The art of arranging stunning tablescapes has risen to new levels with the advent of social media. It’s only natural that America’s most celebrated holiday, Thanksgiving, raises the bar in the table setting game. This holiday stands apart as the tales of each family are woven within the artful arrangements of flowers, candles, found objects and china. Customs and nostalgia become infused within the beauty of the decor, serving up family traditions as the centerpiece.
A Flavorful Welcome
Notoriously the busiest travel time of the year, Thanksgiving officially commences with the arrival of road-weary travelers. Georgia Frasch of Chappaqua hosts approximately 25-30 people who journey from New England each year for what the family affectionately refers to as “Frasch-giving.” Though dinner is not served until the evening, Frasch’s home is decorated by noon with the fireplaces lit and the football game on. Champagne, shrimp cocktail and a three-foot custom-built charcuterie board awaits guests. Sharing her welcome strategy she says, “I put a lot of thought into the charcuterie board, which features a very well-curated selection of fresh, hand-cut vegetables, cheese and crackers, dips and more. The provisions are displayed in a very architectural, symmetrical way and have offerings for each of my guests’ unique palates.”
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For Smeeta Khetarpaul of Armonk, hospitality is also a major focus. “My husband and I grew up in India,” she says, “so Thanksgiving was very new to us, yet similar to Diwali, a festival that takes place in India at a similar time of year and also focuses on celebrating thankfulness. Thanksgiving quickly became important to us and each year it becomes bigger and more special.” The family and friends that sit around Khetarpaul’s holiday table represents a melting pot of cultures as she explains, “My guest list is very diverse, so my Thanksgiving table represents a diversity of flavors. I do make traditional turkey and sides, but I add my own special twist to each dish and depending on who’s joining us, I try to prepare meals with a nod to their preferences. Everything is fresh, flavorful and personally made in my home.”
Thanksgiving isn’t necessarily glamorous. It’s more about being together. My kids are now older, but we still use the turkey hands they made in preschool as seating cards, which prompts conversation. We share old family traditions and make new ones. – Leslie Gustafson
An Organic Approach to Decorating
The typical Thanksgiving scene, which evokes images of Pilgrims and Native Americans sharing their bounty amidst a forest, inspires the décor scheme of many. Chappaqua resident, Leslie Gustafson, explains, “Thanksgiving just feels more earthy and nature-inspired than any other holiday. We love to bring nature inside to take the place of the typical centerpiece. My kids collect the greenery, which we intersperse with pumpkins, gourds and fresh flowers.” Frasch has a similar sensibility, adding, “Here in Chappaqua, we have no shortage of trees. My tablescapes are always very natural and organic incorporating the beauty of the greenery from outside, which I wash thoroughly, like boxwood, pine tree boughs and red berries. Tucked within those branches are leaves and acorns that my children gather.” Khetarpaul also looks to her own backyard for inspiration, gathering leaves and acorns to create handmaid wreaths that adorn her door and staircase. Of her creations, she says, “I may stain the acorns with food coloring or pick leaves from the garden and tie them together for placement on the tables.”
Each of these hosts passionately agree that Thanksgiving décor should set a blank canvas to accentuate the intoxicating smells and colors of the meal. Frasch emphatically describes her strategy, “I use a lot of white from the serving ware and napkins to the white candles of varying sizes that dot the tables. I believe in a monochromatic color scheme.” Gustafson shares that philosophy saying, “I use a white tablecloth so that everything on the table pops and white unscented candles that don’t take overpower the delicious smells of the food.” Khetarpaul sensibly adds, “White will always match everything and I’ll never have to stress about whether I have the right colors.”
Focusing on Family
A lens into each window on Thanksgiving will reveal variations in rituals, décor and menu, but the commonality is a focus on family. As Gustafson says, “Thanksgiving isn’t necessarily glamorous. It’s more about being together. My kids are now older, but we still use the turkey hands they made in preschool as seating cards, which prompts conversation. We share old family traditions and make new ones.” The Fraschs traditionally play the card game, “Hearts,” a ritual begun by the family’s matriarch who recently passed away at the age of 96. Frasch laughingly explains, “They play two ways–Hearts or ‘Hearts with Cheating.’ More often than not they choose with cheating!” For Khetarpaul, it’s about beginning new traditions for a holiday they are learning to love. She says, “I’ve made a conscious effort to write handwritten notes to people telling them why I’m thankful for them. It’s a tradition I’ll begin doing with my children as well.”
