Trends: Inspired by Burlap
Becky Harris
January 10, 2010
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
The first time I saw the coffee sack-upholstered ottoman below, a light bulb went off. While I'd seen the bags repurposed in clever ways as grocery totes and used as accessories, I had not seen them used to upholster furniture. Obviously, a burlap seat and short shorts are not a good mix, but that sort of rough hewn, unfinished linen, burlap look is popping up around a lot lately, and I love it.
The burlap trend is a great way to reuse items like old flour and coffee bean sacks on ottomans, throw pillows, inspiration boards, and even around votives. The look can also be achieved by using natural, unfinished linen for your drapes, chairs, tablecloths, napkins, and other accessories around your home. It fits in well with the more polished Shabby Chic revival that's happening right now, using repurposed and/or organic goods gives you green points, it looks great in A Beach Cottage, it adds character to eclectic rooms and it gives that
The burlap trend is a great way to reuse items like old flour and coffee bean sacks on ottomans, throw pillows, inspiration boards, and even around votives. The look can also be achieved by using natural, unfinished linen for your drapes, chairs, tablecloths, napkins, and other accessories around your home. It fits in well with the more polished Shabby Chic revival that's happening right now, using repurposed and/or organic goods gives you green points, it looks great in A Beach Cottage, it adds character to eclectic rooms and it gives that
The woman who lives in this house did not buy anything new when decorating. She did a lot of swapping and creative repurposing, including this coffee sack upholstered-ottoman. The result is beautiful, sustainable, and makes for a great conversation piece.
Even the smallest of remnants can have great uses - these votives look lovely wrapped in the fabric.
Casually tossed sacks add to that Paris flea market feel.
The upholstery can take on a more sophisticated look.
Rough textured natural linen curtains recall the rougher burlap fabric.
This is another great repurposing job on this inspiration board.
This striped natural linen fabric adds rustic elegance.
These pillows mix well with others!
Here the upholstery recalls burlap but is much more refined.
This lovely tablecloth is smoother but still has that old linen look.
Sack-covered pillows were made for the wonderfully relaxed style over at A Beach Cottage - she is a master at mixing and highlighting interesting textures.
Even her director's chair is covered in a lovely natural linen. To see one of the best examples of using this look throughout a home, check out her entire photoset here.
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