purple & green is the new orange
I can’t think of anyone who doesn’t rank Thanksgiving as one of their top two favorite holidays. Food, family, friends, home: these are the things that comprise the very best traditions. But just because something is a tradition doesn’t mean we can’t tweak it a little.
With the leaves rustling in all their red, orange, golden glory, and pumpkins and mums on every porch, this time of year we are all pretty accustomed to, even cheered by, the traditional autumnal palette (pumpkin spice for everyone!). But the season’s harvests offer so much more, so why not embrace its bounty to inspire your holiday hosting?
Look to fall gardens for inspiration: cabbage brings shades of green from silvery to chartreuse, punctuated by purples from thistle to magenta. Even the fall go-to pumpkin comes in rich hues of white that range from sage to gray.
We recently embraced these non-traditional tones to create a memorable tablescape for a client’s new home. Custom linens in shades others than white make a surprising yet gracious statement. And there’s no need for linens to exactly match your china. Purple napkins on green china is unexpected, but softened by accessories and florals.
Here, we used creamy white flowers and placed a smattering of baby white pumpkins around each place setting to evoke autumn in a subtle, tonal way. If you’d prefer a clearer color connection, consider creating floral centerpieces that include vegetables like cabbage or artichokes to bridge the palette. Hints of gold, whether in table accessories or in china, are a nice nod to the golden-glow of the season and elevate the “fancy” factor.
Of course, purple and green might not be your thing, and that’s okay. Love orange? Think about coupling it with an unexpected shade of blue. The same principles above apply when pairing any non-traditional color combinations. So when decorating for holiday dinners, think about ways that might make your table more you. What better way to make a tradition even more special?
- About the studio
Alex Deringer and Courtney Cox combine their formal training in design and fashion with their renowned sense of style in Ivy Lane, a full-service interior design firm that curates casually elegant family dwellings that are elevated by a unique spark. Whether an entire house renovation or a one-room makeover, Alex and Courtney’s extensive experience and collaborative dynamic inform a successful design philosophy: thoroughly understand the client’s lifestyle, bring a thoughtful spatial perspective, and enliven the space with the freshest aesthetic interest.
309C Cameron Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
studio@ivylaneliving.com
703.566.6582
