January 27, 2018

a few vintage collectables to love




I'm really loving the simplicity of white,

especially during winter 
when white just brightens up every room!

And, white roses in a gold embellished vase
is such an easy look to pull off.




Today, I’m gathering some of
my favorite floral, pink plates to set an eclectic 
valentine’s day-inspired table.

These vintage plates mix and match
easily with newer plates for a really fun look.




 I just picked up three more yesterday 
for only a couple dollars apiece.




I love how all these vintage elements work together…




These delicate details really pop
against an otherwise all white tablescape.




This newly acquired 
white-handled vintage flatware
works perfectly with this tablescape.




And my new little set of white milk glass votives
have just the right look to fit in with all these romantic details.


ciao! fabiana




January 26, 2018

style trends: blue & white





Great news for all us lovers of blue and white décor

it’s still going strong for 2018, and here’s a little

roundup of some of my favorite looks from

the latest magazines and my favorite stores…
































ciao! fabiana









photo credit:
1,2,3,9 BH&G
4,5,6,8 Coastal Living
7 Redbook
10,11 Country Living
12,13,14 World Market





January 25, 2018

tablescape: coastal winter style





Today I’m back with one of my favorite tablescapes,

and I almost forgot to share it with you all!




Do you remember I put together some
mood boards a few weeks ago for
some table settings I had in mind?




Well, our coastal inspired winter-white dinner
turned out to be a lot of fun!




The seashell salad plates really set the tone for the whole table.

I found them recently on one of my thrifting adventures,

and they work so well with these fun placemats.




You can’t go wrong with white hydrangeas in a vintage vase.

They’ll look great on any table!




And let’s talk about these adorable hobnail votives

I knew I had to have them when I saw them
because they have that perfect vintage milkglass look that I love, even though they’re new.

And best of all,
a whole set of these is quite a bargain!





I love just a hint of that beachglass look…

it’s that soft hue of turquoisy green with that
soft matte finish that is so perfect for evoking that


beachy coastal vibe.   




were the perfect choice for the table.




And they work perfectly with the napkins.




I think it’s fun to beach the winter blues
with a little summer charm

and this little tablescape seems to do just that! 





ciao! fabiana


And it all came together like this:

White Dinner Plates
Hydrangeas: Trader Joe's
Copper Lantern Set: Oriental Trading
Bistro Chairs: Serena & Lily

Thank you to Oriental Trading for sending me these products to review. 

The opinions expressed in this post are truly my own.


January 24, 2018

for sentimental reasons




Sundays are always a day of reflection for me…

a day to recharge, reevaluate and sometimes reminisce.

I guess those are four of my favorite “re” words,
and the dictionary even defines the word reminisce

as

“to indulge in reminiscence”.

So in keeping with that mood, let’s indulge in some

positive inspiration today with a few beautiful thoughts …

💗


Everything has beauty, but not everyone can see.
—Confucius



Certain things catch your eye,
but pursue only those that capture the heart.
 —ancient indian proverb



When one door of happiness closes,
another opens,
but often we look so long at the closed door
that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.
—Helen Keller



How wonderful it is that nobody need wait
a single moment before starting to improve the world.
—Anne Frank



I’ve learned that people will forget what you said,
people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget
how you made them feel.
 —Maya Angelou



ciao! fabiana









Nothing is impossible, 
the word itself says “I’m possible”!
—Audrey Hepburn



January 23, 2018

destination: Plaza la Reina





Nestled between Beverly Hills and Santa Monica and smack dab in the middle of Los Angeles is the fun college town known as Westwood.

This charming little neighborhood also happens to be the home of my new favorite weekend retreat, Plaza La Reina, a sweet little boutique hotel conveniently nestled on the fringe of where the residential area meets the  popular downtown area of Westwood.

Plaza La Reina offers the convenience of today’s lifestyle, with the refined elegance and vintage style reminiscent of those early days of Westwood. That’s what makes it the perfect destination for a romantic little getaway. 




