Saturday, June 23, 2012

Fake Hydrangeas Rule Big Time!!

I think this may be the last post on this room.
I say "may" because I've been known to add more posts on a space 
AFTER
I think I'm done......

Sooooooo.....
Today I want to talk about how I filled in the empty area at the end of my living room.
I had a pair of French wire zinc urns
 that I had used in a vignette
 at the Boston Flower Show 
a gazillion years ago.
It was like a mini decorator showhouse.
It was invitation only.
Only the top designers were asked to participate.
I AM VERY SNOOTY!!!!!
Anyway, 
(where was I????, oh yeah, the urns.....)
So I got this pair of urns,
And for the display I filled them with lemons.
Tres Chic!!!!!
Well in my house, I don't do chic, so I had to come up with something else!!!
So when I lived in Watertown, I stuck them in my backyard in my perennial flower beds.
I planted annuals in them.
The squirrels kept knocking them over, 'cuz they were hiding their
 nuts in the dirt, and the damn things would fall over.
But I loved my squirrels, so I suffered through the design indignity of it all.
(I had actually trained them
 to eat out of my hands,
 but that's a whole 'nother story!!!!)
(The squirrels, not the urns. Urns can't eat...jesh!)

(WHERE WAS I????)
(Oh, yeah, decorating.....)
So when I moved to my condo, I had this pair of URNS!!!
What to do with them????
I had been to Restoration Hardware, which is known for having some 
BANGIN' GREAT FAKE FLOWERS!!!!
They had 
WONDERFUL
silk hydrangeas. 
SO I BOUGHT A BUNCH, NOT KNOWING WHERE THEY WOULD GO, OR HOW I WOULD USE THEM!!!!!
So, 
I stuck them in the wire urns.
They looked 
fabulous!!!!!
But I couldn't see them, 'cuz they was sittin' on the floor.
I set one on a little table in front of one of the windows, 
AND LOVED IT!!!
So I realized, I needed to find a pair of 
pedestals!!!!!
So of course!!!!!
I looked on ebay!!!!!
I knew I wanted unpainted wood, because they would flank the painted blue bookcase, and I wanted the contrast.
I am so happy with the pair I found.
I love the impact they make on the room.
And the urns looked great once I washed the squirrel dirt off them!!!

I do have a weakness for flowers in trumpet shaped objects.
I found this yellow vase in my wanderings.
Was going to sell it, but it got stuck in my house.
It mysteriously got too big to fit back out the door.
So
unfortunately
I had to keep it.....
It sits by my front door, and rests on the table that holds my ipod.
It can be glimpsed from the living room.....
I filled it full of fake flowers that I found in Flerida.
I stuffed packed them in my carry on when I came back up to Massachusetts.
Talk about a gorgeous fake!!!!!
I had to buy them, even though I didn't have a good place to display them.
White flowers actually look better in this vase, 
but sometimes you gots to go with what 
makes your heart 
sing!!!!!

Later Gator
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36 comments:

Katie @ Wildwood Creek said...

Love the wire urns! I'm also a big fan of fake hydrangeas. My cat eats real flowers and knocks over the vases. Therefore, I mostly do faux in my house.

Revi said...

Hi Betsy,

Gotta say, I LOVE the room. And I'm all-over the fake hydrangeas, except for the price point.

I love how your decor reflects your personality - it's lovely, but whimsical in a just-right amount, and REAL. Real is good - especially when it's lovely.

Blessings,
-Revi

Alana in Canada said...

Stunning! Flowers as sculpture--why not?

Anne said...

Betsy,
They look beautiful!Even though they are fakes they are pretty!!!!!!!!
((Hugs))
Anne

Leslie {Goodbye, house. Hello, home!} said...

I n have fake hydrangeas in my dining room! I have a real PeeGee tree in my front yard, so people always think that the hydrangeas came from my tree. I love fakes...yours are exquisite.
Love, me
P.S. You made me laugh, and needed a laugh! Thanks!

Nita Stacy said...

I love fake hydrangeas too! I buy blue ones every time I find nice ones on sale. I think they are just about the only silk flower that looks real - most of the time. Love those zinc urns. I have a thing for trumpet shaped vases too. I have a large clear glass one and several silver ones. I guess I should do a post on them!

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy! Nice jugs! :) I couldn't help myself. Really your wire vases are so pretty and the fauxs are too! I love seeing your pretty rooms and hope you're enjoying your time away from the hot and humid Florida.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Ter'e said...

OMGosh.......
What I don't need is one more decorating blog to read and lust over and then somehow, I found my way to your blog. DRAT it all. DARH-ling! Precious! great ideas!!!! I'll never get anything done now. Your blog is just the BOMB!
Now I have to go back to Day One and start reading.................I can't just start in at Chapter 32, can I?
Great to be here. Thanks for letting me peek into wour wildly talented world!!!!!

