my summer into fall table

Here’s a different look for me... black and white and green all over is the name of the game with this summer into fall tablescape.

This little collection of thrifted glassware inspired the little bouquets of mums and chamomile.

On Tuesday I shared the preliminary look of this table, and now the last finishing touches have been added, and it’s ready for our Friday night dinner. 

This black and white table has been transformed with the addition of colorful thrifted glassware and sweet little flowers found at Trader Joe’s.

These chamomile flowers that look like petite daisies are one of the most underestimated flowers you can get at the grocery store, and so affordable too!

And of course, my favorite napkins are on full display!

The embroidered lettering is so perfect a totally matches the “Homemade Apple” font I use for this blog. 😏 

And of course these little pumpkin plates add just the right amount of fall fun to the table.

Isn’t it fun to thinking outside the box? I’m always striving to create new ways to style a table, and this was a fun departure from my beloved blue and white look.  

I love green for fall. It’s a great departure from the usual autumn tones we see.

I’ll be back tomorrow with a peek at our next photo shoot for Cottages & Bungalows.

ciao! fabiana

favorite fall tablescapes

Transitioning from summer to fall décor is a gradual process. I like to slowly start introducing autumn elements right about now but don’t go totally into “fall”  mode until September.  

Today I'm sharing some of my favorite fall tablescapes. It's always helpful to highlight favorite elements with my little list of go-to seasonal items:

ü Sunflowers

ü White pumpkins

ü Soft plaid throws

ü Raffia & burlap

ü Copper & gold accents

ü Earth tones and black & white

ü Wood elements

ü  Whimsical details

ü Vintage accessories

ü Subtle hints of orange

Small, fringed plaid throws are one thing I love to hunt for during the year. I’ve found some great ones in thrift stores and at Home Goods, over the years. 

In fact, I found a really cute small one this year in Savannah that will be part of a new tablescape soon!

Once you place them on a table, especially an outdoor table, they instantly say “Hello fall!”  

Another thing to spy at thrift stores during the year, but especially now, are pumpkin plates of any kind. The ones that are pumpkin shaped are so cute at a place setting.

An ombre color palette in gold is very appropriate for fall and brings a bit of glamour to the table.

Soft colored pumpkins are my favorite!

Placemats are the best way to add the necessary texture you need for autumn. I love how they frame the dishes, as well.

Black and white is the most elegant backdrop 

for the month of October with 

Halloween finishing off the month with a bang!

Wooden chargers and silverware help create a lovely fall look at this table. A macrame runner adds texture and the vintage amber glasses add sparkle.

This is an unusual look for me, and it was dictated by this fringed throw and these amazing pumpkins from Roger’s Garden. 

Scatter a little fresh greenery and twigs to soften the look. These are just clippings from my olive tree.

I kind of love this table I styled for Serena & Lily.

This monochromatic look was accented with their pretty napkins embroidered in orange and fresh peach roses and cabernet-colored mums at the center of the table.

Mini baby boo pumpkins fill out this wooden trough and get accented with soft green moss, dusty miller and webby cheesecloth.

Simplicity is sometimes the best way to go! 

Here we have a more whimsical take on Halloween. Again we have a black and white palette with just a hint of orange.

This is probably the most intricately layered table I’ve ever set. The mood I was going for was elegant Halloween with a hint of Harry Potter for fun.

The table runner was actually made from pages of a worn copy of a "Goblet of Fire" paperback. I just layered and layered... open books, plants, pumpkins and a few little critters.

Behind the scenes, this was difficult to photograph. The floating candles were a must but a challenge to get just right on film.

In fact, to get just the right final "overhead" shot, I had to move the entire table, which didn't fit through the doorway upright, into my family room. My dining room has low ceilings, and I couldn't capture the whole table, so what did we do?

My husband and I slid the whole centerpiece of the table onto a board, moved the table, and then slid the whole layered look back onto the table. 

I've learned my lesson never to do that again!  

Next are two Thanksgiving tables that got their 

inspiration from a simple little “Be thankful” Charm. 

Simply tied with raffia, these little charms speak volumes whether they’re adorning a little twig wreath or two elegant pheasant feathers. Simply placed on your best china, these are always a fan favorite!

It’s been four years since I found these, and I’ve used these lucky charms for every Thanksgiving so far!

Today I’m headed back to the Orange Circle and will hopefully stop by some of the great antique stores there! 

May the treasure hunting begin…

ciao! fabiana

a different take on a fall table

It may be mid-August, but fall seems like it’ll be here before we know it! It’s officially one month away, but pumpkins are already popping up everywhere!

Stripes are all the rage for a beachy summer look, and I’m not ready to give them up just yet, so today I’m sharing a different take on fall décor.

The only hint of fall you see at this table are the demure little white pumpkin plates. I built a whole black and white mood around them and brought in a little color with glassware.

                                 

I’ve got a few black and white transferware plates in my collection, so I brought them out to add a bit of charm to this table. I just love their elegant look and they’re so perfect for Halloween!

                                 

But we’re not quite there yet, remember, it’s only August! These black roses are bound to make another appearance for a spooky tablescape in October.

Today they're here to highlight the lovely new napkins and tablecloth I recently found. I'm always a sucker for ticking stripe and these napkins were too cute to resist!

They're embroidered with yum, delish, enjoy and eat.

