A Rustic Chinoiserie Thanksgiving Table

Embrace bold. Embrace vintage. Embrace color this year with a rustic Chinoiserie Thanksgiving table set amidst the rolling fields.

Al fresco Thanksgiving in Blue Ridge Mountains on Christmas tree farm. Set a rustic Chinoiserie Thanksgiving table for 2019 with toile, colorful china, dahlias, and brass.

Thanksgiving has always been a working holiday in my family given that we own a Christmas tree farm. There are trees to sell as families romp in to roam the fields, tractor trailers to load, and cutting and bailing ensues. When I was young, we often ate a bountiful meal with all the traditional fixin’s on the tree farm in this tiny rustic cabin come Thanksgiving Day.

We came in out of the chilly air, often with snow or rain dripping down our coats, into the warmth of a roaring fire and took the time to gather and give thanks even as there was more work to be done.

We sat around this very wooden table and in these ladder back chairs to celebrate family and feel grateful. But rarely did we have time or forethought to create an elaborate table setting as my grandmother loved to do for other holiday meals. The turkey, stuffing, and plentiful side dishes sufficed to warm and fill our bellies!

Katherine of Pender and Peony sets Thanksgiving table for a rustic Chinoiserie look.

In honor of those precious memories this year, I felt inspired to set a lavish Thanksgiving table filled with beautiful flowers, seasonal gourds, vintage china, and twinkling lights amidst the rolling fields of our Christmas tree farm.

My grandmother would have loved the flair of this Thanksgiving table although probably not the outdoors part!

Al fresco Thanksgiving in Blue Ridge Mountains on Christmas tree farm. Set a rustic Chinoiserie Thanksgiving table for 2019 with toile, colorful china, dahlias, and brass.

Thanksgiving Table Decor

In my opinion, a Thanksgiving tablescape should be rich and warm with bountiful bouquets, seasonal gourds, and festive tableware. It can be rustic but elegant – traditional but singular – vintage but au courant!

I must be a maximalist at heart or just a Grand Millennial! ?

My advice: get to mixing and matching to your imagination’s content. Toile goes beautifully with Chinoiserie; brass with rustic wood; and plaid with antique silver.

Just take a peak ??:

Overtop view of this rustic Chinoiserie Thanksgiving tablescape set with Peacock plates in orange and green, gold chargers, brass candelabras, and toile and plaid linens.

For heaven’s sake, I didn’t even use the same napkins at every place setting, and I mixed up the candles!

Thanksgiving place setting with Japanese Arita plate in Peacock pattern of orange and green on gold charger with plaid napkin and brown glassware.

So why does this mix up work?

First, because I stuck with an autumnal color palette inspired by the surrounding foliage: orange, green, burgundy, and a hint of pink. Then I grounded those hues with a rich brown for a neutral and played up the shine with gold and silver accents.

Secondly, it works because of layering. When you use bold patterns like the Chinoiserie peacock plates and this rural themed toile, they need to be separated by a solid color or neutral. The gold chargers act as that buffer.

By the way, most of this Thanksgiving table decor is available in this week’s (November 7th 8PM EST) shop my china cabinet sale on Instagram. The sale will include these gorgeous Japanese Arita peacock plates, brass decor, and glassware.

Katherine of Pender & Peony arranges florals on this Thanksgiving Table.

Shop the Look:

For my outfit see this post.

Flash Sale November 7th 8 PM EST on Instagram

A Bountiful Floral Centerpiece

The star of this tablescape is the magnificent floral centerpiece, bursting with rich colors and nature’s autumnal bounty. It is filled with dahlias, fall foliage, bittersweet berries, and woodland fern all nestled in a vintage brass bowl and surrounded by mini-pumpkins and gourds.

Other than the dahlias everything came from the surrounding woods on the farm or from my garden!

Proper accolades must be paid to my dear mother who I threw these floral ingredients at last minute and she arranged them to perfection.

A riot of colorful dahlias, autumn foliage, bittersweet berries, and fern nestle in a brass bowl for this Thanksgiving table centerpiece.

I hope this rustic Chinoiserie Thanksgiving table has inspired you to embrace bold – embrace vintage – embrace color this year! You can mix and match your tableware to create a maximalist tablescape that is warm and welcoming to guests.

Pull out your heirlooms and antique silver.

Feel inspired by autumn’s rich harvest.

Have fun and celebrate the season and your chance to gather together!

Tucked away in that white covered dish are these yummy Brussel sprouts! Get the recipe here!

Al fresco Thanksgiving in Blue Ridge Mountains on Christmas tree farm. Set a rustic Chinoiserie Thanksgiving table for 2019 with toile, colorful china, dahlias, and brass.

Happy Thanksgiving Lovelies!

4 Comments

  1. Virginia b on November 16, 2019 at 6:38 pm

    Beatiful! Aunt Ginn

    • Katherine on November 19, 2019 at 8:07 am

      Thank you! Kisses!-Katherine

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