We wanted to share with you some easy, fun and affordable table decorations for Thanksgiving that didn’t involve pumpkins, corncobs, turkeys or cranberries. We love tradition, but we love to mix it up at this festive holiday time of year. All of these items can be purchased online, except of course the Martha Stewart item, which is more of a do-it-yourself. But that just makes it all the more special when everyone sits down at your beautiful Thanksgiving table.

1. Rona Amber Placemats and Aubergine Napkins: Who can resist Crate & Barrel? We can’t pass the store without going in and browsing their products, which are always made with that perfect combination of good design and great styling. This combination is no different—the richness of the purple cloth napkins bring out the berries’ color and bring out the sparkle of the metallic leaves. And we just love the embroidery that gives these placemats a wonderful texture! Hopefully no one will spill cranberry sauce on them at Thanksgiving…

2. Acorn Vase Fillers: Even though these are made of plastic, we don’t have real acorns lying around here in Laguna Beach. We could head out to the foothills and find some under the oak trees, but Pottery Barn has us covered if we don’t have time to forage in the forest. We love the combination of the hanging jars, candles and acorns, and we’d leave these up all holiday season for a festive look that doesn’t scream “Thanksgiving!” Just please do remember to extinguish all candles before you retire for the evening, even though these are in glass jars.

3. Grape Centerpiece: Ahh, Martha Stewart. No one makes you feel lazier than Martha Stewart when it comes to decorating. What we forget is that she has a team of people creating all these stunning ideas, so don’t beat yourself up about it. What we loved about these centerpieces is that they are edible and, as Ms. Stewart reminds us, please make sure to use washed grapes and non-poisonous leaves to accompany them, just in case your guests start nibbling. With all the farmer’s markets around these days, it shouldn’t be a problem to find some big, beautiful grape clusters to use for your centerpiece! Do note in the photo that Martha has added them above the fireplace, too.

4. Gold Nest Runner: Give your table that extra sparkle with this beautiful woven gold runner from Z Gallerie. This piece adds texture and interest to the center of the table, and best of all, can be used all year round for special occasions! This would work well with the grape centerpiece and the purple napkins, but keep the placemats simple with this runner. The trick is to dazzle your guests, not give them a headache!

5. Hobnail Pitcher: We usually think “clothes” when it comes to Anthropologie, but they’ve got the same unique tastes when it comes to home goods, too. We loved the rich color and texture of this pitcher, which would be perfect to have as a water server on the table. The pitcher feels vintage, but with such a modern look that we know Jonathan Adler, one of our faves, would adore it too. And did you notice, this would definitely go with all the other pieces mentioned above…

Are you ready for family visiting for Thanksgiving? Do you need a few rooms refreshed, or perhaps new furniture to accommodate guests? Call LRM Interior Design now for a consultation—there’s no time to spare now that we are so close to the holidays. We would love to help you get your home in tip-top shape for your holiday guests. (949) 497-6806

The finished table at the client's home

After attending the Christofle event on etiquette, a LRM Interior Design client asked Lisa if she was interested in a new project.

“He said that the event at Christofle was very timely, as he would be entertaining a special guest at his home, and wanted to host a few parties. He’s a bachelor, and confessed that he had nothing appropriate to serve dinner with or on,” Lisa remembers. “He owned some casualware, but wanted to create the right atmosphere with new silverware, glassware, china, and linens.”

Even with less than two weeks to the party date, Lisa wasn’t worried, just excited at this fantastic project. After going to the house to assess what the client had—which was practically nothing—Lisa and senior designer Jan Smith were on a mission, gallivanting around Orange County to find the best tableware and accessories to go with his home.

“It wasn’t just “shopping,” explains Lisa. “We completely designed the table around the client’s décor, and even took fabric swatches with us.”

For the first, less formal event, Lisa and Jan were able to use the client’s existing blue and brown stoneware to great effect. She alternated plates and bowls in each color, and reversed it on the next place setting, and then added in the new Christofle stemware and silverware on top of the new linens.

The client's home, before the event

Overall, the look created by LRM Interior Design matched the house’s décor, the casual tone of the event, and even the rustic Italian food that the client served.

Three nights later came the formal event, which called for place cards, tablecloths and fine china. Even the food and wine were elevated, with Jan’s husband Troy cooking the meal at the client’s home, and their friend Dave Wallace assisting with the drinks and wine. Both men work at the Montage hotels as sommeliers.

“One thing we had learned from the first party was that our client didn’t even own a spatula or salt and pepper shakers,” smiles Lisa. “We had to outfit the house with serving dishes, candleholders, vases, bowls and throw blankets for the chaise longues. We even had to install artwork on the day of the party!”

There were some small touches added by the team from LRM Interior Design that made for an extra special event, and things that even an experienced host doesn’t always think of.

Lisa made sure that there was a piece of felt cut to the exact size of the glass dining table. This way if a guest accidentally knocked over a piece of  stemware, it wouldn’t break when hitting the tabletop. She also designed and made the name cards herself, using Christofle place card holders.

Lisa's handmade name cards

“I love these place card holders,” Lisa enthuses. “They can also be used as napkin rings, and are classic in design. They are perfect for people who have little space, as they do ‘double-duty’ on the table.”

The design started in the center, with three separate floral arrangements clustered to add texture and height to the table. Lisa then added cut-rock crystal votives to add illumination, and scattered pretty, iridescent and silver pebbles  over the table. Several brands of china were mixed and matched to create a beautiful table, including a starburst salad plate that set off the whole formal arrangement.

The champagne glasses, also by Christofle, are unique, as the glass vessel separates from the silver stem and base. “This way, if you were serving a chilled beverage, you could set the glass vessels in a bucket or bowl of ice,” explains Lisa.

Both parties were a resounding success; the client was happy not only with how everything looked, but with the elegant tableware and accessories that Lisa and Jan chose for his home. It’s just another way that LRM Interior Design can help make their clients’ lives better.

Christofle champagne stemware

The formal party's finished table setting

Lisa adds the finishing touch: the iridescent pebbles

A view of the centerpiece and votives