9 Quick Projects That Bring Spring Charm to Your Rooms

Who could miss the whimsical fashion trend that blossomed when Sarah Jessica Parker pinned a robust silk zinnia to her top in Sex and the City? Well, now home fashion has caught up to its corporeal counterpart. The faux fleur is sprouting up on cushions, lighting and, not surprisingly, in vases.

These charming imposters have patiently awaited their day in the sun. They were rejected right through the natural-fibre '90s because of their chintzy, synthetic texture and gaudy hues. But--perhaps thanks in part to Parker--today's multitiered creations are remarkably true to life, ingeniously pliable (bend their wired petals and leaves to suggest age) and relatively natural: you'll find nearly as many pure silk variations as polyester at sewing and home-decor shops these days. Ours cost between $3 and $20 per stem.

Sometimes, spring decorating requires more than just stowing away the woolly throws and drawing open the curtains. You could invest in fresh flowers--weekly or, you can glue, tie or stitch up these authentic reproduction blooms for your rooms.

(1) drawer pulls and mural

Rather than paint that ancient bureau, give it a dose of spring fever. Bulky blooms are best suited to this task. Remove all existing drawer pulls. Snap off the flower stems and discard, then drill holes through the centre of each bloom. To affix the flowers, screw the knobs back on through the heart of the flower (you'll need slightly longer screws). In another fanciful touch, tulip stems and leaves were painted in a row on the wall behind our dresser, and faux tulip tops were pasted on top. Chest, Absolutely Inc.; throw, Kumari's Pashmina; artificial flowers (for all projects), Royal Green.

(2) lampshade

Guests will do a double take when they catch sight of a lamp topped in this high-relief shade. Pick up a DIY peel-and-stick lampshade (at craft and fabric stores). Peel off the backing, and wrap the sticky shade in floral fabric. Finish the edges with ribbon, hot-glued in place. Finally, create a relief pattern by glueing flowers to their twins on the fabric. Shade, floral fabric, B.B. Bargoon's; lamp base, Era; table, French Country; wall paint, Buttercup (8172), Martha Stewart Signature at Sherwin Williams; ribbon (for all projects), Masterstroke Canada.

(3) breakfast tray

Tray chic at its best! To make it, paint the frame of a tray-sized shadow box periwinkle blue, glue yellow silk into the interior and frame that with gingham ribbon on the "walls" Place faux lilac cuttings inside and replace the glass to provide an even surface. Add whimsical Victorian glass cabinet pulls on either side to complete the conversion to a tray. Box, Victor Gallery; silk, B.B. Bargoon's; paint, Tidal Pool (8308), Martha Stewart Signature at Sherwin Williams; pulls, Restoration Hardware; teapot, cup, saucer, serviette, French Country.

(4) wall-mounted letters

This 3-D art installation puts buckets of blooms front and centre in a room. To make it, we selected a favourite sans serif font and enlarged each letter we needed on a photocopier. We transferred the letters onto Masonite board using carbon tracing paper, cut out the shapes with a jigsaw, sanded the letters lightly and painted them pale green. Faux roses in various colours and sizes were hot-glued to the letters, their leaves accentuating the curves in the letters. Use single leaves to fill any gaps. Wall paint. Buttercup (8172), paint on letters, Muscat (8097), by Martha Stewart Signature, at Sherwin Williams; sofa, Whittington Furniture.

(5) blind pull

A tiny sprig of faux grape hyacinth makes an otherwise bland blind uplifting. The fix-up is almost too easy: simply tie a bow of thin, pretty ribbon around a spray of blooms and fasten the ribbon to the back edge of the shade with a safety pin. Roller blind, Blinds To Go; pressed-glass cup, Teatro Verde.

(6) chandelier

A $10 chandelier from a junk shop was salvaged further with a coat of white paint and festoons of faux cosmos. We drew our inspiration from those curly iron chandeliers manufactured in Italy that are currently in vogue (see "More or Less" in this issue). To make, paint the chandelier, then enhance the silhouette by wiring swooping tulip leaves to the arms. (Hide the joins with pretty ribbon. We also replaced the "candle" sleeves with elaborately dripped versions, available at lighting stores.) A final cluster of cosmos, attached by their stems, steals the show.

(7) pillows

Here, pillows in wintery fabrics and hues were slipcovered in candy-coloured silks. Then we wrapped them with removable bands made of satin ribbon that fasten at the back with a strip of Velcro and can be easily detached when the pillow needs to be cleaned. Zinnias, roses, poppies and delphiniums were arranged in geometric patterns and affixed to the bands with hot glue; they could also be stitched onto the bands instead. Pillow forms, all silk, B.B. Bargoon's.

(8) windowsill floral display

Celebrate spring's simple pleasures: We displayed posies of artificial flowers along a windowsill--and subbed in fresh blooms here and there. The petals and leaves on today's high-quality fakes are textured like the real things and wired to affect the proper stance of a living flower. Vases, Teatro Verde.

(9) decorative magnets

Faux flowers are often sold as full stems with several buds per stem. If you've got stray flowers left over from larger projects, put the single blooms to work decorating magnets for the kitchen or home office. Buy a package of plain magnets at the hardware store and hot-glue a single blossom to each. Yellow card, Pantry Press; other cards, Lavender Press.