April 22, 2026

a spring garden table with Claudia

reposted from the August Table blog 


There are tablescapes that stop you mid-scroll. This is one of them.

When Claudia Fabiana set her outdoor table using August Table’s Garden napkins and tablecloth in yellow and gray, she created something that feels less like a styled moment and more like a memory waiting to happen. Sunlight pooling on white linens. Amber glasses catching the afternoon light. Daisies spilling from a white ceramic pitcher. Artichokes and lemons tumbling across the center of the table like a still life that wandered in from the garden.

It is, simply put, everything we believe a table can be.

Letting the Garden Come to the Table

What makes this setting so special is how effortlessly it blurs the line between the table and the world just beyond it. Claudia used what was growing and blooming around her — nasturtiums tucked onto each plate, trailing yellow blooms woven into the centerpiece, a generous bunch of daisies that feel gathered rather than arranged. Nothing here looks purchased for the occasion. It looks lived.

This is one of the most beautiful principles of a well-set table: nature is always your best stylist. A few lemons halved and placed casually alongside artichokes creates a centerpiece that is as fragrant as it is visual. A single bright nasturtium on a white plate is more arresting than any formal garnish could be.

The Details That Make It Sing

The layering in this table is masterful in its simplicity. The August Table Garden tablecloth and napkins anchor everything with their yellow and gray botanical print — the palette is the palette of the season itself. Against that, Claudia chose:

Ruffle-edged burlap chargers that add warmth and texture without competing with the print. White beaded charger plates that feel fresh and airy. Amber glassware that echoes the yellow in the napkins and flowers, bringing the whole color story together. Bamboo-handled flatware that lends a natural, organic quality to the table. A white ceramic pitcher serving double duty as a vase — one of the most charming and practical styling tricks there is.

Each choice is considered, yet nothing feels fussy. That balance is the hallmark of truly beautiful tablescaping.

A Table Made for Lingering

This is an outdoor table, set on a brick patio, with the kind of casual ease that invites people to pull up a chair and stay a while. It is the table you set for a long Sunday lunch, for lemonade in the afternoon, for dinner that stretches past golden hour into the soft evening light. It is generous and warm and entirely without pretension.

That is what we are always chasing at August Table. Not perfection, but presence. Not a table that impresses, but a table that welcomes.

How to Recreate This Look

If this table is calling to you, here is how to bring it to life:

Start with the August Table Garden tablecloth and napkins in yellow and gray. They do a great deal of the work for you — the print is layered and botanical, which means you can keep everything else quite simple.

Add texture through your chargers and flatware. Burlap, rattan, bamboo, and woven materials all complement a garden-inspired print beautifully.

Build your centerpiece from whatever is growing. Artichokes make extraordinary table decor. So do lemons, branches, herbs, and garden flowers. Use a pitcher, a crock, or a simple jar rather than a formal vase.

Let a single bloom do the work on each plate. One nasturtium, one sprig of something fragrant, one small flower from the yard. It takes thirty seconds and transforms the entire setting.

Finally, choose glassware that echoes your color story. Amber, green, or yellow glass will warm up a yellow-toned table beautifully.

Thank You, Claudia

We are so grateful to Claudia Fabiana for sharing this beautiful table with us. She has created something that perfectly captures the spirit of the season — and the spirit of what August Table is always trying to inspire. A slower pace. A more beautiful table. A gathering worth savoring.

We hope it inspires you to pull out your linens, step into the garden, and set a table this spring.


ciao fabiana

 

 

For lots of fun extras, follow me on Instagram!

 

 

 

You can check out some of my favorites here at Tablescaping Essentials 


January 3, 2026

vintage celebrity recipes!




Hey everyone! We are so happy to announce a fun new cooking adventure… We have a new Reddit page for all things related to Old Hollywood Celebrity Recipes. We're excited to have you join us!


I'm u/ciaolavinia, the founding moderator of r/OldCelebrityRecipes. 

 

We will be sharing dozens of fun recipes made popular by some famous folks of the past. As we step into 2026, it’s the perfect time to celebrate with classic dishes from the Golden Age of Hollywood and beyond.

 

Let us ring in 2026 by toasting the future by revisiting the glamorous flavors of the past with iconic dishes and cocktails popularized by silent era film stars, mid-century movie stars, and iconic tv stars from the 70's & 80's.

