Remembering Thanksgivings Past

As we all begin to busy ourselves in the kitchen, preparing Thanksgiving meals for friends and family we hope will live on in the memories of our guests well beyond tomorrow, I thought it might be nice to take a moment and remember a Thanksgiving from recent years that continues to inspire me today. This one I'd been planning for months, and though it was to be hosted by my friends Hannah and Michael Gorman at their home in Bedford, New York, I'd volunteered to set the table and decorate the room, while Hannah was in charge of all the cooking. At that time, I was with House Beautiful magazine, producing a column called Weekend Shopper, in which I'd scour flea markets around the country, finding new ways to use old things. Turns out, Thanksgiving at Hannah's would be the perfect place for a story all about finding inspiration for holiday entertaining. And what better place to look than the flea market? Here in New York, I have such fond memories of the old one on 26th Street in Chelsea, where in one booth I found this beautiful set of transferware plates in all the gold, brown and ochre colors of season.

They're Mason china from England, six plates in all, with a gorgeous floral branch pattern I love.

In another booth, I happened to find this set of amber depression glass. It's a centerpiece bowl, together with two candlesticks. The amber I thought worked so beautifully with the warm yellow and brown colors in the plates.

Now it was time to raid my own cabinets for any china, silver, glassware and linens to mix in with my new finds from the flea market. The colors in the plates had already inspired my palette, so to bring in a bit of natural texture, I chose serving pieces and flatware in bone, horn, French Ivory and Bakelite.

 Above photography by Brendan Paul

Mixing, more than matching, is my favorite way to entertain, so for the glassware, I chose etched pressed glass goblets, all of them different and collected over time but that together look cohesive.

Here's the finished flower arrangement in the amber glass centerpiece. From the plates that first inspired my table, I chose a palette of roses—burnt orange, umber, ochre and rust—that I thought worked well with the horn and Bakelite flatware. 

Check out the final shot of the room before we all sat down to dinner! For the linens, I chose a simple striped tablecloth, paired with napkins in an earthy rust. The mantel I decorated with all kinds of seasonal gourds, pumpkins and corn husks.

Here's a detail of the table setting. As you can see, I also made several individual flower arrangements, just to fill in gaps where the table looked sparse. A low arrangement at each setting is such a great way of making your guests feel special and your meal more memorable. I especially love how the plates that inspired my palette take center stage when layered with simple patterns and harmonious colors.      

 Above photography by Laura Moss

And so, wherever you find inspiration this week and all throughout the holidays, whether at the flea market or farmer's market, the bodega at the end of the block or even your own backyard, take it from me: Creating fond memories is all in the details, and it's the simplest ones your family and friends will remember for years to come.

Comments

[Pink Wallpaper]

so pretty! puts my thanksgiving table to shame....i'll definitely have to step up my game! have a wonderful thanksgiving!!!

[seleta]

Love today's outfit. You look good in black. Jaithan must shoot in manual mode. Love this entire post.

[Marie]

Gorgeous, bright and lovely as always. Thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving, Ross! ;D

[maria]

you are amazing!

[Cathleen]

Fabulous! Truly! Love your Mantel, stripped table cloth and of course the Roses..... Thank you for sharing! :-)

[Marysol]

Beautiful.
The floral arrangement in the amber glass piece, along with the lovely plates certainly complete the look.

Eddie, may your Thanksgiving be as warm and inviting as all of your creations!

[DecorPad]

My, my, you are looking gorgeous in those glasses! :) Love the goblets and fall flowers! Yummy!

[laura @ the shore(house)]

Chelsea Flea....Sigh...{Sniff}. :-)

The amber glass looks so great with bakelite. Now that I'm settled(ish) in my new(ish) shore house, there's definitely bakelite flatware on the flea "to do" list.

And...scouring weekend flea markets around the country sounds like my dream.

[cj]

Love it! I'm old enough to remember my grandmother's black wood fired stove that she would cook the turkey in. Amazing the amount of concentration it would take to keep the wood hot enough for the many hours it took. She also had a bird nearby that sat on a little ledge in front of a mirror. Anytime she had a second she would stand in front of the bird and do a little dance and the bird would dance with her! Happy Thanksgiving eating and dancing to you and Jaithan.

[Carolyn]

I grew up with things that didn't necessarily match. Everything seemed to blend as my mom would say. Eddie, your blending is perfect! Have a great Thanksgiving!

[Vanna]

Absolutely gorgeous!! Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving! Vanna

[Mike D.]

Eddie,

Heres to a Happy Thanksgiving to you, Jaithan and all those you love. The room is beautiful. I love the plates and glassware! I hope you holiday is nothing short of perfection.

[Stacilyn]

Eddie! How great to showcase ORANGE depressionware! My mother has a full service for 20 - in orange! - and I had no idea how to use it properly! Now I can't wait to inherit it! Thanks!

[Barbara Nieder]

Happy Thanksgiving to Jaithan & Eddie. You certainly are making mine wonderful with all the new ideas and especially the mixing of old and new.

As a semi-vegetarian, I still fix a turkey. This year, I am going to do as I did last year and stuff old Tom with fresh green beans instead of dressing. The beans were wonderful and disappeared faster than anything else on my menu. (Thank goodness I saved out some for the dogs. They love green beans.) I just made the cornbread dressing separately with my usual spicy sausage.

On Friday, I will start eating healthy again.

My love to you and your friends. Barb

[hanako66]

breathtakingly beautiful Eddie! I hope that you and Jaithan have an amazing Thanksgiving!
xoxo Aline

[gebah]

absolutely stunning...where will you be having your holiday meal this year (may i ask?)

