the evolution of the dish room

 

Here’s another look at the new area in the house that I'm calling the “dish room”. 

Throughout the seasons, it’s really proven to be quite useful and popular for photo shoots, as well as housing all my extra plates, home accessories and vintage colored glassware.

Last year I decided to take an unused bedroom and use it as the main hub for a lot of my styling props. 

Here it is styled for the autumn months. Brown and white transferware, copper accessories and lots of natural textures five this space a fall vibe.

 

A cottage farmhouse display was set up against the big wall with furniture that was already in the room. I just added a peg rack to the shelves that were already in the room. 

I did have to paint the shelves white and move them to the center of the wall, but all in all, this was all very budget friendly.

 

A dark brown-black Ikea desk and the two shelves were transformed with a few coats of white chalk paint. I papered the wall with a fun beadboard textured wallpaper which saved me quite a bit of money on using actual beadboard.

 

All I bought, besides the wallpaper, was a custom-made peg rack to fit right under the bottom shelf and a cute gingham curtain for the desk opening.

 

I also found the most adorable vintage chandelier to finish off the room. This is now a great spot for my early morning photo shoots and also fulfills my organizational tendencies! 😜

My good friend and contractor George found this vintage corner cabinet around the corner from my home, on the curb!! It was free, and he knows my taste so well, that he immediately called me to give me the heads up on this free cabinet.

 

When we found this piece, it was painted with a very shiny and bright enamel paint that was just starting to peel off.

 

A lot of elbow grease, sanding, scraping and now this piece was ready for a new coat of paint.

 

I painted it a neutral grey-green color. In this photo, it looks greener than it does in real life. It’s a great farmhouse style neutral color.

 

With all the pretty dishes and plates I’ve collected over the years, I decided floor to ceiling dishes on the wall was a fun surprise for this main accent wall.

 

The stage is now set. There’s still time to fill in all the plates, but projects got in the way of it all. I love the evolution of it, so time is on my side.

 

Some of my favorite farmhouse and cottage style pieces are now on full display here in my new dish room.

 

And best of all, when Christmas projects came along, this was now the perfect backdrop for some very special stylings…

 

You may recognize this shot from the winter 2024 issue of Country Sampler Farmhouse Style magazine. Yes, my new little dish room now has proudly graced the cover of a magazine!   

 

Don’t ask me how this happened! It was a complete and utter surprise, but wow!!! A very special one!  

Here' how the cover shot turned out... 

This dish room is like a dream come true! I love how you've made use of an unused space and turned it into something so functional and aesthetically pleasing.

It's always inspiring to know a little creativity and some resourceful design can completely transform a space.

 

ciao fabiana

 

 

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alfresco: ivy at the shore

 

There's something so soothing about this green and white Ivy print!

Maybe it’s the outdoor nature of it combined with a nostalgic feel...

Here in Newport Beach, we have very mild weather, due to the onshore breezes we get so often. So setting an alfresco table is always a great idea! 

I don't know what it is exactly about this glorious green and white ivy print, all I know is I'm in LOVE! You can find this pretty tablecloth and napkins over at Pacific and Rose, along with a few other pretty ivy patterned items.

And how about those pretty white snapdragons? I grew them myself this year in my cut flower garden along with these pretty blush colored Desdemona roses.

 

Each place setting features a vintage French onion soup lion bowl filled with a personalized bouquet of one Desdemona rose wrapped in a sprig of English ivy. 

My favorite bamboo flatware is the perfect choice for this elegant alfresco tablescape.

 

FUN FACT: Do you recognize this vintage Franciscan Ivy dinner plates in the first and second photos? 

It's a classic that's been around since 1948, and more importantly, you may recognize it in a black and white version, because it was featured on "I Love Lucy" for years in those darling scenes where Lucy and Desi are in the kitchen having breakfast. It was Lucy's everyday dishware!!

I hope you’ll follow along with me on Instagram for all the latest projects and décor I will be sharing in 2025.

 

 

 

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.

 

fall colors on repeat!

 

Yes, that’s right! This time of the years it’s all about “Fall colors on repeat!” I’m loving the softer muted tones this season 🍁🍂

 

My September table in the breakfast room features some of my favorites old and new…

 

A few artichokes and hydrangeas from my garden bring a sense of nature to the table.

Fresh willow eucalyptus from my neighbor’s tree helps soften the look of everything, including the collection of pumpkins on the sideboard.

 

The Pinecone Napkin Rings and the Cheese Board are from Arthur Court and the plates, charger and wicker vase are from new little items I just acquired!

 

My favorite Pinecone napkin rings and linen napkins.

 

The gorgeous Veggie Tureen will soon be filled with one of our favorite homemade soups, probably butternut squash!

What’s your favorite fall soup? 

Check out some of my favorites here.

 

My goal was to create a tablescape that captures the essence of autumn’s natural beauty!

You can see all these fabulous photos play out in “reel” time in this short little video right here.

 

Check out all the best items used at this table here:

 

Pinecone Napkin Rings

Feather Napkin Rings

Linen Napkins

Vagabond House Veggie Tureen

Small Serving Bowls

Similar Plates

Vagabond House Flatware

Faux Artichokes

Similar Wooden Chargers

Pear Salt & Pepper Shakers

Glass Acorn Bowl

Chandelier

 

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.

 

the prettiest garden flowers for the house

I found this quote and it really spoke to me…  

“Every bird, every tree, every flower reminds me what a blessing and privilege it is just to be alive.” — Marty Rubin.

