Wall Flowers

Petals are popping up again, and not just in the garden. Flowers are in bloom for wall coverings too.

From budding vines climbing the walls to ‘70s-inspired daisy patterns, flowers are the in thing for spring.

Paloma Picasso, who has created a line for Motif Designs, has added Coquelicot to her Classique collection. Coquelicot sprinkles long-stemmed poppies all around. The pattern ($30.50) is available in many color combinations, including a brilliant red, dusty rose and blue.

Wild Flowers, new to the Kristiina collection, is a simple design that draws its drama from a red background. Wild Flowers ($30.50) was designed by Kristiina Ratia, a former European fashion model from Finland. In her pattern, Ratia shares her homeland’s passion for freehand florals and simplicity.

Souleiado, the purveyor of French Country style, delivers the flowers of Provence. Cerulean blue is a favorite color of Provence and it is interpreted on a floral-stripe wall covering.

For information or to locate the nearest retailer, call (800) 431-2424.

Tub Talk

Updating or remodeling a bath doesn’t have to be a total wash.

Custom acrylic shower, wall and tub systems by Luxury Bath are installed over existing units, eliminating the need to tear out the old ones.

“When a bathroom is remodeled the traditional way--by ripping out an old bathtub or shower--it can take more than a week to get your bathroom back,” says Scott Davis of California Bath Restorations in Newport Beach.

Luxury Bath products, which can be installed in a day, resist chips, dents, cracks, yellowing and fading. The acrylic is nonporous, which protects against water leakage, and maintains water temperature better than porcelain.

Tub systems, which start at less than $2,000, are available in black, white, almond, granite and biscuit, and marbleized gray, ivory and white.

For more information, call California Bath Restorations: (949) 263-0779.

Novel Covering

Have you been inspired by Whitney Otto’s book “How to Make an American Quilt” or the movie it was based on? Would you like to try your hand at making a quilt but fear you’re all thumbs?

Sew forth with the help of “Better Homes and Gardens 101 Full-Size Quilt Blocks and Borders” (Meredith Books/Better Homes and Gardens, $35). An entire chapter is dedicated to the basics of quilting. The spiral-bound book also shows how to make 80 quilt blocks from country to floral and whimsical. Mix and match, and you’ve created a one-of-a-kind bed covering.

Easy-to-trace templates lie flat. Also included are step-by-step instructions and almost 500 photographs and illustrations.

The workbook is available at most bookstores.