twelve months of tablescapes

january

Coastal Winter Style

I thought I’d finish off the year with my favorite tablescapes from each month of 2018. As you know, I love setting an interesting table, so today I wanted to share a little overview of some more interesting ones that I shared with you all throughout the year.

At the end of this post you can vote for your favorite!

A little inspiration goes a long way,

and you all inspire me every day!

february

a vintage inspired Mardi Gras table

march

Kumquats on a Blue and White table

april

Daffodils and Blue Transferware

may

a rosy and romantic tablescape

june

Blue and White with a hint of Red

july

a Vintage Patriotic Tablescape

august

Cabbageware and Blue Transferware

september

a Festive September Tablescape

october

Hints of Harry Potter for Halloween

november

Classic Style for Thanksgiving

december

a Cozy & Enchanting Christmas Table

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”.

winter white decor

Do you ever have a certain magazine that you just keep going back to for inspiration and ideas? I have a few that I keep in my current stack of magazines, and this one proves to be timeless!

Anytime of the year, this issue of Cottage White Fall 2017 really inspires me. I love everything within its beautiful little pages, so I wanted to share one of my favorite features from this issue, this lovely lakeside home… 

one of my faves!!

ciao! fabiana

photo credit:  cottage white 

farmhouse style features

Don’t you just love this week that's snuggled between Christmas and New Year’s? It’s sort of a much-needed recovery week after all the festivities. What do you have planned for the rest of the year?

We generally stay in town during this time, with maybe an overnight getaway to the mountains or somewhere in San Diego, like La Jolla or Coronado. Nothing planned yet, but we might rally and pull something together!

I do like to cook when it gets cold out like it is now. It is 53 degrees out at the moment, but there’s a really chilly northern wind blowing!

I love how turning on the oven and baking something yummy just warms up the whole house and creates a cozy aroma that makes you just want to cuddle up by the fire and hibernate!

The upcoming weekend is the perfect time to bake some fresh blueberry muffins. This recipe for Lemon Blueberry Muffins with Streusel Topping is one I created exclusively for Farmhouse Style Magazine and is set to appear on newsstands in the next few weeks.

I can’t giveaway the recipe just yet, but I can tell you the texture of these muffins reminds me of the most delicious pound cake. You see, they’re baked with sour cream and buttermilk to extract the most decadent flavor from the blueberries and lemon zest!  

The muffins are then topped with a crunchy streusel topping and baked. I combined four different recipes to create this one, because I envisioned a perfect combination of certain ingredients and of course this amazing crunch topping!

The issue comes out around January 15th. You can see a preview of it here...

Also in this issue of Farmhouse Style is a really unique idea for a pillow. My friend Brenda Kristine created this gorgeous patchwork pillow from remnants of beautiful vintage linens!

You can see all the details here on my favorite Serena & Lily Mattituck chair that sits in my family room.

 Isn’t the pillow just divine? Brenda’s so creative!  

When this issue comes out, you can read every detail 

of how she puts these amazing patchwork pillow together!

Here’s how it appears in the magazine among other fun patchwork DIY projects.

Look for the Spring issue of Country Sampler Farmhouse Style next month for an issue filled with lots more inspiration and decorating ideas! 

I’m so thankful that during the past year I’ve been able to collaborate with the most amazing magazines and editors in the design world. It’s really a dream come true!

I'm looking forward to 2019 and creating more yummy recipes, fun tablescapes and decorating ideas. 

Thanks so much to YOU for traveling this creative journey with me, and remember I LOVE to hear your input and what some of your favorite themes are!

What would you like to see more of in 2019?

xo xo   fabiana

For lots of fun extras, please follow me on instagram!

christmas and new years inspiration

Happy Friday before Christmas!

I’m sure this weekend will be busy for us all, with last minute shopping, wrapping and party-prepping!

I just received a couple of extra tester shots from our photo shoot last week with Cottages and Bungalows Magazine.

The first photo is a little pre-setup that ultimately got tweaked a little bit for the final photo, but this is the basic vibe of the family room mantle.

