini, anyone?

There’s actually two things missing from this table.  Well, besides the food and the people.  One is the tablecloth we use every holiday.  I usually put it down for the dessert serving.  We eat our dessert, spill crumbs all over it, and then sign our names or add a message with the year.  It’s a sentimental way to freeze a moment in time and remember who has joined you at your holiday table each year.

The other is the wishbone plate I made a few years ago.  I LOVED THAT PLATE.  Unfortunately, an overzealous mother-in-law scrubbed off the wishbone.  🙁  I used to be one of my favorite things, so I hope to make a new one before this year’s feast.  Here’s the DIY wishbone plate tutorial if you’d like to make one, too.  And then send me one, maybe?

A few more photos of our mixed metallic modern Thanksgiving table:

Here are the other blogs participating in the All Things Home Thanksgiving showcase.  Stop by and visit on their scheduled day to see 20 different tablescape ideas!

Monday, Nov 11th

Marty’s Musings

Sophia’s

Celebrating Everyday Life with

Jennifer Carroll

On Sutton Place

Making Lemonade

 

Tuesday, Nov 12th

Worthing Court

Home Is Where the Boat Is

Backporch Musings

Stone Gable

Kirb Appeal

Wednesday, November 13
The Everyday Home
At The Picket Fence
Between Naps On The Porch
Craftberry Bush
Cedar Hill Farmhouse

Thursday, November 14
The Lilypad Cottage
Atta Girl Says
All Things Heart And Home
Top This Top That
Town And Country Living

PS: my absolute #1 favorite lifesaver for preparing the Thanksgiving meal is this {affiliate link, thanks!}  It’s SUCH a huge help when trying to coordinate keeping everything warm and tasty while juggling all those side dishes and turkey.  That one appliance was such a Thanksgiving game changer for me!

So, would the Pilgrims be aghast at my mixed metallic Thanksgiving table? Will they make me wear the scarlet letter ‘M’ for mixing modern and vintage tablescape ideas?  Be sure to stop back this week for more Thanksgiving decorating ideas as well as that tutorial on how to make a handpainted metallic table runner!

Modern Mixed Metallic Thanksgiving Tablescape is linking up with:

Liz Marie Blog | The Shabby Nest | The Party Bunch | Made in a Day | Remodelaholic | Serenity Now | DIY by Design