Over the years I've been a home stager, I collected boxes of silk flowers, plants, shells, rocks and moss to use in my home stagings in Pasadena, Los Angeles and Arcadia. Usually I just stick the silk flowers in a vase as I would with fresh flowers. I stick ferns around the base of my silk trees to fill in the opening between the decorative pot and the base of the plant.
Well, yesterday I decided to get crafty and make some silk flower arrangements to use in upcoming home staging projects. We've been really busy staging large homes, which eat up a lot of inventory, especially faux plants & flowers. Having high quality, realistic looking fake plants and flowers is integral to Moving Mountains Design home staging style. I've been to all the usual stores to search for more plants and had come up empty. So I made my own.
It was a beautiful day in Pasadena yesterday, so I set up my supplies outside on the patio.
Wandering Jew silk plant. Total cost about $15. To purchase from a discounter like Home Goods, about $40.
This one was my favorite creations. Orange orchids in a antique Chinese rice measure. Total cost $23 for the flowers, $15 for the container, $3 for miscellaneous = $41. Cost to purchase at retail $250 (I doubt you could find something of this high quality in a discount store)
In total I made 5 plants yesterday in about 3 hours. I saved a little money by doing this, but that's not why I took the time to make these arrangements. I really enjoyed making them (despite mutiple hot glue gun burns, cuts and scratches) but the main reason I created these silk flower arrangements is that I got exactly what I wanted and needed for my home staging projects. Its hard to find just the right silk florals, fake ferns & orchid plants. When I build my own flower arrangements, they are the perfect size, style and color.
I still have lots of silk flowers and containers left, so you know where you'll find me next weekend.
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2010 RESA Professional Stager of the Year
Michelle has staged hundreds of Los Angeles homes, many of which have sold with multiple offers, above listing price.
She works with home sellers, listing agents and asset managers to prepare homes for sale throughout Los Angeles.
Moving Mountains Design provides vacant home staging, occupied home staging, color consultations, corporate and executive relocations, move organization, redesign, and interior design. We also stage model homes, REOs,foreclosures and auction properties for real estate investors and asset managers.
For more information about our Los Angeles home staging services, contact Michelle at (626)385-8852 or by email.
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What a beautiful job you did, Michelle. I bet it was fun and very therapeutic creating out in the sunshine!
They all look store bought to me! Great job!! I have always seen you as a totally crafty Los Angeles Home Stager . . .
Michelle, these are beautiful, and so unique! I want to see the other 3 plants you made.
Thank you Sharon. I really enjoyed creating those arrangements.
Thanks, Juliet. I've purchased so many for my inventory, I studied how they were made.
Here you go Sally:
I tried to open this blog early Michelle but was shut out by the system and those darn proxy errors! Anyhoo... before I even saw what you did in this blog I had made a centerpiece today from a white ceramic soup tureen and placed a white orchid I had which had a broken base but was in great shape inside. I had to stuff paper in to keep it upright and I have to get some spanish moss to cover the stuffing but I have job on Friday, a small occupied staging but the seller needed some accessories including what the Realtor said was "an expensive looking centerpiece".
Well.... after all is said and done it may end up costing a whopping total of $20 because the tureen was from goodwill, orchid was on sale last year 1/2 price from spring and the moss will be about $5 bucks. When we have the time, I love being able to recycle and create things that are beautiful AND recycled! I'll take a photo of it Friday =)
We are channelling some of the same crafty vibes from CA to TX my friend.
Karen: I have been having a bad time with proxy errors too. Your orchid arrangement sounds lovely. Please do post a photo. I used styrofoam and lots of hot glue to make my arrangements. I don't want to have them fall apart everytime they're moved from staging to staging.
Michelle, you think like I do with the flowers I have always made up my designs and not only saved money but I am really proud of them when I am done.
Show us some photos, Debby!
They look great Michelle. Excellent idea for giving new life to the ones that have seen better days too. I have a few favorites that were damaged and can't use them in their current condition.
They're beautiful, Michelle. I need to take a picture of all my loose floral and greenery as I just organized my warehouse this past weekend and didn't realize I had so many pieces.
Your orange orchids in the chinese rice measure is incredible. I can see it now displayed so nicely on a dining room table.
Kathy
Thanks Michele. Thats a great idea to reconfigure tired or damaged arrangements for new life.
Thank you Kathy N. I can't wait to use one or two of these in my next staging.
Great job, I have looked at some silk arrangements at Home Goods and they are really high, but you have done an excellent job and yours look as good if not better than what I have seen...
I was out searching over the weekend and came up empty-I need to do the same as you. I have so much of the same inventory. You do an exceptional job Michelle.
Thanks Mary Lou.
Cathy Lee: Thank you. If you need info about how to do it, let me know.
ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! With a digging dog and the heat here, as I planted my annuals last weekend I wondered if this was a good viable alternative!
Renee: Joking, right? Fake flowers, whether plastic or "silk" look terrible after about 24 hours outside. Your desert sun, plus the dust would wreck havock. I had 2 digging dogs. I put up an electric wire with little pieces of fabric tied to it. The dogs just had to touch it once, and they never went near any flower bed that had a little piece of wire strung across it. FYI, the electrified wire just gives a uncomfortable buzz, it doesn't hurt. I think it startles them more than anything. I touched/bumped mine many times. After the first week, I turned it off but it didn't matter. The dogs stayed out of that area.
Beautiful work Michelle.
Thanks Linda!
Fantastic idea Michelle. Your arrangements came out amazing. Thanks for sharing this idea.
I have found it increasingly difficult to find quality arrangements that are affordable. I recently connected with a floral supply company that carries high quality silks, but they are only sold as stems and never premade arrangements. I cannot wait to place my next order and get started making the perfect arrangements.
LOVE your creative works Michelle! You're so right, you get the look and size you need and at a great price. Thanks for sharing!
Trisha: I'm thinking of writing a tutorial post on creating floral/plant arrangements. Finding a vendor who carries high quality silks is very important, especially if they are affordable.
Debra: Sometimes the stores are full of just the right thing at just the right price. Sometimes not so much. I buy them premade when I can, but I couldn't find anything I liked lately. Thanks!
here's my little project =)
Oooh, looks so pretty Karen. We need a bigger pic though.