a real country pantry and larder

Antique and vintage collectables have always had a dear place in my heart, especially kitchen collectables. Once you start off with a piece or two, the collecting process can be quite fun!

 

It’s always a hoot finding one of these pieces, and they can turn up in some of the most unexpected places. 

Garage sales are my favorite place to find these goodies and a great opportunity to create a super cute vintage-style pantry like the ones shown here.

Mason jars filled with dry goods and colorful cans are an excellent way to bring character into any country pantry.

 

 

What adds character to a farmhouse style pantry and personalizes the space most? Well, I think it’s having a few elements that are perfectly imperfect!

A rustic wood floor, an unfinished ceiling, whimsical lights, mismatched chairs, flowers from the garden, the possibilities are endless!

In this case we've got ironstone on the top shelf, followed by blue and white transferware on the second shelf and red and white transferware on the third shelf. What a pretty way to style a pantry! 

 

There are so many ways to personalize your kitchen and add character. Check out these adorable mis-matched country curtains hiding whatever is behind the shelves under the counter. 

 

This kitchen stopped me in my tracks! The vibrant green color of this fabulous kitchen table is amazing! 

It’s got all the storage opportunities of a mini larder or pantry right there, smack dab in the middle of this kitchen. 

All the photos above have been found in the pages of one of my favorite magazines, Country Living.  

 

So, what is the difference between a pantry and a larder? A pantry is a general storage space for food, drinks, and kitchen items, while a larder is a cool, dry area for storing food that needs to be preserved.

 

Larders must be cool and dry in order to help preserve a variety of foods.

 

A pantry is usually a larger space, added through stylish use of architectural features and are often created from spare rooms or extra space near a kitchen.

 

Even though the differences are subtle, and the words are now used interchangeably, I can’t help think of Downton Abbey, Mrs. Patmore and Daisy creating fabulous meals in that historic kitchen.

 

The kitchen itself had “larder” elements. It’s just a vibe! That chic English kitchen look is something that is completely ingrained in my mind.

 

From the copper pots and pans to the classic cabinetry, this kitchen is just dreamy. And when it comes to life during the hustle and bustle of cooking for the Downton family (the Crawleys) and guests, it really is at its best!

 

You can ring my bell, any time!

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

 

 

 

 

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lucy and ivy

There’s just something exactly about this glorious green and white ivy print, and all I know is I'm in LOVE! It all started with first seeing this pretty tablecloth and napkins from Pacific and Rose.

I instantly remembered that I had some vintage Franciscan Ivy dinner plates and thought these items would be a match made in heaven.

The Franciscan Ivy dinner plates are a classic piece of American dinnerware. They were first introduced in the 1940s by the Franciscan Pottery company, which was based in California.

 

The design features a charming ivy pattern that wraps around the edges of the plates, giving them a timeless and elegant look. These plates became especially popular after being featured on the TV show "I Love Lucy"

These lovely Ivy plates and other dishware is 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!!

 

The Franciscan Ivy dinner plates definitely made their mark in TV history thanks to "I Love Lucy." 

I love how they added such a cozy touch to the Ricardo’s kitchen scenes. These Ivy clad cups and plates have become iconic in their own right.

 

It's so fascinating how something as simple as dinnerware can hold such nostalgic value and bring back memories of those classic moments. 

Do you have any favorite episodes or scenes from "I Love Lucy"? Lucy always had such a knack for getting into hilarious situations!

 

Lucy and Ricky had such great chemistry, and their kitchen antics were always entertaining. 

Whether it was Lucy’s hilarious attempts at cooking or Ricky’s exasperated reactions, those moments were pure TV gold.

One of my favorite scenes is when Lucy tries to bake bread, and it turns into a gigantic loaf that pushes her out of the kitchen. Such a classic! 

Do you have a favorite kitchen moment from the show? Or maybe a scene that always makes you laugh?

While the Franciscan Ivy dinner plates and cups are most famously associated with "I Love Lucy," they also appeared in other shows like "Bewitched."

 

As you can see here in Larry and Louise’s kitchen, the ivy pattern's timeless charm made it a popular choice for set designers looking to create a cozy, homey atmosphere.

Now take the plates featured on the set of Samantha and Darrin’s dining room. It’s red transferware. 

Red and white transferware, along with blue and white transferware has been a classic for hundreds of years!   

But set in the groovy Americana set of the 1960’s Bewitched dining room, it once again creates a relatable comfort zone for viewers.

 

Transferware is known for its intricate patterns and vibrant colors, making it a popular choice for both everyday use and special occasions.

These dishes often feature scenes of pastoral landscapes, floral designs, or historical events, and they were produced by various manufacturers, including Wedgwood, Johnson Brothers, Spode, and Mason's.

The red and white color combination is particularly striking and has a timeless appeal.

Do you have a favorite pattern or design when it comes to transferware?  

ciao fabiana

 

 

For lots of fun extras, follow me on Instagram!

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

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my favorite country collectables & more!

Antique and vintage collectables have always had a dear place in my heart, especially kitchen collectables.

As a part of a series that showcases some of my exclusive projects that I created especially for Country Sampler Farmhouse Style magazine, I’m starting off with this fun collection of green wooden handled kitchen utensils.

 

Once you start off with a piece or two, the collecting process can be quite fun! It’s always a hoot finding one of these pieces, and they can turn up in some of the most unexpected places.

