Use natural fiber on walls

Dear Sandi, I love to have different wall coverings in my home. Just plain old paint is a bit boring. While I have been successful at some fabrics on the wall recently, I have been a little scared to do anything with natural fiber. I know your company works with these . . . can you give me any hints? Can I do a wall with burlap or abaca and still make it look good?
Frances J. Albany

Hi Frances, One of my favorite topics is natural fibers. When Art and I first started going overseas I was absolutely captivated by all the new fibers and the resulting textiles that we were introduced to. And, to answer your question, of course you can use these fibers for wall covering, and your results should be not only good looking, but very unique.

You mentioned abaca, and that is probably one of the most versatile materials in the world. Coming from the trunk of a tree closely related to the banana, the fiber is used in everything from floor mats and even hut siding and roofing, to the finest, thinnest textiles. It is strong, beautiful and accommodating. The closely knit, net-like material that you are probably the most familiar with is sinamay. Although it is stiff, it is still quite malleable. You should be able to find it in almost any color that you could possibly want, including varieties that have metallic threads woven through for a bit of extra pizzazz.

Another great (and probably my personal favorite to work with) is pulp netting. This is a larger net-like textile (we call it Banana Wrap) that has pigmented, handmade paper pulp blown into it. The result is a wonderful, almost lumpy, textured textile that when applied to a wall gives the appearance of an ancient, almost crumbling façade. If that is a bit too radical for you, you can always work with the plain banana wrap to just add an interesting texture.

Burlap (or woven jute) comes a huge variety of weaves, colors and grades. The lower grades have very open, loose weaves that can be used to give a rough, almost rustic character to your walls. The higher grades are fine woven, frequently bleached, then dyed, and closely resemble any other closely woven textile. The looser the weave on burlap, the more “flex” the fabric will have and you will find it more difficult to work it in straight, lines. I recommend using the looser weaves where the irregularity of the open spaces will add character, not detract from the overall effect you are trying to achieve.

Whether you're looking for handmade paper, furniture, fabric or accessories, you will find it at loose ends. If it is unusual, organic and fabulous, then loose ends is the place. Showroom hours are 8 am to 5 pm weekdays and the first Saturday of each month 10 am - 3pm at 2065 Madrona Ave. SE, Salem, or visit us online at www.looseends.com Questions? Give us a call at (503) 390-2348.

The term “burlap” will have different meanings depending on the country the textile has come from. Although we are most familiar with the soft jute burlap that we associate with everything from bulk coffee bean bags to beach totes, there is also a “burlap” that is much stiffer and rougher. We refer to this textile as “savanah cloth”, and it is much less flexible than its softer cousin.

All of the above textiles are available in rolls, and they can be applied to a wall in much the same way that you would a standard wallpaper. I like working with the water based, premixed wallpaper pastes because it is so easy to use, cleans up easily and dries to virtual invisibility. You may find that you have to use the paste a bit heavier with some of the textiles, but any excess can easily be wiped away.

Since most of the natural fibers mentioned above are either very open weave, or transparent by nature, you will have to decide what effect you want to have show through. One of the easiest, and very effective ways to take care of this is to simply paint your wall whatever color you would want to have coming through. This can either be a shade that mimics the textile color, or sharply contrasts. When working with the pulp netting I have sponged a variety of complimentary shades onto the background, then applied the pulp netting over the top, giving the appearance of an old, mottled wall. Keep in mind that you do not necessarily need to cover the entire wall when working with these fibrous materials. Sometimes a much more interesting effect can be achieved by using random bits and shapes of the textile.

If you are really after texture, you can work with these materials in layers. I like to add handmade paper bits to the process. The wallpaper paste tends to bread down the cellulose fibers and you can blend the textile and the paper pulp the wall for added effect.

Sandi Reinke is an author, frequent television guest and lead designer for loose ends (www.loosends.com), a Salem-based interior décor, garden, and casual lifestyle company. To ask Reinke a decorating question, e-mail info@looseends.com or mail her at the showroom address, 2065 Madrona Ave. SE, Salem, OR 97302. Phone: 503-390-2348.

A last note – although we have been talking about natural fibers that have been woven into textiles and come in that familiar bolt or roll form, do not overlook some of the other organic materials that are available, but in smaller pieces. Things like “linen bark”, or even “papers” that are basically just raw abaca fiber and fossil leaves can be used effectively to create unique and dramatic statements.

You have entered a fascinating realm, don’t plan on getting out as easily as you got in. There is something about working with this stuff that grabs your imagination, and you will probably run out of walls before you run out of ideas!

April 9, 2004