Nathan Turner’s American Style

It’s been a super eventful October so far, earlier this month I actually met and talked with Nathan Turner, Pottery Barn style expert and designer to the stars, at a lovely luncheon hosted by Melissa’s Produce to celebrate the release of Nathan’s new book  “Nathan Turner’s American Style – Classic Design and Effortless Entertaining”. I was psyched to meet the man behind the casual yet classic American decorating style favored by lovers of all things Pottery Barn and Hollywood stars and starlets.

Whenever I go to Melissa’s I know there will be healthy, delicious food prepared by their corporate chefs and lots of conversation with fun and interesting people like some of my favorite bloggers –  Nancy of A Communal Table, Nicole from Presley’s Pantry, Valentina from Cooking on the Weekends, Lana from Bibberche  and celebrity chef/tv and radio stars Jamie Gwen and Jet Tila.

Yes, those are pink pumpkins

Chef Tom created an amazing spread highlighting an abundance of the season’s freshest fruits and vegetables from Melissa’s and featuring hatch chiles in hatch chili chocolate cookies, the make-your-own lettuce wraps, and a Dutch potato salad.

Naturally, Nathan added his magic touch to the tablescape with his signature low cost, high style, casual look. He graciously signed books and posed for photos and during lunch answered questions and shared some easy decorating tips for Thanksgiving. Rustic, not precious, using what’s available to you, draw from nature: fall flowers, branches, grasses, fresh herbs from the garden or farmers market, centerpieces of seasonal produce like pumpkins, squash, beets, and potatoes.  Entertaining is about the gathering – being with friends and family, allowing yourself to sit back, relax, and have a great time.

He used Pottery Barn’s galvanized metal 3-tiered stand and small galvanized buckets filled with vegetables and herbs, canning jars for drinks, and a table covering of burlap with a denim runner. You could easily do the same – I’ve already ordered the 3-tier stand – it feels much more modern than the traditional cornucopia basket I’ve used for years.

Nathan’s style is perfect for how we live and entertain today and I think his popularity definitely proves it. I’m pretty sure that you’ll devour this book like I did – his style is approachable and doable and the book reads as if Nathan is sitting and talking to you, gently telling you how easily you can achieve the same look, just as he did with us at lunch.

 

 

Disclosure: I received a signed copy of Nathan Turner’s American Style and enjoyed a fabulous lunch at Melissa’s Produce, any opinions expressed are my own.