Monday, September 12, 2011

Burlap, How I Love Thee





Today I would like to pay homage to one of my favorite textural accents: BURLAP! I have slowly seen it creeping its way into design magazines and while I consider the smell to be an "acquired" scent (find a bolt of burlap at your local fabric store and getcha a whiff....you'll see what I mean), I adore the color, texture, and versatility of this material. Here are just a few of the many things you can do with burlap in your own home:

Use burlap and other natural ribbons and twine as gift wrap. southernliving.com 
Make a wreath our of burlap by following this tutorial provided by todaysfabulousfinds.blogspot.com. Or if your inner craft diva isn't feeling ambitious, you can purchase one from etsy.com  

Cover pre-existing mats with burlap. <3 <3 <3 houseofhepworths.com
Cover a cork board, or make a pocket board. www.etsy.com
www.ivillage.com 
Burlap makes beautiful curtains. These from Restoration Hardware are lined with cotton. restorationhardware.com 
These panels from www.ballarddesigns.com got rave reviews from happy customers. They have a fringed edge and are lined also. Check out their site to see other panels in burlap, including a damask print! 
This pic is a major DROOL! Soften up a tabletop with a burlap tablerunner (or two, as seen here!) bucketsofburlap.blogspot.com
Burlap offers a softer, more natural alternative to the traditional red, fuzzy stocking. (this is nice if the bold red and green do not really fit in with the rest of your home's decor) www.kristanlynn.com
These burlap pillows will add interest to any boring sofa! (keep in mind, if you are looking for pretty pillows burlap is amazing. If you are looking for a comfy pillow to rest your head on while watching tv....not so much) www.restorationhardware.com These pillow are from Restoration Hardware, but many of the popular home interior shops out there carry burlap or natural fiber accents now.
Take burlap to new heights with a light fixture! There are also shades available for table lamps. The texture and color of the burlap casts such a warm glow and really highlights the weave of the burlap. This pendant is from www.ballarddesigns.com
Yes, burlap enthusiasts...you can even wear your beloved burlap out on the town as a testimony of your love for natural fibers. Just thought I would throw that out there! www.toms.com
There are sooooo many amazing ways to use burlap. I had to force myself to stop searching today because I am going cross-eyed from looking at pics online! You can find burlap in a variety of colors and weaves (some are very loose and some are a tighter weave). You can even buy burlap ribbon! If the smell is a turn-off for you, buy a small quantity of the burlap and take it home with you. Let it air out for a few days and see if it helps with the odor. Some burlaps may air out better than others, so I suggest doing this test before buying super large quantity. If you prefer to invest a little cash as opposed to elbow grease, check out these sites for a ton of great burlap buys:
Ballard Designs (they really were the first...)
Etsy (Shope here for hand crafted goodies!)

Here are some more inspirational photos to get your creative juices flowing! 








Happy Burlapping!

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