Flowers Make a Room Pop With Color

Vibrant poppies and contrasting foliage, collected in a contemporary grey Vera Wang vase, are the perfect counterpoint to a formal room with light grey walls and trim.

The smallest amount of color can change the entire tone of a room. This arrangement was designed for the sitting room of a late 18th century center hall colonial, which had been redecorated in tones of grey and furnished with period pieces. The introduction of the modernist Vera Wang vase and the startlingly orange oversized blossoms provided a focal point of just the right intensity.

Never Live Without Flowers

I cannot repeat it enough: Never live without flowers. A wild stem can always be found for plucking; even in New York's concrete jungle there are little patches of green sending up their blossoms in springtime and millions of windowsills that would welcome a variegated African violet.

The Tansy Fairy uses tansy blossoms for buttons on her playmate's jacket. You can use them as bright fillers in bouquets and arrangements,