"We want...a SHRUBBERY!"

"One that looks nice...and not too expensive." -the Knights who say "Ni!"

Photo by Kindra Clineff

I would never think to grow a juniper shrub indoors, as seen in the July/August issue of COUNTRY LIVING Magazine.  Inspired by the book The Unexpected Houseplant by Tovah Martin, this arrangement depicted in Country Living has a simple sophistication that is so appealing.  A tall metal container similar to this 18" Aged French Flower Bucket was used as the planter.

This could be dressed with a ribbon to make a pretty Christmas planter as well.
Martin's book can be found at Amazon, and you can find a similar metal planter bucket above, but you will have to go find your own Shrubbery!

Witch (and Wizard's) Broom Bucket

I love this idea from AllYou Magazine for a Halloween accent at the front door ---- so unique and creative! 

This was an unfinished metal bucket painted in dark and bright stripes, but if you don't have the time or inclination to add paint, pick a bucket that's already finished in a fall color, like a Rust French Flower Bucket.  Choose the bucket height based on the length of your broom handles, you want to make sure the broom part is showing completely, with some of the broomsticks sticking out as well.

What a great idea this is for a Harry Potter themed party!  Guests can bring their brooms, but they must leave them at the door.

If you don't have a sheltered outdoor location and are worried about the weather, place it right inside your entryway.

Teen Flower Power Bedroom

This room turned out exactly as we had imagined it... We started with a bedspread that had a hot pink, orange and yellow pattern. We painted 3 walls a vivid orange, and left one accent wall pale pink. We accented with orange and pink pillows, found some great cube shelves that are painted inside, and hung a fringed fabric pendant light that has a floral pattern in all the right colors.
On the accent wall, we stenciled funky flowers, and even stenciled a few on the white wooden blinds (which you can see when the blinds are closed). We hung a decorative sign which says, "Marche aux Fleurs," (French for "Flower Market") directly over the bed. But the WOW came when we attached the giant paper daisies and large paper peonies to the wall. The cube shelves and paper flowers create a 3-D effect, and the walls really pop.

Ambella Home Collection Partner's Desk

Hi Kim! I received the desk the other day. It is Fantastic!!!!!! My new computer has been down and I am under some deadline pressure with a new client. When I get through with that I will take some pictures and e-mail them to you. The desk is perfect for my office!!!! Thanks for everything.

--Scott H.

[Message originally sent Feb, 2007 -- desk photo supplied by Great Rooms Decor]

Giant Paper Flowers

I found these lit houses at a local auction, and decided to use them as the anchor to a garden theme bedroom for our daughters. The walls were a deep periwinkle blue with bright white trim. We mounted the houses to the wall (they are just props -- the doors don't open) and the girls loved to use them as nightlights -- really big nightlights!

I made picket fence headboards painted white, and found sheer shower curtains with colorful appliqued flowers to use as window treatments.

I used the large gerbera daisies "planted" in galvanized French Flower buckets as accents. They were a simple, perfect finishing touch, and the girls just loved their new room.

We even put plastic glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling, so at night the houses would glow and they could look up at the stars. It was magical!

- Kim

Fabrice de Villeneuve Olive Oil Prints

A note and picture from Mollie, who ordered these vintage French Olive Oil prints especially for her sage green painted sideboard:

Kim,

Here is a picture of the prints! They match perfect! Thanks again for all of your help!

Mollie H.

Artificial Paperwhite Bulbs

Here is a photo of the paperwhites. They are in individual containers which makes it easy to move around to use here and there...

...The paperwhites arrived just in time for my daughter's birthday. They are absolutely beautiful! I set them up in her guest bedroom while she was out of town. When she first saw them, her first remark was "I thought you said they made the room stink?" (She was speaking of the flowers she grew there last fall) How pleased she was with the new ones. I "planted" them in individual small square containers. This way she could move them around the house at will. Thank you for having such beautiful flowers available.

...Irene K, San Jose, CA