bedside manner

What's on your nightstand?

It’s always a good idea to have a few

pretty necessities

there next to you.

Soft lighting,

a good book,

water,

and maybe

a sweet plant or flowers.

ciao! fabiana

cute and casual friday

ciao! fabiana

photo credit:  who what wear

home tour day

Last Thursday was the day of the Newport Harbor Home and Garden Tour. I've had the opportunity to help out this year with publicity for the tour. It' been fun being involved with the planning of the home tour, and it's been a really busy few months. Not only have I had a behind the scenes look at the six gorgeous homes, but I have met so many wonderful people over the last few months. Enjoy my mini tour...

This first home is a 1912 beachfront cottage.

 

This next one is a stunning contemporary 

home with a timeless French provincial style,

 decorated by Ebanista. 

This is a 3 story wall of cascading water

 

This photo was taken for the OC Register

Next is a charming Nantucket-style cottage

 with interior design by Barclay Butera.

This home is a modern home 

with a "pop art" vibe inside. 

This next one’s an elegant beach house.

Everyone's favorite closet!

ciao! fabiana

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

a perfect mother

Happy Mother’s Day!

ciao! fabiana

the old-town tustin home & garden tour

The McCharles House serves a delicious and charming 
“high-tea” in their Victorian house and old-fashioned garden.

Saturday was a gorgeous day here in Orange County. Perfect for the Tustin Historical Society who was hosting their 17th annual promenade of lovely historic homes and gardens. 

I had been on this tour once before, and was really looking forward to exploring this charming area again. 

This year they featured a lovely collection of historic homes, most of them built between the 1880's and the 1930's. 

The guides and hostesses were all so friendly and informative, and I could really feel the sense of pride they had for their neighborhood. I hope you enjoy some of my favorite things about this year's tour! 

  

a pretty hollyhock greets visitors at the McCharles House.

The Pankey home is a 1928 Monterey Spanish Revival house,
and features the oldest surviving sycamore tree in the area.

Mrs. Pankey has lived in this house since 1956.
She is in the center posing with the
May Pole dancers from Tustin High School.

This is the Edgell home originally built in 1905.
It has doubled in size over the years.

A charming neighborhood home.

The Clifford house has a very creative garden
& front porch. This tall dresser was planted with
a variety of succulents and cottage flowers. 

The porch of the Clifford house. The home was built in 1884
in the California Craftsman style.
Flamingos and Xanadu were the themes for this year's tour.

A pretty shaded chandelier adds drama to the black and
white porch.  Pops of red brighten the space.  

Another vignette of the cute porch with yet another dresser.
This one is planted in patriotic colors.

A whimsical fairy garden is a lovely surprise for visitors of the Clifford house.

A pretty quartet serenaded guests at the Johnson home.

All set up for lunch on the porch!

My favorite little vignette!

The Zell garden was expansive and featured this cozy outdoor fireplace.

A  charming sitting area close to the garden and to the left of the fireplace.

A small children's playhouse
with a loft in the Zell garden.

This walking tour also offered the comfort of an old-fashioned buggy ride.

Pretty landscaping for this historic 1926 home.

Cheery succulents.

Happy birds must live here.

A lovely little mason jar vignette at the front door

A glamorous laundry room is always fun to see!

Another little fairy garden in the Berryman Cottage.

Pretty in pink

Another pretty Victorian.

The tour started right across the street from one of my favorite restaurants, Rutabegorz, so of course my friend Nancy and I ended our fun day with lunch there.

We had a fun lunch at one of our favorite spots,Rutabegorz!
Their featured appetizer was
an artichoke, olive and tomato dip with chips, only 47¢!

I love Old Town Tustin!

ciao! fabiana