 

Won’t you join us in posting your favorite Old Hollywood Celebrity Recipe that you think the community would find interesting, helpful, or inspiring? Feel free to share your thoughts, photos, or questions about some delicious recipes that are still so yummy today!

 

Many vintage celebrity recipes are available, ranging from Old Hollywood classics to mid-century dishes, often found in vintage cookbooks and online collections. Notable examples include Katharine Hepburn's Brownies, Elizabeth Taylor's Chicken with Avocado and Mushrooms, and Johnny Cash's "Old Iron Pot" Chili.


 

Lucille Ball’s Chicken Saute Sec with Mushrooms and Artichokes






Their Favorite Recipes from John Wayne, Alan Jones and Charles Boyer.


- Baked Macaroni

- Corned Beef and Cabbage

- Cheese Souffle a la Sussex





Loretta Lynn's Peanut Butter Fudge




Lauren Bacall's Spinach and Sesame Salad



Kirk Douglas' Hamburger Patties





Joan Collins' Vegetable Rice with Parmesan Cheese





Gloria Swanson's Cream Fudge





Gene Tierney's Star-Kist Salad Royal





Farrah Fawcett's Chicken Marengo




Dolly Parton's Banana Pudding



Princess Diana's Fudge recipe




Clint Eastwood's Spaghetti Western




Clark Gable's Lemon Cream Pie




Cary Grant's Steak & Kidney Pie 




Rosalynn Carter's Flank Steak




Betty White's Easy Prune Loaf



Happy New Year from CIAO NEWPORT BEACH blog 

and OLD CELEBRITY RECIPES!

 

 

ciao fabiana

 


October 31, 2025

the Autumn Blooms tablecloth collection

 



We’re continuing to embrace soft autumn colors this fall season.

 

I can’t think of a more prefect tablecloth to highlight this season’s floral bounty from my garden. Meet the “Autumn Blooms” collection from  Elrene.

 




Don’t you just love it when life imitates art in the most amazing way?

 




When I first saw this “Autumn Blooms” tablecloth, I knew I’d have to pair it with my garden dahlias and other cottage flowers. I just love the soft fall colors in this collection.

 




I just love how easy it is to dress your table and give thanks to the season with the pretty “Autumn Blooms” tablecloth.

 




Inspired by the fall harvest, this elegant, printed tablecloth features beautiful dahlias, mums and other florals in a mix of golden autumnal colors.

 




My favorite way to highlight this gorgeous pattern is to layer the placemats for each individual place setting. 


That way each guest gets a little pop of fun!

 




Of course, the third and final piece of the puzzle that brings everything to life are the pretty matching napkins


Here we highlighted them to show the pattern perfectly and they’re held in place by a cute wicker napkin ring.

 




I just think this whole look is so perfect for Thanksgiving dinner, special occasions, festive family gatherings and everyday use throughout the fall season.

 

 

 

Shop the “Autumn Blooms” collection HERE

 

 

ciao fabiana

 For lots of fun extras, follow me on Instagram!

 

 

 

You can check out some of my favorites here at Tablescaping Essentials 

 

 

 

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links







October 23, 2025

19 gorgeous fall florals


The latest issue of Cottages and Bungalows magazine has arrived, confirming that autumn is just about here!

 

I'm thrilled to be featured in the beautiful October issue, showcasing 19 of my favorite fall floral arrangements.

 


Whether it's sunflowers or dahlias, flowers are sure to bring warmth and brightness to your home this autumn!

 

Here's a detailed look at each and every fall floral featured.



























Each arrangement highlighted in the magazine draws inspiration from the rich, warm hues and textures characteristic of the autumn season.

 




With shorter days and cooler temperatures, I find even greater joy in sharing these seasonal displays with friends and visitors.

 




The colors and textures of these fallflorals lend themselves beautifully to festive gatherings, sophisticated dinners, or peaceful mornings spent admiring their visual charm.

 

Have a wonderful week, my friends! 




ciao fabiana

 

 For lots of fun extras, follow me on Instagram!

 

 

 

You can check out some of my favorites here at Tablescaping Essentials 

 

 

 

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links.



 

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