Make a golden impression right at the front door with a pumpkin overflowing with vivid chrysanthemums, subdued thistles, and seeded eucalyptus, all embellished with branches of Chinese lantern that have been colored gold with floral spray. A few golden pumpkins are strewn amid an array of naturally colorful ones to add even more shimmer and sheen to the welcoming tableau. Below: Blue is not traditionally associated with the season, but highlight it with small touches of gold, as in these spray-painted miniature pumpkins and a place card written in gold ink, and the color can become a happy participant in holiday revels. A block-printed napkin and tablecloth and the marbleized plate add patterned richness, while a mix of mismatched contemporary glassware and classic flatware keep the feeling clean and modern.

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