seagrass carpeting

Isn't this room with seagrass carpeting so cozy and yummy...?

I am in bad need of new carpet for our upstairs and I really want to consider seagrass. I have a seagrass rug in a spare bedroom and love it. But wall-to-wall seagrass is a different thing. And what about the stairs?

If you have seagrass carpeting, or have any experience with it, I'd love to know what you think...

55 comments:

Acquired Objects said...

I personally love seagrass but I only have area rugs. Not sure if I would want to do wall to wall seagrass since it could end up looking a tad monotonous.

Elizabeth said...

i love seagrass also. i inquired about it for my upstairs, but in my area where i live, nobody really knows what i'm talking about! crazy, huh? i'm curious to see what other commenters have to say....

bluehydrangea said...

Donna, love this room!! Just saved it to my favorites file. Love seagrass but chickened out using it wall to wall.

Stephanie said...

Other than with rugs, I don't have much experience with seagrass but I think it's beautiful!!

Callie Grayson said...

I think it looks lovely, wall to wall would be very nice then you can throw an area rug down to mix it up a bit.

xx
callie

Kathy said...

Visually it's gorgeous....comfort level...not so much. An area rug is one thing..but everywhere and your staircase?.... It will be beautiful....but do you have children...and pets? I've seen it done and then layered with orientals. Good luck! K

Charlotta Ward said...

I love the look though and remember a flat in London will a wall-to-wall sea-grass carpet. It looked stunning!
You will need regular rugs to throw on top though as it is all but comfy for the feet. Especially little ones...!

Happy hunting!

xx Charlotta

Danielle Oakey Interiors said...

i don't have much experience with seagrass but i love those oversized lamps!

Design Blooms said...

We muusssttt be on the same page right now. I have been really wanting seagrass carpeting in my spare bedrooms. Cant wait to see what people have to say!

Janell @ House of Fifty said...

You should stop over to Laureen's blog, she wrote the best run down on all these types of rugs a ways back. Here is the link:

http://purestylehome.blogspot.com/2009/09/natural-rugs-seagrass-sisal-jute.html

I just adore this look, considering it as an area rug for my family room. Happy Monday! Janell

Kim@Chattafabulous said...

I have never had it myself but love the look of it. Oh, and don't get me started on those oversize lamps...

SHERRY HART said...

Donna...I had wall to wall seagrass installed in my master in 1994! I loved it. Just this past summer [it was finally worn out!] I installed hardwoods. I kind wish I had just redone the seagrass. It is great to layer rugs over.

La Dolfina said...

Yes, that is a cozy room!!
I too wanted seagrass in the most desperate way. I wanted it throughout my home and after much thought decided against it because of stains. I don't know if there is a way to remove stains. In your case though, if you install it just in your upstairs area I think you could do it and keep it stain free. I say GO FOR IT!!!!!!!
Wish I could have.
How's the remodel going?

Splendid Sass said...

This room is just gorgeous! And yes, I love seagrass too!
Have a great day.
Teresa

The Glam Lamb said...

funny you should post this in high school i had a neighbor who did their whole upstairs and stair case in the seagrass - it itched a little bit, wasn't the softest... but i looooved the look. it was actually one of my first understandings of interior design. i think it looks sharp.

Dovecote Decor said...

If you have dogs, they want to pee on them, but... I have just learned they can be sealed. I love them!
Best,
Liz

Splendid Willow said...

Good morning favorite Donna. We had sisal wall-to-wall carpeting in a couple of our rooms in San Francisco. Love the look! Timeless! And perfect if you don't want the expense of hardwood floors but still don't want boring, ordinary carpets.

Today there are so many different styles and qualities. Some are very soft.

Can't wait to see what you chose.

Love to you.

ox, Mon

Unknown said...

Yes! Get it! I only have area seagrass rugs but they are amazing - I the best thing for WEAR (I'm thinking for the stairs) I have one for my entry rug and it shows no soil - it has had rain and mud and puppy accidents and you cannot tell. Even my cat cannot claw it and hurt it. I have a client that had wall to wall seagrass (previous house) and it was gorgeous. We put an area rug on top of it in the dining room to break it up and it was beautiful!

Anonymous said...

I had it on stairs in London and it became dangerously slippery - just thought I'd let you know!

