spring has sprung at Pottery Barn! I was just in Toronto’s Bloor street store trying to find props for an upcoming story and had to stop and smell the (fake) flowers. annually I’m really pleased by how well they do the man-made branches and flower stems. have a look below — so lovely. (I shot the fakes using an app on my iphone called Hipstamatic — it gives all your shots a bit of pretty.)

They had white and pink cherry blossoms, as well as pear blossoms. Branches can create such a statement and are very basic to decorate with.

As an example of how to use branches in decor, here’s a shot from the April 2009 food shoot I serviced with Stacey Smithers. This quince branch nearly killed us — we patiently waited for it to bloom in the heart of winter, and eventually it did. (It also took up half my automobile getting it to the photo shoot location.) and what an crucial piece to the final image.

Here’s another example — not of flowering branches but with the same impact. Michael Penney styled this shoot for our April 2010 issue.

These hydrangeas and tulips were also at Pottery Barn, shown in some pieces from the new recycled glass collection. You could easily mix the artificial with real flowers for impact out of season. I find hydrangeas add terrific bulk to floral arrangements but can wilt swiftly — having good fakes on hand can stretch out the life of your arrangements and will save you money in the long run.

I was also really taken by the clean, crisp, cotton slipcovered furniture mixed with classic ticking stripes in store at the moment — you can’t go wrong with this combo. add a few embroidered pillows and one or two artificial flower arrangements and who says it’s -14°C outside? new products have just rolled in, and they are worth a look. If you can’t get into a store, check them out online.

For a lot more ideas on flower arranging, view our easy flower arrangements photo gallery.

Photo credits:1. Morgan Michener2. house & home April 2009 issue, photography by Michael Graydon3. house & home April 2010 issue, photography by Donna Griffith4. Morgan Michener

Paint color Pick: Hardwick White By Farrow & ball
Decorating little areas

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