  

From photographer, Bret’s camera, you can see the setup of the front door vignette. I made the “Buon Natale” banner a couple of years ago, but it’s the first time I’m using it over the front doors.

I like how all the gold and black colors work together. The wreathes are a collection of silver, gold and copper Christmas ornaments that stand out nicely against the dark doors. 

Here I am in the dining room… oh, how I dislike taking photos! I’m much more comfortable behind the camera.

The dining room tablescape came together using my husband's grandmother's antique "Indian Tree" china. You'll get an up-close peek at it soon, but I love the pinky-red details on it. 

Serena and Lily napkins and raffia placemats were used to update the more formal look of the china. This photo is a little dark, but I wanted to share this look with you. 

BTW, the chairs and pillow in the background are also Serena and Lily.

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have gotten a peek at my New Year’s Eve feature in the January issue of Romantic Homes Magazine.

I've updated my favorite clock plate theme exclusively for Romantic Homes, and here's a little peek at some of the outtakes.

Lots of glittery details were used for this partyscape!

And of course, if you know me, we had to incorporate a lot of vintage details too!

You can read my whole article and see all the best photos in this issue of Romantic Homes, so be sure to pick up a copy soon!

photo by Rita Lavoe

I’m so looking forward to Christmas! I spent ALL DAY baking my favorite Christmas cookies yesterday, and I think I made at least ten dozen! 🍪Just little gifts for friends and neighbors!

Today I’m starting on the Christmas pudding, which is really a cake that steamed and filled with all sorts of amazing fruits, nuts and chocolate!

I'd be so happy if you left me a comment to let me know what you’re up to this weekend. I’d love to know! 😍

ciao! fabiana

...and for lots of fun extras, follow me on instagram!

a pre-christmas surprise wedding

Christina ElMoussa of Flip or Flop just announced her marriage to British TV host Ant Anstead yesterday, and I couldn’t be happier!

There was a little something out of the ordinary yesterday… My husband and I were just coming home from a late lunch at The Country Club, a yummy restaurant on 17th street, and noticed like a million cars parked on Santiago, overflowing onto Tustin Avenue and beyond.

Well this explains it! They were there for Christina’s wedding… you see she recently moved in around the corner from us.

Christina also recently shared her collaboration with local interior designer Raili Classen. Raili’s spruced up Christina’s home in the most hip and cool beachy sort of way. Check out these pics from Raili and Christina’s Instagram…

You may recognize Raili from some of my previous posts or from the Newport Harbor Home Tour. She’s had a home featured on the tour almost every year!

That’s not the only Newport Harbor Home Tour connection… You see Christina’s new home was featured on the home tour in 2016 when Shannon from Prairie Home Styling completely renovated it.

So if you were on the home tour in 2016, you technically have been in Christina’s house!

News broke over the summer, that Christina had moved into to this lovely home with the oversized yard and lovely, hip styled interior, but wait… 

the style wasn’t up to snuff with Christina, so an overhaul of the interior was at the top of the list.

Here’s a peek at the light and bright office, redesigned by Raili.

And here’s the before picture,

 as it appeared in HGTV Magazine. 

The master bedroom, as it was in 2016.

And here we are during the Newport Harbor Home Tour in 2016.

One of our earliest meetings at the home was during construction!

I love this birds eye view of the master bedroom from before Christina. I wonder how she’s styled it now!

This home has an amazing backyard that’s so perfect for parties! I can’t wait to see more wedding shots from her newly updated yard.

Here are a couple of exterior shots from our home tour files…

above, during the home tour and 

below when Christina bought the home.

And by the way, you can read more on Raili here and check out a handful of beautiful homes she’s designed.

This is Raili’s Lido Isle home from the 2018 home tour. And speaking of the Newport Harbor Home Tour, mark your calendars for May 16th, the next home tour! 

Our co-chairs Marena and Gina have been busy selecting homes for the tour, and the 2019 home tour promises to be another super fun day!

ciao! fabiana

for lots of fun extras, follow me on instagram!

Photo credit: 

People Magazine, Christina ElMoussa,

 Raili Classen and Newport Harbor Home Tour.

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