I am all about “bang for the buck” and what could be a bigger bang than free! That is where sticks come into my home design. Whether it be birch branches, red dogwood sticks, sumac trees, or spray painted tumbleweeds, they can add flair anywhere in a home. Let me tell you what I have done with sticks.
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Birch Branches
When we moved to Minnesota from Georgia I became enamoured with white river birch trees. It became my quest to collect branches that had fallen to the ground before they had rotted back into nature’s floor. Here is what I did.
I wanted to make a statement when first entering this foyer with a 4 foot tall lighted niche at the stair landing. On either side of the niche I mounted custom tapestries with an abstract bird and curved vine drawing your eye up to the two story ceiling. To mimic the vine I placed four large birch branches in a tall hurricane vase. The vase was from Home Goods and the birch branches were from a foraging trip in the forest. The niche light was always on with a dimmer switch. It was both beautiful and functional as it served as a stair light at night.
These birch branches, anchored in a large ceramic pot, added height to my vaulted screened porch. I stapled a string of lights to the branches and placed them on a timer programmed to light at night. It was beautiful to view through the double glass door.
Normally thick birch branches are added as accent pieces to evergreen arrangements popular in Minnesota winters. However, one year I came across an entire tree that had just fallen and none of the supple white branches had touched the ground. They looked amazing all alone in my outdoor pots that year.
Another design idea for birch branches was to symmetrically place them in a long planter. To keep them straight I anchored the branches in styrofoam. To hide the green foam I added white rocks. I liked how it filled the space and added interest.
Red Dogwood Bushes
I do not know the formal name for these bushes, but I love the fiery red color. I find these along the side of the road and have used them in my Minnesota and Iowa winter pots.
These dogwood branches, of a less bright variety, gracefully extend from my Greek vase that I scored at a second hand store for only $5. I love the iron rings on the side. The branches added dimension but did not obscure my staggered silhouettes on the back wall.
Sumac Trees
The Minnesota sumac trees have the most interesting branch structure and they are abundant everywhere! I placed this large branch in a wicker container in our lower level rec room. Against the smokey blue walls the brown branches pop and you can see every intricate fork which makes this tree so special.
The sumac tree was front and center when I had the opportunity to decorate a church gala. To promote the event I painted a sumac tree (cut down from a thatch on the side of the road) a hot pink and dangled small silver cards with names of the charities the foundation had funded. It created quite a buzz in the church atrium prior to the event. Once the gala was over I placed the pink tree in a large pot in the back corner of our flower bed. It was an unexpected sight in the summer surrounded by greenery and in the winter against the bright white snow. I originally thought I could spray paint the tree, but realized to get enough paint to stick I had to hand brush each small branch. It took a pint of paint and more time than I care to say, but the outcome was stunning.
At this same gala event my friend, Jeanne, and I cut down young sumacs on the side of the road for our table centerpieces. I spray painted them silver and placed them in a mercury glass vase lit with a battery operated fairy light. The sticks added height to the table, but were airy enough not to impede conversation.
I re-purposed the silver sticks in my outdoor pots that winter.
Painted Tumbleweeds
To say that tumbleweeds are a common sight in the sandhills of Nebraska, my home state, is a gross understatement. My clever sister, Christie, has perfected the art of finding the perfectly shaped tumbleweed some of which she spray paints white or black. I bet you didn’t know there are good and bad shaped tumbleweeds. Painting a tumbleweed is not as easy as it sounds and takes quite a bit of spray paint to cover each of the fine branches, but the final look is unquestionably cool. She really outdid herself this last Christmas with her white tumbleweed Christmas tree.
Willow Branches
I saw willow branches stripped of their leaves in an airport gift store years ago. I loved the look of the supple branches elegantly draping downward and have always wanted to use them in my home design. But, alas, I have yet to find a tree I can ethically harvest branches. I am still on the hunt. Some day…..
I am your BIGGEST FAN!! I especially think the recycled pink branches in your backyard came whimsical and charming. Who would have guessed? – ccg
Thank you favorite sister. 🙂
Finally, a beautiful way to use sticks & stones!! No broken bones here, I’m heading out to discover my own brand of free desert creativeness. Thanks Cheryl!