gorgeous and hip in Costa Mesa

This is probably my favorite house from the 
Newport Harbor Home Tour this year...

Here's the living room...

with a black glass octopus arm chandelier.

Look at this stunning red glass chandelier 

over the kitchen island!

My favorite room, 
the dining room.

Another fun chandelier.

This marble dining table is amazing!

The guest room.

A fun collection of beads. 

The hallway art gallery.

Here's another shot of the guest room, 

styled a little bit differently.

The master bathroom.

ciao! fabiana


photos credit:  Pal+Smith and Newport Harbor Home Tour

my friday five

this white kitchen with 

vintage brass hardware

 is beautiful

I am a little obsessed with 

meyer lemons. 

They're gorgeous in the yard 

and so useful in the kitchen!  

I am planting two this weekend 

to eventually 

arch together at the 

entrance of my garden.

The jacarandas are now in 
bloom all across 
southern California. 

Easy and delicious

 crostini for your next party.

meet our new kitten Jaz  

ciao! fabiana

red, white and blue made easy

I'll be making Red, White, and  Blue Bruschetta

this weekend for our get-together with a few friends.

Doesn't this look yummy?

Ingredients 

§ 1/2 cup diced strawberries

§ 1/2 cup blueberries

§ 1/2 cup raspberries

§ 1/2 cup blackberries

§ 3 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar

§ 1 teaspoon honey

§ 4 cloves garlic, minced

§ 1/4 cup fresh basil chiffonade (leaves rolled up and cut into ribbons)

§ Toasted baguette and ricotta for serving

Instructions

1. Combine all the berries in a medium-sized bowl.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together vinegar, honey, and garlic and then drizzle over berries.
3. Stir in basil, cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for at least one hour to allow flavors to develop.
4. Serve on toasted baguette spread with fresh ricotta.

Recipe courtesy of Kiss my Broccoli Blog

Here's a game for people of all ages.

Simply decorate a few empty cans with decorative
red, white and blue tape or paint.

Pretty painted clay pots 
with red, white and blue flowers 
for the front porch.

Love these starfish American flags from MerMade Designs.

Use blue jean pockets from 

outgrown denim to make 

these cute utensil and napkin holders.

They're easy to cut out and fill!  

via bhg

have a wonderful Memorial Day weekened!

ciao! fabiana

my friday five

A few things that captured my attention this week...

I am still thinking of this dining room 
with its gorgeous chandelier and marble table
from the Newport Harbor Home Tour.

This beachy bohemian eclectic look 
from Life at the Beach.
{Collecting precious mementos 
and making them work together!}

Collect your favorite shades of these Little Shirley vases
 for an instant mood enhancing pop of color

The cutest Memorial Day outfit.

Impress your friends this weekend 
with a yummy summer berry tart.

ciao! fabiana

the perfect tea sandwiches

Over the weekend, I had a little time to indulge in watching the food network, and found a new cooking show that I absolutely love. It's called Southern at Heart, with Damaris Phillips who I guess won the food network's next Food Network Star.  

Anyhow, she’s the cutest little thing and she really got me when she started preparing Benedictine sandwiches, which is a staple in Kentucky, but having never been to Kentucky, these were new to me. It's basically a yummy tea sandwich with cucumber and bacon.

In my family, I am known for my cucumber and cream cheese open-faced tea sandwiches, which my boys all love, but this recipe takes the cucumber sandwich to a whole new level, with the addition of BACON!! omg, I had to make these!  

I made it to the market yesterday to buy all the ingredients and got down to business. One of my boys even helped me grate and drain the cucumber, which only took a few minutes. This recipe is very easy and cooking the bacon is the the most time consuming part.

The sandwiches come together very quickly. We opted out on the borage flowers, which boys don't really care about anyways and substituted a little watercress and arugula. This recipe is perfect for a tea party as Damaris showed, or just a yummy lunch for the clan.

Borage, Benedictine and Bacon Sandwiches

Yield: 16 tea sandwiches

ingredients

8 strips bacon
1 large cucumber, peeled and seeded
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 slices country wheat bread
2 cups fresh borage petals or microgreens or baby arugula
Directions

Working in batches if necessary, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 10 minutes. Drain on paper towels.

While the bacon is cooking, grate the cucumber on the large holes of a box grater. Wrap the grated cucumber in cheesecloth and squeeze to remove as much liquid as possible.

Combine the cream cheese and mayonnaise in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the cucumber and red onion and mix until combined, about 30 seconds. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

To assemble the sandwiches, divide the cream cheese mixture evenly between 4 slices of bread. Break the strips of bacon in half and top each sandwich with 4 halves. Sprinkle the borage petals over the top, then cover with the remaining four slices of bread and press down firmly. Cut away the crusts. Slice the sandwiches diagonally in half and then diagonally again, to make triangles. Serve.

Damaris and her cute friend Terra after preparing a scrumptious tea

ciao! fabiana

p.s  the boys loved the Benedictine!

photo credit:

Damaris on Facebook

the ultimate beach house in newport beach

Located at the world famous "Wedge" on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, this home has the ultimate location. Not only is this a premier surfing and body surfing spot, but the beach setting is a virtual paradise.  

As one of the 8 homes featured on the Newport Harbor Home Tour, the outward appearance of this european style facade is only a cloak to its interior decor.  

The interior is light, airy and beachy. It's California beach living at its best, with subtle references to cottage French and Swedish decor, especially in the master bedroom. And, the view of the Pacific and intoxicating ocean breezes are priceless.

   The cozy great room sets 

the tone for this beach house... 

with an oyster shell chandelier 

in the dining area.

 The views from here are spectacular.

 Upstairs, the master bedroom 

is done in a neutral palette,

with just a hint of a soft ocean blue.

The large sitting area is across from the bed.

The hand-painted ceiling in an adjacent room 

reminds me of something you'd see in

 an early California mission. 

I love the chaise lounge centered in the room.

Here's the view of the Wedge

from the master bedroom,

and looking out toward Catalina Island.

The guest room features

a variety of mismatched

reclaimed wood planks on two walls.

I love the gorgeous teal and orange color scheme

in another guest room.

It's so elegant for a beach house.

Don't you love this old crate used for the orchids?

Seashells and coral highlight the antique books.

Lovely coastal details

highlight the shelves.

The rooftop deck has

all the amenities for entertaining

plus almost 360 degree

views of Newport.

 

enjoy your weekend ...

ciao! fabiana

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

Barclay Butera's home on the home tour

It was a huge treat this year to have Barclay Butera's newly renovated cottage on the Newport Harbor Home and Garden Tour. He is a great supporter of our tour and our school, Newport Harbor High School and has been hosting a gorgeous cocktail reception for us for many years. 

His iconic blue and white cottage has been transformed and streamlined into a more neutral and soothing space. He opened up walls and brightened everything up with white paint and soft fabrics. And, he was there to greet visitors as they walked through his stunning home. Here are a few photos from Thursday.

The family room has a sophisticated coastal vibe.

Love the leather pillows!

Animal print is a must in every home!

Perfect bookshelf styling

with Louis Vuitton accents.

I love the nightstands and simple lamps.

A great pop of orange and fun art.

Glamour in the home office.

These before and after photos 

are courtesy of Barclay's facebook page.

What do you think of the transformation?

The cozy outdoor living area.

This beautiful new fountain is now a beacon for guests.

My bestie Lisa with Barclay.

Here I am with with Ray Langhammer, Kerry and her two beautiful daughters Dara and Kelly

at the Barclay Butera Showroom in Newport Beach.

thanks Barclay and Ray for hosting such a fun event!

ciao! fabiana