Date:  November 9, 2018  |   Story: Tiffany Adams  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |  

Give Thanks: Designer Shayla Copas sets the table (and the scene) for a glam yet grounded Thanksgiving celebration

Following their Thanksgiving lunch, Shayla Copas and her husband, Scott, have a tradition they look forward to each year. “We have an after-5 soirée and invite friends and family to drop by from 5 p.m. until we go to bed,” the designer says. Inspired by her love for this gathering, Shayla decided to help her clients, Shirley and Bill Miller, recreate the event in their dining room, which Shayla designed. Read on to see how she turned the space into the perfect place—complete with a delectable menu—for an autumn fête.

Help Yourself
A buffet-style meal lends a down-to-earth vibe to the evening spent with loved ones. “I like to entertain buffet style so that guests can come and go as they please,” Shayla says. Using the orange color scheme, Silks A Bloom created centerpieces featuring a mix of warm-hued and cream blooms along with pumpkins and fresh grapes, which seem to fit the holiday celebration perfectly.

Pleasing Palette
Shayla describes the style of this room as “Southern Glam.” She used a neutral palette to complement the rest of the home’s décor while still giving the space a current look. “I also selected the palette because it is easy to work with during any season,” Shayla says of the hues’ flexibility.

Gluten-Free Goodies
Shayla notes her menus are gluten-free, but that doesn’t mean pastries and confections are off-limits. She had downtown Little Rock’s Dempsey Bakery create gluten-free pumpkin pie, iced pumpkin cookies, chocolate cookie dough cheesecake, and a chocolate cake with white frosting and ganache. Chocolates and chocolate-covered strawberries from Cocoa Belle Chocolate (yes, Shayla loves chocolate!) complete the sweet offerings. In addition, the designer whipped up two savory appetizers, antipasto skewers and rosemary cranberry cheese truffles, along with a signature cocktail (see page 38).

A distressed mirrored table featuring a metallic champagne finish gives the narrow dining room the illusion of more space.

Warm Feeling
Traditional, warm tones accent the neutral space for the Thanksgiving Day party. “My main inspiration was orange,” Shayla says. “I paired it with blue to provide an unexpected feel to the space and to add a punch of color,” she says of the complementary color.

Little Rock’s By Invitation Only created menu cards for the evening. Shayla notes the blue ribbon is reflective of the party’s accent color, while the flocked damask mimics the room’s wallpaper in an understated way.

Take 5 with Shayla

Coffee or wine? Wine. I love any Caymus wine.

Must-have entertaining essential? Trello! It is a project management app I use to keep things organized for my design projects and for entertaining. I could not entertain without it.

What would you eat first from this gathering’s menu? I would eat the chocolates from Cocoa Belle Chocolates. My addiction to chocolate is well known!

Dressed up or dressed down? Dressed up AND dressed down … ha! I love to pair a sweater and Chanel pearls with my favorite pair of jeans and heels.

Favorite Thanksgiving tradition? My husband, Scott, and I have always cooked the meal together. We enjoy the time in the kitchen, sipping wine and listening to holiday music.

Want to see more hostess tips and party ideas from Shayla? Watch for her book, Four Seasons of Entertaining, which is scheduled to release in spring 2019.

Harvest Mimosas Recipe

Makes 12 Servings

SHOP 

16 ounces apple juice
Gold sugar, for rim
12 ounces tangerine juice
12 ounces apple cider
12 ounces cranberry juice
1 bottle Veuve Clicquot champagne
Cinnamon, for garnish
Cinnamon sticks, for garnish
Apples, cut into slices for garnish

PREPARE 

Pour 4 ounces of apple juice into a medium-sized bowl. Pour the gold sugar into a separate medium-sized bowl. Dip the lip of a glass in the apple juice, then roll in the sugar to coat the rim. Do this for each of the 12 glasses, fill with ice, and set aside. Add a splash each of apple juice, tangerine juice, apple cider, cranberry juice, and champagne. Stir gently. Garnish with a dash of cinnamon, a cinnamon stick, and a slice of apple on the rim. Note: Gold sugar can be purchased through local cake and hobby stores.

Design Resources
Design Shayla Copas, Shayla Copas Interiors Chocolates and chocolate-covered strawberries Cocoa Belle Chocolates Desserts Dempsey Bakery Dinnerware The Everyday Chef Floral design Silks A Bloom Paper goods (menu card) By Invitation Only