Last year I hosted the Manganello family Thanksgiving because my parents’ new home was still undergoing renovations. This holiday meal was our first in the (nearly) finished space. I helped my parents to create this warm and inviting space and I loved seeing the people I love most in the world come together in it, just as I’d imagined. I wanted to share some iPhone snaps of our celebration—and of my touchstones for entertaining that inspired them.
Create spaces for reflective moments. When planning a holiday celebration, the temptation is to cram each hour with activities and excitement. But you can’t make memories if you can’t take in the experience. I designed the sunny nook off the kitchen with its handsome fireplace and cozy chairs just so I could curl up in a warm place and watch my father cooking, just as I did as a child.
Get little hands involved. Children want to be part of the action. This can be frustrating, unless you channel that sweet energy into productive tasks. This year, my nephew Sean made our place cards all by himself. His mother, my sister Carla, helped him place each one just so.
Don’t demand perfection. The fact that the custom range hood did not arrive before Thanksgiving didn’t diminish the joy I felt to be in this room. I focused on the burnished strength of the antique beams, the custom cabinetry and the way the pullout table on the spacious island gave my parents the additional preparation space they craved.
Luxury doesn’t need to be expensive. The window I turned into a distinctive mirror above the sideboard was a Brimfield flea market find. My incredibly talented friend and painter Tessa O’Brien handpainted the gorgeous mural that spans the wall. Juxtaposed with heirloom silver and a distinguished sideboard, these ingenious, handmade pieces more than hold their own.
Honor old traditions, but always begin new ones. My mother asked me to create a centerpiece for the holiday table. I combined an earthy turkey bowl made of driftwood with holiday greenery and an unexpected splash of springtime florals to reflect not only the joys of this season, but of the way it sustains us through the long winter. The arrangement was a big hit—and my mother has asked me to make a new centerpiece each year, establishing a new tradition in our home.
I hope you all had wonderful meals with family and friends. How did you celebrate Thanksgiving?