[Kristen Shellenbarger]

What a talent you are...such an eye Eddie! Have a beautiful and love filled Thanksgiving, and 'thanks' to you for the beauty you share via the internet! So inspiring!
xo

[Karena]

As usual, the perfect setting for the holiday table. The yellow stripes on the cloth is lovely and everything works so well!
Happy Thanksgiving Eddie!

[Mona from Toronto]

You make it look so easy!! Everything matches, it's elegant and sophisticated while at the same time cozy - does it take you hours to put it all together?

I didn't purchase two gorgeous etched glasses yesterday because I thought I needed the whole set, yet look at how awesome your "unmatched set looks here in the photos". Lesson learned for me! I'm buying from now on!!

[Rich]

It evokes fond memories from those tables past that I will cherish forever. Beautiful work - Happy Thanksgiving.

[Katelyn Spainhour]

Absolutely breath taking.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Lee]

This post makes me excited and frustrated at the same time! I get excited because it gets my creative juices flowing. I love that you mix pieces that end up looking so beautiful together. The whole room looks so inviting and cozy! That tablecloth is divine. I NEVER would have thought to use it for a Thanksgiving table. I would have used it only in the summer or spring, but look how wonderfully fallish it is on that table?! Should I assume the the meal was served buffet style?
I am frustrated because I simply wanna be you when I grow up! LOL! My husband and I built our home 18 months ago so I feel like I am sitting on a blank canvas. I know in my mind what I want it to look like, but execution seems to be the problem. I NEED ME SOME EDDIE! If you ever want to come to Chicago and peruse our flea markets.....you've got a place to stay! Wink wink.

[Lauren]

I can't get over this one. perfect.

[Lucien]

You create such beauty! I love the mantle. It really makes one "feel" the celebration of Thanksgiving! Have a happy Thanksgiving!

[Kim]

Lovely.

I'm getting ahead of myself for Christmas and this post helped bring me back to the present - Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving, Eddie.

[Rhoda]

Swoon, Eddie! This table setting is the best one yet. I love how you scouted it all out & put it together masterfully. The striped table cloth and those fresh flowers...gorgeous! You inspired me to set a pretty table this year since I'm cooking at home, so please take a look at my post today if you get a chance. Not that it's in your league, but I'm pretty proud of it. :)

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, dear Eddie.

[Sarah]

Looks gorgeous! Love the idea of the yellow striped tablecloth for Thanksgiving. And the mantle looks amazing. Happy Thanksgiving!

[Shelley Granata]

I need go no further than my computer for inspiration ... thanks to you !! Perfectly beautiful and seasonal.

Wishing you and Jaithan a most thankful holiday ...

Happy Thanksgiving,
Shelley

[Kathysue]

Wow Eddie, I am in love with this. every element you chose was perfection. I gasped when I saw the etched glass with a P, that is the start of my last name and I am a nut for monograms. Then the striped table cloth is to die for. You nailed it, elegant,cheerful, warm and inviting. Perfection! hugs, Kathysue

[Emilee]

Beautful table! I believe your centerpiece/candlesticks is a pretty valuable piece of older Fostoria glassware. Ebay has a few similar pieces.

[Christie Lefebvre]

Hi Eddie~That mantel is just fantastic! I love the mix of table setting too. As usual you wave a magic wand and "Poof!" instant perfection :) Happy Thanksgiving again to you both.

Christie L.
Sconset Flair Studio
Nantucket
xo

[Vicki]

The mantel was fabulous and the table settings were gorgeous!!! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

[kristen]

oh i miss the chelsea flea market too. i found the best things there when i first moved to NYC! it makes me sad when i pass by the huge skyscraper in its place. sigh.

i love the place settings - esp. the plates.

happy thanksgiving to you and jaithan!

[Paula]

As always, your work is beautiful. I love your mantel design and especially love your centerpiece.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

[Pat]

Beautiful table, Eddie.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[lady katherine]

This Thanksgiving is so lovely, the plate just wonderful, love the linens, the flowers were beautiful, Love the amber. Love how you mixed in the glass. can't wait to see this years table! Hope you and yours all have a wonderful, Happy Thanksgiving. I am still searching for the birch log. My hubby says I have to go to Colorado!

[Joanny]

Dear Eddie:

Uncommonly Beautiful! The composition of the table , the mantle , the colors and textures, each a vignette in itself and would make a wonderful oil/watercolor painting. Definitely for a festive party occasion

Inspiring!
BON HOLIDAY!
Joanny

[cindy]

The whole room looks gorgeous! I really love those glasses! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

[lynne]

Your table turned out beautifully.. I'll be anxious to try something of your ideas in my own tablescapes. I love all the stemware and that flatware..~lynne~

[Mrs. Blandings]

Adore the yellow stripe. And, you must have needed a driver to get to Bedford because you do not look old enough to drive in that picture. Ah, youth!

[sandra/tx]

Wow, Eddie, your table setting is just gorgeous! Is there no end to your collections? And how you didn't win the TD floral arrangement challenge is beyond me. That floral arrangement in this post is spectacular. Seriously.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

[Kari]

Beeuutiful! One question - everytime I set a nice table with candles, flowers etc.,there seems to be no room left for the food! How do you handle this? Keep all the food on a buffet or sideboard?

[Judyj]

Hi Eddie, I love the setting and decorations. I'm learning so much from you. I used to think everything had to match but I've started just doing things that kind of go together. The mantel is beautiful. I hope you and Jaithan have a very special Thanksgiving.