Betsy Brock said...

Gorgeous! Aimee sent me...and I'm so glad she did!

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Those are stunning fakes!

Brenda Pruitt said...

Betsy, I love the touch of yellow. Poor squirrels. They will miss them...
Brenda

Sharon Rexroad's Bringing Creativity 2 Life said...

You're a snooty-patooty in my book! Those urns are stunning -- I'm in serious covet mode now.

SheilaG @ Plum Doodles said...

I love the white hydrangeas, so majestic perched on your pedestals! The whole room is lovely. :)

Anonymous said...

Thank you for flying in the face of all newbie "experts" in design that think ALL silk florals are passe'. They think the are too cool to stoop to using silks. Silks that look this good are great! I have enough gardening to do outside so I don't want to deal with any plants inside yet love flowers in the house so I have some great silks...Your blog is so real, you are like a breath of fresh air you snooty patooty you!

mray said...

Have used faux (high end) silk plants and roses forever in my home of high shelves, furniture and love that I am in good company with a well known designer! Thank you for all the laughs, your blog makes my day.

Amy Chalmers said...

Oh I love it all!! I love the back story too...omg you can train wild animals??? I think those fakes are really good ones, and I cannot keep an indoor plant alive at all, so I need faux too. Beautiful~~ !

Ggomez said...

I just love your Blog! You make me Laugh! Morning coffee on Sunday reading your blog is now a must!
Thank you! You have great sass and amazing talent!

suzieQ said...

So glad you like squirrels because many people don't. I think squirrels look so posh in their little gray suits with smart white fronts. They are ADORABLE and so fun to watch.
I have no problem with using fake flowers and thanks for not being a snob. Wish I could afford the real deal, but I'm not proud, fakes that fool are O.K. by me.

Nutbird said...

Revi, Afloral.com has hydrangeas for $4-6 a stem, way cheaper than most sites. Ann

Cindy said...

Holy crap, those roses are incredible fakes! WOW... I love me some faux hydranges too, your living room is awesome!

Cindy

Ivy and Elephants said...

Your fake flowers look just like some real ones!
I love the vases and the squirrel story that goes with them!
Hugs,
Patti
We'd love to have you link up!

Heaven's Walk said...

Oh.....those urns are to die for, Besty! Holy moly! And there's nothing better than coming across a fabulous faux flower. Since the Japanese beetles are now chowing on my roses outside, my faux ones appear all over my house inside. lol! Thanks for another entertaining post!

xoxo laurie

Miss Kitty said...

I always enjoy reading your posts...they are entertaining AND educational. I like to use very real looking fake flowers too in decorating and to mix in with real flowers in arrangments. I saw your post over at "Under the Table and Dreaming " blog party.

Vicki said...

I love the hydrangeas (and the urns) but I REALLY love those cottage roses! They are fabulous!

Maury @ Life on Mars said...

Hydrangeas are by far my favorite flower. They are so happy and cheerful.

I'm a new follower from It's Overflowing!

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Betsy, The flowers are beautiful and I love the containers. Those darn squirrels ate every single strawberry off my plants..uugh.

vignette design said...

I'm usually a snob when it comes to fake flowers, but those fake hydrangea stems are the bomb! Restoration Hardware? I need them now! Love how they look in the urns. Really wonderful! ~Delores

Ramblings of a Southern Girl ~ Rhonda G said...

Absolutely gorgeous room!!! And the flowers look fabulous in the beautiful urns!

Ramblings of a Southern Girl ~ Rhonda G said...

Oh, and I'm your newest follower!

Maureen said...

Betsy, How can you tell a good faux flower from a bad one? Are the ones in the high end stores the best? I'm not thinking the 99cents store faux flowers but the ones in the better stores! Some faux flowers can sell in the hundreds of dollars. I can't justify spending hundreds of $ for faux flowers. Maybe, you could do a tutorial? Just a thought... Thanks

My Dream Canvas said...

This is beautiful!!! I look forward to seeing you at My Dream Canvas for my backyard party :-)

Daniela @Frugal Aint Cheap said...

fake flowers are the best! and no maintenance required!

allisamazing said...

They are absolutely beautiful!

Kim said...

You are hilarious! I think I peed myself laughing at this post.
There is such a great selection of fake florals these days, and they have never looked more real. Even Michaels has great faux stems. And seriously, who has time for the real thing? I've got enough things to take care of around my house!

Stacey said...

Beautiful! How could you not love those gorgeous fauxs. Who was it that said they aren't ok, anyway? Sure seems to be an idea that floats around....if they are pretty they are perfect to me!

Pondside said...

What a beautiful room! I'm visiting via Mod Vintage Life.

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