Natural Fiber Rugs 101

Hi Christine,

I emailed you a few months back about my Dining Room and your help was awesome (Paint for Amy's Dining Room). I knew I hated the skimpy chair rail and my husband and I finally ripped it down last weekend and custom built a new board & batton type molding. I haven't painted the new moulding yet (or the walls above it), but I wanted to attach some pictures of our DIY handiwork :)

Since I'm very UNformal, and my table & chairs are very formal, I decided to change things up a bit :) ... All this happened because I learned from your blog that paint is the LAST choice to make, so I began looking for fabric for the curtains, and everything I liked looked stupid with the rug...so I'm thinking about selling my rug and opting for something much more casual and textured. I'd love to go with a seagrass type rug, but I'm a little confused with the selections. Can you tell me the difference between a seagrass, jute, sisal, etc...

I know these types of rugs aren't plush, but I would like to get the softest one. I have found several on Overstock and West Elm, but I thought I would ask for some guidance before I bite the bullet! 

Thanks,

Amy

PS--I have been so inspired by all the light and airy colors you have been posting. I am leaning towards a very light warm grey and bright white color scheme.

Amy,

Thanks for your e-mail- it's nice to see that someone out there is hearing my rant. 

I would love to give you a little class on natural fiber rugs.  I actually wrote a paper on these in college many years ago -so forgive me if I start sounding like a textbook- it is all terribly interesting to me.    ;)

Seagrass

Seagrass rugs are just that- rugs woven from seagrass.  They are a natural fiber and are considered earth friendly and "green."  The grass itself is non-porous- making them resistant to staining, and a naturally durable fiber.  The fiber is also inherently smooth, with a bit of a sheen.  This makes it comfortable to walk on with bare feet.  Seagrass is the rug for you if stain-resistance is your top priority.

Sisal

Sisal is a term that is widely used- in the same way that we might refer to a tissue as a Kleenex.  What- though is a true sisal rug?  Sisal is a fiber that is extruded from the Agave plant, which grows in areas of Brazil and Africa.  It is then spun into a yarn of types.  By nature, the material is smooth, flame retardant and long lasting, making it a good material for flooring.  It is also considered an earth friendly material.  Sisal is the product for you if durability is the top priority.

Mountain Grass

Mountaingrass rugs are similar to seagrass rugs, in that they too are woven from natural grasses.  They are simply different grasses.  Mountain grass is less smooth- but still naturally durable and strong.  They have more texture to them, which you might describe as more earthy.  They are also a different color- leaning toward your coppery browns.  This grass is grown in the mountains of China, and sometimes known as Hemp.

Jute

Jute rugs are made from Jute plants.  The shiny green stalks are soaked for about 20 days before the fibers are extracted, and the material is spun into a yarn that can be made into rugs. 

The rugs are typically not backed, and are reversible, for extended wear. 

Wool

You mentioned in your e-mail that you wanted the plushest/ softest rug.  That would be wool.

To get a more traditional sisal look in wool- you can also find sisal/ wool blends.  Another combination you will find is a cotton/ wool blend.  Cotton adds softness, but reduces durability and stain resistance.  It will also typically reduce the price.

Also consider the tightness of the weave and the density of the fiber.  These rugs can range widely in price, and give you a lot of design bang for your buck.  Check out the beautiful rugs in the living area on this post- about the movie The Holiday.

In addition to the classic natural fibers, a similar look can also be found in polypropylene and nylon.  These man-made materials are practical, soft to the touch, and don't have stray fibers.  They are perfect for indoor outdoor rug options, but certainly lack the earthy texture of the natural material. 

There.  Was that too text-booky?  Did anyone fall asleep out there?  This is one of those decisions where my husband would think they are all exactly the same- but oh no, they are not.  I applaud you for looking into into it!

Have a great day!

xoxo

Christine

Good Bones, but...

Hi Christine,

My name is Deb and I could use some suggestions for paint colors in my living room and dining room, but living room mostly.

Our house was built in 1926. Currently the room is a very light celery or mint green. The trim and molding is white, which I will keep white. But because our furniture is dark and with the wood floors, I need to warm and cozy up the room.



We have plantation shutters on the windows, which we will keep on there. We get a lot of natural light - there are 8 windows.

I would also like to paint the fireplace mantle and could go either way with the brick.

Because the ceilings are high I would love to paint it something other than white.

I love color. My husband doesn't mind color as long as it is not too bold and dark. He likes more of a neutral color.

 

Can you help us? I have attached pictures of both rooms.

 

Thank you !!!!!

 

Deb

Hi Deb,

Let me start by saying that I love your house.  I love the Tudor arched doorways.  I love the wood floors.  I love your windows.  I love your shutters.  I love your fireplace.  You have such wonderful "bones" to work with. 

With that said, I am going to give you more advice than a paint color.  Your room needs some help.

I counted 51 family photos in the room.  I appreciate you value family, however- when you have SO MANY photos- it stops "working"  as a decorating method.  They lose their "specialness" when there are so many.  Can you imagine if you liked plates, and put them over your fireplace, on your fireplace, on your shelves, on the wall?  It is obvious that is doesn't work.  Doing the same with family photos is perhaps less obvious, but doesn't work any better.

