Though frost still covers the ground in many places, in every part of the country, thoughts are turning to warmer days and beautiful blossoms.  Our gardens might not be ready to display all the greenery of the season, but there's no reason that our homes shouldn't be alive with it.  

A quick trip to my go-to flower supply (Trader Joe's) equipped me with all of the pastels and brights I needed to make my home an exposition of Spring: hydrangea, miniature roses, garden roses, eucalyptus, stock, Peruvian lilies and assorted greenery.  
In total, I purchased 5 different bouquets for $24, and managed to make 3 beautiful arrangements.  Martha Stewart: eat your heart out. 


Arrangement One: The Big Mama-Daddy.
Difficulty Level: A cakewalk

1.Vase Logic: Leveling the Field(s). When selecting a vessel for your arrangement, remember to vary the levels, and add height when you can. As this arrangement is going to be a focal point in a big room, I want to make sure it doesn't get lost.  A large, shapely footed hurricane (The Madeline Hurricane from Southern Living at Home) is the perfect solution.

2. Picking the Posies:  Just as it's important for the vase size to match the location, it's equally important for the flowers to fit the vessel. Because this is a large piece, I need to make sure I use large flowers that can hold their own. I also plan to group the finished product with another arrangement, so I don't want these flowers to overpower anything else I choose to add to the composition.  Baby blue hydrangea, petal pink stock and ivory and pink Peruvian lilies become my building blocks. 
TIP: You may notice that your hydrangea is wilting quickly upon adding to an arrangement.  To prevent this, heat a cup of water til almost boiling.  Place the cut stem of the flower into the water for thirty seconds.  Remove and place in room temperature water. 
3.  Fashioning the Flora: Always start with the biggest blooms first.  In this case, it's hydrangea.  I place three large blooms in a tripod formation.  Using those as a guide, I then insert the pale pink stock (cut slightly longer than the hydrangea) at even intervals along the side, working my way into the center.  Peruvian lilies are tucked IN the hydrangea web to interject pops of white and pink within the blue.  To add some interest to the composition, I selected some long, spiky fronds from my front yard, folded them along the outer edge of the vase, and inserted three sticking up out of the arrangement itself. 

Arrangement Two: The Independent 
Difficulty:  Experience Helps

1. Vase Logic:   This piece is going to brighten my living room.  When the coffee table is not in use, the arrangement will sit atop a tray with some books and candles.  When we're watching tv or have company over, I will need to move it to a side table or the mantle.  All this means that it needs mass, but not so much that it's cumbersome or likely to tip over. For this, I need the workhorse of the vase family: the cylinder. 

2.  Picking the Posies: Because of the simplicity of the vase, the flowers can be more visually complex and varied.  For this I select white garden roses, purple and pink stock, purple and pink lilies, and eucalyptus.  

3. Fashioning the Flora: With any floral design, it's important to be aware of how many angles the finished product will be visible from.  This piece will be on a table in the middle of the room most of the time, so it needs to be symmetrical.  Rotating the vase every minute or two will ensure that I'm spacing the flowers evenly.  

With a large open mouthed vase, it becomes increasingly difficult to make the flowers stay where you want them to.  I've discussed using a tape grid before to keep flowers in place, but in this case the edges won't be covered and the grid will show.  Florist foam, though useful, might look a wee-bit ridiculous in a glass vase.  Glass floral gems will add moderate support as well as color and weight to the bottom.

The roses are the largest flowers that I'm using, so I place them first.  Again, I work from the outside in, in a spiral pattern that grows in height as I get to the center.  Next comes the stock, and I alternate pink and purple as I turn the vase.  (Adding the stock will also help your roses to stay where you want them).  The Peruvian lilies (the most delicate flowers), and the eucalyptus and greenery are the last pieces to be added. These allow me to make the final positioning touches to the roses: the stars of the arrangement.  




Arrangement Three: The Debutante
Difficulty Level: Challenging

1. Vase Logic: A vase does not always need to be just that.  When you really want to add some artistic flair, choose something that's completely unexpected: a teapot, a basket, a tiered serving platter.  For this piece, I'm using a small decorative birdcage. 

2. Picking the Posies:  As the birdcage is quite small, I need to find flowers that won't overwhelm it.  Bright yellow miniature roses, small bits of hydrangea (left overs from the first arrangement), one or two Peruvian lilies and ivy work perfectly. 

3. Additional considerations: Using the cage as the main container means that several other things need to be in place.  A sea colored candle on a silver stand gives height and color for the backdrop of the flowers.  The flowers themselves, that will be both inside and outside of the cage, will need a source of water (and no matter how hard I try, the cage just refuses to fill!).  For my purposes, a small ramekin is an excellent fit.  The ivory color and ribbed edging blends into the cage quite well.  Were the cage slightly bigger, I might use a teacup and saucer - unexpected and colorful.


4. Fashioning the Flora: Though the ramekin by itself will hold water, it won't do much to hold the flowers in place.  My first move is to cut a piece of wet florists foam to fit snugly into the bowl.  Once it's ready, I can begin with the flowers. 

With the cage dome off, I begin by inserting some hydrangea pieces and greenery low in the ramekin.  These cover the  florists foam and begin by adding a color base to the arrangement. 

Next, I snip a few miniature roses from a bunch and create a progressive rise, with each rose more open as I move upward.  A few additional green pieces in the foam and it's time to work with the cage itself. 

Using florist wire and floral tape, I secure several trails of ivy to the domed cage.  The majority of them should be on the side opposite the candle, imitating the height and providing green groundwork for the bright yellow roses.  Once completed, I attach the cage to the base and the real work begins. 

Moving slowly and carefully, I use  tweezers to grasp clipped rose stems and insert them through the cage into the foam (leaving the blooms on the outside).  I alternate every so often with small bits of greens or lilies. 

TIP: When working with wet foam, be careful not to insert a stem and then pull it out slightly or reposition.  Wet foam does not recover itself and by poking a hole into it and then pulling back slightly, you can create an air pocket that water does not fill, and your flower will not get the moisture it needs.

I keep the flowers to one side of the cage, but am careful not to fill every inch completely. I want it to have that oh-yes-I-just-left-my-cage-in-the-garden-and-the-flowers-naturally-grew-this-way look. (You know, all of those natural garden birdcages.  With candles in them.) 

Once I'm completely finished, I place the cage next to the footed hurricane and scatter in some candles and pewter bunny salt and pepper shakers (Pottery Barn, c/o my mama).  



FINAL TIP (I swear!): Once I'm done with any arranging, I take all of the remaining flower bits and a small vase and create a miniature arrangement for my bathroom.  Foliage in the restroom has a way of making it warmer and brighter.  And, perhaps, a little nicer for the olfactory senses...

I may not be sporting green gator shoes or flannel zebra jammies, but, much like Macklemore, I DID spend some time this weekend poppin' tags at a thrift shop.  Significantly more mainstream (and with far less colorful language), I came away from my urban hunting experience sans new threads, but with three coordinating pictures.  Each runs 22" x 19", is double matted, and has a beautiful detailed frame.  Even more gratifying - they each cost $10. 

Once home, I came to the issue of where, and how high to hang them.  Luckily, I've been down this road before.  Below, my tips for hanging artwork. 

Spacial Guidelines: 

 The Eye-Line Rule  While the actual number varies based on whom you ask, most professionals will tell you that the middle of a picture should be hung at the average person's eye line - somewhere between 57" and 65" from the floor.  By using the MIDDLE of the picture (known as the centerline) as the point from which to measure, you ensure that there is a continuous flow throughout your home with all of your art work.


The Incredible Shrinking Room  Try to avoid hanging the tops of all of your pictures at the same height.  The optic line that is created by the tops of the frames will seemingly diminish the space.

Have a Seat  In rooms where people will primarily be sitting (dining rooms, living rooms), feel free to drop the height slightly (think 54 "- 59").  




Sofa Art:

The 2/3rds Rule  It comes down to simple math:  Big piece of low furniture = Big empty wall space above it (I can break that down into a proof if you need...).  One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is hanging something above their sofa that is too small for the expanse.  Try to fill at least two-thirds of the space above.  Even if you don't have a single piece of art that is that large, you can flank your art with sconces to carry the line, or group multiple pictures to fill the space (perhaps you can find TWO velvet portraits of Elvis...).


Furnishings Unite!  When a piece of art is hung too high above a piece of furniture (be it a sofa, a mantel, or a chest of drawers) it gives off a "floating" vibe and can make the room arrangement seem disjointed.  Try to keep pictures 3"- 7" from a chest or mantel, and 5"- 8" above your sofa. 


Pictures A-Plenty: 


1+1+1+1+1 = 1  Think of multiple pictures as a single unit.  For any gallery-like display, remember that the middle of the artwork will not be the middle of a single piece, but of the grouping.

Space Accordingly  While hanging pictures TOO far apart will appear discontinuous, hanging them too close together can confuse the space, and make each piece lose its focus.  Try to keep about 2.5"- 5" between art in a cluster.  The larger each piece of art, the bigger the space you can leave between them. 


 
Decisively Indecisive 

Template, Ho!  Despite the best laid plans and measurements, sometimes you just need to see it to make it perfect.  As Swiss-Cheesing your walls with nails will most likely not thrill your landlord or your significant other,  your best bet is an easy to use stencil. 

Measure out your picture and use paper or poster board to create an accurately sized template.  Using masking tape, adhere your template (or templates) to the wall where you think you'd like your art to go.  Play with height, arrangement and placement to your hearts content before committing to a hole in your wall.




You say "Odd" like it's a bad thing... Although you want your room to look balanced, that does not necessarily mean that everything needs to be symmetrical. Odd numbers are often very visually appealing, so long as they're spatially matched.  Think: One large = Two small (etc).  






Other quick reminders:

- Use picture hangers - not nails. Picture hangers are made to distribute the weight of a picture. Nails are not.

- Heavy pieces need studs (don't we all...)  If you have an exceptionally large piece to hang on the wall, your best bet is to try to locate and utilize a stud.  A stud is a vertical post in the framework of your wall.  You can buy a stud-finder at any local hardware store.  Sadly, they only work on construction.

 - As my husband would say Measure twice, cut [or hammer] once.   Or, in my case, Measure seven times, change your mind repeatedly about the look your going for, then go to a completely different room, remove a picture you had no intention of actually getting rid of, measure several more times, grow irritated, stick the whole bloody mess on the floor without having made a decision, go to the kitchen and have a glass of wine.  (His saying is easier to remember, and probably more useful).

- Not all pictures need to be hung. I'm a huge fan of propping pictures on shelves, mantels and accent pieces.  One of my favorite tricks is to hang a mirror on the wall and then prop pictures against it.  The layering affect adds depth and interest, the mirror adds space to the room, and the pictures are easily swapped out with the season or my mood. 

 - Relax  Remember that it's just a wall.  So you measured incorrectly, or got a little too excited with a hammer and now you have a hole in your wall that you don't want?  That's what spackle and paint are for.  Decorating, just like fashion, is about experimenting and having fun.  Nothing says that you're committed to a decision for the rest of your life.  


When my five year plan works out and I’m doing the backstroke through piles of cash (a la Scrooge McDuck), I have every intention of owning a giant warehouse of some sort for all of my decorating joys.  Categorized by season, style or room (I’ll have my man-servant help me decide), I’ll stroll down the aisles selecting cobalt china, hobnail milk glass vases, copper clocks or leopard print pillows while sipping champagne out of a Louboutin (just because I can).  Meanwhile, however, my apartment requires a slightly smaller inventory of options. 

Versatility and multi-tasking have simply become a requirement for any piece in my décor reserve. 
To that end, below are my top three pieces that every decorating arsenal should have.



1.  A Large Glass Vase.   (For the most versatility, I recommend square or cylindrical. If you have a little bit more room to store, you might look into something with more detail – perhaps a pedestal, or trumpet style).  
Glass vases are the work horse of design – capable of adding a huge impact to a space, without being relegated to one style.  
  • In addition to housing flowers, they can be filled with ornaments for Christmas, seashells in the summer, or pine cones and acorns in the fall.  
  • Vases with wide mouths can act as hurricanes for beautiful candles. 
  • Set in a bathroom, they serve a double duty - housing soaps, brushes or accessories while adding some personality. 
  • Turn the vase upside down and use it as a cloche, or an unobtrusive riser for adding height to a display.  
  •  Change the look of your vase completely by wrapping it with ribbon, craft paper, burlap, rope, or inserting photos or paper die cuts.
  • Storage: When it comes to storage, smaller objects can be wrapped and stored within the vase, or the vase itself can be wrapped and stored within another narrow object.  Remember – the goal here is to conserve space!
      2.  Books. (Use books that you already own, or check out thrift shops, library sales or second hand book stores.) 
Books are my favorite design element.  It’s not just from my love of stories, but also the fact that each one seems to brim with personality.   
That personality can be translated to any display or room.  

