an alfresco table that keeps on giving

 

Today has been the most amazing sunny February day! So perfect for a little alfresco table with all sorts of spring vibes! Blue and green Talelayo tablecloth and napkins from August Table.

 

So, I’m just sharing this little impromptu alfresco table. It’s an easy, breezy way to instantly set a beautiful table when you start with pretty table linens like this and then simply add your everyday tableware and a lovely bouquet of cottage garden flowers.

 

I'll be in the veg garden most of the day. The Rainbow Chard hasn't stopped since December, and I'll be making a delicious garlic and chard pasta for dinner tonight.

  

These flowers were all grown in our cottage garden and are just loosely arranged in a wicker basket to softly sway any which way the wind blows.

 

Shades of blue paired with crisp whites can evoke a coastal vibe. Think navy blue, turquoise, and seafoam green, complemented by white tableware and accents.

 

Creating a beautiful ambiance for your alfresco table can make your gathering truly special. Here are some ideas to elevate the atmosphere:

 

Lighting: String lights or fairy lights can create a warm, inviting glow. You could also use lanterns or candles for a cozy, intimate feel.

 

Decor: Add fresh flowers or greenery as a centerpiece. You can even place small potted plants or herbs around the table.

 

Table Setting: Use a tablecloth or table runner to add a splash of color or texture. Pretty napkins, nice dinnerware, and elegant glassware can all make your setup feel more special.

 

Comfort: Provide comfortable seating with cushions or throw blankets, especially if the evening might get cool.

 

Music: Soft background music can enhance the mood. Choose a playlist that complements the vibe you're going for, whether it's a relaxed dinner or a lively gathering.

 

Scent: Use scented candles or let the fragrance of the garden flowers be your focus.

Personal Touches: Consider adding personal touches like handwritten place cards or themed decorations that reflect the occasion or season.

 

Weather Prep: Make sure you have some umbrellas or shade options in case the sun gets too intense, or a backup plan if it rains.

 

Creating an ambiance is all about paying attention to the little details and making your guests feel welcome and comfortable. 

Make sure everyone will enjoy your alfresco dining experience!

 

I’d love to show you how this same look works indoors! It’s as easy as it looks. Just create the same vibe in your favorite dining space.

 

Best of all, this look can last for days and days! In fact next time you set an alfresco table, just bring it all indoors after the party is over to enjoy the flowers and gorgeous tableware for a bit longer.

 

In case you haven’t heard, I started a new Instagram page in October and named it Claudia Fabiana Home. My former page is still up, but after getting a new phone, I was no longer able to log into this account, so the new profile was born!

 

ciao fabiana

 

 

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

 

 

 

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links.

 

dining alfresco

A magical party in Laguna Beach created by the French Basketeer.

With Summer now in full swing, 

alfresco dining and entertaining is always a fun option 

for you and your guests. 

A beautiful table, great conversation, yummy food 

and a pretty setting is all you need to capture 

the essence of alfresco dining.  

 

Here are a few suggestions for your next outdoor gathering:

*A tablecloth, flowers, and candles are the perfect combination for setting an outdoor table. Bring out some interesting ”themed” accessories from indoors to add ambiance.

*Have fun with your seating, your chairs do not all need to be the same. 

*Decide whether you want your dinner to have a rustic feel or a very elegant feel as you plan your gathering.

*Go with a fabulous color scheme or bring in a collection of bright and happy colors for summer table setting…  

*Or keep it simple and focus on the beautiful surroundings around you. 

*Save yourself lots of return trips to the kitchen by staging a pretty table near your dinner table with the things you might need during your meal, such as extra water and wine, linens, and condiments.

*Cold food is often an easier choice than hot food, unless you have a barbecue or warming pad near to the table. Salads, sliced vegetables/fruit, pasta, and cheeses work well for alfresco dining.

ciao! fabiana

the alfresco life

Wow! We’ve had a few days of stormy weather, but today, the sun’s out, and I’m looking forward to the warm spring months ahead. I’m starting to plan for an outdoor dinner party or two, and here’s a little Sunday inspiration...

Alfresco dining under a shady tree is the ultimate way to connect with nature and enjoy a lovely meal with family and friends. 

Pick a sheltered spot. Think of this space as an outdoor dining room. Comfortable chairs and a rustic wood table are the perfect starting point in setting a glorious alfresco table. 

For me, comfort is the operative word. I want to spend quality time in the backyard while entertaining, so having few throw pillows and an umbrella is always useful. 

I can save myself return trips back to the kitchen by staging a pretty supply table filled with extra water, beverages, napkins, and condiments. And, I'll have a few little throw blankets on hand, in case guests get chilly.  

String lights, lanterns and candles are perfect to transition afternooon into evening. 

Dockside dining is so luxurious and relaxing!

If you’re fortunate enough to have a rooftop deck, take advantage of the situation and invite your friends to share the views!  

Or, save yourself the fuss, and stop in at one of your favorite outdoor cafés. The Ivy is everyone’s favorite choice in Los Angeles! 

I invite you to stop by my new Ciao Tablescapes page. It’s a collection of my favorite tablescapes that I’ve created since starting my blog in 2011. I'll be constantly updating this page with new favorites, so check back often!

If there are any holidays or themes you’d like to see, leave me a comment! You can find the tab at the top of my page or simply click here.

ciao! fabiana

💕

While I’m here today, I wanted to share some of my "Tablescaping Essentials" with you. I have a whole page on the Amazon website with my favorite picks for setting a beautiful table.

