Thanksgiving Table Setting and Centerpiece Ideas : Fall 2013 Ideas

Designer Erinn Valencich shares tips for setting a Thanksgiving table that balances natural elements with the gleam of metallics.  

By H. Camille Smith

Add a Touch of Glitz

For a sophisticated but not over-the-top look, balance the sparkle of metallics with natural elements, like fall branches or fresh fruit. 

Erinn's Tip: Metallics add a great modern touch to a fall tablescape. Deep copper and bright bronze are a lovely additional to a traditional table. I prefer to bring in natural, textured elements like these seed-beaded placemats so the table doesn't get too glitzy.

Play With Scale

Diminutive pears contrast with elongated stemware for a look that is elegant and playful. 

Erinn's Tip: Slender amber stemware adds height and drama to a simple table while gold pillar candles and votives sparkle as the centerpiece. 

Opt for an Aromatic Centerpiece

Who said a centerpiece needed to time-consuming, expensive or even floral? Erinn created this arrangement by grouping scented candles with an earthy potpourri. 

Erinn's Tip: During the fall, natural elements are the best decorations. This potpourri creates a lovely centerpiece and its subtle fragrance is a great addition to the table. Look for large, chunky potpourris and add elements from your own backyard, like pinecones and seed pods, to the mix.

Gleaming Glass Accents

Golds and ambers pair beautifully with the traditional browns and oranges of fall.

  Erinn's Tip: Glass vases can be found very inexpensively in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes at your local housewares store. They're fantastic for adding a splash of luminescent color to the room. So go wild! Bring a bunch home, try them out and return what you don't use.

Simple Sophistication

This place setting layers basic elements to achieve an extraordinary effect. 

Erinn's Tip: A set of white plates is a great standard to have for your year round table. You don't have to get something special out just for the season. It's all in the presentation a crisp linen napkin folded into thirds and laid under a bronze glass plate topped with a miniature pear sets each guests' plate off with style for very little money, time or fuss. 

Bountiful Centerpiece

Set the stage for an unforgettable Thanksgiving feast with a centerpiece that exemplifies bounty. A ghost white pumpkin, chunky pillar candles and metallic painted gourds add sparkle. 

Erinn's Tip: Create a table that's casual and warm with a modern twist. Play with colors of chocolate, taupe and birch contrasted with crisp white.

Contrast Materials

A humble pinecone adds an organic touch to each place setting. 

Erinn's Tip: Have fun with materials; contrast ceramic with glass, wood and gleaming metal. Forgo the old standby tablecloth and opt for glamorous, polished silver chargers and chocolate-brown linen napkins.

Decorate the Whole Room

This buffet sparkles with candles and glassware in shades of amber and gold. Natural elements like wood grain candles and a rustic, hand-carved bowl filled with fall apples complete the look.  Erinn's Tip: "When decorating for Thanksgiving guests, don't stop at setting the table. The buffet, side tables and coffee table will benefit from a few fall touches as well. Bring in large branches of fall foliage and place in a tall vase for a seasonal decoration that is chic and free the best of both worlds. 

2013 Contemporary Kitchen Design by Alia Meyer

Senior Designer 

Alia Meyer earned her degree in Fine Arts from UC Santa Cruz. Daughter of Jessica Hall, her invaluable experiences growing up in a creative environment, coupled with her education, have given

Ms. Meyer the artistic eye necessary for her success. Specializing in residential design, material sourcing, lighting design, and custom furniture design and execution, her exquisite taste in all areas of expertise have earned her an appearance on HGTVs Sensible Chic, and frequent mention in The Marin Independent Journals Style column.

2013 Contemporary Kitchen Design by Alia Meyer

The project embodies the exuberance of a Brazilian born woman, who embraces color with all of its glory. The dynamic kitchen, featured in Angeleno magazine and California Home and Design, has painted blue cabinets, Azul Macubas extra granite and state of the art appliances. In addition, the ceiling features the Leucos semi recessed lighting, which turns normal recessed lighting into something more dynamic and wonderful. The pendants in this kitchen use the beauty of semi precious quartz to add glitter and create a division from the kitchen into the bold yellow dining room.

