pretty flowers for every room

With the start of the new year comes the anticipation for spring and summer flowers! Now’s the time when I get motivated to clean up the garden. Prune, weed and prepare for what mother nature has in store.

 

My goal is to have pretty cut flowers at a whim. A little bouquet here, and a large bunch of flowers there… Every room should have a hint of floral charm!  

That’s why I just love this pretty vignette with nasturtiums and another one with gorgeous zinnias from Butter Wakefield’s Instagram page.

  

I love these colors!

This jungly room is just what the doctor ordered on a cold and wintery day. I love the vintage furnishings too. It’s so cozy. Spotted in House Beautiful UK.

Colorful roses and pots of coleus are offset by the calm serene look of the ferns and other houseplants. This is a spectacular room by Bunny Williams, and of course it would't be the same without the addition of these pretty flowers.

 

Sometimes all you want is a little hint of lovely at the table, and the garden is just the right place to find a darling rose or burst of wildflower. (From Victoria magazine)

 

Just a touch of floral delight is all that’s needed in this moody corner. I’d love to start my day right here with a hot cup of coffee and a peek at the outside world.

The idea of using baskets to hold plants, small and large, really appeals to me. Best of all, we all have baskets laying around here and there, so let’s put them to good use. (From Victoria magazine)

 

A little trio of elegant plants finds a home in this beautiful basket. Sometimes baskets are already lined with plastic, which makes them perfect for planting. Try this winning combination of Hellebore, Hyacinth and Echevarria.  

 

Another option would be to create a living arrangement in a vintage tin. White flowers are the perfect choice for winter.

 

A winning view like this deserves a little spot of color, so this potted azalea works perfectly. (From Victoria magazine)

Azaleas can be enjoyed in bloom for several weeks, and then you can just plant them into the garden and watch them grow and flower for years to come!

 

ciao! fabiana

 

For lots of fun extras, follow me on instagram!

 

 

 

You can check out some of my favorites here at “Tablescaping Essentials”*. 

 

 

 

 

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links.

 

 

weekend wrap-up

Necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels

Gown by Gucci 

Hi guys, happy Saturday! Hasn’t the beginning of the new year been moving along quickly? With the hustle and bustle of the holidays over and done with, this is my favorite time to move forward with new opportunities and meet up again with old friends.

With all the anticipation of starting the year with a blank slate, I’ve got all sorts of project ideas swirling around in my head, plus a few things I want to share with you all!  

Victoria, the Masterpiece series starts up again tomorrow night. Did you happen to catch this series last year? It's the best thing to hit the screen since Downton Abbey. Visually  it's gorgeous and authentically recreated in a seriously breathtaking manner, from the costumes and jewelry to the locations and historic events. The role of young Queen Victoria is beautifully acted by Jenna Coleman. Here she is in a natural setting, without the signature blue contacts she wears to portray Victoria on the show, wearing Victorian inspired jewels. 

Necklace and ring by Faberge & Gemfields

Dress by Balmain 

Victoria airs Sunday night, January 14 at 9pm on PBS.

Necklace and ring by Cartier

Dress by Alberta Ferretti 

If you liked my last post on Hilary Duff’s home, here are a few more pics. I still can't get over how fabulous those pink front doors are!

And that tile in the kitchen... wow!

And speaking of tile...

My husband and I are headed to LA this weekend to check into the Plaza La Reina hotel in Westwood. The style and grace of this locale harkens back to 1920’s Santa Barbara. Look for more on this 5 star boutique hotel from me very soon! Above, Laura Dern strikes a pose on the beautifully tiled staircase of the Plaza La Reina. 

Could this be a fabulous boutique hotel somewhere in Italy? No, it's a secluded little enclave in the heart of Los Angeles, and I can't wait to visit Plaza La Reina in Westwood this weekend. 

💕

It looks like the perfect little overnight getaway that would be romantic enough for Valentine’s day!

A Winter White Coastal-Inspired Dinner Party

Among the ideas swirling around in my head are specific themes I’m going for in upcoming tablescape projects. Here are a few mood boards I’ve put together for January and February.

A Fresh and Fun Valentine Celebration

An Old New Orleans-Style Mardi Gras Dinner Party 

And lastly, remember my thrifting adventure earlier in the week? Well, I spotted a sad little antique drop-leaf secretary desk that had the most delicate silhouette for only $25. It was terribly battered and beat up, so I walked away from it, knowing that I absolutely had no room in my house for it anyways.

Well, guess what? I couldn’t stop thinking about it for two whole days. I kept envisioning it painted white with a pop of Tiffany blue inside. Wouldn't it make a fabulous bar? So, I went back thinking there was only a slight miniscule chance that it would still be at the Goodwill Store.

You guessed it! I got lucky. There it was... and now here it is in my home waiting for a little wood filler, pretty paint and lots of TLC.     

ciao! fabiana

photo credit:

Jenna Coleman from InStyle Magazine

Villa La Reina, Los Angeles

5 fun things to check out...

Hey everyone!  I hope you’re having a fabulous weekend! I wanted to take a few minutes to share a few things that have got me excited this week. First is the premiere of Victoria on Masterpiece. I’ve heard really great things about this show, and I’m hoping it will help replace Downton Abbey as one of my favorite Sunday night treats. 

This gorgeously done show tells the real story of a young Princess Victoria, who has grown up in a very sheltered environment. The story begins as she becomes Queen of England, falls in love and soon becomes the most powerful woman in the world! 

The details and period costumes look like they're right on par with the stunning production of Downton Abbey. Look for the show on your favorite PBS station. 

And speaking of great things in Britain, if you’re a fan of Ladies of London, then you may have gotten a peek at Dundas Castle on this week’s episode. The ladies plan a little getaway at this magnificent Scottish Castle in Edinburgh. 

The rooms and the grounds are spectacular, and (again) very Downton Abbey! I know next time I’m in the UK, I will try to plan a side trip to Dundas. As you may have noticed, I’m a bit of an Anglophile, so this gets me really excited. Planning my next rip now…lol!

And now off to Denmark… Hygge! I’ve been seeing this word everywhere! Have you? In my head, I kept pronouncing it High-Ghee, but it’s actually Hoo-Guh. Anyways, hygee loosely means comfort in the old Danish language, and it’s basically a word used to express things you can do to comfort yourself, and create a cozy environment. 

For those cold winter days and nights, think a warm fire, a luxurious blanket, your favorite candles flickering, and a delicious beverage to warm your soul. This is what I thrive for everyday! 

Coziness, and now we have 

a whole movement, 

Hygge!

I’m thrilled to welcome two new sponsors to my blog this year, Brick House Fabrics and Cushy Chic Outdoor Slipcovers and Accessories. Brick House Fabrics offers thousands of different novelty home decorating fabrics by the yard. They import many of their fabrics directly from mills in Europe. 

Cushy Chic is the perfect one-stop site for recovering outdoor cushions, at budget friendly prices. They’ve developed a special patent-pending technology to create their outdoor fabrics that come in several fun colors. 

Have a lovely Sunday, 

and let me know what you think of Victoria, 

if you get a chance to watch!  

ciao! fabiana