Quite often time is of the essence, and I have last minute projects or events to work on, so I turn to Amazon for one or two day delivery. You’d be surprised at how many amazing items they have to offer! And I'm constantly updating this page with my new favorites. 

You can check it out here, at “Tablescaping Essentials”.

photo credit: Veranda, Flower Wild, My Inner Landscape, SB Digs, On Love Street, 
Midwest Living, Deer Pearl Flowers, The Ivy Restaurants, Merriam-Webster

summer nights:alfresco dining

With summer now in full swing, a beautiful table and a pretty place setting is a great start to creating a gorgeous alfresco dining experience.

Warm summer afternoons and evenings are the perfect time to head outdoors to enjoy the ambiance of alfresco dining.

Set up a table in a shady spot, preferably under a pergola. There’s nothing quite like it in the world!

Dining under a shady tree is the ultimate way to connect with nature and to enjoy a lovely meal with family and friends. 

I want to spend quality time in the backyard while entertaining and since we're all creatures of comfort, having few throw pillows and an umbrella is always handy.

And, it’s always wise to have a few throw blankets on hand, in case guests get chilly.  

Using nature’s backdrop as your inspiration point, position the table in a spot that’s both cozy and beautiful.

Set up several tables near each other for a larger gathering, and mix and match the tableware at each table for a casual fun look.

Even if the setting is a bit fancy, keep the whole vibe  of your table relaxed and all your guests will feel right at home!

 ciao! fabiana

photo credit: 1. Veranda  2. Ciao Newport Beach  3. Veranda  

4. House Beautiful 5. Country Living 6. Family Circle 7. bh&g  

8. pinterest  9. tumblr  10. bh&g

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.

 

8 ways to accent your home for summer

 

sunflowers 

Today I’m sharing a few of my favorite ways to embrace the summer season with eight super easy accents you can add to your home.  

 

Let’s start with flowers. Bright and cheerful, sunflowers just ooze the best of summer, and bring the sunshine right into your home! Whether they’re real or faux, these beauties add immediate "wow factor” to any room. 

 

Even when they’re in the background, they add that fun splash of color that just makes me smile. I love how their sunny yellow petals look with all the blue and white accents in my home. 

 

seashells 

Seashells are one of the easiest ways to add that summer "on vacation" look to your home. But let’s be subtle with this look. Less is more. One spectacular Capiz light fixture immediately gives us that great coastal look. 

An easier way to incorporate seashells is to just sprinkle a few on a coffee table or at the dinner table for a small intimate gathering.  

 

Here we’ve got simple white starfish and my favorite embellished placemats. The rest of the table décor is simple, and that scallop shell salad plate just brings the whole look together. 

 

new pillows 

Do you switch your pillows out seasonally? I love light cotton and linen pillows for summer, especially ones that have a beachy sort of vibe. Leave the fluffy, nubby pillows in the closet until late autumn and focus on fresh summery pillows this season. 

 

Even switching out one of two pillows will make a dramatic impact. These are a couple of my favorite ones, here in my dining room. 

 

hydrangeas 

My absolute favorite summer is the hydrangea. Yes, sunflowers are cheerful and fun, but hydrangeas are just so endearing and homey. And I love how the subtle colors in each bloom blend with each other for an ombre look.  

 

Hydrangeas only get better with age. Like a beautiful fall leaf, the colors of hydrangea flowers only get richer by the end of the summer.  

 

Now the white ones are in a class by themselves. Aren’t they just so elegant? And best of all, they look amazing in any room, inside or out! 

 

french bistro chairs 

I bought my Serena & Lily French bistro chairs several years ago, and I switch them out occasionally between my dining room and breakfast room. They just create a lovely summer look in any room they’re in and remind me of something you'd see at a cute outdoor café.

In fact, I have a set of four different bistro chairs in the backyard that I got at Home Goods a few years ago. They’re in a shady part of the garden with views of the flowers and fountain. It's the perfect spot for enjoying my first cup of coffee in the morning. 

 

This is a view of our breakfast room. I love how these bistro chairs look with the round antique farmhouse table. Feels just like summer... doesn’t it? 

 

an alfresco table  

 

If you don’t already have a table and chairs outdoors for dining alfresco, I highly recommend moving a set out there. Even if it’s a small table and chair for one like this one, I think it’s worth it. In fact, I’ve seen the same little garden table and chairs at Ikea for a great price. 

 

Another option that I love is searching yard sales and thrift stores for a funky little table and then mix and match it with a vintage chair or two. 

 

Here’s a dreamy alfresco table, set beautifully and accented with those gorgeous blue hydrangeas in the center. What's your favorite thing about this coastal table?

Dining outdoors is special, even if it’s just you and a friend. A little charcuterie board, a bowl of fresh fruit and something refreshing to drink is one of life’s simplest pleasures. 

 

lemons 

One of my favorite and easiest decorating accents to use are lemons! Just like the sunflowers, lemons are bright and cheery. Place them in a pretty bowl or two, or use them on your dinner table for an instant pop of summer color. 

 

These two blue and white ceramic bowls that I found at Home Goods are the ideal accents for pretty lemons. We do have several lemon trees, so I’m almost never without lemons. I love to use them in the kitchen too. 

 

american flag 

What is summer without celebrating the USA and proudly featuring our glorious American flag? Patriotic décor is so fun, especially between Memorial Day and Labor Day. That’s 98 days of fantastic red, white and blue options for summer décor! 

 

ciao! fabiana 

 

 

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