fresh summer vibes

Here we are in the middle of July, and I’m finally in the “summer zone”. The weather’s been so nice here, and even though we’re home all the time, I’m really embracing everything SUMMER! 

I’m creating a little staycation vibe for myself every day. Lovely fresh fruit for breakfast, a dip in the pool, and then a little iced coffee with lunch, that’s what I have planned for today since there’s no vacation for us this summer. 

I also have been kept busy with producing, styling and photographing six projects for a favorite magazine's Spring 2021 issue, if you can believe it! Two are gardening related, two are DIY home projects, one is a fun baking recipe and the one I’m working on today involves upcycling a small vintage table with milk paint and a lovely detailed design... more on that later! 

In the meantime, my lovlies, I hope your embracing summertime. These photos are a little inspiration from the newest issue of Cottages & Bungalows that features some of my favorite backyard spots. 

It’s all about the presentation! Pamper yourself with a glass of lemonade garnished with a pretty strawberry or make yourself something refreshing like this Fruity Iced Tea Spritzer.   

You deserve it!  

ciao! fabiana

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Photos by Bret Gum

a fun 4th of july tablescape

What better reason than the 4th of July to go all out with the red, white and blue décor? 

I started working on this tablescape about a week ago, trying to get just the right combination of plates and colors established before I set the rest of the table.  

The inspiration for this table setting was using red and blue transferware in an interesting combination, but for an extra patriotic twist, I decided to use vintage souvenir state plates for fun!

  

Of course, they’re called “state plates” but many just depict cities. For the sake for this theme, I was lucky to have some states and cities represented that play an important part of our American history!

New York, San Francisco, Williamsburg, Chicago and Philadelphia are all included in the mix. The sixth plate from Lake George, New York is an unusual one that I added for sentimental reasons.  

I visited Lake George a few times while I was growing up in the Hudson River Valley. This plate is actually displayed on my wall the rest of the year, but I temporarily took it down for this table.

You may already know, I love a good theme, and in this instance, like in many, I incorporate several themes into one.

Since I live in Newport Beach, I thought it would be fun to add coastal twist to this patriotic table.

Placemats trimmed out with tiny seashells are the perfect contrast to the vintage plates and antique pine table.

And starfish are the PERFECT 4th of July accent and they play perfectly against the blue and white stripes of the table runner. It’s so reminiscent of the American flag, but in a fun, quirky sort of way.

Fallen red petals from the geraniums adds color!

Here’s an up close and personal look at the many layers and textures of this tablescape.

For the flowers, I was fortunate enough to have the blue and white hydrangeas in the garden. I recently planted these and a few others that were left from my photo shoot with Cottages & Bungalows.

The red ivy geraniums have been growing out by my pool for over twenty years, and proved to be the perfect color to add to the mix.

Well, now we’re ready for our small gathering on the 4th. I’m not sure what’s on the menu yet except I know we must include burgers, hot dogs and watermelon!

What do you suggest as a side dish?

Wishing you a safe Independence Day!

ciao! fabiana

hydrangeas and roses from the garden

Happy Saturday! Today I’m sharing a little on my garden, which I know for some of you may be a little bit of a snooze fest, but, believe me, the outcome will be enjoyed by most of you, haha!

Beautiful garden flowers brought into the house create simple impromptu arrangements. I spent so much money last year on flowers every time I went to Trader Joe’s, that the practical side of me got to thinking, “why not plant more hydrangeas and roses in my own garden?”

Hydrangeas from the garden in a cane wrapped vase

Wouldn’t it be just fabulous to go out into the garden and just cut a few pretty blooms to bring into the house? 

Well, it just so happens that last fall we had to replace a large stretch of our back yard fence, which meant tearing out tons of overgrown and weedy honeysuckle vines and other meaningless plants. 

We now had a blank canvas of prime garden space that instantly became sunnier with the removal of all those invasive vines. I knew I wanted to plant roses, herbs and another small lemon tree as the focal point of the space.

I helped design this curved garden gate with a custom wrought iron peeping window and interesting round black iron handle. The iron window piece is a vintage little goody that I found at the Tustin Flea Market months earlier.

The paint I used was a hodgepodge of leftover blue paint from Farrow & Ball, a lime wash that I was experimenting with and then a little accent of wisteria paint for good measure! 

The color scheme, like the rest of my garden became purple, blue, pink and white with a little yellow accent from the lemons when they’re fruiting.

This is one of my favorite ornaments in the garden, a dainty little lady embellished with a seashell necklace, all found while thrifting, of course! She's surrounded by white begonias and succulents.

Tons of foxgloves were necessary for that cottage look I had in mind. They’re so cute and do make fun cut flowers too!

Here’s a simple little arrangement I made for my friend Heather. All I used was a variety of roses in that simple color palette of white, pinks and purple.

In fact the purple rose is one of my favorites. It’s a Downton Abbey rose, of all things! And this one’s named “Violet’s Pride” after Maggie Smith’s hilarious character.

All the roses I planted were old-fashioned English garden roses, and most of them have that cabbage rose look, that I absolutely love!

These roses are just starting to bloom and will open up to that full cabbage look that’s so charming.

So yesterday morning when I woke up, I went out to the garden for a look and ended up cutting these pink Gertrude Jekyll roses and some more of the violet ones for a simple little arrangement in the breakfast room.

Not only do they brighten the whole room, but they smell amazing too! 

Oh, and the hydrangeas, well I went a little crazy planting those this past spring too. You can never have too many hydrangeas in my book! 

Dugan 

And for my recent photo shoot with Cottages and Bungalows I ended up buying five more Hydrangea plants, two blue ones and three white ones. 

I probably have to plant them this weekend! I know Dugan will help me. Here he is on the stenciled floor near the shed that I painted last year and surrounded by lavender, another great flower for cutting. 

ciao! fabiana

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progress on the she shed...

A major update on my garden shed…

ü the door and moulding is all painted

and just needs small touch-ups.

I’m in love with this glass door knob with

brass backplate… 

üso vintage and plays up that chic updated Victorian style.

Here’s the almost final look.

 I’ve decided to switch out the light

which is a bit small and not quite the vibe

I’m going for.

üFragrant herbs flank the doorway…

And speaking of herbs, this is one of my faves…

Borage!

ü easy to grow

ü  it has edible blue flowers

ü tastes like cucumber!

ü adds charming cottage style to the garden

A peek at the secret path behind the flower bed…

A little surprise...

a teapot bird feeder in the pineapple guava tree.

We have lots of succulents in and around the

garden shed which work perfectly with

the Mediterranean herbs and 

flowers we've planted.

⇭

      Another fave… snowball viburnum.

       And a little snapshot from inside the shed…

It’s becoming a great place to store

my favorite collectables, flea market treasures

and cute garden supplies.

We're almost done renovating,

so I'll keep you posted!

Wishing you a wonderful Memorial Day!

 ciao! fabiana