the cutest store ever!

the Serena & Lily store in Palisades Village

I finally made it to the cutest store ever… The Serena & Lily Pacific Palisades store opened up several months ago, and ever since then, I've been spying pictures of it on social media, so visiting became a priority!

Not so difficult since it's only an hours drive from my home, and my mother lives close by in Beverly Hills, so we made a fun day out of it! 

It’s so dreamy, inside and out. As you can see from the photos, it looks like a little cottage you might find in Cape Cod or on Balboa Island. It actually reminds me of my she shed a little bit, lol.

I do frequent the Newport Beach Serena & Lily shop quite a bit, but this one’s really special!

I do love this Pescadero Tiered Chandelier so much! Isn’t it interesting? It’s actually made from coconut shells, believe it or not!

And of course, this store is featuring their iconic Riviera Chairs, which I have in my kitchen nook and absolutely love! They also work great outdoors during the summer for that ultimate French café look.

This wicker Shore Bench would fit in perfectly in a beach house, traditional home or even a modern home, since its silhouette is so simple and clean.

As you walk through the store, it feels like a home, but you’ll find a full service design studio in the back. There's so much inspiration to be found here! 

Inserting a healthy dose of natural materials always makes a home feel grounded. There’s also something about rattan, bamboo and wicker that triggers “vacation mode” in my head… always a welcome feeling.

Among my favorites, pictured above are the Headlands Bell Pendant and the Topeka Mirror. 

Lovely pillows galore! I spot one of my favorites… the striped one with the side tassels, called the Alsworth Pillow is the same one I have on my family room sofa, in addition to the pretty embroidered Leighton Pillow behind it. I love the combination of the two!

I’ll be sharing more on Serena & Lily and this gorgeous new shopping area called Palisades Village, so I hope you’ll check back soon!

ciao! fabiana

If you’re planning to visit, the address is

Serena & Lily
1067 N Swarthmore Avenue

 Pacific Palisades, California 

The opinions expressed in this post are truly my own.

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Easter weekend

Happy Saturday! With Easter tomorrow, I have to admit, this is the first year my table is not yet set !

What?!

It’s happening today, and it’s been so nice out, I’m thinking of setting it outside, where I’ve been spending most of my time lately, in the garden.

In the meantime, I’m sharing this gorgeous and oh so colorful place setting that our tablescape group shared on Friday. Ashley of Ashely E Design set is the artistic brains behind this colorful creation.

                                                                 

Whether you’re celebrating Easter or Passover, I hope it inspires you for setting your table this weekend. 

        

And speaking of the garden, I wanted to share these pretty pots I spotted at Roger’s Gardens this week.

Aren't they just so vibrant and fabulous? My garden is evolving into a color palette of pinks, purples, blues, whites and greens, so these would fit in perfectly.

I especially love this pop of chartreuse paired with the hot pink petunias!

And this fabulous shed is a new addition at Roger’s that I haven’t seen before…

It's just a framework with no glass, that's so perfect for southern California. 

Such wonderful inspiration for my garden and shed! I’ll be posting more on my she shed soon…

For now, the waist-high English lavender seems to be taking over and that’s just the plan. It smells heavenly!

Happy Easter and Passover 💕

ciao! fabiana

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eight pretty Easter tablescapes

a fun Easter tablescape blog hop

Yesterday, my blogging friend Janet of Rosemary & Thyme blog hosted a really fun Easter tablescape blog hop on instagram that included some of the sweetest and most talented gals who also happen to be amazing at putting together gorgeous table settings.  

I shared one of my favorite Easter tables done with blue and white transferware… you know how much I love it!

To infuse a bit of springtime color I used bright yellow daffodils and ruffled tulips to play off the vibrant blues.

💙

Now here’s the best part… sharing my seven blogging friends’ amazing visions.

I just love how each and every one of these talented bloggers has their own unique style and approach to setting an Easter table.

First of is Amanda of Rosie Rose Chic.

Her table is so bright, cheery and fun!

Arminé of Ms Modern Manners

set the most divine table with this gorgeous floral centerpiece!

Janet of Rosemary & Thyme has a chic romantic style

and this table captures both the fun and elegance of Easter.   

Larissa of Larissa Jenkins lives in a 120 year old home in Iowa

and as you can see,

it plays big part of her dramatic tablescape.

California girl Marie of Venice Beach QT Pie

showcased her beautiful pink cabbageware plates on her table, 

and I’m officially in love with this whole look!

Pam of Everyday Living created a tablescape

with all our favorite Easter elements like these pretty flowers.

Make sure to stop by and check out the rest of her table! 

My dear friend Yelena of Table with Taste

has a truly elegant way about her and

everything she creates exhibits her sophisticated style.

🐰

I hope you get a chance to explore each unique style

that these lovely ladies share on their instagram pages,

and

let me know if you have a favorite!

💗

ciao! fabiana

For lots of fun extras, follow me on instagram!

the ivy restaurant, beverly hills

I just returned from a fabulous overnight stay with my mother in Beverly Hills. You may have seen my snapshots on Instagram and facebook of one of my all-time favorite spots, The Ivy restaurant on Robertson.

Today’s post is all about The Ivy’s decor and amazing ambiance that immediately enraptures you within seconds of stepping inside.

Here are the cozy elements that we need to take note of…  

ü pitchers of beautiful roses everywhere

ü blue and white transfeware plates on the walls

ü bowls fresh lemons, oranges and limes

ü lots of cozy chintz pillows

ü terracotta pots filled with geraniums

ü shabby chic old shutters and wooden elements

ü vintage floral artwork

ü antique French signage

ü gracefully aged white picket fences

ü colorful twinkle lights for alfresco evening dining

ü white tablecloths

ü a backdrop of old brickwork

ü a fabulous patio

Every inch of The Ivy is magical.

The Ivy began its life during the 1980’s in a cozy little vintage cottage. Since then it’s been attracting celebrities, locals and visitors from all around the world.

When we arrived on Wednesday morning, we had the whole patio practically to ourselves!

Every time I visit, I’m just amazed by the quaint decor, accessories and attention to detail.

This is one of my favorite tables, which is in the main little dining area that features that cute bar with all the bowls of citrus.

Can you believe how many pitchers of roses there are? The secret in recreating this look is to buy roses in light pink dark pink and yellow, with a few coral colored roses thrown in as an accent.

ciao! fabiana

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a healthy home is a happy home

A few tips to remember when seeking 

to create a healthy home...

1. Always choose linens that have Organic & Natural Fibers. This ensures that the fibers are biodegradable and that they were not grown or treated with pesticides and other toxic chemicals.

2. Shop at home décor stores that support fair trade and have certified sustainable collections. Choosing specifically eco-friendly/fair trade collections at these stores certifies that the products were made under safe and fair conditions.

3. On a budget? Check out flea markets for unique décor that you can upcycle.  

You can uncover great finds at flea markets and even create your own DIY project to bring new life to that well-loved coffee table or bookshelf.

5. Illuminate the room with natural light during the day and CFL bulbs at night. The most energy efficient choice you can make is to limit your use of artificial lights, especially if your apartment gets tons of natural light. 

Those same principles apply in you outdoor spaces, too.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

ciao! fabiana

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healthy home info courtesy of Pildora

photos:  Serena & Lily, Williams-Sonoma, & Studio McGee