The project embodies the exuberance of a Brazilian born woman, who embraces color with all of its glory. The dynamic kitchen, featured in Angeleno magazine and California Home and Design, has painted blue cabinets, Azul Macubas extra granite and state of the art appliances. In addition, the ceiling features the Leucos semi-recessed lighting, which turns normal recessed lighting into something more dynamic and wonderful. The pendants in this kitchen use the beauty of semi precious quartz to add glitter and create a division from the kitchen into the bold yellow dining room.

The pendants in this kitchen use the beauty of semi-precious quartz to add glitter and create a division from the kitchen into the bold yellow dining room.

creative Home With Handmade Touches 2013 Decorating Ideas :House Toursfrom BHG

This homeowner gets creative with fabric leftovers, paper scraps, and bits of everyday ephemera to craft a designer look for less.

Casual & Colorful

The homeowner hired a couple of carpenter friends to fashion built in bookshelves (an expenditure she could afford thanks to her thrifty accessories and DIY ottoman). The inexpensive lamp base is topped with an old drum shade recovered in scrap fabric.

DIY Tip: Crown molding stained a rich dark brown frames a door size mirror that leans against the wall.

Make a Ruffle Pillow

A cinch to stitch in an hour, this pretty pillow requires less than a yard of fabric.

Gather materials: 1/2 yard of solid-color cotton quilting fabric (44 inches wide), 1/4 yard quilting cotton in four different fabrics (for ruffles), sewing machine, thread to match fabrics, pins, 16-inch pillow form.

1. Cut the solid-color fabric into three pieces: a 17x17-inch front and two 10x17-inch back pieces. Cut the four ruffle fabrics into 2½x35-inch strips. You need nine of these.

2. Turn the 10x17-inch pieces wrong side up. Fold one of the 17-inch edges over 1/4 inch, then again 1/2 inch. Iron folds. Do this with one side of each piece. (This will be your finished edge and the opening to slip your pillow form into the sham.)

3. On each fabric strip, sew a gather stitch 1/4 inch from one long edge. Gather to be 17 inches long. Pin a gather strip onto the right side of the front piece, positioning it 5/8 inch up from the bottom. Sew, following the line of the gather stitch. Continue pinning and sewing on strips to within 3/8 inch of the top of the front piece.

4. Finish sewing the pillow sham. Lay the front piece ruffle side up and the back pieces right side down so they overlap slightly. Pin the outer edges and sew the pillow together with a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Turn right side out, iron, and stuff the pillow form into the sham. Finish by hand-stitching the opening closed.

Wall Art That Wows
In the living room, inexpensive frames around scraps of wallpaper embellish the mantel.
DIY Tip: Try fabric, wrapping paper, or even linens for another twist on this budget friendly artwork.

TV Time
To combat the cold, electronic look of her TV, the homeowner found an ornate frame that fit the room's feel. After applying molding to the back of the frame to add depth, she nestled her TV inside the frame, bringing together the entire aesthetic of the room.

Bowled Over
This papier-mache bowl cost pennies to create and provides the perfect catchall for living room stuff. Under the bowl, a piece of scrap wallpaper lines a simple retail tray.

Make It: Papier Mache Bowl

1. Cut or tear strips of magazine, newspaper, wallpaper, etc. Old blueprints were used here.

2. Make papier mache mixture: Stir together 1 part white glue with 1 part water.

3. Coat paper strips in the glue mixture and form over a bowl covered in plastic wrap. Apply two to four layers of paper. Let dry.

4. Remove plastic wrap and bowl. Use fine grit sandpaper to smooth the edges for a finished look.

The homeowner replaced dated, '80s era green marble around the fireplace with an affordable glass mosaic tile from modwalls.com. The green marble found a new home as a walkway in her garden.

