Thanksgiving Tablescape

Sara Hillery Interior Design

Happy Thanksgiving from my table to yours!

This season, I have been inspired by the simplicity of the original Thanksgiving- and have sought to design a humble, earthy tablescape as a reminder of the holiday’s central message of gathering, sharing, and giving thanks.

Sara Hillery Interior Design

A Touch of the Tropics:

Despite the forecast, I have been embracing inspiration from the tropics!

This bamboo tablecloth serves as a playful foundation while its brown hue allows this base layer to remain somewhat muted and very versatile.

Touches of bamboo seem to evoke a casual elegance – and I simply cannot get enough of this natural element! Since designing a table for the 2022 Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Gala, I have been incorporating bamboo silverware into my recent place settings. This bamboo flatware set now available on Sara Hillery Home acts as an additional cheerful nod to an island paradise.

These natural elements work in tandem to add texture as well as echo the familiar warm palette associated with autumn.

Chargers and China:

How fun are these green scalloped rice paper placemats? They are another earthy yet elegant base for today’s place setting.

In addition to the down-to-earth placemats, blue gold-rimmed China and white bamboo plates are layered on top of one another for a polished yet relaxed look.

Garden Centerpieces:

When tablescaping, be sure to include greenery! Even modest garden herbs in terracotta pots can liven up a table. Moreover, garden herb centerpieces can add an aromatic scent to an already delicious meal!

Sara Hillery Interior Design

Sara Hillery Interior Design

Upcycled Napkins:

This season, I have been inspired by the resourcefulness and practicality of the original Thanksgiving and sought to reuse elements- including these napkins- from my personal collection.

Another way easy way to add interest to a tablescape includes alternating napkin patterns. Deviating away from formal and traditional monogram linens, I mixed pink batik napkins with a blue block print pattern which resulted in a vibrant, eclectic blend. I even chose to forgo a napkin ring! 

These simple napkin choices can create a casual and welcoming atmosphere.

Sara Hillery Interior Design

Gratitude Notes for Guests:

Finally, handwritten notes of gratitude for each guest act as name cards.

I am hopeful that these messages of appreciation remind each guest how extraordinary they are and that they have a meaningful souvenir to take home.

Thank you for following along!

Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Spring Gala

SHID was honored to create a tablescape for the Lenox Hill spring gala, held on April 28th. The work and legacy of Lenox Hill, a 128-year-old settlement house on the East Side of Manhattan that provides human services including an early childhood center, centers and care programs for the elderly, shelters and prevention programs for persons experiencing homelessness, and more, is beyond inspiring, and I was thrilled to support (and celebrate) them.

Alison Gootee Photography

Alison Gootee Photography

Using the gala’s theme “A Garden of Earthly Delights” as a springboard, I incorporated my favorite earthly delights from some of the places I have traveled and lived. With a focus on flowers and fruit trees, I set out to marry my traditional taste and penchant for punchy playfulness in “And the Zest Was History”, a sumptuous visual array full of whimsy and vibrant natural elements. 

Many of the tablescape components are a nod to the East and Gulf coasts, highlighting the impact that Virginia, Louisiana, and Texas have made on me and my design sensibilities. The chair fabric from Palm Orleans, for example, features a lively print of oysters and citrus. Oysters are found in abundance along Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay, just south of New Orleans, and in Houston’s Galveston Bay, making them a highly personal and much beloved earthly delight! 

Alison Gootee Photography

Alison Gootee Photography

I loved living among satsuma trees in Houston, but, since moving back to Virginia, have had to settle for a different breed of oranges. Their color, scent, taste, and the cheerfulness that they exude inspired me to choose these fruits as the table’s centerpiece as well.  Pink peonies (which echo my garden in Virginia) as well as flowers found farther afield, like the orange pincushion protea flower, honor both a love of home and worldly travel adventures.

Naturally, we incorporated our signature SHID blue and white palette when choosing the table skirt, candles, napkin detailing, and even the ribbon for our favors (spoiler: they were delicious chocolate bars from local favorite Miss Maude’s). The table skirt has Virginia references hidden in plain sight: it features creatures that are prominent in the local landscape and the tableware selections include a tobacco leaf plate and dogwood napkin ring. As a nod to Jeffersonian and classical architecture, I even included a Chippendale planter on our table.

Alison Gootee Photography

Alison Gootee Photography

And, because every detail is worth attending to (and because I unabashedly love color and texture), I finished the table with pink champagne glasses, pink dogwood blossom napkin rings, clear glasses dotted with vibrant green, tobacco leaf salad plates, bamboo inspired flatware, and round rattan placemats.

Special thanks to our patrons: Zafferano America, Quadrille, Pomegranate Inc, Palm Orleans, Miss Maudes Bar of Chocolates, Hines and Company, and Capital Garden Products. Your beautiful products helped us create a lush and colorful table worthy of a place in a garden of earthly delights!

Alison Gootee Photography