Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Burlap and Grain Sack Mania


I fell in love with burlap several years ago thanks to Ballard Designs. They were one of the firsts to feature burlap fabric with their skirted table rounds. Some even fringed! Oh my! After that, I gravitated to anything burlap--especially lampshades.




My burlap phase expanded to include vintage grain sacks from Europe. At the Alameda Antique Show I found a dealer who had 7 sacks, all the same. I paid $25 a piece for them! Maggie of "Maggie's Slipcovers" was brave enough to make them into slipcovers for two Parsons chairs. She is from Hungary and remembered the grain sacks from her childhood. Using these sacks for upholstery material is a challenge as some of them are 50 to 100 years old! You can find these for sale on Ebay. There is a dealer who specializes in vintage European grain sacks, mangle cloths, linen, flax etc. Check her out!


Close up of the fabric for the Parsons chairs. Notice the rough texture. So wonderful!

I found this handmade lampshade made from a vintage grain sack at the Hillsborough Antique Show.

Another handmade lampshade from a vintage German grain sack. Also found at the Hillsborough Antique Show.



This lampshade is a reproduction. I'm starting to see more and more grain sack reproductions. Have you checked out Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware recently? They have jumped on the burlap/grain sack bandwagon! Pottery Barn has pillows, table runners, lampshades, etc. All of which I'm afraid to admit I bought! Restoration Hardware has Belgian linen and grain sack pillows too.

Which brings me to one of my purchases I probably should have left alone. Originally, I found this burlap pendant light in Anthropologie. There was very little information about it and it was so expensive. But I couldn't stop thinking about it. Then I happened to find the same light for sale on Ebay for half the price. So I bought it. It is HUGE! I plan to hang it in our home in Asti over the kitchen island. I haven't quite made the commitment yet, so it sits on the floor still.


Is it the times? It just seems that the design trend these days is leaning toward the natural fabrics, slipcovered linen sofas and chairs, aged wood and seagrass rugs. Lots of texture. It has been called Gustavian, Belgian, European boho, etc. Either way, I love it and want to change everything now! It is time to simplify........
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9 comments:

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Oh Delores, I love your burlap chair covers. I had seen them in an earlier post, and I'm so glad to get to see a close up of them. You have found some great lampshades. laurie

Room Service ~ Decorating 101 said...

I can remember years ago working on a decorating job and the woman had burlap lampshades...I thought they were the most ugly things I had ever seen and thought to myself how did these ever come in style...now, I love them.

xinex said...

Your burlap lamps and table covers are so pretty. I especially like the lamp sahdes with prints on them...Christine

cotedetexas said...

I love this!!!! love it soooo much!!!!!!
i have burlap lampshades too!!!!

thanks so much for your comment - your blog is great!

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

Okay, me again....I don't know how much more I can take! Those parsons chairs!! I REALLY COVET them!! Is that a sin??? I HEART burlap!! The lamp shades!!! WANT'EM!!

ALL!

Lou Cinda

Cyndia said...

I absolutely love color in all its forms, so I've resisted the whole Belgian creamy linen/burlap look. Until recently, that is. It's been growing on me. However, I could never be completely happy unless I'm surrounded by the colors I love, so I've chosen to incorporate a few things; like the Pottery Barn calligraphy lampshades on my vintage stone lamps, and slipcovers on the dining chairs. I considered slipcovering the floral sofa in my den, until I saw some throw pillows in Pottery Barn that were similar to the fabric on that sofa, and realized I just couldn't give up the color. It's old, shabby, and simply wonderful, and fits in with my aesthetic. I think you can successfully bring in touches of those things that excite you to freshen up what you already have, without jumping on the whole bandwagon. After all, there's another parade just around the corner,and we'll want that too!

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

The chairs covered in grain sacks are wonderful. I envy you California gals with all the wonderful flea markets.

Anne said...

DeLores, I have been poking around your blog a bit, and everything I have seen is wonderful! You really do a nice job with your photos and your commentary. Your houses are something out of a dream. The move toward more natural materials is in keeping with my style and my preferences. Lately I have really been craving simplicity. I really wish I had visited you sooner!
Anne

Christine at Little Brags said...

Delores, I would just love to give my dining room a make over. I've got Crate and Barrell Chairs that were like $375 for each chair, so I can't get rid of them...I have been looking into getting covers instead....Love this idea....may I ask how much you paid for one??? And are you happy with how the fabric holds up?
Christine from Little Brags

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