DIY Tip: A downed sycamore in the homeowner's neighborhood became fireplace art. Corral cut logs with colorful fabric strips and you have an instant art piece.

Too Cute Kitchen
The homeowner stapled fabric scraps to canvas stretchers from the crafts store to fashion wall art. To protect her plaster walls, she used 3M Command mounting strips to hang each piece. Below the art display is the dining room table she and her mom repainted. A close look reveals lingering bits of blue paint. Fabric scraps make colorful coasters or an abstract table runner (see next slide for how to make your own).

Make a Rag Rug Doily
A basic coiling technique is all it takes to turn skinny strips of fabric into a striking take on a doily.

1. Cut or tear scrap fabric into thin strips. Roll them up bandana-style and coil into tight circles. Pin, then loosely stitch the coils together.
2. Customize! One circle works as a coaster. A few stitched together make a sweet centerpiece.

You'd never guess this handsome buffet was once a baby's changing table. The homeowner whipped out her old standby  a can of matte black spray paint and updated its icky yellow color to something much more mod. Replacing the hardware completed the look. The purple-tone art above is a wallpaper sample wrapped around scrap board. A blooming bouquet of paper flowers creates dinner party ambiance and never wilts .

Be Our Guest

The homeowner uses leftover and remnant wallpaper to add fresh personality and seasonality to her guest bedroom. She cuts three equal size lengths of wallpaper, then simply hands them from bulldog clips. The bedside chair has been recycled countless times with spray paint and fabric scraps.

Kids' Thanksgiving Table Decorating 2013 Ideas

Feathered headdress place markers and Thanksgiving-themed crafts make this kids' table colorful and playful. Minimal prep work will ensure small guests stay happily entertained while the adults enjoy conversation and a peaceful meal nearby.

By : Marian Parsons

Functional Tablecloth

Cover the table in brown craft paper to provide a place for creative minds and idle hands to color doodle or play games. Simply roll out craft paper and securely tape it under the table's edges. Bonus: This durable surface protects your tabletop and makes cleaning up spills and crumbs a snap.

Wearable Place Cards

Inspired by the story of the first Thanksgiving, these Indian headdresses are customized with each child's name as a creative way to mark their seat. They can be made ahead of time by the hostess or children who are old enough to use a glue gun. 

Assemble Headdresses

Cut a strip of leather (available in craft or fabric stores) into approximately 21" - 23" lengths. Place ends of length together to form a circle and hot glue into place. Glue feathers onto inside back of headdress. 

Paint Headdresses

Using a paint pen or acrylic craft paint and an artist brush, paint each child's name onto the front of their headdress. Embellish the sides with painted symbols or decorate with beads and hot glue. 

Kid-Friendly Centerpieces

Centerpieces for a kids' table shouldn't be fussy; they'll need to withstand possible spills and rough-housing so opt for heavy vessles like ironstone pitchers and small mixing bowls. Fill them with mums, pumpkins, acorn squash or gourds and embelish further with raffia, ribbons and feathers. 

Mess-Free Crafts

Craft projects are a great way to entertain and encourage creativity, but the dining table shouldn't be cluttered with paints and glue sticks. Instead, stock the table with an assortment of colorful beads, leather cording and feathers so the kids can create a necklace or bracelet to wear with their headdress.

Color and Create

Fill jelly jars or juice glasses with crayons so kids can color the brown paper tablecloth as well as fun Thanksgiving paper crafts and printables, like these turkey finger puppets. Children can also be encouraged to write a list of things they are thankful for. 

All in the Details

Making a special kids' table is all about the little things. Pay attention to the scale, practicality and playfulness of the centerpiece and each place setting. Your pint-sized guests should feel relaxed to be themselves and have a great time.

