If you’ve ever looked at my Instagram, I’m guessing you quickly realized that I have quite the thing for natural materials: rattan, bamboo, wicker, caning, baskets, pampas, you name it. If it’s made of dead grass, I love it and I can’t help myself. Last year, I had a contractor poking around every room in my house and when he finished, he looked at me in amazement and said, “You…have a LOT of wicker.” I felt a slight flush of embarrassment–I was becoming one of those kooky people, wasn’t I? “It’s beautiful, though!” he quickly added. But I had already been seen. Yes, you’re right, Mr. Contractor, if I bring in one more caned item into our home, my husband might drop me off on a stranger’s porch inside one of our caned baskets. Generally, the sound and logical design advice I’d give someone is: don’t heavily invest in any one color (unless it’s white or black, etc.), style or material because you’re probably going to get sick of it one day and have an entire home full of it. I, admittedly, have failed miserably when it comes to these materials — but thankfully, there’s a timelessness to a lot of it. My personality type tends to be a little too picky, but when it loves something, it just loves it a little too much. So let’s just take a moment to celebrate this humble and earthy woven goodness–I know I’m not alone!
cheers, ezz.
• photography credits: vintage bamboo side table; @octobre_et_mai; super marché; mikanu; super marché; Opa Restaurant in Tel Aviv by Yoav Gurin photography;@suzannepardijs; round woven placemats; fine little goods; raffia wrapped flask; round rattan side table; gillian stevens photography; bamboo basket; woven cocktail set; round sunburst mirror.
You are in good company. Wood, wicker, baskets…straw….anything but pampas grass will win a place in my heart. I would love that sisal flooring in the images above. Can just imagine it under my feet…
oooh, yes – we should have included that!
It’s a classic! Never dates when used in the right way.