 

Garage sales are my favorite place to find these goodies, and in addition to the green handled kitchen tools, I’m also partial to the blue ones. The red ones seem to be the most popular, though. 

  

Along with kitchen tools, I’m also drawn to old canning jars. Not only are they pretty, but they are also quite useful! Here I used one of my favorite Mason jars to store my homemade pancake mix.

 

Pretty little teacups are also another fun collectable. I love this light blue one!

 

You can’t go wrong with any kind of vintage pitcher. There’s something homey about their form. That lovely handle place directly across from a cute little spout. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s just feels cozy!

 

They’re quite useful in so many ways and even so pretty on their own or as a part of a larger collection. Blue and white or just plain blue ones are among the ones I like best.

Above, you can see some of my most treasured ones on my family room mantel. Some have flowers, while others don't. All the flowers shown here are cut directly from my garden. I just love the hydrangeas... they keep going and going all summer long! 

 

English, French and American stoneware crocks are also fun to collect. I like the ones with the blue, black or brown lettering the most. Do you have any of these? 

They also make great vases because they’re so heavy and flowers that are top-heavy are well supported. They also make great utensil holders, pencil or brush holders or a just-about-anything holder!

 

Old kitchen graters can be used in so many fun ways. Here I’ve used them to hold a couple of posies of cottage garden flowers from my yard.

 

Here’s one last little recipe that makes the best of day-old bread and your favorite Italian seasoning mix. This homemade breadcrumb mixture will then keep in the pantry or fridge for a long time. 

It's so easy to make and come in quite handy when making our favorite chicken Milanese.

 

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.

 

summer into fall looks for your home

Bridge the gap between summer and fall with brand new table linens, wearable accessories and cozy robes from Pacific & Rose. Straight from Jaipur, this is the “Indian Summer Collection!”

 

Earthy oranges and greens are the perfect color palette for this time of year, and this collection will also flow seamlessly into October and November with the greatest of ease.

 

The tablecloth you see above is called “Tippit”. This pattern was created with the notion that you can mix and match coordinating prints with it easily.

 

You can see it matched up here with the sweet Buti floral “Jill” napkin. I love the contrast in patterns between the tablecloth and napkins! It always brings more interest to a table when you can easily mix patterns.

Here’s a peek at the three napkins. The larger floral print is called “Kimberly”. Why not mix and match these patterns on one table?! The possibilities are almost endless with the combinations you can create!

 

The Tippit has a stylized stripe and is block printed in a soft orange color with green highlights. It’s easy to create a unique table setting with these hand block-printed tablecloths in fresh, updated riffs on classic Indian designs.

As you can see above, the Tippit also comes in table runners and placemats.

What makes these table linens so special is that all these patterns and fabrics are hand block-printed by traditional artisans with hand-carved teak blocks at a fair-trade workshop in Jaipur, India.

 

And this look is so easy to achieve… matching placemats, napkins and a table runner, and voila! You have yourself a gorgeous table setting!

 

Not in the mood to set a whole table? Take a look at the table runners on their own. Two elements create this look…

 

A beautiful table runner like the Tippit or Kimberly and a simple center piece like a vase of flowers or a large bowl of fruit.

 

Take a look at the variety of napkins paired with the Kimberly placemats and table runner. All are beautiful, but so different!

 

Which one would you choose? I know what I would pick…

 

The “Indian Summer Collection” continues on into the kitchen with a choice of two kitchen towels, Tippit and Kimberly.

Described as beautiful workhorses in the kitchen, these kitchen towels are block-printed in Jaipur, India on 100% soft and absorbent cotton.

There’s even a handy twill hook for easy display and drying.

 

And how about the matching apron? These aprons are ideal for working in the kitchen, the garden or the studio. Add matching the kitchen towels and this makes a really nice gift set.

 

Bandanas are so versatile. Tie one on to elevate any outfit or tie onto a French market basket for a colorful touch. You never know when you may need this fun accessory. And its hand printed on the softest cotton voile fabric!

 

The Jill robe is a buti flower pattern and the Tippit robe is a stripe pattern, both block printed in soft oranges and greens. Lovingly sewn together from a soft cotton voile, this 48" long robe has two front pockets and ties easily ties with a belt.

Presented in a matching fabric envelope ideal for use in your travels or gift giving. Add a coordinating cosmetic bag for a nice gift set. 

Stock up now for Christmas gift giving! Wouldn’t you love to receive this lovely set?

Here’s a first look at the Kimberly and Jill Cosmetic Pouches. They’re constructed from quilted block-printed cotton and the inside is lined with plastic for easy clean-up, and also features two handy pockets. A pretty tassel is attached to the zipper.

 

As you can see, I had so much fun styling this Tippit tablecloth for fall. Simply add an array of pumpkins, flowers and few raffia and wooden accessories and this look will last from September all the way through ‘til the end of November.

Now how about a sneak peek...

Coming our way in a few short weeks to coordinate with Tippit, Kimberly and Jill is the gorgeous green Lilibet pattern. 

I can’t wait for this to drop in the middle of September, as it will be coming in all the elements I love so much: table linens, robes, aprons, cosmetic bags and kitchen towels.

 

Visit PacificandRose.com to shop online now.

Or visit

Pacific & Rose at Seaside Gallery and Goods 
124 Tustin Avenue Suite 100 Newport Beach, California 92663
Phone: 949-438-7277

 

 

ciao fabiana

 

For lots of fun extras, follow me on instagram!

 

 

 

 

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