Educational Decor

Use plates and utensils that are similar to what colonists and Native Americans may have used. Pewter and wood plates can be paired with "bone" handled or simple silver flatware. This can spark discussions over what clothes might have been worn and food might have been served at the first Thanksgiving. 

Practical Storage 2013 Decorating Ideas : House Tours from BHG

After she lost most of her possessions in Hurricane Katrina, Amanda Catalanotto, professional organizer and homeowner, rebuilt her family's house with style and function in mind.

Pretty & Clutter-Free

The living room's calming palette of neutrals with gray-blue and green is used throughout the home. The soothing palette belies the hardworking storage strategies Amanda Catalanotto, professional organizer, uses in every nook and cranny to optimize storage space.

Fresh Way to Display
The round tray on this ottoman creates an extra surface to display mementos and fresh flowers.

Dining Storage
Wrapped in the gray blue and green palette, the dining room is stylish and storage packed. The buffet on the side wall provides plenty of space to store special occasion dinnerware and other necessities for entertaining.

Office Storage
This roomy storage unit combines lateral file drawers with open shelves for office supplies and equipment. Its low height allows space on top for decorative bins in easy reach.

Get The Look: Decorative baskets are an easy way to corral papers, photos, and other office essentials. Add labels for decoration and easy organization. To turn a deep drawer or wicker basket into file storage, insert an adjustable hanging file frame from any office supply store. They typically come in the standard legal and letter file size.

Bedroom Storage

The calming palette of neutrals with gray blue and green carries into the master bedroom. To add more storage beside the bed, professional organizer Amanda Catalanotto used a small scale chest of drawers in place of a smaller nightstand.

Organized Closet
This spacious walk in closet has a pre designated storage place for each item. Double rods for hanging clothes, drawers for folded clothes, and shoe rack shelves make it easy to keep the closet organized. The cute and convenient bins on the top shelves are a stylish way to store small, out of season items.

Hideaway Mirror
Mirrors are essential for getting dressed. Install a thin mirror to keep it from taking up valuable space in the closet. This mirror can be tucked away between the wall and hanging clothing for easy storage.

Laundry Room Storage
Brighten utilitarian spaces by adding attractive touches such as blooming plants and decorative boxes on a shelf to hold small or less frequently used items.

Organized Kid's Closet
Baskets for socks and jars for coins keep a kid's closet tidy. Dual rods maximize clothing storage and make it easy to separate play clothing from special occasion clothing.

Designer Tip: "Labels help kids stay organized," Amanda Catalanotto, professional organizer, says. Labeling kids' baskets and drawers makes it easy for them to see where things go when it's time to clean up.

One Organized Family
"It's important to feel wonderful in a room, because that will inspire you to keep it organized," Amanda Catalanotto, professional organizer, says.

2013 Contemporary Kitchen Design by Adrienne Dorig Leland

Adrienne Dorig Leland, CKD 

Adrienne is a Southern California native who has been specializing in kitchen and bath design since 2002. She attended the Design Institute of San Diego where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Interior Design.

Adrienne is a Certified Kitchen Designer accredited by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). She has served as Treasurer and VP Programs for the San Diego and Southern CA Chapters of the NKBA.

She and her husband David moved to Wisconsin in 2010. David is a professor at UW Eau Claire. Adrienne volunteers as treasurer for the Junior League and her hobbies include baking and playing the ukulele with the Ukelele Klub of Eau Claire (U.K.E.).

2013 Contemporary Kitchen Design by Adrienne Dorig Leland

2013 Living Room Furniture Collection : BHG Furniture

Whether you are looking for cottage casual, traditional with a twist or contemporary sophistication, the Better Homes and Gardens furniture collection is designed to meet your style needs.

Modern Expressions Portfolio Table
The ultimate blend of old and new, the tables in the Modern Expressions collection add a touch of refinement to any living space. Timeless shapes and lines are enhanced with modern features such as a sliding top that reveals storage in the portfolio cocktail table.

