While visiting family last week we were enlisted to help complete a lengthy living room makeover. First step: softening up a lonely landing strip. The dark table, toy baskets and mirror needed a strong pop of color and a vertical element to help bring it all together. We don't frequent Pottery Barn stores but were delighted to discover their lovely and diverse selection of fake florals. These flowering branches and pale rocks were just the thing to bring height, dimension, color and texture to the landing strip — establishing a complete zone without adding any dense, visual weight. The yellow lacquer tray completes the space by breaking up the darker pieces and providing defined space for mail, keys and clutter...
We're not really great at arranging flowers but the trick is to keep it simple and put all the pieces together in store before purchasing to make sure you like the look. This arrangement of flowering branches, rocks and glass vase came together in about 10 minutes and cost under $40. Have you used fake flowers or branches in your own space?
A few months ago we wrote about helping said family member redecorate this entire room around a dark leather sofa. We're happy to report that the space is near completion and we'll be sharing a full before and after soon. Stay tuned!
Before & After: Emily Henderson Transforms a Senior's Studio Space
Monica & Austin's Charming Bungalow
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Ercol Bar Stool
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
True Greek Recipe: Paximadi Bread Salad with Tomatoes, Feta and Capers
i don't have my 8-step cure book on me, but isn't there something in it about the horror of fake flowers?
Does anyone know where the yellow tray table is from?? I have been looking for something like this to use as a tray for my ottoman. Thanks!
Fake Flowers are Dead Dustcatchers.
Fake flowers-- DON'T DO IT!!!!
woodie...it looks kind of like this one, which is on sale right now.
http://www.target.com/Banana-Split-Serving-Trays-Set/dp/B000YJD720/sr=1-2/qid=1243890966/ref=sr_1_2/178-1117471-7329967?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=0&index=target&rh=k%3Ayellow%20tray&page=1
I just don't care for fake flowers. How about an aspidistra or a sanseveria. Either would have the verticality you seek. Both are low-light plants, so the mirror and light walls would (from the picture) seem to offer either sufficient light.
I detest fake flower, dried flowers, sticks and plants.
The tray looks to be the oversized tray from Pottery Barn
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p12130/index.cfm
No fake flowers EVER!
I LIKE good fake flowers. They, like anything, can catch dust, but they can also be cleaned (a quick spray in a shower, shake, air dry... or buy the aerosol cleaner for that purpose, and use it now and then...)
Some of us don't live near a handy flower market, and I for one cannot afford to use a florist to get color in my home when real flowers cost so much and die so quickly. (Supermarket flowers around here are $10 a bunch, last a couple of days before wilting, and are heavily into dyed chrysanthemums...no thanks, the fakes look MUCH better!)
They may or may not be to your taste, but fakes serve a purpose and if used artfully, as if they were real, lots of them look great. You may be asking for trouble if you mix flowers from various seasons or if you get the cheapie OBVIOUSLY fakes ones in weird colors or whatever. But even then, if YOU like them, go for it. Honestly, people, there ARE no rules!
PS The landing strip looks great!
There is a time and a place for everything. And, yes, these work wonderfully in that space. Everything in that picture, except the rocks, is manmade.
p.s. If your fake flowers get dusty, clean them... Duh!
real plants get dusty, too.
That said, I am not a fan of fake flowers and would probably just use wooden flowers to pop in some colour. to each his or her own, however.
Real plants get dusty too.
These look fine in the photograph, but probably aren't so nice up close. I still think the genuine article is superior--there is something depressing about plastic plants. It's like you're announcing to the world that you've given up already or can't be bothered.
That pop of yellow looks really nice with the dark accessories. Good choice.
I'm not a huge fan of fake flowers either but geez, chill out everyone! I think the area looks great. It can be kind of difficult to have real flowers all the time. I've had fakes from time to time and if you switch them out when you can everything will be OK. Alternatively a tall real orchid would look nice in place of the branches or when you get sick of them, or even a lamp too.
Kayla here -
I knew the fake flowers would spark a debate. In general I would probably say "Never!" to fakes, too. But then I saw these in person and really took to them. The fact that they are 90% branch and the flowers are only tight little buds really makes the illusion plausible.
At $6 per branch (that's 2 branches pictured) this is an incredibly economical alternative to fresh flowers for my family member in question who chases after 2 small kids all day. If she gets tired of yellow, she could try something else — even fresh cut stuff, which is why we invested in a good glass vase with real rocks that can totally be submerged.
To each his own. My client was thoroughly pleased!
Hi Kayla,
Would you be kind enough to tell the name/brand of the paint used? Thanks a lot.
the landing strip looks fantastic!In today's economy fresh flowers are an unnecessary indulgence,your silk forsythia are fine....money spent wisely!
ok, I'm also in the fake flowers never camp, but
those DO look very pretty. maybe I'd give it
a try...
I don't love fake flowers, but think they can have a place. My husband likes orchids, but they take SO long to bloom. I got tired of one particularly obstinate set of bare leaves and stuck in a fake one from Restoration Hardware. I can't tell you how many compliments I've gotten on my beautiful orchid! Guests doubt it's real, but then they go to feel the leaves (which are alive) and convince themselves that the flowers must be, too.
I'm normally a never-ever-ever-fake-flowers kind of gal, but these ones work well. Love the colour combination, too.
I think the entry shown above looks great. The flowers do exactly what they were meant to.
I like fake flowers. They have their purpose, like everything else, and should be used in moderation, like everything else. I am using 2 fake arrangements right now, and they look fantastic.
has anyone ever been to nettletonhollow.com?? dried flowers, foliage, fruits, etc. and its really pretty stuff! by the way, thanks to Auburn for the great find on the tray!!!
Kayla here, again -
Paint color is Benjamin Moore Gentle Gray and the yellow lacquer tray came from Pottery Barn.
I'm actually working on paint color post regarding this space because we chose to paint the adjoining half stair and kitchen one step darker and the effect is lovely! Its a very soft, sophisticated, neutral blue — doesn't feel at all like open sky or a little boy's room.