 

You need more variety.  (Like the clock above)   I would like you to start with your fireplace mantle.  Your photo there is too small, so not only is there a variety problem, there is also a scale problem, as well as an overlap problem.

What do I mean by overlap?  Your family photo is hung higher than any of the other items on your mantle.  You need something larger, and then you need accessories on the mantle- such as a plant, that overlaps the larger object.  This helps the combination of items to stand as one item, unified, rather than your current situation, with 14 separate items, and very little overlap.  Reduce the number of items. 

Consider a large picture, with a plant, and be done.  The picture below is 43 inches wide, a great scale for your mantle.  Look at these posts on how to decorate the mantle.  Don't "overthink" the mantle. 

Now for your furniture arrangement.  I admit, this is a difficult room, especially if you want to use it as a TV room, which it is not meant to be.  Can I just say to everyone, your home will look and work better when you use rooms for the intent that the architect designed them.  I can imagine that in 1926, when this home was built, not enough care was given to where the TV would go. 

This is what I would do.  Put your sofa opposite the fireplace, centered.  (I love the trunk by the way- it makes a perfect coffee table.)  This is where people tell me, "But then when I walk in the room, I walk right into the back of the sofa.  To which I say, true, ideally we would all have very large homes, where this is not the case, but the more important element is what you are looking at when you are in the room.  Currently- you are looking at the backs of your chairs from your seat in the sofa.  Arrange your furniture like I told this person.  Rather than splitting up the room, use it as one sitting area.  I would put the TV to the side of the fireplace.  This can be quite a long narrow seating arrangement- notice that the chairs are not on angles near the fireplace, but rather brought out- out far enough that you can walk between the sofa and chairs.

 

To better define this area, I would have a rug made.  The size you need is longer and narrower than any you will find "off the rack."  Put it under your sitting area, defining the area.  An area rug will also increase the textural and pattern variety in the room, which is really needed.  Even though you have terrific shutters, I would also add drapery panels. They will help to finish the room.  Sisal rugs are easy to have made in custom sizes.

Now- say you select this fabric below from Robert Allen for your drapery panels-  I would find a paint color that is a shade lighter than the light shade of the two tone pattern.  Do not go dark on your paint.  Keep it light.  Do not keep it white.  A soft contrast with the white moldings and shutters will help them to "pop" more.  Contrast is important in bringing out your wonderful architecture.  Specifically- I would go with a light shade- like  Sherwin Williams Kilim Beige 6107.  But- like I said, fabrics first.

Pattern can also be introduced in your throw pillows.

You mentioned that you wanted to paint the fireplace.  Yesterday I told the gal to do that.  In your case- I wouldn't.  I like it just the way it is.  It looks more "1926" to me- which I love.  The gal yesterday had a fireplace that looked a little "1985" to me- which I find less desirable.  My vote is keep it.   (If I did paint it- I would paint it white)   Anyone else care to cast a vote?  (There is no wrong answer- not a trick question- just an opinion question)

Betsy in Maine Part II

Today's post is a continuation of yesterday's on Betsy from Maine's beautiful old home. Yesterday I went over furniture arrangement. Today I wanted to go over some specifics.

1. Ottoman. Add an ottoman in front of the sofa. This room – because of its shape makes it hard to have a conversational furniture arrangement. Essentially- the sofa is by itself- and the two chairs and desk area a separate element. The sofa with an ottoman is a more pleasing combination than the sofa with a coffee table- because it is by itself. Does that make any sense? The ottoman above is from Wisteria.
2. Drapes. I would say audios to all of your window treatments. Radiators are so annoying. If you just had a shorter one- you could do full length panels in the living room…. But- assuming that you don’t want the expense of changing that- I would put in woven wood roller shades and patterned Roman shades- layered. You could also reverse that and have a sheer roller shade underneath- with woven Roman shades on top… Or- you could have wood shutters- try to keep them consistent with the style of the home- not looking all vinyl. Use the same material to add drapes in the dining room. Have them drawn to the side, the one on the left to the left, and the one on the right to the right. Keep the roller shades in these windows.
3. Empty your display area. Then re-introduce items very deliberately. This is not a library- it is your living room. Notice that I referred to it as a display area- not a bookcase. Fly me to Maine and I will re-do it for you. My ancestors are from Maine- I would love to visit again.
4. If you leave the area in front of your radiator blank- it throws the room a little off balance. There is only about two feet that you can use without cutting off your traffic flow from the dining room. You also want to keep air flow around the radiator pretty open. I added a desk. (again from Wisteria) I would put a little stool under it- you could use it for many different things- from a lap top to letter writing- to game playing.
5. Your rug. I really like your rug- it is beautiful- and the current size looks good- what doesn’t work is having a rug that has a pattern that tells people where the center is. The focal point of the room is the fireplace. The visual center of the room should be the fireplace. Your fireplace, however, is not centered- so the center of the rug lines up with the right side of the fireplace. It makes the room feel off balance. Get a rug without a center pattern. This could be any rug with an overall pattern- or a rug void of a traditional pattern- like a sisal rug- shown in the pictures above.

I hope you can get an idea of the look I have in mind for your place. With such a pretty home to start with- I am sure it will turn out wonderfully. Especially if you do absolutely everything I told you. ;)

Thanks, XOXO

Christine

Room photos crom Country Living