Entertain in Style this Fall
Mary Carol Garrity
Maybe it's the crisp air that energizes me, or the beauty of the fall trees that inspires me, but when autumn hits, I can't wait to entertain. For me, one of the joys of entertaining is creating a memorable dining room display that will delight my guests. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Master the Mood. Before I place one thing on my dining room table, I decide what mood I want the table to evoke. My goal when I decorate for fall is to build a display that triggers fond memories, like going on a hayrack ride, carving pumpkins or walking in the autumn woods.
Assemble the Cast of Characters. Next, pull out every piece you own that could help you bring this memory to life, then lay them out for your perusal. Start with building blocks like silver candelabras, punch bowls, apothecary jars, twiggy baskets or wooden dough bowls. Then bring in the bounty of the season through gourds, berries, fall foliage and flowers, apples and pears, hedge apples and bundles of twigs.
Color is king this time of year, so when picking pieces for your table, be sure everything reflects the gorgeous autumnal palette outside your window. One of my favorite combinations is chocolate brown and green. To pull off th is refreshing look, you could accent brown transferware dishes with bright green linens, fill a birch basket with hedge apples or display a bouquet of dill weed blooms and green berries in a brown vase.
Have Fun with the Centerpiece. The secret ingredient to building a centerpiece that brightens guests' hearts is to weave in a piece that's near and dear to your heart, like your grandmother's gravy boat or your mom's favorite turkey platter. There's nothing better than creating a centerpiece that tells a story and gives guests a glimpse into your life.
To craft a centerpiece that's visually intriguing, you must incorporate a host of colors, textures and heights. For instance, pull out that little-used silver punch bowl and place an ornate, five-armed candelabrum in the center. Then fill the punch bowl with gourds, acorns or hedge apples. Or, place a rustic basket at the table's center and stuff it full of pumpkins, then insert a mini birdbath holding a moss ball, lantern or candlestick.
Place Settings with Pizzazz. The key to getting your centerpiece and place settings to harmonize and create more visual drama is to repeat your key colors, textures or thematic ideas in both. For instance, if you plan to use a basket in your centerpiece, pick wicker chargers or birch trays as the base for your place settings. If you want to fill your centerpiece with pumpkins, find linens that include a hint of the same hue. If you plan to fill a vase with dried red hops, repeat the same cranberry color in your dishes or glassware.
When you build each place setting, don't be afraid to push the limits by using unusual pieces in new ways. At Nell Hill's, we’ve used a host of unlikely items to serve as plate chargers, such as open books, squares of grass sod, large oak leaves and rustic wood boxes. Be creative!
Once each place is set, finish off with a surprise or two to delight your guests. Wrap small take-home gifts in brown butcher paper, tie them up with twine and tuck a bird's feather in the bows. Or cut a small slit in a red apple, insert a place cared, then rest it in the drink goblet. Use your imagination and have fun adding this final, memorable flourish to your fabulous fall table.
