So sayeth the new designer sage
The fiber is natural and real
And comes in colors red to teal
Show you are savvy and bold
By opting for blue, silver or gold
The effect is smashing and cool
Your friends will lather and drool
When they view your new wallpaper castle
Complete with weaves of grass that shine and dazzle
Grasscloth is the new ‘it’ wallcovering. There is a timeless quality to the natural look that speaks to current ecological concerns and adds a touch of elegance to any decor be it contemporary or traditional. Grasscloth also serves as the perfect backdrop for a wall of photographs or artwork. The natural fibers can be heavily textured or as smooth as the linen-like texture illustrated in the example below.
And the colors can be subtle or dramatic. The red and green patterns shown below are both heavily textured in a cork-like finish and also exhibit bold colors.
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Grasscloth used to be offered in variations of beige but new technologies allow for a color palette range from cool to hot. What hasn’t changed is the eco-friendly nature of grasscloth both in terms of the production process and the installation. No harmful fumes or toxic byproducts. Just wallcovering as nature intended it. Grasscloth is nature’s answer to a hand-print paper. When hand-print wallpaper is created, the manufacturer will often purposely add a few anomalies just to ensure the viewer will recognize the product as ‘hand-made’. With grasscloth, you get nature’s print–the variations in color and texture are better than hand-made–they are natural in the truest sense of the word.
Due to the wonderful inconsistency of the natural pattern, Grasscloth lends itself to use as a material for an entire room or a single accent wall. The image below is of a wonderful cozy Library-Office retreat complete with rich woodwork, a traditional fireplace mantle, an oriental rug and antique furnishings and accessories that work with the Green Jute Grasscloth to create a special mood.
If you have a favorite wallpaper and you don’t have quite enough material to finish an entire room, Grasscloth is the perfect filler. Use it on one or two walls, above or below a chair rail or as the mat for a picture frame. Grasscloth is the ultimate adaptable material. It can cover slight imperfections in a wall and also has natural soundproofing qualities. It is durable and can last a lifetime provided it is not exposed to a lot of moisture. Therefore, you may not wish to use it in a full bathroom that has a shower stall.
Due to a recent surge in Grasscloth popularity and the fact that production has not kept pace with demand, prices have been on the rise and have practically doubled over the past few months. And, the situation promises to get even worse; so if you find a Grasscloth pattern you like, now is the time to buy it. Otherwise, you may not be able to find the color/texture you are looking for and/or it may be prohibitively expensive.
