Thursday, March 17, 2011

In defense of faux foliage and flowers...

I know faux foliage and flowers have gotten a bad rap in some decorating circles, but I refuse to feel guilty about using them!


First of all, the foliage and flowers currently available are a far cry from the plastic arrangements that my mom was forced to choose from. The choices today are almost endless, and most of them are quite realistic.


They look good in everything from a vintage milk glass vase...


... to a distressed French bucket.


Unfortunately, my budget doesn't allow for vases of fresh flowers around my house on a weekly basis.


Faux is also great if you want a little something in a place that doesn't get natural light...


... like this vintage tin wastebasket down on the floor (strategically placed to hide the ugly electric outlet and cords behind it!). A real plant would never survive in this sunless spot.


Or maybe, like me, you don't have a green thumb.


I've had these paper roses for at least 10 years, and they look almost as good as the day I bought them.


The top of the TV hutch in the living room does not make for easy watering, so faux is the perfect choice.


These faux roses, ...


... a peachy-pink with violet edges, are my favorites.


...right down to the crackled vase filled with buttons that anchors the stems.


Pete the Parakeet certainly enjoys perching in a bit of faux ivy at the bottom of his cage.


And a small sprig of faux white lilacs peek out of the vintage kitty planter in my windowless kitchen (it's definitely a challenge to grow live plants without a window for light).


This family room window is one of Baby's favorite places to hang out.


She can knock this over without me worrying about water spillage.


Now these, I have to admit, are a bit tacky. They're a throwback to the 60's and 70's, but I couldn't resist them at a church thrift fair last year.


Two matching copper pots, overflowing with faux ivy. They're perfect on either side of yet another of my bird cages.


This old brass/copper/whatever vessel holds faux flowers in front of the family room slider.


The planter is cracked and would never hold water. Court bought it for me at a neighbor's yard sale when she was very young, so it is a prized possesion.


Tons of faux (lavender, ivy, grass, and boxwood) on top of the bookcases. Again, an impossible place to water real plants.


Faux ivy is the perfect hair style for Patience, ...


.. the former garden planter who now lives indoors.


An old, dented tin vase that I've had for at least 30 years...


...is filled with some old, dried flowers.


There's no chance of these being poisonous to Baby...


...who, as you can see, followed me around while I photographed all of our faux flowers this morning!
So due to any combination of the following: 1) cost, 2) lack of sunlight, 3) hard to reach spots, 4) my brown thumb, and 5) possibly poisonous to animals, real flowers and foliage aren't always practical for me. Therefore, faux will always have a place in our little cottage, with no apologies!
I'm linking up to Cindy's (My Romantic Home) Show & Tell Friday. Be sure to stop by!
And before I forget, Happy St. Patrick's day, everyone!
Donna

20 comments:

Cindy @ Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home said...

Love all your flowers and Pete & the bird cage...LOVE it!
Blessings,
Cindy

Susan said...

No apologies needed here, Donna. I think some faux flowers are gorgeous. Yours look great. Who cares if they are faux? If you had not told us, I probably wouldn't even have noticed. Take care and enjoy your forever blooms. Susan

Lacy said...

I agree. My mom says she remembers making tissue paper flowers when she was a young mom and they were so happy to have them because they couldn't affort the silk or real flowers.
I think we should feel blessed to have them!

Char said...

If you like it, that's all that matters. You live in your home and should have what you enjoy. I agree, we can't always have fresh and if I may say so myself, I don't want a home full of fresh flowers. They are too much work. As a floral designer, fresh flowers are the last thing I want on a daily basis. Changing the water daily makes me think and feel like I am not home, but working. HA, Char

Southern Lady said...

I personally don't mind using faux flowers in my home. Most of them are very pretty these days. I can't afford to buy fresh flowers each week either. Thank goodness for flowers that don't die! Carla

Donna said...

I agree that they have some terrific artificial flowers and greenery these days! I have fake stuff scattered about too because it's just plain cheerful!

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Oh, so much pretty here at your place! I have perused several posts and each one is so beautiful!

In contrast, I posted about my garage... not a pretty place :)

The photo of Mr. J on your side bar caught my attention. Our last dog was from the Animal Orphanage and was the best dog ever. He looked a lot like Mr. J. Scotty lived to be 13.5 years old and everyone loved him.

Anonymous said...

I never understand why so many people are against faux flowers either. Honestly, I think it is because HGTV started badmouthing them a few years ago in order to tell people to declutter on their endless buy/sell throw away everything in your house or you will never sell your house type shows.

There are some very realistic faux flowers and some really fake looking ones. If you invest a little extra money for the realistic ones, I see nothing wrong with them at all.

Cindy said...

I love your blog! Thank you for sharing your home. What an inspiration!! I found you on the Show & Tell Friday from My Romantic Home. You make me want to change everything in my house. :o) I also have a huge love of animals and appreciate all the information you have on your side bar. Thank you!!

Ellen Hite said...

When you have cats, well sometimes you just have to adapt. I use artificial and try to get as real looking ones as I can and TRY not to go overboard with them or anything else, for that matter. Anyway, I see Baby likes them.

Ellen Hite

MeMeSue said...

Thank you!! Having recently moved I have no gardens, live on the East coast, have no money for fresh! I have faux flowers/plants/bushes/trees in my house. I love to be able to change them out for the seasons and no worry about watering. Again...thank you for your post!

Susan said...

Your silk flowers are beautiful!~! I too use silk flowers! I don't know who gave these flowers a bad rap!

Babs said...

I, too, use faux plants. I'd really rather have fresh but sometimes that just isn't practical and I agree there are some really pretty faux flowers available today. I sometimes use the faux and put fresh greenery with them to "enhance" them a bit if they need it. Shhhh... don't tell anyone. :)
Hope you have a lovely weekend.

Claudia said...

I've actually been thinking about some faux flowers lately. Like you, I can't afford fresh flowers all over my house! Love all your arrangements and I LOVE your new header!

xo
Claudia

Elaine said...

I use lots of faux flowers at the condo. They are not as dangerous if the kitties eat them. And some of my kitties actually like to eat silk flowers!

Yours are all lovely and they do look real1

Donna said...

Everythign, each picture looks so beautiful and vintage! What an artist's eye for detail...gorgeous!!

Betsy said...

Love you faux arrangements. I use faux flowers and greenery. Like the way you decorate with yours.
betsy

Dogwood said...

Faux flowers and greenery works for me. Simply and safe for our little cats.
I love all you lovely photos from around the house. Very cozy.

Hugs, Cory/Dogwood

Lori said...

Donna, I adore flowers, and especially fresh however, my kitty has a nose of a blood-hound and will track them down to snack on! Only safe place is the fridge top, not to fun a place! So I certainly have many faux and they all look pretty real and safe! Lori

Bohemian said...

Oh Lord I HAVE to use them most of the time, we live in a Desert and cut flowers don't last 5 minutes, even in air conditioning... I think the transport of them here and there just puts too much stress on them? I've found some marvelous faux flowers and a few have fooled folks into thinking they were the real deal. *winks*

I'm so glad I discovered your Beautiful Blog tonight at the Blog Party at My Romantic Home. I'm loving your Stafforshire Fair Dogs in this post... my Parents have a collection of them from their last visit to England before my Dad retired from the Military.

Dawn... The Bohemian