Though I adore the real thing, as a designer I know that faux flowers have their place in any well-appointed home too. I went around and counted and I do have 14 silk arrangements of varying size and style. From a large forsythia arrangement in a black tole container in my living room to a petite rose arrangement in our guest bedroom, they graciously add colour and shape to many corners and settings in any home. Of course these days I use silk flowers to adorn gifts, but I do think these gorgeous silk flower arrangements by Diane James would make for the loveliest of gifts for a variety of occasions. I know there is a great debate on real vs. faux but I have never had a problem with faux flowers when they are of beautiful quality and realistic style. I am not the only designer to think this of course, high profile designers such as Michael Smith, Barbara Barry and Mario Buatta turn to Diane James for silken arrangements in their well-appointed interiors as well. So I am in some very good company. I look at these arrangements in another way as well (especially the petite styles) as a beautiful bedside gift for someone recuperating at a far distance, for a special birthday, or as a most gracious housewarming gift. Something to remind them of you and your good thoughts on a daily basis.
You could head over to Bergdorf Goodman, Gracious Home or Neiman Marcus for a Diane James faux arrangement or order online at Diane James Home. Here Diane James has fashioned a table setting at Neiman Marcus with faux flowers. Makes me want to have a lovely garden party.
~ A Table Setting for Mustardseed & Moonshine in Neiman Marcus ~
The Diane James Home website is well-designed and neatly organized by size, colour, season, and flower so finding the perfect arrangement and price is easy and most visually pleasant. Diane James Home also has a floral inspired blog The Buzz which shares divine design ideas and sources with a botanical twist.
All photos from Diane James Home
Thank you such much for featuring us today - what a lovely write-up. We're thrilled to say the least!
ReplyDeleteI agree, the Diane James products do make lovely gifts! Great idea!
ReplyDeleteoh that orchid in the green vase. lovely!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove the table settings.... very pretty and summery.
ReplyDeletemaybe I should rephrase that. "oh, that orchid in the green vase is so seexy" (that was my catchpa phrase to put in to submit my comment!" *wink
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quality is the key for silk flowers and worth the investment if the intent is keep them for several years.
ReplyDeleteI love Diane James! I am not generally a fan of faux - they never look real if they need dusting and I am so bad! - but hers are so beautifully done. Whenever I see them, they draw the eye again and again. I missed that NM table setting. Those cups and saucers! wow!
ReplyDeleteOh Sande,
ReplyDeleteFaux flowers have come on in leaps and bounds over the years. They used to be awful years ago but, I have some at home and, you can't tell until you touch them. I adore that last picture. They are perfect. XXXX
Hi Sande! Hope your week is going well! This is such a fun post, I was not familiar with this floral designer but her work is beautiful! The Neiman Marcus table setting is unbelievable, I would have NEVER been able to tell they weren't real! :) xoxox
ReplyDeleteThese arrangements are very beautiful!
ReplyDeleteOh they are so gorgeous, really lovely. It's amazing what they can do now.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally exhausted honey, new puppy...say no more...hopefully I have some shoes left that have not been chewed...help! It's getting really hard to get some computer time, it will get easier though and she is lovely ... miss you.
love DJ
I'm sure they are more beautiful in person. Those pink roses look like the real thing. I do think I prefer the fun of paper flowers over the silk...but I would adore them on a gift tied with a ribbon. (One wrapped by you, of course!)
ReplyDeleteCatherine
SANDE!!
ReplyDeleteI can't stand it! THIS BOX is the MOST BEAUTIFUL BOX I have ever seen in my life!!! I cannot bear to open it! I started and just can't...it would be a sin. I am going to set and smile at it for time... I will be in touch as soon as I do. Thank you Sweet Adorable friend for this, just how it is, unopened is magic. I got it yesterday and was going to open it today after work but can't. This post is amazing by the way...I'll be in touch later:)
XO
Sande,
ReplyDeleteI agree, the 'real' thing is always my first choice, but when I need a stand in, these would be wonderful. The hydrangeas and peonies are beautiful. Thanks for sharing the source. Rita
Sande, I'm so loving your flower posts, be it paper or silk flowers and honestly these peonies appear so gorgeous i would not hesitate to have them on my table! :-)
ReplyDeleteThose table arrangements are beautiful! And there's nothing wrong with silk flowers, I have some in my home too, after all, I can't afford to buy fresh flowers for the entire house on a weekly basis and they add a touch of "prettiness" and glamour. Thanks for a very pretty post :-) Have a lovely weekend, love from London x
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful blog site you have.
ReplyDeleteKelly Bookend Diaries
http://bookenddiaries.blogspot.com
Just stunning, Sande! Thanks so much for all of your kind and supportive comments lately. Have a wonderful wknd. xo
ReplyDeleteI'm still looking at my box... but I opened the card:)
ReplyDeleteLove You Sande~
XO
Silk flowers: These are so romantic and pretty. My eyes are dazzled by all the beauty here. Happy Sunday!:-)
ReplyDeleteLove those dishes in the final picture from Nieman Marcus! Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteToma
In my "past life" I designed faux floral arrangements, the quality of flowers is so amazing these days, that my clients had to feel them in order to be able to tell if they were real.
ReplyDeleteThe ones you show are of the hightest caliber, so lovely and real looking. They would look great no matter where they were placed.
ps. Thanks so much for visiting my post about Laura, she is an inspiration, isn't she??
xo Lidy
Oh these lovely images made me swoon!
ReplyDeleteThank you ever so much for your dear comment on Lidy's blog.
Be blessed.
Oh thank you for this post. These are lovely and though I am a huge gardener and have fresh flowers half the year... well, these would cheer me up in January!
ReplyDeletei think i own one of her arrangements...they really would make the perfect gift! i recently bought some very convincing silk flowers for my store last month which make a wonderful investment.
ReplyDeletexox alison
Sande I have not gotten your post in my reader lately. I thought I should come over and see if I had missed something and lo and behold I sure have. I am a real flower girl but I know there are some very realistic faux flowers unfortunately most don't buy the good quality and another pet peeve of mine is to match the flowers with the decor. Yikes, Have you ever seen a slate blue rose, I think not. These are all wonderful examples of what a gooooood faux flower looks like. I have missed you, Kathysue
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely feature, Sandi! Such gorgeous products...I am overwhelmed :)
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a wonderful week...
xoxo
These arrangements are just beautiful!
ReplyDelete