fun Christmas tablescapes

These elegant burlap utensil holders make any tablescape look amazing! I got mine at MerMade Designs here in Newport Beach. I love the simplicity of these little guys. There are several styles to choose from, and I could decide between these two, so I got both!  

The one with the red ribbon is just so pretty for Christmas, but I am thinking they would be fun for birthdays, Valentine’s Day and all the patriotic holidays! The other style has a spot to slide in a name card.  

It’s so easy to just print out your guests’ names and personalize each place setting for a really elegant look. 

 

 

  
Which one would you choose?

Check out MerMade Designs for more 
fun coastal inspired inspiration or call
 MerMade directly for orders and questions 
(949) 648-0748.

ciao! fabiana

a very beachy Christmas

How about a few 
beachy accents in your 

Christmas decor this year? 

A Front Porch Christmas Tree

Starfish, seashells, and casual, rustic fabrics like linen and burlap can add just the right touch.

Starfish are always so festive.

Glitz it up with 
intage silver and blue 
ornaments ! 

A huge shell filled with "pearly" globes.

Add some evergreens to the mix

Nautical rope, fresh greenery and decorative starfish is all you need here.

This little abode reminds me of a sand castle.

Seashells and Succulents.

 Succulents have 
the perfect beachy look

a little touch of red

Pretty seashell wreath in Newport Beach.

Different types of starfish on the wreath, mantle and in jars

Iridescent Abalone trees at MerMade Designs.

Mercury Glass ornaments at MerMade.

Simply silver and white

  Sparkly and simple 

A very Martha tree.

Become the hostess with the mostest.

Vintage blue glass ornaments in a rustic vessel.

Gold, teal, white and lovely.

Love this turquoise color.

Succulent trees.

Party Time! 

A very Swedish idea.

Peace for the holidays.

So fun!

I love these stockings!

Orange County is 
the perfect place to show off 

these beautiful 
citrus elements...

Citrus madness, but it works!

Wow!

So easy and pretty.

Last minute idea.

Our weather is so mild, 
why not shop on your bike?

A biking fantasy.

Fun!

ciao! fabiana

a mermaid's treasure

MerMade Designs is one of 

my favorite little coastal boutiques 

right here in Newport Beach. 

I wanted to share with you some 

of their pretty beach-inspired 

home decor and gifts. 

Make sure you check out MerMade Designs 
next time you're in Newport Beach!

ciao! fabiana

a trough full of seashells

My friend Merideth has the cutest little coastal décor shop named MerMade Designs, right here in Newport Beach.  

Don’t you love how she styled these rustic wooden troughs full of seashells? 

It keeps the spirit of summer alive all year long! Just a little reminder of those glorious days at the beach!

And here’s another look… literally, a boatload of seashells!  This one was designed by Barclay Butera Interiors and was showcased on the Newport Harbor Home Tour.  

ciao! fabiana

💕

While I’m here today, I wanted to share some of my "Tablescaping Essentials" with you. I have a whole page on the Amazon website with my favorite picks for setting a beautiful table.

Quite often time is of the essence, and I have last minute projects or events to work on, so I turn to Amazon for one or two day delivery. You’d be surprised at how many amazing items they have to offer! And I'm constantly updating this page with my new favorites. 

You can check it out here, at “Tablescaping Essentials”.

For more Newport Harbor Home Tour inspiration,
check out this brand new book:

newport harbor home tour 2011

Thursday was a gorgeous, fun day for the 

Newport Harbor Home and Garden Tour. 

My best friend Lisa came down from Calabasas for the day,

and we had the best time!!

Here are the featured homes and boutiques:

The first house we toured was on Flower Street, and was one of our favorites.  It had a lot of vintage touches and a beautiful paint color in the main living area that everyone was raving about called "Healing Aloe" by Benjamin Moore. 

 

Loved the ruffly umbrella and chairs in the pool.   Inside and out it was a treat to visit.  Next, we headed over to the church to catch the OC Cruiser and headed over to beautiful Bayshores.  Nice designs that included work from Barclay Butera Interiors and Molly Wood Garden Design. 

We then stopped for lunch and shopping at the Newport Theater Arts Center. Beautiful friends and panoramic views highlighted our yummy lunch catered by Stone Fire Grill. 

 

All of this could not have happened without all the wonderful volunteers who organized and helped out throughout the day.  Shopping is always a treat, especially when it benefits such a great cause as the Newport Harbor Educational Foundaton. Lisa found 3 large and gorgeous glass candle holders from MerMade Designs (see below), that were encrusted with all sorts of seashells.  They look great in her house. 

  

I found some really pretty earrings from Joie de Jewels, 

which are now my favorites. They are similar to these. 

house number 6

house number 6 was featured in
this month's COAST magazine

the restauranteurs' kitchen that everyone was excited to see

house number 8

outdoor living in bayshores ~ designed by butera

house number 5

the hardwood floor is reclaimed oak from a pre-1900 iowa barn

house number 4

a "european beach farmhouse" vibe on the patio

  house number 3

"mediterranean villa with french chateau accents"
this living room has views of mariner's mile and beyond

 house number 9

a cozy room filled with art in bayshores

My friend, Camille, was there with her

beautiful succulent arrangements called Petite-Pots.

 She's so creative!  Isn't this gorgeous?

 

We also enjoyed a nice, hot coffee from Kean Coffee and some homemade toffee from B Toffee. Coffee and toffee, you can't go wrong with that combination!  

 

We had so much fun at the boutique, that we only got to see two more houses!  I loved, loved, loved the one on El Modena! I could move right in, no problem! Again, it had some nice vintage touches. I really liked the huge windows in the kitchen. We only got a quick peek through the front door of the Somerset Lane house, and it looked dreamy. It was featured in Coast magazine this month, so I got a little more of a peek at it in there. 

 

From there, we headed over to Barclay Butera Interiors for an elegant reception with wine, champagne, and more delicious food. We chatted with Ray a bit, saw some dear friends, and enjoyed their beautiful showroom.  It was a really fun day, and I can't wait until next year!  

ciao! fabiana