Spring is in the air....

...even though it might be snowing. There is a hint of spring in the air in my house, at least. While I took down the holiday decorations in January I contemplated the post-Christmas/still-winter decor, particularly on the mantle.

I used a couple of branches of these silver berries and just placed them on across the mantel in no specific manner. And then I interspersed 2 votives randomly.

 

Honestly, I had no flowers on here for a while but taller votives. Last weekend I was entertaining and I went in search of some color to herald the coming of spring - soon, I hope. I needed some florals for my dining table, too.

I found gorgeous African roses at the local Trader Joe's in shades of orange and fuchsia which I decided to use together.

I cut them down to fit in my spray-painted Salvation Army glasses now used as vases. This is what the 7" glasses looked like when I first bought them.

 

After some gold spray paint.
 

 

This works in my love for the silver-gold color combination.

 

The day after my party I moved the flowers from the dining room to the coffee table. They were perfect in my recycled salsa and preserves jars with some clear gems for sparkle.

 

A simple arrangement, beautiful pop of color.
I removed all leaves below the rims of the containers and left a few above for some green.
 

 

 

 

This is what I am enjoying in my home today even we have yet another snow day and schools are closed yet again.

 

Tomorrow promises to be in the 50s!

 

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

 

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Being Creative With Floral Arrangements

I recently came across some creative ideas in floral arrangements. These are fun and can make any bouquet, bunch of flowers or a single stem look that much more special.

This will make you look at any metallic or plastic packaging, serving dish, dessert bowl, soda bottle, tea cup and even wine glass a little differently. I am sending these flowers to you.

Beautiful silverware, some with an aged patina, adds elegance to any arrangement.

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Measuring containers like beakers and vials.

Many containers of the same color displayed as one collection.

Wine and champagne glasses inverted over flowers in full bloom with a coaster underneath for added height.

Colorful soda bottles.

Mercury glass.

Anything from the kitchen like mason jars and used cans lend a rustic feel.

An unusually shaped baking dish filled with water. The flowers have just been laid in it.

A cordial.

A pitcher.

One flower in a rainbow of colors in reused bottles.

all images above via Better Homes & Gardens

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Glass bottles painted white.

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Something modern with florals submerged in water.

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Metallic tea and biscuit containers with color and lettering. A charming, old-fashioned arrangement.

Martha Stewart

Cafe au lait bowls of different sizes with floral foam to hold the flowers.

Martha Stewart

Teacups.

Design Sponge

Who says one has to wait for a party or a special occasion to enjoy flowers and be creative with the arrangement? It is time to be imaginative with those pretty spring blooms a lot of us are beginning to see around us and repurpose those bottles, jars and cups sitting in your cabinets.

I could see myself doing most if not all of these. Which one would be your favorite?

Have a wonderful weekend and Happy St. Patrick's Day!

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

Floral Chandelier - A Work in Progress

I have been working on a fun project for a couple of months. It is being worked on as and when I am able to. This light fixture (pictured below in current location) was bought about twelve years ago for our dining room when we moved from Manhattan to the suburbs.

We have definitely outgrown it but it suited us just fine back then (twelve years ago). The furniture in the room was also different at the time. 

We extended the back of the house about six years ago. As a result, some furniture changed and this chandelier did not suit the room any longer. It was moved through different rooms (eat-in kitchen area, old study) as a fill-in where needed (until something more appropriate was found).  The old study is now Emily's room. Here is another picture of how the fixture looked a couple of months ago.

As you can see it did not work in this room. It either had to be replaced or I had to change the look of it somehow. At first, I decided I would try to embellish it. It had to tie-in to the overall decor of the room and the colors of the decal. For more on the decal  go here.

Strands of beads was my initial idea. Then, while browsing through Michaels one day I caught sight of some fabric petals like these green ones while walking through the wedding aisle.  

I was heading to the paint section I almost walked right by them. I started to think  floral! There were blue, red and pink petals, too. I bought the pink ones first. I wanted to see the color in Emily's room with everything else in it. I went back later for the green petals.

This is how the petals look (not actual size)

I removed the frosted shades from the fixture. Glue gun in hand, I started working on them at the kitchen table creating these floral pieces, just eye-balling the pattern as I went along. I started with a layer of the petals at the top and worked my way down. Fortunately, due to the shape of the shades, this was not difficult.

I tested the look during the day..

and I tested it at night.

 I love how the color changes with the light on!

I needed to cover up the base and build each flower out some more so I purchased the green petals to add on some "leaves" after I added on a fourth layer of pink petals.

I have been back to Michaels several times while working on different projects (constantly multitasking). Again, same aisle by chance, I happened upon some tulle which I decided I could use to wrap around the metal in order to soften the look of the fixture in some way. I realized this could help form a less rigid base for some "stems" I could create with leftover green petals.

Truly this chandelier has been evolving with no real plan or design.

It has been a busy summer so far. The wrapped tulle lies within the base of the chandelier when I am on a break from this project. I am further along with it than the picture below indicates. I wanted the piece to "grow" gradually.  Also, I wanted to find the right fabric/material/bits and pieces to add to it with constant approval from "Client" Em.

I hope to be done soon. I have found some pretty finishing touches for this chandelier which I will share with you in its entirety when it is completed.

 

Stay tuned!

Do you have a fun project you are currently working on? I'd love to hear about it!

Today, I have linked up to the house party at Saved by Suzy. Do link up to read about some more house projects and/or to share your own!

 Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa