pretty and bright in newport beach

Happy Wednesday!

I’m back after a few days off my computer.

I spent the last few days trying to catch up on 
a few things around the house

but I also got to enjoy a little poolside lounging,

here and there, when I could fit it in!

Early this morning,

with my hot cup of coffee in hand,

and flipping through some of 
my favorite home decor magazines,

I spotted this familiar looking home

in HGTV Magazine. 

This home is only a few blocks from my home,
here in Newport Beach,

and I remember it was also featured 

in Rue Magazine last year. 

The homeowners purchased this

larger home to accommodate

 their growing family that includes 
four small children.

The bones of the home were nearly perfect,

but the dated interiors needed

a lot of finesse.

Bright, fun and chic was just

what the doctor ordered,

so in steps Ashley Clark

of the boho-chic shop sKout

to design the interiors.

In the dining room,

a custom white concrete table sits on

a colorful bohemian rug from Anthropologie.

Those wicker canopy chairs are everything!

This little brass trio

complements the

starburst light fixture

from Arteriors.

Here’s a shot of the whole dining room

that shows you that those large chairs
don't overpower the space,
but are perfect! 

Homeowner Brooke is right at home

in the gorgeous and bright new kitchen!

Painting the existing cabinets

"Pure White" by Sherwin-Williams

was a great way to update the

kitchen and save some money.

To make the kitchen appear larger,

upper cabinets were removed

and replaced with open shelving.

Carrara marble is always a good idea!

This long line of cabinets extends into the butler’s pantry.

The light wood floors are

Fossil Stone by Provenza.

And don’t you just love this cozy kitchen nook? 

I really like the round rustic table

with the fun seashell chandelier right above it.

The chairs and bench are upholstered in

white vinyl to for easy clean-up.

So pretty!

The colors and styling of the

living room are slightly different in

each magazine layout.

The homeowners Room and Board sofa 

was reupholstered in this pretty gray fabric.

These detailed little vignettes

are from Rue Magazine.

The perfect shelfie!

The bedroom has undergone

some styling updates too!

One of Brooke's favorite things in her home

is this custom king-sized white leather bed.
It fits perfectly between the windows. 

Custom gray barn doors offer 

just the right amount of contrast.

Simple, but pretty details

make this bathroom a stunner,

like the Pirch sink and

Serena and Lily mirror.

The Schumacher wallpaper

pulls the whole look together.

I love the fun punch of hot pink

in daughter Wren’s room!

This is a great way to update 

a plain vintage bed,

and what little girl wouldn't 

love that?

The backyard is brightened

with the same emphasis on white,

as the rest of the home.

It plays off beautifully with all the

pretty green vines, trees and the lawn.

I hope you're day is moving along pleasantly...

I'll have another fun home tour to share soon,

so check back with me!

ciao! fabiana

photo credit:

HGTV Magazine

Rue Magaine

Ashley Clark of Shop sKout, interior designer

Ryan Garvin

CRMLS

For more Ashley Clark inspiration,
check out this brand new book:

stylish french seating

I just love this European style of chairs and bar stools! I'm on the hunt for 4 classic French bistro chairs for my kitchen nook, so I've been looking at inspiration pics to help me decide what color would be best.

I love how they can be mixed and matched with other chairs flawlessly and even be taken outdoors when needed on a sunny day.

There’s something about the bent rattan frames and woven seats that just speaks to me.

Not only is this a quintessential European café style, but it’s also the perfect look for a beach house!

I think Serena and Lily is my next stop!

ciao! fabiana

 photo credit:  Country Living, House & Home, Serena & Lily
Rue Magazine, HGTV Magazine

a little rosemary is just perfect!

If you live in Southern California,

chances are you have a very healthy

rosemary plant growing in your garden.

If you’re in another geographic location,

I’d recommend a cute little rosemary plant for your kitchen…

that way you can take advantage of its

fragrance and its dainty evergreen foliage this time of year. 

Just a little clipping goes a long way!

Rosemary is especially nice for place cards,

since it's the herb that represents remembrance,

it's also quite a sentimental accent.

Slip a little spring in with your napkins too

for an elegant and simple touch of holiday green.

And since rosemary is an herb,

it’s a natural choice for garnishing cakes during the holidays.

This cake looks perfect with the addition of

rosemary, fennel fronds and pomegranate seeds. 

Turned upside-down a little clipping of

rosemary looks like a tiny Christmas tree. 

And here’s a lovely cake tree adorned with sugared cranberries.

The heartiness of rosemary also lends itself to 

becoming a skewer for party appetizers.

Reinvent your prosciutto and melon game 

with the addition of this fabulous herb!

Or maybe grilled pineapple and fresh mozzarella

is more to your liking.

The fragrance is also perfect for garnishing cocktails.

It pairs especially well with citrus fruits. 

And here's an extra special way to show off your love of rosemary…

Create a simple wreath, just by layering small cuttings of rosemary

 in a circular  pattern on a large platter.

Then all you need to do is add festive olives, tomatoes

peppers, cheese and any other goodies you may think of!

It's the perfect holiday party plate!

ciao! fabiana

photo credit:  1. Pinterest  2. BH&G  3. Pinterest  4. Ciao Newport Beach  

5. Pinterest  6. 100 Layer Cake  7. Fraeulein-Klein  8. The Farm Chicks

9. Rina Home Chef  10. Rue Magazine  11. Pizzazzarie  12. Pinterest