Hello one and all! I couldn't be more excited about our topic of discussion today: Thanksgiving tablescapes! I know there are brilliant ideas floating around Pinterest, magazines and in the design world, but my desire is that this post reaches you a little differently. Thanksgiving might be my favorite day of the entire year. I have the best memories of shared conversations and laughter, good jokes, (and bad), looking back over the year and sharing plans for the year ahead, and mostly, the faces of those near and dear to my heart. These things are far more important to me than what the spread looks like.

I love and admire this scene by Norman Rockwell.

Notice anything in particular in this picture, (besides a thousand things)? Nothing decorating the table. No spectacular arrangement, not a single candle.. Would that be so hard?

I don't know about you, but for me? YES! I adore decorating and making things pretty. That's not something I feel anyone should ever apologize for or feel ashamed of. It's very calming to work on ones home. So, how can we create a simpler Thanksgiving table that highlights the faces around it, rather than hides them?

I designed three tablescapes to use for inspiration. They're all simple, budget friendly, and can be whipped out in very little time. Let's have fun!

Tablescape no.1: Whiteout

Whether you're stuck on how to dress your table for the Thanksgiving meal, or desire a clean, quiet spread, you can't go wrong with a whiteout. It's easy to pull off, (no scratching your head to choose colors and patterns), linens can be thrown in the wash with bleach afterwards, and separate pieces can be used as-is year round, or for other creative projects down the road, (like fabric dying or adding pom-pom trim).

If you desire some height in your tablescape, I suggest something thin and 'see-through', so the piece doesn't' prevent anyone from seeing those across the table. These branches from our backyard are perfect since they're twiggy and easy to look through, (and the squirrels let us have them for free!! So sweet...)

Gold dipped silverware, (howdy-do, Dollar Tree!), add just a touch of sophistication and glam to each place setting. Tip: I just used Rustoleum Metallic Gold spray paint. It adheres perfectly and the texture feels consistent with the rest of the handle. (It was my first time trying this so just thought I'd share my thoughts)

Tablescape no.2: Sophisticated Black + White

If you desire a stronger table presence, this bold mix of patterns in a striking black and white color scheme is a sure winner. With some subtle touches of gold, (the gold dipped silverware, trim around the dessert plates, and sconces in the center), this table setting looks special and sophisticated without being overly formal.

A touch of green always breathes life into a room. It doesn't take much for an impact and these snips off of one of my indoor plants are doing the trick.

Table runner, (Threshold), and dessert plates, (Nate Berkus), are waiting for you at Target. Stunning, aren't they?!

Tip: If there will be children at the Thanksgiving table, consider keping a basket of books, activity books, or coloring books close to the table so that when kids are finished they can grab one to enjoy at the table while the adults chat, or on their way out of the room once they're excused.

Tablescape no.3: Rustic Colors

This is the most relaxed of the three. I decided to pair a burnt orange table runner, (Target, by Threshold), with some branches from our backyard and simple white candles and dinnerware.

This tablescape would not welcome food on the table since there's a tangle of branches running the full length, however it would be well suited for a buffet style meal where guests fill their plates and come back to their seat. You could still fit salt and pepper and other condiments in and around the branches.

Three very different tablescapes that are equally lovely and festive, but none feel too heavy or overdone. Let's open the tablescapes a bit to make room for special moments and sweet memories, shall we?

Thank you all for stopping by!

Hi friends! Earlier this year I was invited to help decorate a vintage themed baby shower. After the wave of delight, I started thinking about how vintage can mean different things to different people. Regardless of your interpretation of vintage, there is probably a comforting nostalgia associated with vintage style. It's no wonder that design trends are trekking back down memory lane every few years, with stores offering new versions of your grandmother's parlor chairs and tufted sofa. So, how do you decorate your here-and-now home in vintage style without actually looking like grandma's house when you were little?

As StyleMutt is a blog created for various design styles, I thought it would be a fun challenge to take the vintage theme and run with it, throwing together three different rooms using almost only vintage or vintage inspired pieces. For this challenge I turned to the best resource for vintage finds, Chairish! Chairish is the hot-spot for buying and selling vintage furniture and home decor pieces. The curated collection of finds are fantastically organized by type, (Lighting, Tables, Seating, Decor, etc), making it easy to find something specific, or simply browse until something strikes your fancy!

Here are three rooms I designed using almost only what I could find on Chairish! My goal was to create warm, inviting rooms that are full of vintage pieces but still relevant for today. Let's take a look!

Room No. 1: Living Room

This whimsical room may not scream vintage, however there is only piece in here that isn't! Can you guess what wasn't found from Chairish's vintage collection? The blue lamps, (found here)! The lively wallpape r provides an exciting backdrop to an otherwise sophisticated, grown up space. Layering rugs is a great option for creating visual interest and architectural detail in a very natural looking way. Here, I used the Flokati Cream Rug to define the area, and layered it with a strategically placed Brazilian Cow Hide Rug. The sleek Scandinavian Style Sofa in the soft gray tweed contrasts beautifully with the distressed Siesta Leather Chair. I decided to mix up accent pieces as well, using a geometric Black Lacquer Coffee Table and Aged Brass Side Tables. A pair of Bamboo Detailed Mirrors break up the energetic wallpaper, while a Gold Leather Pouf balances some glamorous shine on the other side of the room.

Room No. 2: Dining Room

This casual dining room is 100% vintage Chairish finds. A little mixing and matching of eras and vintage style give this room a warm, collected feel which certainly translates as 'today', (as in, 2014). The Salvaged Wood Tresle Table accompanied by four French Industrial Stacking chairs takes the stage under the glow of the Halo Chanelier. A framed sample of the Flock in Flight wallpaper serves as a more than sufficient statement piece, while the quiet Industrial Medicinal cabinet invites guests to help themselves to a drink. The Reclaimed Wood stool is as functional as extra seating as it is a striking piece of art. The room is grounded by a not-so-quiet Turquoise Patchwork rug which contrasts easily with the other natural hues in the room.

Room No. 3: Bedroom

Finally, our third room which is almost completely designed of Chairish pieces. The bedding is Urban Outfitters, (here), which I chose for it's neutral palette and soft pattern which blends well with the rest of the pieces. Again, I used a couple rugs for this room: A colorful Moroccan Runner for tired morning feet, and a Zebra Hide rug under a quiet reading spot. While not everyone's first choice, I wouldn't hesitate to push a bed into a corner if that means available space for a reading chair. That extra area creates the illusion of a larger room and certainly elevates the coziness. This room is such a fun mix! While the floral curtains are bright and feminine, the Bicycle Handlebar Taxidermy above the mid-century Walnut Dresser are a more masculine nod, (especially paired with the mid-century Walnut Headboard). A couple shiny accents, (like the Metal Task lamp and the Gilt Frame Mirror), glam up the otherwise all-wood, rustic feel of the room. I used a mid-century Upholstered Chair in green to breath a bit of fresh life into the room, (which natural greens often do).

So what do you think? Are these rooms on point with blending vintage styles to create something relevant for today? Or are you ready for a nap after this post :) Either is okay with me. Speak your mind and let me know what you think! I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Thank you all for stopping by!