One of the things that makes me love autumn so much is enjoying meals by a cozy fireplace. It’s a simple pleasure to be savored throughout the season. Listening to the crackling flames, feeling the warmth of the fire while sitting comfortably at a beautifully set autumnal table, and knowing that delicious, comforting dishes await—it’s all part of the charm. Many moments make us appreciate this beautiful season: forest walks, early morning markets, mushroom foraging, reading a good book, and setting an autumn table inspired by woodland animals is certainly one of them!
This theme is dear to me (especially around Christmas, too), as we are lucky to be surrounded by forests and often catch sight of deer, does, foxes (and many wild boars!) on our walks. For this table, I chose a lot of natural elements for decoration, accented with lovely velvet mushrooms, and French tableware that I’ll tell you about below.
Even for something like a family Sunday lunch, it’s important to me to set a seasonal table and bring a bit of enchantment to my loved ones. It’s also a way to spark my nephews’ imaginations and nurture their creativity—something they’re already blessed with. Of course, I should mention that I don’t have time to set such decorated tables during the week, though I always try to choose nice plates for dinner. But Sundays are the perfect time to go the extra mile!
For the natural decor of this autumn table, I didn’t have to go far—oak and beech leaves from the garden were perfect for dressing up this centerpiece, which is centered around small, soft green candles. I also have a stash of small pine cones in the attic that I reuse every year, both in autumn and during the Christmas season. I carefully chose green, yellow, and slightly orange foliage to create beautiful shades. I also added a few velvet mushrooms in similar tones, and those who follow this blog know how hard it is for me to go without them! I could almost use them year-round if I didn’t hold myself back!
To complete the decor, I went to the farm to find small pumpkins and pattypans, as well as beautiful pears—a little nod to dessert, as a pear and almond tart was served that day.
To bring a bit of character to the table, I like to add a strong color that contrasts with the rest, as I did here with blue candles in pewter candleholders. Teal or petrol blue are two tones that complement the fiery hues of autumn beautifully.
To maintain the rustic feel I love so much, I used plaid placemats (which can also double as napkins sometimes) in beautiful seasonal colors. Plaid is the perfect pattern for setting a country-style table. As for the napkins, they also have a simple, rustic look and are held together by gold napkin rings shaped like leaves. If you want to take the decor a bit further and happen to have small metal houses at home, you can use them in your centerpiece to create a more elaborate display. Stagger them, add a few small branches of oak, beech, or sweetgum leaves, and place small tealight candles inside for a cozy touch.
And now, it’s time to get to the serious business: the tableware. For this table, I chose to use plates from the Faïencerie de Gien with a Sologne theme, a beautiful collection illustrated by Estelle Rebottaro. Her watercolors adorn these plates, which I particularly love and are used here to serve the starter. Underneath, there are plates from the Faïencerie de Lunéville, located in the East of France, which happens to be the oldest French manufactory. So here is a lovely pairing of our French craftsmanship, something we can be truly proud of!
