Guest Picks: 20 Vintage-Inspired Finds for Your Table
Mix a few older pieces with newer tabletop wares for an eclectic, collected Thanksgiving place setting
I live in a loft in Brooklyn, a recent transplant to Greenpoint (love my neighborhood!). I work as a freelance writer, blogger, stylist, gilder, and crafter. I curate a daily personal lifestyle blog called the Haystack Needle (http://www.thehaystackneedleonline.com). I'm also one half of the shop Cabin 7 (http://www.shopcabin7.com) — a collection of gilded objects for the home. I started out in magazines, working in the home department of Real Simple magazine and later worked as the home editor of Redbook. I love to scout cool finds for the home — everything from an amazing loveseat to a green laundry detergent that really works. I'm a new mama to our baby girl, Juniper, who amazes me every day with her curiosity for life and big smiles.
I live in a loft in Brooklyn, a recent transplant to Greenpoint (love my... More »
What is it about Thanksgiving that makes you want to set your best table? It's a special holiday where traditions are passed on and new traditions are created. I've never hosted Thanksgiving dinner, but I definitely plan to serve some of our familiar family dishes when I do. And I'll be honest, it's more fun for me to dream about how I'd dress my table than actually having to do all the cooking and the cleanup! I'd mix and match vintage and vintage-modern finds for a holiday table that tells a story.
— Jen from The Haystack Needle
— Jen from The Haystack Needle
I can't get enough of the whimsical garland motif. These linen napkins are silk-screened with the garland design and feel so special.
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I'm obsessed with this concept from Greenhouse Design Studio. Their new web shop sells mixed sets of vintage china found in the U.S. and Central France. Just look at all those pretty patterns! I love the modern style of mix-and-match formal china on the table because I'm not much of matchy-matchy girl.
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This is a chic way to serve water: a smoke-gray glass bottle with a glass topper. I think the men in the family will approve too.
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If I could only shop from one place, I'd love to scoop up Herriott Grace's entire web shop for my holiday table. But if I had to pick a current favorite, it would be this hand-cast porcelain dessert plate. It has such a pretty shape and comes in a creamy white glaze.
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Every table needs some color, and I'm personally not a fan of the iconic orange-brown color combination for Thanksgiving. For me, this jade pitcher is perfection.
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These vintage-inspired goblets look like they're straight out of a Parisian flea market. This time of year feels like the right time for a hefty goblet.
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I never seem to have enough flatware when guests come over, but I like the idea of buying a lot of vintage silverware like these pieces. It's amazing that, with a point and click of your mouse, you can instantly shop for vintage forks, knives and spoons found in flea markets and estate sales across the country!
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| Just a few pieces of vintage transferware would add some history to your table. I love this English Abbey pattern in red, and the scalloped edges are so sweet. Private Comment
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This linen table runner looks like it has been in your family for generations, but it's still a modern charmer for today. And how can you go wrong with simple stripes?
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With those big holiday meals, you're always carrying dishes back and forth. This metal serving tray is practical and way more luxe-looking than its $30 price tag.
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I was delighted to stumble upon this vintage Le Creuset dutch oven — it's so much cheaper than a new piece! While it is missing its lid, I think it would be a perfect serving bowl. That blue color is a classic.
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I remember the days when I hated all things gold. Now I can't get enough of it (when done right). These coffee spoons come in a matte gold finish. They're the perfect way to end a day of indulgence.
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The ruffles make this Fleur De Lys Serving Bowl so feminine and sweet. The white glaze and square shape make it practical — and turn your favorite sweet potatoes into the star of the table.
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| This distressed gold wine bucket sure looks vintage. It's a lovely way to chill your bottles of white vino. Private Comment
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Inspired by French bistro dishes, these little plates are big charmers. They may even attract more comments than the pumpkin pie.
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There's no mistaking which mug is yours, or where you left it, when it's a bright punch of yellow. These stackable vintage mugs are so fun.
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I'm a big fan of wooden serving utensils; they feel so much more special than plastic. These olivewood salad servers are so lovely. I just wish there were a faster (read: dishwasher-friendly) way to clean wood!
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Of all the candles in the land, tapers feel the most romantic to me. These vintage brass candlestick holders would be perfect for displaying some creamy white tapers. I also love how candlelight instantly makes a crowded table of people feel much more intimate.
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This handcrafted wood cutting board adds an artisanal quality to the table. I'd use it for cheeses and breads.
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Thanksgiving has a way of turning anyone into a place card–using, centerpiece-creating hostess. My favorite way to formally create a seating arrangement is with some greens. These affordable mini topiaries are designed to hold place cards. They're so sweet!
Next: More ways to set the table for Thanksgiving
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Next: More ways to set the table for Thanksgiving
Comments
mrsteller says:
Hey, you know where else you can buy mismatched china and flatware? Every single thrift store in the country. What kind of idiot pays $68 for 10 pieces of garage sale flatware?
6 months ago ·
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smittycdm says:
That looked like silver-plate or silver-service to me, IMHO, and therefore, I would be would be willing to pay for it. :-) Now, if we're talkin' bout jc cafe stuff, no way, i.e., the kind that bends if the pie is still frozen?
6 months ago ·
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