 

Each day is a gift. Let’s start today with the renewed vigor of a new year. We get the opportunity 365 times out of the year, so let’s make it count! Let’s immerse ourselves in today.

 

Even when the sun’s not shining, and the birds aren’t singing, these precious flowers bring me so much joy!

 

Please enjoy some of my favorite floral moments from the past few months.

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.

You may have spotted some of these pretty items in this post.

Please click on photos for shopping links: 

 

   

5 favorite new garden books

With the addition of my new potager garden that I designed and installed in January, I have a lovely variety of garden books to share with you. 

These are brand-new books that have proved to be great sources of information and inspiration for me in my own garden.

 

There are six new raised beds surrounded by gravel and filled with edible delights! I did reserve one of those beds for cut flowers, some of which, like Calendula and Pansies, are also perfect for decorating a salad with their pretty blooms.

 

Check out my video of the potager garden from last month:

And this NEW VIDEO.

Now here are the books that helped me in a big way while planning and planting my new veg garden…

 

1. The First-Time Gardener: Raised Bed Gardening

Raised bed gardening has never been more popular, but it can also be intimidating, especially for beginner gardeners. 

The First-Time Gardener: Raised Bed Gardening by CaliKim is the perfect guide for newbie growers, offering advice on everything from selecting the best raised bed for the available space and filling it with healthy soil, to planting plans and plant-care tips.

Why is raised bed gardening booming in popularity? 

The benefits are numerous. No matter your yard size, raised beds are the perfect fit. They allow for a controlled growing environment, filled with fertile soil. 

Raised beds help gardeners with less-than-ideal soils, there’s little to no weeding involved, they’re accessible, and they can be as large or as petite as you’d like. 

This book helps with learning how to select the best raised bed for your space, what to fill it with, and tips for staking and trellising plants to save space and improve yields. 

Also included are  DIY plans for building quick and simple beds, info on soil, mulch, watering and fertilizing, tips to maximize production, and much more.

 

 

2. The First-Time Gardener: Container Food Gardening

Container gardens can take up as much or as little room as you’d like. They’re portable, so you can locate them wherever conditions are optimal for plant growth.

 

And you can grow just about any veggie in pots, as long as you have the right container, the right soil blend, and the right care tips.

 

In this book, author Pam Farley of BrownThumbMama.com lines the path to container food gardening success in clear, simple steps.

 

Find a dozen fully illustrated planting plans for themed container food gardens, including a Smoothie Greens Garden, a Spring Stir-Fry Garden, a Spaghetti Sauce Garden, a Salad Greens Garden, and many others in this fun book.

No room? No problem. Lousy soil? Nothing to worry about. Not enough time? Think again. Growing food in containers is fun, easy, and perfect for beginners.

 

3. Sustainable Homestead

If you’re like most homesteaders, the dream is to make the most of your land by working with it, not against it. 

From capturing water and building strong soil to helping your animals live their best lives, The Sustainable Homestead is about making your homestead stronger by achieving synergy between what can seem like different parts.

In this book, new and veteran homesteaders alike can find detailed information to use this year, this month, even this week! 

Angela has spent more than a decade building and strengthening her small acreage homestead and shares the lessons through chapters covering site selection, soil, growing, animals, the role of the homesteader, and much more.

 

4. The Elegant and Edible Garden

Stylish and celebratory, The Elegant and Edible Garden takes food growing to a higher plane, presenting a vision for creating a garden space where food and flowers grow side by side. 

You’ll flatten the learning curve for designing a beautiful, edible garden by sharing common-sense tips and inspiration and ideas from Linda’s own personal experience of starting a garden from scratch, while still allowing your style and personality to shine. 

“This is a book about capturing the romance, the artistry, and the experiential nature of a garden and garden living." 

 

5. Tiny +Wild

Meadows don’t have to be big to make a difference and the perks of creating one, even on a small scale, are many. Tiny but mighty meadows help mitigate climate change, foster biodiversity, sequester carbon, and calm the senses. 

With as little as a few square feet of space, you can create a beautiful, naturalistic planting that supports a diversity of plants, pollinators, and a plethora of other living things, not to mention its visual appeal to human eyes. 

Author and landscape designer Graham Laird Gardner helps you find inspiration in natural spaces so you can successfully site, design, plant, and care for your own small-scale meadow.

Whether you live in the city or in suburbia, perfect places for mini-meadows are everywhere: a small corner of the yard, flanking the front walk, around your mailbox, that little area between the house and driveway, tucked next to the front stoop, in the center of your vegetable garden and so many other places.

The plant lists and charts in Tiny + Wild share the best plants to include in your micro prairie, and Graham offers plenty of practical advice on planting your meadow from seed, transplants, or mature plants, depending on your budget, the site, and your timeline. 

Plus, learn how to care for your wildflower planting, including tips for watering, plant care, and weed management. Discover how small spaces can make a big difference in Tiny & Wild.

 

"The Elegant and Edible Garden" is a vision of the very best things a garden can offer: food, beauty, connection, and a place to breathe.

 

It's a book about designing a garden that is distinctly yours, using edibles as ornamentals, with lots of pictures for inspiration and emulation. If I did it, so can you.

 

Shopping Links:

 

1. The First-Time Gardener: Raised Bed Gardening

2. The First-Time Gardener: Container Food Gardening

3. Sustainable Homestead

4. The Elegant and Edible Garden

5. Tiny +Wild

ciao! fabiana

 

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