my favorite shade of blue...

The update of our front entry is finally complete, with the last finishing touch involving just a little bit of painting.

We inherited this antique hall tree many years ago from my husband’s Nana. When it came to us it was sort of a dingy cream color. 

In its prime, it must have been a beautiful white, but over time it had yellowed terribly. So at our home it went through a phase of dark green and then a pretty shade of chalk paint called Florence, but now it’s finally PERFECT!

This color from Farrow & Ball is called “Stiffkey Blue” and it’s the most gorgeous shade of soft navy. Like a well-loved pair of blue jeans, it just feels right at home, dressed up or dressed down.

And it matches perfectly with our new Serena & Lily wallpaper. This blue and white vining Priano pattern is so pretty, and I truly love it more and more each day!

The natural textures of this French market basket and pretty hydrangeas look amazing when paired with this blue. I found this color quite by accident after visiting the Farrow & Ball store at SoCo Design Center.

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As I was browsing through their wallpapers, I noticed that they sell small sample pots of each of their gorgeous paint colors. 

I picked up a few that caught my attention, because I always have projects that spontaneously pop up, and I love to stock up on pretty paints.

So when I was ready to update the hall tree, I was thrilled that Stiffkey Blue was absolutely the most perfect shade of blue to complete the look of the whole room! 

This is the way this color is described by Farrow & Ball: 

”An inky navy. This inky blue is named after the Norfolk beach where the mud, along with the cockles, share a particular deep navy hue. Although traditional in feel, Stiffkey Blue is often used to create a richly dramatic space with a more contemporary finish. When used in well-lit areas of the home it will appear much bluer, working wonderfully when contrasted with white.”

The Farrow & Ball design studio has lots of interesting inspiration, like these color boards created by their knowledgeable staff.

And I love the quirky paint brushes dangling in the front window. So fun! 

So now the hall tree is revamped, the wallpaper is done, and I simply added a fun new light fixture and round jute rug to harmonize with all the blue and white fabulousness that’s going on here in the front entry.

Just for fun, I’m sharing some gorgeous Stiffkey Blue inspiration from some of my favorite designers…  

Be sure to check back very soon for more insight on the SoCo Design Center. Not only do they feature great home décor shops, they also have amazing restaurants and events.

Such a pretty blue!

ciao! fabiana

For lots of fun extras, follow me on instagram!

Stiffkey Blue inspiration photo credit: 

Inspired by Charm, Emily Henderson, Style the Clutter

mirrors add extra sparkle to Christmas

Happy Friday! The weekend's here and I wanted to stop in one last time to share a few little snapshots from around the house... 

I love how this mirror in the dining room does double duty in reflecting our dear Christmas tree.

That little extra glimmer of holiday lights is always a bonus, that’s why I love having at least one mirror in each room to bounce back those special twinkly holiday lights.   

One tree is all you need, especially when the sparkly lights are reflected from room to room.

These first three photos are little outtakes from Wednesday's photo shoot with Cottages and Bungalows. 

Mirrors are all about reflecting light and adding more dimension to a room… that’s why I love using them so much!

This is a little vignette from last year. You can see that extra glow in the background!

How do you like to display decorative mirrors in your home?

ciao! fabiana

for lots of fun extras, follow me on instagram!

always a project or two around here!

Happy Sunday!

It’s been so nice here in Newport, and the mornings and most of the day have been actually quite cool and it’s really starting to feel like fall.

I’m just waiting for that “Indian Summer” weather to kick in one of these days, but in the meantime, it’s been extremely pleasant here, and perfect for working on some things around the house.

I kind of just wanted to show you what I've been up to this week...

Please excuse these pictures I took with my phone. They’re a little flat and just were intended to show my mom the progress on the dresser in my dining room that I painted with milk paint last week.

But things are finally coming together in this funny little dining room of ours. It actually only has one wall, and this is it. The rest of the perimeter of this room opens up to the living room, kitchen nook and hallway.  

So while my husband was out of town last week, I spent three whole days sanding, painting and waxing this piece [e]. It was originally part of a “suite” of furniture from my husband’s nana and it works perfectly in this room.  