  • On mantels, tables or shelves, stack books to add levels, section off space, or provide a backdrop for smaller pieces.  
  • Tie several together with pretty ribbon to create a single design element.   
  • Display books according to the season or mood you want to emphasize, either by the theme of the book, or the color.   
  • If you don’t have the colors you’d like or the covers of the books you love leave something to be desired, use coordinating papers (craft or even wrapping) to recover books and completely change their appearance.  Turn some backwards to hide spines you don’t like, and to add an eclectic feeling.    
  • Combine groupings of vertical and horizontal books and create niches for pictures, candles, plants or other art. 
  • With the presence of the internet, encyclopedia sets have taken up residence in attics, basements, and thrift shops. Many are quite beautiful however (and fun to read on rainy afternoons!), and you can weave volumes in various locations around the room for a continued color theme.   
    via thedecorologist.com
  • A large number of hardbacks can even be piled up and used as a completely unique end table.
  • Storage: When your books are no longer being featured in a display, they can be quarantined back on shelves, in drawers, or stacked under other stored objects in cabinets.  Make sure to keep them in dry, dark places to prevent damage.

 3. A good quality frame with an opening for 8x10 pictures. (Once you have more money and/or space available to you, get several of the same frames for increased impact).   Nothing changes the look of a room like artwork.  Why an 8 x 10? Because that's the biggest common pic size that you can print out from your computer.  Did I just recommend a little bit of art thievery? Well, sort of.  It may not be quite to the moral justification level of stealing a loaf of bread, but I do believe that art should not be a luxury only for the wealthy. That said, if it's the work of an artist or photographer, do your best to SUPPORT them and actually purchase their images, particularly if they're not established.
  • Change your personal photos with the seasons, and feature new ones occasionally that match your current decor theme.  You don't have to be a stellar photographer - basic online programs can turn your pics from color to black and white (which, for whatever reason, always seems to up the artistic value). 
  •   Use a web search to locate images that add to the ambiance you're looking to create: perhaps a close up of an ornament, a funky item that makes you nostalgic (wooden sleds, typewriters, glass coke bottles, penny farthing bicycles), or a famous art piece that speaks to you (ala Chat Noir, or Saturday Evening Post covers).
via BHG.com
  • Frame art of a different nature.  Find beautiful post cards, or greeting cards, pieces of patterned fabric that you find beautiful, pages from books, printed definitions or favorite quotes.
  • Remove the glass all together, cover the backing with adhesive cork (available at any craft store) and use pretty tacks to hang necklaces, earrings and pins.
  •  Think Inside The Frame (ha Ha! Take THAT open-minded, cliche-slinging individuals!).  Showcase your art with creative matting. Carefully cut craft paper, cloth, wrapping paper or newsprint, add to card stock and replace your store bought matte.
  • Check out Etsy for beautiful, unique and inexpensive artwork, and support young artists.
  • Or there’s always those oh-so-attractive individuals that come WITH the frame.  Hey, you may have no idea who they are, but they look like they’re having fun…


Remember: your home should be a reflection of your personality.  It doesn’t matter what books, magazines, celebrities, designers, TV or *ahem* bloggers deem “in”. If it doesn’t, in some way, reflect who you are and what you love, then it’s not worth emulating.
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Hey guys! My name's Emily-Grace and I'm so glad you've found my blog! E.G. is all about decor, entertaining, laughter and finding joy in the everyday. The meaning of the name is threefold: 1. "Entertaining" in the sense of providing for guests. ("Hey, come on over for dinner and I'll break out the good mason jars and moonshine...") 2. "Entertaining" is also meant to indicate my love of laughter ("That Emily-Grace. She's hilarious. And she should quite possibly be medicated.") 3. And finally, "Entertaining GRACE" is about the idea of granting each other a certain amount of kindness, mercy, and tenderness. This world can be a tough old bird and the truth is, we're all in it together. When we take the time to celebrate the bright moments we magnify that light to the people around us and, hopefully, add some hope and joy to their lives (as well as our own!).

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