How cute is that?

This table was in dire need of some color, so I took care of that with, you guessed it, colored glassware. The amber and green colors I chose were inspired by the end of summer sunflowers you'd see in a garden. 

These jewel toned glasses add the necessary amount of sparkle to this black and white setting. It's so fun to mix and match colors and patterns of these goblets!

I bought the striped tablecloth earlier this summer as an “extra” to have for my photo shoot with Cottages & Bungalows, and we didn’t use it.

It reminds me of a treasured, faded beach blanket at the end of the summer. The soft black stripes are perfect for the relaxed look I'm going for.

Anytime I have a project or table I’m working on, my first step is to gather, gather, gather. I pull piles of dishes and linens and pick from there. The glasses, utensils, flowers and candles come after that.

This isn’t the final table, just a peek at the process. Flowers and final changes are happening today, so I hope you’ll check back later this week.

ciao! fabiana

💕

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”.

two fun projects in the works...

Now that I’m back from vacation, I’m focused on a few exciting upcoming projects... two photo shoots that I'll help style.

We’ll be back at Blue Door Cottage for another coastal inspired tablescape and a few other vignettes. We’re going in a little bit different direction on this one, still keeping with the blue and white beachy theme, but adding more details.

For me it's actually more than just a theme when setting a table, it's about creating just the right mood. It's all about the way the table makes you feel. For this one, it'll be relaxed, festive and vacation-y.

The other project scheduled at the end of the month is photographing my good friend Laura's house. She and I are like two peas in a pod. We've been friends for over 20 years and we both LOVE thrifting, tablescapes, parties and shopping!

In fact, we even started a "Gourmet Club" many years ago that included six couples, and we hosted many themed dinner parties, from Moroccan to Southern cuisine, we covered it all!     

Laura and her husband recently bought and renovated an adorable 1940’s cottage in the city of Orange, and here’s a little peek of it…  

They grow lots of fruits and vegetables in their backyard, and even have an amazing herb garden, so I’m thinking a garden-inspired table setting would be just perfect for this project!   

Here's some fun inspiration from Jenni Kayne that I just love! Lavender and sage are the dominant herbs displayed here.

And I love the simplicity of the color palette and the use of natural textures. This table just transports me into a pretty garden on a sunny summer day!

Here are a few more beautiful tables that I’ve saved and filed away for inspiration on these projects…

                                 

photo credit: pinterest

photo credit: Colette Luesebrink Design

photo credit: Jeannie Tobin via Cottage Journal

photo credit: pinterest

photo credit: pinterest

ciao! fabiana

highlights of hilton head & savannah

We just got back yesterday from our trip to Hilton Head and Savannah, so I thought I’d share a few highlights with you today.

Hilton Head, South Carolina is like our home away from home, and we look forward to our visit every summer.

Between visiting with friends, going to the beach and doing a few DIY projects around the house, I also love to ride my bike around the neighborhood and check out the fabulous curb appeal.

These two homes are among my favorites! 

You know me, I’m always on the hunt for great thrift stores, and Hilton Head has several great ones. To help brighten up the front entry, I was lucky enough to find these vintage inspired travel posters at "The Litter Box"!

BTW, all proceeds at this thrift store go to the Humane Association of Hilton Head.  😻🐶

I just love them! The one on the left says Cannes, and the one on the right is Spain. Perfect pairing with the living room sofa.

I try not to work too hard on projects while I'm there. Last year I must have painted 5 different things, from the new coffee table to a couple of vintage mirrors. 

This year we found some nice blue and white bedding and accessories for one of the bedrooms and that was fun and easy!

                                 

The beach was absolutely magical this year! Can you spot the full moon above? This is during sunset, and this one is...

just a gorgeous sunrise.

We also explored the old Honey Horn plantation which is now known as the Coastal Discovery Museum. Spanish moss is draping from every tree here, and you really get a sense of southern living 100 years ago.

Actually, the history goes back about 300 years at this location, but this main building was built in 1859.

Besides all the wonderful wildlife displays, they also have several original artifacts from this home. These plates are so pretty!

                                 

And check out this farmhouse sink!

While we stay in Hilton Head, we always make time to visit Savannah to and the first stop on this trip was the fabulous Paris Market.

                                

I love to explore their lower level that features interesting tablescapes and vignettes.   

There’s something to admire at every turn while walking the streets of Savannah...

and we have a new favorite restaurant. 😏 Stay tuned for more…

We had so much fun trying new restaurants this year and also visiting some of our favorites like Lowcountry Produce in Sea Pines. They serve amazing breakfasts and lunches and have a yummy smoothie bar. A Chocolate Banana Almond Smoothie with a shot of espresso is my fave!  

And, while I’m here today, I wanted to share that I have some really cool projects lined up for the next month that you're bound to love! I can't say much besides that they're really fun tablescapes....

Vintage, beachy, unique and fun, all rolled into one! 

All the tables will include new online finds combined with vintage treasures. I even found some fun tableware in South Carolina last week, and with fall on the horizon, the tablescaping possibilities are endless!

Quite often, time is of the essence, and I have last minute projects or events to work on, so I turn to online shopping for quick one or two day delivery. You’d be surprised at how many amazing items you can find! Check out my favorite tableware here at “Tablescaping Essentials”.

ciao! fabiana