La cucina famigliare

La Contessa's Kitchen & Garden

( click twice for up-close detail )

Take it all in...  as there is a lot to see!

No Italian kitchen would be complete without an espresso machine.

Love the quirky refrigerator with the wonderful basket on top

A chef's kitchen

I hear the Italian husband is a wonderful cook!

Love this detail

The door to the pantry

A peek inside... the pantry/laundry room complete with matching chandeliers

The bar, just off the kitchen

Love how they store the glassware!

Some refreshment is in order before we stroll about the contessa's garden

This cozy sitting nook is off to the right in front of the cabinet of glassware.

The dining space complete with farm table

I can imagine the fabulous meals and conversations that have taken place in this inviting space
 

The Contessa takes us into her secret garden...

where the vignettes continue outside...

Here she is explaining that the Italian husband had finally wired the chandelier from the tree branch.

Considering that this Tuscan Villa is in California and not Italy...

I was blown away by the size and privacy it afforded the Contessa and her Italian husband.

Even more so when I discovered that they had created this personal paradise with their own two hands and sweat equity!

We followed the Contessa down The Spanish Steps, 

and over the bridge of sighs...

as we took in the vistas, vignettes and vines that made up her secret garden.

The Contessa and her Italian husband have recently started to cultivate their own vegetable garden.

arrivo?

My Mom raises her glass, grateful to have spent a few hours in the Contessa's idyllic world

The best part is that we garnered an invitation to dinner on Memorial Day Weekend!!


Next up... the boudoir!