Jennifer Micocci Interiors: Setting a Thanksgiving Table... in Rome

I always find that my surroundings are the key to inspiration. Last year, around this time, I was having a picnic with my husband in the Borghese gardens, one of the most beautiful gardens of Rome, surrounding the Villa Borghese, which is also a museum-- and my favorite. Sitting among the oaks and the famous Roman pines, I kept hearing a "tink" sound as the acorns were dropping. I began gathering the acorns, however, unaware of how I would utilize them. A few days later I was having a morning run along my normal route, the basilica of San Paolo Fuori le Mura. It was here that I noticed pinecones on the ground, but something else too, the pomegranate trees full of fruit.

Now I had a clear idea; the decor for my Thanksgiving day table.

I returned to the basilica-- with my husband in tow to grab the hard to reach pomegranates. The birds had already eaten most of the larger fruit, so I was lucky to take home a small bag, just enough to fill a long column vase. I decided to add some polish to the table setting, so I spray painted both the acorns and the pinecones a metallic silver. The pinecones are great to spread around the home adding that autumn/ holiday feel, along with small pumpkins and gourdes. In lieu of large flower bouquets, I let these found items lead the decor, adding a small bud vase for a fresh accent. An animal lover, I have a special soft spot for hedgehogs, so I bought some wood sculptures of the spiky little guys to sit within the center piece.

The name cards were the most time consuming detail, albeit very simple to carry out. With some hand made decorative paper, a hole punch, scissors, a pen, a bit of string and the acorns a customized place card is formed. Using nature as my key design element, I did not force strong additional colors, rather letting the brown table cloth act as a background.

The Thanksgiving table is set and ready for a wonderful meal... Buon appetito!