The stylish development of Westwood began in the 1920’s, when a master plan was created as a Mediterranean-style shopping area, with small and easily walkable angled streets. 

The prominent building style at the time was Spanish Colonial Revival with its beautifully tiled roofs and walk-through plazas and courtyards. All this vintage personality is still evident today as we walked around town.




Tucked away from the rest of the city, we felt so at home staying at the Plaza La Reina. Our beautiful one-bedroom private suite was very comfortable and even included a large private terrace. 




The view from our room was evocative of Italy, as our room overlooked the beautiful terracotta roofed buildings nearby. In the evening, the twinkling city lights of Los Angeles’ modern cityscape framed the scenery. It was like having our own private apartment in the city!






Walking out the front doors of the hotel, we had dozens of great restaurant options that were only a short walk away. Some of our favorites are Tanino Ristorante, Le Pain Quotidien, Skylights Gardens, and California Pizza Kitchen. There’s even an In ‘n Out Burger nearby, which is a necessity in any college town!




Our room was filled with so many modern conveniences that you might not expect from a luxury hotel. We had a fully stocked kitchenette that even included a Bosch washer and dryer! So perfect for a weekend or for a longer extended stay!




I’m a very light sleeper, so despite being in the heart of a large, bustling city, our room was quiet and cozy and I slept like a baby! 




I crave tranquility when I travel, and the general vibe here was very relaxing. If we needed anything, the friendly staff was on hand to answer our questions.  






The rooftop terrace at the Plaza La Reina has plenty of comfortable seating and is a great place to take in the spectacular views of surrounding hillsides, curvy tree-lined streets and statuesque buildings of Wilshire Boulevard.




We got a chance to have breakfast on the rooftop while we relaxed on lounge chairs, all while enjoying the fragrance of the potted citrus trees nearby, where notes of lemon permeate the air. 




I couldn’t help but feel thankful for the beautiful, sunny January day and the lovely orange, lemon and kumquat trees surrounding us. This defines California living, at its best!









The Napa Valley Grille is now one of our new favorite restaurants, and it's where we met our good friends Lisa and Tony on Sunday for lunch and dined alfresco on their large patio




Also around the corner was Espresso Profeta, a darling little café that makes yummy cappuccinos. And conveniently enough, Trader Joe’s and Target are also only blocks away.  




Westwood is best enjoyed on foot. Touring the city by sidewalk is a must to take in all the sights and sounds. We had to stop a moment and take it all in, as the smell of warm buttered popcorn infused the air as we walked past the historic Fox and Bruin movie theaters. 

It brought us back to those fun college days in Westwood when the streets were packed with rowdy college kids.


Years ago, I met my future husband in Westwood when he was a student at UCLA, and I was just about to graduate high school. So, you see, Westwood is near and dear to my heart. Spending last weekend in Westwood not only gave us a chance to reacquaint ourselves with some of our favorite places, but it also gave us the opportunity meet close friends at a newly discovered restaurant in the village.
  
Since the opening of UCLA in 1929, the village of Westwood has grown and evolved graciously. Over the years, many generations of Angelinos have enjoyed Westwood’s small town environment that’s still filled with a storied past. And, of course, the bonus is having great restaurants, shops and movie theaters to visit.




The European flair of the Plaza La Reina fits in perfectly in this inviting setting. In keeping with Westwood’s lovely architectural style, you’ll immediately notice the iconic Santa Barbara tiled staircase that leads you upwards from the street level and into the intimate courtyard of the Plaza La Reina. This colorful staircase is perfect for a little photo op. 




We had such a fabulous time 
and can’t wait for our next visit!   



ciao! fabiana


Plaza La Reina
10850 Lindbrook Drive  Los Angeles, California

(310) 986-6888

For more information, visit:



This post is sponsored by Plaza La Reina
however all opinions are genuinely my own.





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