a Balboa cottage dinner party

Yesterday afternoon was so much fun! My friends Angi and Pete were hosting a birthday dinner party at their absolutely adorable Blue Door Cottage on Little Balboa Island, and I helped them by styling and setting a table for sixteen for them.

We were going for a sophisticated coastal theme, so I started by arranging four mason jars full of vibrant blue hydrangeas. The aqua blue jars were just perfect for this look since it reminds me of beach glass.

This adorable cottage is so reminiscent of Cape Cod, and the hydrangeas are too. I just picture them blooming all over Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket!   

The best configuration for this front yard patio was to have a large square table with four chairs on each side. That left lots of empty space at the center of the table for me to decorate.  

Pretty much everything for the table was blue and white, which coordinates entirely with the inside of the cottage, and I used lemons around the center lantern for just a pop of color.

Here’s the mood board I put together with the items we selected from the party rental company. 

I was so happy to know they offered so many interesting options, especially the blue goblets, blue and white china and gingham napkins, which are my go to items for a no-fail tablescape.

It's always more interesting to mix and match china, like  here where we used scalloped white dinner plates to set off the blue and white salad plates.

For a little fun, we added chunky white starfish at each place setting, and the best part of all, everyone also got their own personal “message in a bottle”.

This version is a lot more fun than the one Sting sang about. Angie and Pete took it to another level by making a whole party game out of this favor. Inside each little bottle, Angie hand-wrote interactive questions which urged everyone to participate. 

These messages in a bottle come all decorated with a tag and little anchor tied on with twine. They’d make great place cards too to for each place setting. Simply write your guests’ names on the little tag that’s already attached!

A white lantern was the perfect choice for the center of the table, as if offers a little height but doesn’t block dinner conversation.

I surrounded it with greenery, scattered lemons and more white starfish, inspired by my interpretation of a summery coastal California look.

Yesterday turned out to be the perfect summer evening for this alfresco birthday dinner. Check back soon for more on the Blue Door Cottage and get a little peek of the inside!

ciao! fabiana

 P.S. After I left Pete ran out to get some more votives for the table...
candlelight is so important to set the perfect mood!

tomorrow is the home tour!

 

It’s not too late to get your Newport Harbor Home Tour ticket. It starts tomorrow, Thursday May 13th and you’ll enjoy eight narrated videos of gorgeous homes with inspiring interior design ideas. 
  
Since it’s virtual, it can be watched as many times as desired. And it comes with a beautiful magazine featuring photos and articles about the homes. Tickets are $65 each and can be ordered on the home tour website.

Featured interior designers narrating their homes this year are: 

Barclay Butera 

Raili Clasen 

Mindy Gayer 

Denise Morison 

Ashley Clark 

Ulloo42

Hawk & CO.  

 

Balboa Island home designed by Barclay Butera

In addition to an in-depth tour of this home, Barclay will personally will give us a rare tour of his own personal home in Palm Springs. We’ll be getting two amazing tours by Barclay!! 
 

 

Home designed by Hawk & Co.

Home designed by Mindy Gayer Designs

Home designed by Denise Morrison Interiors

Home designed by Raili Clasen

Home designed by Ashley Clark

Home designed by Ulloo42 

Another way to support Newport Harbor High School is to shop the online BOUTIQUE from May 13-15 and local pop-up shops on May 13th featuring unique vendors/stores. Purchase a luncheon voucher for Greenleaf Kitchen (Costa Mesa location) for May 13-16 and support our local businesses. 
  
From the Bayfront to Newport Heights, Dover Shores to the Upper Newport Bay, you’ll get an in-depth look into each of these outstanding homes. 

 

 

Due to extra special circumstances this year, the Newport Harbor Home Tour is available to friends and family nationwide and WORLDWIDE! Spread the word!  

 

Newport Beach local will be able to have the option to enjoy a lunch by Greenleaf Gourmet Chophouse, at an additional cost. There's also lots of local shopping to be done. Check out details of the Boutique HERE.  

 

 BONUS! For each ticket purchased, you'll be entered in a drawing to win a $500 gift certificate to South Coast Plaza and a one-night stay at Newport's beautiful Balboa Bay Resort! 

All the fun starts at 8am, but of course you can watch the tour whenever you'd like!

ciao! fabiana 

 

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