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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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

 

 

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gorgeous farmhouse stripes for the table

These gorgeous Farmhouse Stripe table linens from Solino Home give me that cozy old-fashioned look for Christmas that I absolutely love!

 

The best tables have a mix of old and new. That’s why I love these striped napkins and placemats so much. They work so well with my favorite vintage red and white transferware plates.

  

The pewter Acorn flatware from Vagabond House that I use so much during the fall and winter months offers that little touch of sparkle that brings this whole look together.

 

Arranging the napkins with this fan-fold with a twist style really shows off the pretty stripes and looks like old-fashioned ribbon candy… don’t you think? 

These Wicker Napkin Rings can be found HERE. They add just the right amount of texture juxtaposed to the rest of the table. 

A store-bought cake is elevated to farmhouse fashion on this pretty wooden pedestal. Adding sugared cranberries and on top and sugared rosemary along the base is the perfect holiday touch!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by today and checking out my latest Christmas table setting. I'll be sharing more holiday inspiration soon!

 

 

 

ciao! fabiana

 

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

 

 

 

 

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brunch at The Ivy

Last weekend, my mother and I went to one of our most cherished places, The Ivy restaurant in Beverly Hills.

 

The Ivy is just magical.

We arrived on Saturday morning, bright and early and got a cozy table on the world-famous patio with lovely views of the surroundings.

 

In celebration of my mother’s birthday, we each ordered our favorite brunch item, the Crabcakes Benedict, yum! In addition to this amazing little feast, they also serve their complimentary homemade scones with butter.  

 

As an extra added bonus, today’s post is all about The Ivy’s decor and amazing ambiance that immediately enraptures you within seconds of stepping inside.

 

Here are the cozy elements that we need to take note of…  

  

ü pitchers of beautiful roses everywhere

ü blue and white transfeware plates on the walls

ü bowls fresh lemons, oranges and limes

ü lots of cozy chintz pillows

ü terracotta pots filled with geraniums

ü shabby chic old shutters and wooden elements

ü vintage floral artwork

ü antique French signage

ü gracefully aged white picket fences

ü colorful twinkle lights for alfresco evening dining

ü white tablecloths

ü a backdrop of old brickwork

ü a fabulous patio

I'll say it again...

Every inch of The Ivy is magical.

Here’s the view from our cozy corner table, and you can take a peek at the Crabcakes Benedict. 

I actually found this image on The Ivy’s Instagram page, because with all the excitement, I forgot to take a photo of our own food plates.

 

Every time I visit, I’m just amazed by the quaint decor, accessories and attention to detail.

The Ivy began its life during the 1980’s in a cozy little vintage cottage. Since then it’s been attracting celebrities, locals and visitors from all around the world.

Love these blue transferware plates on the yellow walls.

There are several rooms inside The Ivy, as this was once a little home in the cutest vintage cottage style. 

This room has a glorious display of  majolica plates, baskets, mercury glass and flower pots made from shards of dishes. 

 

Can you believe how many pitchers and vases of roses there are at The Ivy? 

The secret in recreating this look is to buy roses in light pink, dark pink and yellow, with a few coral colored roses thrown in as an accent.

This is the back room, which is filled with dozens and dozens of still life paintings on every wall, as well as some antique French Republic memorabilia.

 

Ooooh, that plate rack and those green cabbage dishes… 

so cute!

 

So French!

 

I recently found three floral still life paintings like this one at a yard sale and have listed them on my eBay shop.

 

This is the view from our table at the iconic front window of The Ivy cottage. And here it is at night time all lit up with colorful lights. 

 

Wouldn’t this be fun to recreate at home for a small patio or outdoor dining area? The colorful lights are here all year long, not just at Christmas time.

 

Another one of my favorite corner tables, that features an open window, filled with colorful geraniums and more art, and a fluttering-breezy-curtain moment.

 

I hope you enjoyed this fun little tour of The Ivy. It’s really inspired my to actually go to more estate sales and yard sales, always looking for those special treasures.

 

Some of my fun vintage finds have just been listed on my eBay Blog Shop, if you’d like to take a look here.

 

Two of the three little floral paintings I just acquired have already sold over the weekend, but I’m always on the hunt for more!

 

ciao! fabiana

 

 

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