London Living Room
This versatile sectional features down blend seating and chic tufted detailing on the inside arms. Customize it with five different pieces, including a cocktail ottoman. The color palette is anchored in soft dove gray and accented by a watercolor floral jacquard, contemporary geometrics, and a beautifully sculpted chaise lounge in saffron yellow.

Tea House Living Room
What could be more welcoming than this casual sofa with bright red print pillows featuring a tea house script? This warm color palette starts with a khaki colored twill base cloth on the sofa accented by a pin stripe on the contrasting bias welt. Then layering begins with the script pattern pillows and a sophisticated printed chair frame design. Top it off with the sophisticated cocktail ottoman that shows off a scalloped nail head trim pattern .

Caprock Living Room
Soothing liquid green and spa blue colors calm your senses. These gentle tones are draped on a neat and stylish sock arm sofa with an elegantly shaped leg and armloads of pillows. Down blend cushions provide the ultimate in comfort. Round out the setting with a classic wood accent chair and a cozy settee for a beautiful, relaxing room.

Denali Living Room
Make a bold statement with this contemporary track arm sofa featuring down blend seating, loose pillow backs and sleek French seaming. Soft taupe colored corduroy sets the stage for the vibrant lavender watercolor and animal skin chenille fabrics to dance on. There's plenty of room to stretch out and get comfortable while you're showing off your style.

Nova Scotia Living Room
Contemporary styling blends easily with tailored menswear fabrics to give this collection a tasteful trendy balance. Don't miss the sleek shaping in the track arm or the comfy down blend cushions. A herringbone chenille dresses up the sofa, a hounds tooth plaid sits up straight on the wood accent chair. Then we added in an eye catching contemporary floral in a poppy red just for fun.

Ceviche Living Room
One of our most popular styles, this sofa makes you feel right at home. Pin stripes of charcoal gray on a linen colored background are framed by contrasting welt. Accenting pillows abound in livable fabrics like hounds tooth and a free form foliage tapestry. Mix it up with a wood accent chair, a gorgeous cocktail ottoman and then settle into the relaxing recliner to appreciate your great taste !

Visor Living Room
Whether it's a cottage by the sea, or a country estate, bring the garden sunshine into your home with this happy combination. The sofa sits on beautifully turned legs and features loose pillow backs and down blend cushions to give you years of comfort. A bright playful floral print is contrasted with mixed  up geometrics to make you smile on even the rainiest day.

Gilpin Living Room
Never a dull moment with this brightly colored collection lots of details to take in! For starters, notice the tufted rolled arms and back, all contrasted in peacock blue welt on this classic chesterfield sofa. Then pile on gorgeous print pillows and supple quilted jacquard pillows. Throw in a wide sunny stripe on a pair of slipper chairs for good measure and you've got yourself a show stopper!

Corey Living Room
As easy as your favorite pair of jeans, this sofa invites you to kick up your feet and relax. It features a mocha brown corduroy on a 2 seat, turned leg frame with loose pillow backs and down blend seating. The accenting tapestry is inspired by a needlepoint rose bouquet just right for making you feel right at home.

American Cottage Cocktail Table
A comfy sofa or favorite chair and somewhere to put your feet up and set a cold drink it's the recipe for the perfect living room. Whether you want to relax or work, a lift top cocktail table like this one from the American Cottage collection makes it easy.

Classic Home Cocktail Table
Classic detailing and a vintage cherry finish are paired with thoughtful electronic storage options to give this collection modern sensibilities. The cocktail table offers a multifunctional lift top that can be used as additional dining or work space.

American Cottage Garden Chest
Quirky with tons of personality, this garden chest is one of a kind. Add it to almost any room of the house and enjoy how it provides storage, a spot for a lamp, and lots of cottage charm.

American Cottage Parlor Table
Keep your eyes open because your friends will want to steal this adorable parlor table. Perfect as a side table, nightstand or resting spot anywhere in the house it's brimming with storage and character. Charming and functional, the glass top doubles as removable tray.