Here's my new living room seagrass covering the fireplace hearth. How did this happen? Backstory: An email arrived from
Sisal Rugs Direct offering a limited 2-day 15% offer. I opened this email late at night after drinking a glass of wine (well, really a bourbon & ginger ale, but wine sounds somewhat more refined) a few hours before the offer was to expire. I had been wanting a custom cut seagrass but in that impulsive moment I decided I could custom cut it myself once it came. So I ordered it 13' wide and about 21" ft long for $941, including shipping.
Before: Here's the living room just as we started moving furniture out. You can see my previous purchase, an 8' x 8' seagrass, which was too small and only served to chop up the space. No excuse, I wasn't drinking when I bought that one.
Because I was nervous about cutting it exactly right, we pulled up the wood trim around the hearth to give a little extra room in case I needed to recut. A more organized person would make a template...
Removed a section of the trim as the ORIGINAL ideas was to then reattach the trim around the cut section. Cutting the seagrass was actually not difficult. The plan was then to put glue on the raw edges to "seal" it and then attach the trim by glue over the cut section. This way it would fit around the hearth. (Forgot to take a picture of it all cut!)
However, an easier option emerged when my husband suggested just putting it underneath the trim. Realizing we could try that and if we didn't like it, go back to the original plan.
It's a bit of a hybrid between a custom cut bound seagrass and an installed version (under the hearth) but so far I really like it.
Here's my new living room seagrass covering the fireplace hearth. How did this happen? Backstory: An email arrived from Sisal Rugs Direct offering a limited 2-day 15% offer. I opened this email late at night after drinking a glass of wine (well, really a bourbon & ginger ale, but wine sounds somewhat more refined) a few hours before the offer was to expire. I had been wanting a custom cut seagrass but in that impulsive moment I decided I could custom cut it myself once it came. So I ordered it 13' wide and about 21" ft long for $941, including shipping.
Before: Here's the living room just as we started moving furniture out. You can see my previous purchase, an 8' x 8' seagrass, which was too small and only served to chop up the space. No excuse, I wasn't drinking when I bought that one.
Because I was nervous about cutting it exactly right, we pulled up the wood trim around the hearth to give a little extra room in case I needed to recut. A more organized person would make a template...
Removed a section of the trim as the ORIGINAL ideas was to then reattach the trim around the cut section. Cutting the seagrass was actually not difficult. The plan was then to put glue on the raw edges to "seal" it and then attach the trim by glue over the cut section. This way it would fit around the hearth. (Forgot to take a picture of it all cut!)
However, an easier option emerged when my husband suggested just putting it underneath the trim. Realizing we could try that and if we didn't like it, go back to the original plan.
It's a bit of a hybrid between a custom cut bound seagrass and an installed version (under the hearth) but so far I really like it.
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28 comments:
Wow, I love it. I live in Fredericksburg and apparently no one here has ever heard of seagrass. I've been looking for a source locally and everyone looks at me like I'm nuts.
that looks great!! it wasn't until my friend Steve at An Urban Cottage resized a sisal/seagrass rug did I know this could even be done... well, not by me- I don't have the patience:) Your looks wonderful!
joan
hello,
Thats looks great!You always have good ideas if you drink? :-)
Greetings
Jérôme
Great work! Many times those wine-y/bourbon-y nights lead to mistake purchases - not yours! Brava!
my stars! that's a great idea and one that I will probably use myself! thanks so much...donna
(see, a little drink before on-line shopping may actually be a good thing...)
Genius! Have a glass of wine and celebrate. Isn't it great when a project that should be simple, turns out to be just that?
In fact, have two glasses. You and hubby deserve!!
April
Loved your post. Wall to wall sisal is such a great look ... you did a great job. I also ordered a few rugs from Sisal Rugs Direct a few years ago, an excellent source and they still look great.
By the way...i love that concrete ball in your fireplace, the art piece above it and your sconces too...!!
Looks great. I'm wondering if you tried at all to reglue the binding back on. I want to "resize" a sisal of my own and need to know how messy/hard it is before I ruin a perfectly good rug.
Great thinking!!! It looks nice with the trim on it. Such inspiration...I don't know if I would have ever attempted it. Now I think I will. Greetings from South Louisiana.
Angela
What a great idea....looks great!
No one will ever think twice! I think for the time and money, this was a serious value proposition.
Love the whole look, too. The painting, the sconces, the fireplace piece (which I recall a humorous post about)....looking good, Michele!!!
xo Elizabeth
Standing ovation! WOW.
Totally jealous, Michelle -- looks fantastic!
YOu should drink more often!
I'm loving your blog and your home... Good job! =) I've become one of your followers!
http://bloobreyplace.blogspot.com
You're my hero
It looks fabulous! And too funny, late night, wine, promos about to expire, not a good combo. But you made it work! Janell
Brilliant idea - you are such a smarty pants. Your cut and trim looks great - looks custom!
And it never even occurred to me to order a custom seagrass rug - I thought I would have to go with whatever size I could buy.
I think it looks fabulous!! You did a great job!
Michelle that's a great idea! Did you forget to mention that you did that beautiful painting over the fireplace?
I raise my glass to yours! Great job.
This looks amazing!!!
I like it!! I would not have the patience!
P.S. We are coming to DC in late September, Sept.23 to Oct.1. We are in DC for Friday/Sat/Sun/Mon night and then going to Gettysburg (David) and then back to old town Alexandria for a couple of nights at the end! I would love to see you. The Saturday night we are there (Sept.24) is David's birthday - do you have a good restaurant you could suggest to us? I am thinking I will spend the Monday in Georgetown or the Sunday (Sept.25) if stores are open.
xo Terri
If I had a quarter for every questionable decorating decision I've made around here after a glass of wine, I'd be rich! I don't drink the hard stuff...God only knows what I'd mess up after a couple of bourbons...at least your's worked out!
www.ajbarnesonline.blogspot.com
Aren't you the cleaver one! It just goes to show you and Steven Tyler have something in common. He claims to be his most creative under the influence!
Geez I was out of town for 2 weeks and I have missed so much! You scared me when I first starting reading this post...but look how good it turned out! WOW, I am impressed.
Oh Yeah...I so love that picture over your mantle!
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