Well, I asked myself as Thanksgiving prep time came along…why should I do the “same old, same old” decor year after year?? I was emboldened to correct that after I came upon a long forgotten treasure that I’d purchased in Rajasthan, India thirty years ago. A rare textile. Surely this handsome hand-loomed piece deserved its turn in the spotlight!

The props for this Indian theme were stirring my imagination…bright colored silks interwoven with gold… velvet pumpkins I’ve collected over the years…an Indian silk umbrella for a singular accent… soft velvet-y mushrooms. And what could be more appropriate with the color theme than roasted butternut squash soup (served in my favorite glass bowls…all the better to see the color)!

This year I also chose to add placemats and monogrammed napkins… with their spicy cumin shade they make such an addition to this over-the-top tableau (additionally, I love the double circles with their scalloped edges (Mrs. Alice).

And gleaming bronze Siniyas (etched-metal chargers) brought home from Morocco many years ago.

Bejeweled and beaded “partridges” feel right at home nestled among the silk…gifts from a dear friend from afar who shares Thanksgiving with us. What an addition they have proven to be, whatever the theme.

Beeswax candles add romantic light to the scene.

This Thanksgiving scene in our salon would not be complete without a well-dressed mantle to include a glittering velvet pumpkin and soft-to-the-touch sequined mushrooms. (Mrs. Alice)

A festive note on the powder room door should a guest have trouble finding the loo.

Looking out upon our parkland view…the pumpkins and mums and garden greenery have held up very well (despite the chilly, wild winds).

You still have a week before you need to decorate your home…hope this post has inspired you to “think outside the box.”