happy halloween!

A little vintage fun for Halloween, brought to you by Pinterest!

ciao! fabiana

the witch's house in beverly hills

When I was in 8^th grade,

I would walk past this house everyday

on my way to school.

It’s always been known as the

“Witch’s House” in Beverly Hills,

and on Halloween night,

this was the first house my friends and I

wanted to trick-or-treat at!

The crowds gathered on the corner,

and a thick fog enveloped the house.

Such memories! 

Today, this iconic house has been

lovingly preserved to maintain its historic charm

and quirky curb appeal.

It’s now actually owned by

a guy I went to high school with,

Michael Libow.

Originally known as the Spadena house,

it was moved to this location on Walden Drive

in 1924 from the Willat Studios lot in Culver City,

where it had previously  been used as

an office and dressing room.

Michael has updated the home

but maintained its storybook quality.

If you’re ever in the neighborhood, be sure to drive by,

especially on Halloween night!  

ciao! fabiana

photo credits:

 LA Magazine | Vintage Los Angeles | LA Times  

the spookiest raven ...

That spooky time of the year has arrived…

Do you remember being in grade school and reading “The Raven”?

The feeling of this poem is fixed in my mind.

I can still remember that my teacher read it with

so much emotion and it’s permeated my subconscious.

Still to this day, whenever I see a crow,

I think to myself,

nevermore!!      

The Raven

BY EDGAR ALLAN POE

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—

Only this and nothing more.”

And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain

Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;

So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating

“’Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door—

Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;—

This it is and nothing more.”

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,

In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;

Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;

But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door—

Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door—

Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,

Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;

Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking

Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore—

What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore

Meant in croaking “Nevermore.”

ciao! fabiana



note: these passages are just excerpts of the full poem.

today's corona del mar home tour

Instagram favorites from today’s Corona del Mar Home Tour!

Love the black drippy pumpkins. 
Photo Credit: Garden Studio Design

Bright and timeless dining room space.
Photo Credit: Ryan Garvin 

Warm and homey kitchen accents.
 Photo Credit: Prairie Home Styling

Concrete wall, steel lights and a white oak table.
Photo Credit: Raili Clasen

Coastal decor.
 Photo Credit: McKee & Co.

Traditional look with beach house style.
Photo Credit: McKee & Co.

Neutral tones with a hint of denim.
 Photo Credit: Perla Portillo

Cozy and modern bedroom.
Photo Credit: Anabel Bostedt

Vintage lockers for a boys' bathroom.

Photo Credit: Raili Clasen

ciao! fabiana

my black and white halloween table

Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year, so why not go all out and throw an elegant dinner party for a few of my friends? Setting the table is so fun for me. It’s like playing dress-up! 

The first thing I wanted were a few foundation pieces for the table. I knew I wanted a black and white color scheme with no scary elements and no orange. 

Black and white stripes are so elegant, and I found a really nice long cotton Striped Runner, perfect! 

I also got a set of Spooky Bird Spindles, Feather Place Card Holders, and Black Patterned Wine Glasses to get me started with my table. 

I was inspired by nature for my table, so spooky birds, white pumpkins and a little greenery set the tone for this tablescape. 

My black and white transferware plates, raffia place mats, and black chalk-painted chargers look great together for each place setting. I used vintage silver and white damask napkins to add another elegant touch. 

The silver-toned feather place card holders have whimsical bat-shaped place cards. And the black wine glasses pull the whole look together! 

To change things up a little, I set the heads of the table with a fun little white pumpkin and the others get a pretty ivory and gold pumpkin-shaped dish, as an accent.

For the center of the table, I gathered some subtly colored white pumpkins on a glass cake stand, and added glass votives, greenery from my garden and a spooky owl and crow. 

  

I set up a little drink station on my sideboard with the Spooky Birds as the anchors of the space and to add a little drama. A black feather wreath I usually hang on the front door gets a new home here over the vintage mirror. 

   

 

I love this “Bone Appetit” rectagular platter! 

It fits in nicely with the décor.  

 Close-up of the centerpiece, above.

When you start with a few foundation pieces,

this look is soooo easy to put together.

And it came together like this... 

Black and White transferware plates 
raffia place mats 
black charger plates
Black and White Striped Runner
ivory and gold pumpkin-shaped dish
Spooky Bird Spindles
Feather Place Card Holders
bat-shaped place cards
 Black Patterned Wine Glasses
“Bone Appetit” rectagular platter
black feather wreath
white pumpkins 
 glass cake stand, 
 glass votives
Spooky Birds 
 spooky owl and crow. 

ciao! fabiana

💕

While I’m here today, I wanted to share some of my "Tablescaping Essentials" with you. I have a whole page on the Amazon website with my favorite picks for setting a beautiful table.

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”.

posh pumpkins by martha stewart

Martha Stewart is the definitive queen of Halloween décor, and this year she has created a variety of posh and creepy pumpkins.

Snake Infested Pumpkins start with a variety of gray, green or white pumpkins, metallic gold paint and inexpensive plastic snakes.  

To create the look of the Spiderweb Etched Pumpkins, you will need an inexpensive linoleum cutter for carving your pumpkin. That way the orange flesh of the pumpkin shines through, when lit from within. 

Martha updates her Mouse Motel this year by using a beautiful gray pumpkin. Round holes and rubber mice are all you need for this look!

Elegant Copper Leaf Pumpkins and gourds will last all the way through Thanksgiving and look great on your dining room table. 

A group of lumpy Bumpy Mini Pumpkins are highlighted by custom made copper leaf leaves. The candlelight hits them just right!

ciao! fabiana

Photos and inspo by Martha Stewart 

spooky black and white party fun

A little more black and white Halloween party fun, this time from Country Living Magazine! This is spooky décor that is simple and has vintage style. Black crows, owls, cobwebs, witch hats and more! All these creepy Halloween props are set off by an equally ghoulish menu!

I love the human and batty silhouettes!

Elegant but spooky desserts!

Here's the whole menu!

Recipes for this party food in this month's Country Living Magazine: Tart Cherry Eyeball Punch, Baby Back Ribs with Goulish BBQ Sauce, Batty Chicken Wings, Breadstick Rattlers, Help Me Cake, Raven Feather Cupcakes, and Silhouette Sugar Cookies. 

ciao! fabiana