Giving Thanks
WORDS: CHYKA KEEBAUGH
IMAGES: MARCEL AUCAR
WHAT BETTER WAY TO SPREAD THE LOVE THIS THANKSGIVING THAN THROUGH COLOUR!
As Australians, we don't really celebrate Thanksgiving, but I genuinely love the sentiment behind this day. Having one day a year to sit back, relax and talk to your family about what makes you happy in life, what you appreciate and what your dreams are for the year ahead is very special.
So whether you do this on Thanksgiving Day or another day of the year, it really shouldn't matter as it's all about spreading love and kindness in our lives. The past two years have been a struggle for all of us, and whilst our lives are slowly returning to what feels like a new normal, there is a lot to be thankful for. Thankful for friends and family, the support and love we receive. Thankful for our health and access to healthcare when we need it, thankful for the carefree Aussie attitude that imparts a 'we'll be right' mentality to bolster us through the toughest of days. The list could really go on…
Setting this table up in the heart of the home, underneath my treasured collection of copper, has meaning in itself. This is a space I am thankful for because it brings so many of my loves together in one place. This is where we spend our time with friends and family, cooking, laughing, eating, drinking and just relaxing. But you know me, I love to celebrate, and Thanksgiving is always on that list of celebrations; I have a whole chapter on it in my book CHYKA CELEBRATE!
And what better way to spread love and thanks than through colour! My collection of copper pots is a nod to traditional Thanksgiving shades of burnt browns and autumnal - but this year is different! I have decided to incorporate those tones in another way by setting up under an umbrella of copper and focusing on a more playful, colourful look with masses of peonies in a palette of soft pinks.
The centrepiece for this special table is a combination of pumpkins, branches of blossoms and an absolutely beautiful collection of peonies straight from the Red Hill Peony Estate. I have used vases, cake trays and copper pots to create height, with cabbages, walnuts and artichokes to fill in the spaces; this is a table that is full of texture. Delicate petals sit next to dimpled pumpkins, green cabbage leaves perfectly contrast the pinks and apricots that adorn the rest of the table.
SHOP THE LOTUS DINING COLLECTION
AND FOR DESSERT…
How cute is this extra-large biscuit created just for Thanksgiving by the gorgeous Cookipie? Imagine, after a long lingering lunch with friends, you settle down on the couch with your tea and coffee and a gorgeous supersized biscuit to dunk into it. Yum!