Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Do You Ever Fake It?

Designers typically pooh-pooh artificial flowers for being low-rent.  

True Confession: I am an offender. Yes, I use fake flowers for staging.  But, here's the deal, I add fresh greenery.

My flower arrangements photograph well for MLS shots. The internet is first place 90% of home buyers shop.

Here is an arrangement of silk poppies in a foyer.
Linda Beam
I incorporated ivy and asparagus fern fronds from live plants.  The ivy and fern help camouflage the stems of the artificial flowers--a dead giveaway.   Here's a close up. 

Linda Beam
See the yellow flower peeking out of the bowl of Gerber Daisies?  It's fake!  I needed a spot of color for the picture.

Linda Beam

For all you you DIYer's, here is the vase used in the first picture with the Poppies.  It is a Goodwill find--loved the pattern and shape--hated the color. 

Linda Beam
Again, the after.
I spray painted it bronze to pick up the darker shade in the mirror.  I added the gold satin ribbon to pick up the ligher gold in the mirror and to contrast to the dark vase.

What do you say? Yay? or Nay? to artifical flowers. 

Later,

Linda 

22 comments:

  1. I definitely think it is OK for staging and photography...especially if you can't tell. I mean you could spend a gazillion dollars on real flowers for everyday if you weren't careful :)

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    1. Yes, real flowers are expensive--I do prefer fresh. I have been known to 'add to' holiday arrangments when fresh red flowers are sold at a premium. Thanks Sherry, for affirming fakes were OK for staging and photography!

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  2. Agree girls.....the silks have their place for sure!

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  3. I made the turnaround a few years ago when I owned a store. I couldn't put real flowers into merchandise that was for sale so I started using fakes. I can't tell you how many times somebody wanted to buy the flowers. They looked so great. I also think that in rooms where there's no natural light they can be a life saver.

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    1. Carol fakes have come a long way towards looking more natural. I'm so happy to hear someone else uses them. I appreciate your support. I felt like I was the only one usings silks.

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  4. In this case, fakes are a-ok. I don't even mind the fake IKEA greenery for everyday use, as long as it is mixed in well with other accessories.

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    1. Wow Beth, I felt like I was outting myself about faking it. Good to know other people do it too!

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  5. You can get some really good fake flowers these days and I don't see anything wrong with them. Love your idea of putting some real greenery in with them though. That would make it look more natural.

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    1. Thanks Heather! Makes me happy other folks feel the same way. MANY times I fooled folks. "These flowers are BEAUTIFUL....". Yep, the trick is using a few natural looking silks.

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  6. I add fake flowers to real flowers...and I'm about to do it in my heat stressed window box..can't tell from the street!

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    1. Great way to use fakes! (The would probably still be there all bright and cheery in December--it if was me!)

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  7. I am a nay personally, but I totally understand that they have their purpose! It makes lots of sense for staging, too!

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  8. Thanks for weighing-in Traci. You have grand taste. I totally understand that faking it doesn' work for your interior design clients.

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  9. I may have a few fake flowers....I'm not telling.

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    1. I hear ya, Linda. So sad we must feel shame over our use of fakes ;) I'm feeling a support group is needed!

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  10. I used to hate fake flowers until I worked at a home decor shop that specialized in silk floral arrangements. The floral designers were all so talented and the flowers were very high quality so you seriously couldn't tell if they were real or not. So now I have a few in my home and I'm totally ok with it!

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    1. Another proud supporter of fakes! The high quality fakes are pricey but worth it--they look real. Also, I regularly CLEAN my fakes. You never see fresh flowers with dust on them!

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  11. I do prefer REAL! However, I have and will continue to use beautiful silk ones in design. Sometimes they just make way more sense!! xo

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    1. Kim, I would love to see a post of rooms where you have used them. Thanks for commenting.

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  12. I like your idea of adding real greens. That would probably be the only way I would do it.
    Funny story about the fakes...Our neighbors (who keep to themselves)put fake everything out as landscaping! This is a premium neighborhood in my area and their house in on a main corner. It did not take too long for the sun to bleach out the green turning it an awful blue. The kicker was that it all looked exactly the same in January. I think they got a nasty letter from the HOA and its gone now. LOL!

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    1. Kerry, that is funny that the fakes were out in January! I am VERY familiar with the faded blue fake greenery. I know a lady that bought an expensive fake topiary to place near her mailbox post. It didn't take long for the sun to work it's magic and turn it a gross teal color. Thanks for your story!

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