I found the mirror [a] a few months ago at my favorite local thrift store. At first, I thought I scored a cool antique, but when I was loading it in my car, I noticed it was marked Pier One! I balanced each side of the mirror with a pair of vintage majolica lamps [d], also from nana. All they needed where some new oval lampshades.

A few of my favorite black and white plates [b] balance out the look on each side. These are just a collection of some of my favorites that I pick up here and there. And a grouping of white books [c] acts as a centerpiece, for now.

Here’s me just snapping a little pic to show my mom this cute wire basket [c] I had just scored at an estate sale a few minutes before! Only six bucks, and I just quickly filled it with a few velvet pumpkins [d]. I actually found these at Home Goods, and guess what? I pulled off the plastic stems and hot glued some real ones on!

Ssshhh… don’t tell anyone! Did you know they actually sell real pumpkin stems on ebay? Yah, well now we all know!  

Reflected in the mirror, you can see another one of my favorite collectibles, round convex mirrors [a]. If they’re brown when I find them, I usually paint them white with gold accents, but if they’re already black or crème colored, I usually let them be.

The oval mirror [b] is a family heirloom, probably French. 

This little vase of blush colored roses is a sneak peek at one of the exclusive tablescapes I put together this week. I’ll fill you in on it soon!

I’m currently working on an amazing Halloween tablescape in my dining room that’s filled with lots of spooky vintage accents. 

When I saw this blue and white entry on Instagram, I “instantly” fell in love with it and thought this look would be perfect for my front entry, since I already have similar wainscoting.

I’m on my way to Farrow and Ball this morning to look at their wallpapers…

I recently found out through Ancestry that I’m not only 68% Italian, but I’m also 19% French! Ooh la la ! News to me! (They recently updated their DNA data.)

So when I spotted this cute French inspired side door in the neighborhood, it just spoke my language, and I couldn’t resist taking a quick pic. Those French doors, shutters and the little iron gate are just darling!   

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I also wanted to share my most popular post on Instagram this week, and I was thrilled when Roger’s Gardens reposted it!

If you don’t already follow me [here],

I’d love it if you did. 💝

I share lots of extra stuff there that

you won’t see on the blog!

Thanks!!

 ciao! fabiana

P.S. Don't forget to follow me on instagram for all the latest!

the latest decor at anthropologie

Happy Friday! I’m so happy the weekend is practically here! I’ve spent most of this week playing catch-up, but I did get to fit in a little fun along the way. I stopped in at Anthropologie in Fashion Island. 

It’s been a while since I visited in that store, since I usually go to the one at South Coast Plaza now. Well, their displays never cease to amaze me! I took a few pics of my favorite vignettes to share with you. I love the aged plaster walls they are showing with this grouping of antique–inspired mirrors. 

This look reminds me of the real aged walls of my favorite antique store in Savannah, Alex Raskin Antiques. And, that rug! Oh my!

Here’s another grouping of mirrors in this little room that has a more vintage tropical “Miami” look.
  

I love the look of this massive armoire filled with carefully arranged art and everyday dishes that are ready for the next table setting.  

A pair of ladder-type shelves benefit greatly with a balanced approach to styling. The books are placed in a zig zagging pattern across the two shelving units, patterns and color are perfectly arranged and then the hanging ”fish hook” plants soften the whole look.

Here’s a really fun coastal dinner table look. It’s not totally beachy, but it definitely has a vibe that’s chic but casual.

Love the textures on this bed!

And, of course, their “shelfies” can’t be beat!

While at Fashion Island, I also popped over to K. Hall Studio. If you watch the Real Housewives of Orange County, then you may recognize this as Meghan King Edmonds new candle store. They had the opening party on the show. It’s a cute little store filled with books, candles and other pretty gifts. The styling in this store is darling too!

I also want to fill you in with the latest on the Newport Harbor Home Tour. This week I got to preview two GORGEOUS homes that will be featured on the tour on May 18th. The committee has been really hard at work finalizing all the details, and I can assure you, everyone will be amazed with the homes that have been selected. 

