My maternal grandmother’s table was (and still is) always eclectic. With a big Italian family, holidays always had 30 people or more per celebration. We had nice table clothes with paper appetizer plates, baskets of break, platters of meat for antipasto and mismatched, special silverware that was only brought out for the holiday.

My paternal grandmother had a much smaller crowd and her tables were magazine pristine. She would use fresh fruit, candle light and greens to dress her table each year. The fine china was used and even though it was a small bunch, it was a tight squeeze to fit us all around a dining room table that was constrained by walls.

Both had beauty in them, even if the only beauty an onlooker could see was the laughter and love coming from all the people around it.

All my life, my holidays looked like one of these two pictures. Either pristine and delicately thought out or eclectic to accommodate a family that’s never really stopped growing.

When it comes to my tablescape decor, I fall somewhere in between the eclectic and pristine.

But no matter what, these two ladies always inspired me.

Today I’m hoping this tablescape can give you a little inspiration.

When I thought about creating a tablescape this year, I kept coming back to two ideas.

One is a bit of rustic inspiration with neutrals as a nod to the whole woods and whites trend.

The other is filled with evergreens, golds and rich colors.

I decided to give you both. This week it’s the woods and whites table to give you a real farmhouse feel with a bit of sparkle. Next week I’ll share the rich, warm colors table, which I’ll have to think of a better name for.

This table though, I wanted to play off the white in the shiplap and the gorgeous neutrals in the table that Kevin refinished for me (tutorial on that to come too).

I wanted it to feel rustic, simple and sophisticated with a bit of sparkle. After all, it’s the holidays. Sparkle is good.

Where to find things

• Metallic and pinecone garland
• Birch bark candles – I couldn’t find my candle holders on the site still, but these ones are very similar.
• Dinner plates and salad plates – I bought these to use as everyday plates in the barn so this wasn’t a specific special purchase for the holiday.
• Taupe Buffet Napkins
• Champagne Flatware set
• Round Madras Charger