Harvest Tablescapes

Fall is my favourite season, with its brisk winds and fire-tipped trees. I also love all the colours of autumn:  burnt orange, gold, and olive green. In decorating, I personally favour many of these colours all year round, but in the fall, most of us start to crave warmth, texture, and a feeling of abundance, and our homes begin to reflect this.

Inspired by the changing season (and Thanksgiving dinner this weekend!) I challenged myself to design a few fall table settings and centerpieces on my family’s harvest table in the kitchen. I wanted to create something that looked rustic and homemade, not polished or Pinterest-perfect, so I used several decorative items and accessories I already had. And I have a LOT.

It is a habit of mine to randomly pick up vintage pieces here and there, for no reason other than that they’ve caught my eye, or captured my imagination. Also, people like to give me old stuff they don’t know what to do with, but are loath to throw away, and I’m happy to oblige. This means one of two things, depending on your perspective:

1) I have a lot of useless stuff in my basement,

OR,

2) I have a handy stash of interesting things I can sift through any time I want to create a vignette.

Perspective #2 is usually the one I favour, unless I’m feeling pressured to clean out the basement.

I decided to incorporate the following items from my stash:  an antique tool-box, two iron candlesticks, a vintage sewing machine drawer, a couple of mini urns, my grandmother’s old gold-rimmed wine glasses, and some secondhand napkin rings. I also wanted to use lots of candles. And pumpkins. (Of course!)

Here are the results!

I picked up this antique box about 20 years ago. It’s been kicking around my house ever since, and I’ve often used it for creative projects and displays. I love the primitive woodwork.

With some garland and a few simple candles, a humble, hand-crafted toolbox becomes a fall focal-point.

I really love the way this turned out!

 

I adore lanterns, and this sleek and affordable black number from IKEA was the perfect foil for my tall, iron candlesticks. (With the help of a few mini pumpkins.)

Photo:  ikea.com

A very different look can be achieved, simply by swapping out the white pumpkins for classic orange:

 

My aunt gave me a couple of these several years ago. They’re great for creating vignettes and displays.

A stray sewing machine drawer and a couple of cast-off urns find a new purpose when filled with pillar candles and surrounded by fall foliage and bounty.

Autumnal glow.

 

THE DETAILS:

I wanted to infuse a classic October colour scheme into my simple white dishes without looking too Hallowe’en-ish. Orange pumpkins and black and white transfer plates by Royal Stafford fit the bill.

Belgian linens and basketweave chargers add an elegant rusticity.

 

I fell in love with these bee tumblers, which I found by chance on a sourcing mission for clients. Had to have ’em.

 

My grandmother’s gold-rimmed wine glasses are a cherished addition to my festive table. The napkin rings were a silver-plated secondhand score many years ago at a local thrift shop.

 

More photo inspiration featuring my fall tablescapes. Enjoy!

Sources:

Chargers, linen table runner and napkins, Pottery Barn

Bee tumblers, black & white Royal Stafford plates,  Homesense

Rust napkins, Pier 1

Candles, lantern, IKEA

Fall garland and picks, Michaels (and personal collection)