There'll be six home on the tour this year, and what’s really great is that all the homes are relatively close to one another, so there will be more time to see them all and more time to enjoy the luncheon, shopping at the boutique and the after party at Barclay Butera Interiors. Also new this year is a morning reception at the Balboa Bay Club!

ciao! fabiana

seeing red

With Valentine’s day right around the corner, the color red catches my eye, especially those pretty rooms with lots of dramatic reds. 

I love how this cozy reading nook's cushions and pillows are balanced with red on the floor, window and ceiling. Who wouldn't want to curl up in this huge window seat? 

Sometimes a space needs just an accent piece that serves as a focal point, and red is the perfect choice. This chinoiserie mirror is to die for in lacquered red!

Red zinnias and coleus are not the typical flowers we use for arrangements, but their red hues add a dramatic edge to this lovely bouquet. I do like to admire those homes that have that extra kick of RED!

ciao! fabiana 


photo credit:

Architectural Digest
House & Home
BH&G

mirror in the garden

Hanging a mirror in the garden can move
 Chi energy in the garden 
in the direction and flow of prosperity.

It can also expand a small area through reflection of the surroundings.

It’s a fun way to enliven a garden or outdoor area!

ciao! fabiana

 photo credit: dear daisy cottage

5 favorite round mirrors

A round mirror reminds me of a portal to another space.

It can remind us of the sun or the moon and

it can add instant drama to a room, 

reflecting all within in.

 Place one over a console table.

Gather your favorite things around it.

And, let it be the focal point of your room.

ciao! fabiana

photo sources:

Heather Bullard

The Creativity Exchange

Mimosa Lane Blog

pinterest

Ruy Teixeira

new accessories from room & board

Room and Board has always been one of my favorite home furnishings stores, so I couldn’t wait to check out their new home accessories. It's that time of year once again when we all start to think about refreshing our homes for the holidays!  

They've added so many pretty home accents like lighting, pillows, decorative ceramics, mirrors and storage options.  Their designs simple and straightforward, with a little bit of a mid-century style to them.  

Almost 100% of their furnishings are made in America by skilled artists and craftsmen, and the quality is outstanding.  Here are some of my favorite picks from my visit to the Santa Ana showroom.    

Who doesn't need a great set of  nesting bowls?  The Good Bowls are created in Seattle and come in three color ways.  The slate blue, ochre, and charcoal set would go nicely with my kitchen.  These would also make a great gift, hint, hint!

A rich handmade charcoal bisque shade in two sexy shapes with walnut and brass trim make up these stunning Cloak Pendants. I am even in love with the braided cord detail that reminds me of an old-fashioned iron cord. 

Chevron takes on a little bit of a Moroccan feel in this velvet Mahal Pillow.  It comes in four colors, and the gold one is my pick!

Haze, Topaz and Tangerine are the deep, rich colors used in these handcrafted glass Banded Bowls that really make a statement on their own or grouped together.  

New colors of the sleek Shelter Magazine Stand are in.  I love the white and gold versions! 

These handmade Kori braided wool storage bins are perfect for holding surplus pillows, blankets, toys and even holiday gifts. 

Photographer Sharon Montrose’s intimate animal portraits look great grouped together on a wall as a simple but elegant photographic gallery. 

Every time I visit Room and Board, the Loft Round Mirror takes my breath away.  It is built shadow-box style out of solid curved wood.  It now comes in walnut, ebony, maple and cherry.  I think walnut would look perfect in my home! 

A little bit of glitz and glam is always perfect for the holidays, or any time of year! That’s why I love the Shimmer and Tagine Pillows.  They come in square or rectangle and in loads of colors.  My color picks are above.

The charming Pigeon Toe Tri-pod Bowls are handmade out of porcelain in Portland and then glazed on the interior for that fun pop of color.  Which one's your favorite?  

The elegant Silver Bowl and Vase are made of hand-blown glass and then silver leaf is applied by hand and that gives these pieces a little bit of a golden hue. These are one of a kind pieces that will become heirlooms for years to come!

ciao! fabiana

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Room & Board, 
however all opinions are authentically my own.