Lately there’s been a debate raging around the blogosphere, and I think it’s time to settle the issue once and for all:
Is it okay to decorate the tops of kitchen cabinets with fake ivy, or is it an unforgivable decorating faux pas?
The Nester devoted an entire week to talking about fake plants and their crimes against nature. She even started a new club called P.O.O.P.I.E: People Opposing Objectionable Pretend plants In the Environment. Today POOPIEs around the Internet are posting photos of artificial ivy and flowers and linking up at her site.
I think we all had ivy garlands and ivy clusters tucked above our kitchen cabinets in the ’90s, right? There has been a backlash against it in the last few years, though, and a lot of us have taken ours down (sneezing from the dust as we packed them away).
Model homes are still crammed with the fake stuff, as you can see here (all of the photos for this post were taken from models). My parents just bought a model home and the builder is leaving everything in it, including the silk plants and flowers that cover every niche, ledge, and cabinet top.
I know a lot of you have strong opinions about putting the fake stuff up top of cabinets. So let’s take a vote.
What do you think about ivy? Does a kitchen look cold and sterile to you without it? Or is it a decorating no-no?
CLICK HERE TO VOTE AND SEE THE RESULTS OF THE POLL SO FAR
Don’t forget to leave a comment letting us know how you voted in the poll and why. Then hop on over to Nesting Place to see what other bloggers are saying about the fake stuff today!
{NOTE: These are NOT pictures of my kitchen. People keep commenting as if it is, and I don’t want you to think I’m ivy-crazed. Ha. All these photos are of model homes courtesy Fischer Home Builders. If you want to see MY kitchen, here it is decorated for summer, and here it is decorated for fall.}
If You’re Hooked on “Hooked or Hate It”:
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Truthfully, Julia, I’m tired of that space over my cabinets! I’m all for bringing back the soffits we hated so much ten years ago. (Not me personally, but collectively) I’ve had mine decorated and not decorated. I’m not happy either way. I just don’t want to clean up there! If I were rich enough, I’d love to have beautiful cabinets that reach all the way to the ceiling. I am thinking about trying to build soffits myself- how hard can it be? (Ha! Famous last words!)
Unless you live at The Olive Garden, it’s a no from me…
Oyyy…I am definitely in the no camp, but I definitely don’t want to be called a Poopie(?) either…that doesn’t sound very good!!
I laughed that you were quick to correct the notion that it’s not your kitchen…I take it you’re not a fan, either…
You always get the best debates going!!
Linda
Just like everything there are CHEAP versions of fake flowers etc. and then there are those that look real, when done right it can look amazing I think
Hi Julia
nice post,
Kathy
tired of it!! Not too mention the dust the darn things collect.
Wow. Just, wow. That’s a whole lotta ivy and…other stuff. You can do whatever you want though because I *heart* you.
First of all thanks for adding me to your roll..
Now Hear This:
Plants belong outside.
Except for a Christmas tree.
The s**t (don’t know if you allow swearing) on top of those cabinets is so suburban ugly. And dirty.
But if you are a dirty suburban girl, have at it.
Your decor will never be magazine worthy. But maybe you don’t care becaus you love your fake ivy so much.
I confesss, I once had a live ivy plant on top of my fridge (I had been Shanghied to a California suburb and lost my mind), hoping the lush trailing tendrils would soften its ugly white hide. The plant got buggy with it, and died. Never again did I stray from good taste. At least regarding ivy.
To quote Heidi Klum on tonight’s episode of Project Runway:
“Ooh, that’s bad….”
And she didn’t mean it in a good way.
Anti-Ivy-ers, unite!
i hate the fake ivy.
while i do love real ivy, i’d prefer no plants so high up on those cabinets. however, if one must have plants on top of cabinets.. keep it real.
Don’t like the fake ivy! Especially on top of the cabinets…No not at all. Baskets and jars are good though….right?
*sighs*
Okay, I’ll say it again. These are not my kitchens. They are all taken from models. I’m not sure if y’all are just teasing me now or what, but I do. Not. Live. In. Any. Of. These. Model. Homes. Pictured.
And I do not have ivy in my kitchen.
That is all.
*sighs again*
-Julia
…hate it…hate it…hate it…end of discussion…
Oh, how I hate it.
This is very, very interesting. Those pictures look hideous….I double checked your REAL kitchen photos to see what you have on top of your cabinets. Maybe you should add the photos onto this post instead of just a link?
I admit that I did put a few fakies up onto of my cabinets. I just don’t have enough other fluff to fill up all the space. But I might go take them down now. My mother in law just built a gorgeous home and has NOTHING on top of all her cabinets. It looks great! Her old house was jam packed with stuff, but it looked great too.
I might go take a picture of my cabinets. I always have a better viewpoint when looking at a picture rather than real life.
Really really dislike the fake ivy. It looks fake and only really serves as a dust collector. Ew!
Ew! It’s bad. There’s no excuse, it’s terrible.
I gotta admit, I like it in the photos. It makes your eye move around the room. BUT, I usually try to stay away from fake greenery. It gets too dusty.
I do have some fake hydrangeas in my bathroom for color and space, but when I look at them I feel as if I’m committing a very bad crime. However my half torn down bathroom is really a felony in itself.
I have to admit, I’m not a fan of the fake ivy stuff. But I think these little kitchens are really cute anyway!
I think fake ivy looks really gawdy and cheap. It’s something I see more commonly in the homes of my more elder relatives however I don’t think it fits well with any generation.
Hate the Fakes.
Loathe that shiznit. Down with fake flora! (Love the blog, tho. Thank you for adding sunshine to my day.)
Okay, I have a question for all of you fake-ivy haters.
: I have vaulted ceilings in my kitchen, so I n-e-e-d to have something above my cabinets. I’m desperate for suggestions. Pottery? Baskets? Both??
Personally I have used flowers on occasion, but always in a basket not a vase. I do get what everyone here is saying about the tackiness of ivy. Probably because we all know how easy it to just throw it up on top of cabinets as a filler (knowing this is really a last resort for some who cannot afford to decorate) it sort of takes away from it’s potential uniqueness in character. Why not arrange some beautiful shabby chic pottery, or big colorful bowls, spice or flour tins? Maybe a few cookbooks stacked or lined up with some large filled jars as the bookends (filled with colorful berries, bubblegum, lemon drops or chili peppers in oil jars). I think you can do so many wonderful things with that extra space besides just leaving it bare. Some kitchens need to adhere to the “less is more” theory while others need that space filled to add some charm and character. Good Luck Guys!
I wanted to add that there is some high quality silk flowers being produced these days as well as high end greenery fillers. Must we always go for the IVY? I don’t even LIKE the REAL ivy (notorious for its black widows, snakes and bugs which gravitate to that). So naturally that is what crosses my mind when I see the fake stuff garnishing kitchen spaces.
I was considering putting faux ivy on top of the cabinets. We have a country kitchen and lots of windows that look out on lots of greenery so I like the idea of “bringing the outside in”.
Now I might leave them bare since so many people seem to think it’s outdated and a decorating faux pas.
I have two gorgeous real plants in the kitchen that are thriving but I’m not opposed to pretty faux flowers and plants in areas that don’t get much sun.
I had no idea that there was so much opposition to ivy on top of the cabinets. It occurred to me that they are dust-catchers but no one would see the dust that high up and it’s no big deal to take them down and dust them (though it’s one more thing to dust).
I especially like the last two pictures (especially the third one) and think the ivy looks pretty in moderation as an accent.
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