Q: Dear Christopher:

My life is hectic and I travel a lot. But I really want plants in the house. The only thing I can figure is to fake it with artificial plants. Is this tacky? Robin in Niagara Falls

A: Dear Robin:

If you'd asked me that question five years ago I'd have said yes…yes it is. But today, with the advent of new technology, digital silk-screening capabilities and a greater demand for faux fauna, flawless fakes are becoming a home staple. Because, like you Robin, we're all busy. We progressed from tasking to multitasking to now, hypertasking. So, working the love and care of specimen horticulture into our routine? I don't think so.

But having said that, there are still guidelines-rules to keeping it real. Dig?

Don't buy tight vase-style, multicolored flower arrangements. The grandmother FTD bouquets are out. Instead, look for containers of plants that appear to be growing. A touch of green moss around a single variety of plants can often fool the most discriminating eye.

Pay close attention to the container. It should be great without anything in it.

When choosing flowers, please pick colors that actually grow in nature. There are only four true blue flower varieties on the planet after all.

Do one kind of flower en masse-stick 'em in a clear glass container and fill with water to sell the illusion.

Stay away from dried flowers-that's very '70s and will add no vitality to your décor. Dried things should be in a bowl and it's called potpourri.

Ivy in fake fauna is also rarely convincing and a bit cliché.

The more you can keep fakes just out of reach where people can't actually touch them, the better.

No room can handle more than two bowls of fake fauna. So pick your spots carefully and don't overdo.

Expect to pay a pretty penny for good fakes. But remember, they'll never die. Inexpensive fakes simply do not look real. So fork out the dough to get it right.

As far as trees go, here's where you'll really spend the dough. The 20-buck fake palm from Wal-Mart won't cut it. A bad fake tree can cheapen an entire room. Expect to pay at least $120 and up. I have a palm that I paid $400 for, and I don't regret a dime of it. My housekeeper has actually watered it twice!

 

Q: Dear Christopher:

I've noticed that fake fruit is back and everywhere. The green apple thing heaped on a big bowl seems to be back in vogue. What's your take on it? Debbie in Oregon

A: Dear Debbie:

They are everywhere. And for that reason, I'm sorta over 'em, you know? While I think they still work well around the holidays, as an everyday décor item-not so much.

Now having said that, just like with fake plants, technology has allowed for great looking fakes like artichokes, persimmons, limes and fuzzy fruit that look amazingly real. Again, like I told Robin, stick to one variety. There are, however, a lot of new items on the market that are organic, which I prefer. Shell or nut balls, moss spheres, bleached starfish and honeysuckle orbs will add a lot of interesting texture to a room's décor.

Heap them in a giant wooden antique bowl for a country look. Try them in a painted Asian container for a Zen feel, or even a cool stainless bowl for a modern look.

Proper use of these organic spheres can do wonders. We're also seeing a return of great sea shells heaped in glass containers, which I think are, again, organic and nature-inspired enough to never go out of style. But, the bottom line, Debbie? Choose what you love. It's your home and it should make you smile everyday.

So, while I'll always be candid about what I personally like a lot or not so much, my goal is to give you a designer's perspective. It's never to dictate what I think your personal style should be. So go for it!