I am lusting after braided rush matting - there is an affordable version in Pottery Barn, once I get rid of the last room of condo carpet~

My Interior Life said...

A friend of mine who's an interior designer has wall to wall seagrass (or maybe jute?) in her family room and bedroom. I love it and layering it with persian/turkish/oriental rugs is a fabulous look. I just saw her house again at Halloween and noticed a few worn spots where heavy foot traffic/doorways met, but otherwise, it looked wonderful. I say go for it!

Unknown said...

I have seagrass in my living room - to balance out all the silk and shine. However, when it comes to where bare feet may trod....I've gone with something softer.

Good luck with your decision!!
~ Elizabeth

Windlost said...

Tough call - definitely check out Lauren's post ont this. I find them all very hard and rough underfoot but nice for hot climates I suppose. Every rug in my house is wool and I love them, but cold climate in winter and it is cosy.

I am wondering if seagrass would be slippery on the stairs?

xo Terri

for the love of a house said...

I have seagrass and sisal rugs throughout. The only room I have wall to wall is our master closet, and I have sisal, and I LOVE IT!!! I would do it in a heartbeat and you can always layer other rugs on top of it!!

joan

You can see a bit of it in this post.... http://fortheloveofahouse.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-master-closet.html

24 Corners said...

I had always loved the look of seagrass/sisal too but couldn't imagine it wall to wall, especialy in the bedroom. So for the new house, I searched high and low until I found a carpet that best matched the natural color that these materials offer...it's a Godfrey Hirst wool carpet and it's actually called "Sisal"...it's from the "Wool Creations" line and it has a decent price point too. We love it and it truly has that beautiful color and natural look. Might be worth checking out.

Best of luck...
xo J~

Karena said...

Joni knows Everything about seagrass and altenative natural flooring.

Come read a great interview, then enter my latest giveaway!

xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena

Twin Mommy said...

try jute, its much softer. we are doing a major renovation in the next few months & will be doing wall to wall jute on the stairs and covering the entire second story with all the bedrooms. it gets softer & softer the more it is worn down. great look!

Dumbwit Tellher said...

I have no experience with it wall to wall either, but you are right, this room is exquisite. Makes you want to kick off your Wellie's and stay for a spot of tea.

Hope you're having a great Monday? xx

linda marcov said...

I had seagrass wall to wall and would do it again in a heart beat... love how it feels barefoot, easy to keep.. go for it.. I had it in 4 of my 6 rooms, pus on my stairs... bath and kitchen no...

jen said...

I purchased a large 9 x 12 area rug, seagrass from Pottery Barn and I LOVE IT. Joni's Cote de Texas blog got me going down the path that this might be the solution for me and it is! I have an old yellow lab, and 2 girls under the age of 3...and it does great w/wear & tear, easy to keep clean. Beside the fact I just love how it looks in the room! My husband & girls complained at first about how "pokey" it was, but that just lasted a week. I'm not sure I'd do wall to wall, but large area rugs or custom size like Joni prefers, cut to the room but leaving a border.

shi(f)t said...

the south is fulllll of seagrass. i personally love it -- very cozy and super easy. i do have a few watch outs for you though. the first is that you have to invest in a nice seagrass. if you opt for a cheaper version it can either be rough on your feet (literally take off your shoes and walk on it in store) or it will completely fall apart on you. I had a cheaper seagrass runner and felt like i had to vacuum it everyday to keep up with all the shedding. the second piece of advice is watch the color -- because it's typically a neutral it can look disastrous if it doesnt make the temperature of your other neutrals. take pillows, swatches or arm chair covers with you while you shop just to be sure. good luck!

Anonymous said...

I just ordered my wall to wall seagrass carpet for our living room and study today. I can't wait to have it installed! I saw it in a showroom when I was still in the "considering stage" and fell in love. We have hardwood floors in all of the bedrooms and I wanted something different. I am planning on using area rugs over the top in areas where I want a little softness. Sheri

Marcus Design said...

I am so happy to have found your gorgeous blog {where have I been? living under a rock aparently!}. I am a lover of all things grey, every room in my home is a shade of grey! I will be following along :)
Nancy xo

red ticking said...

LOVE IT. and i have done a couple homes ... rooms, stairs... looks clean, classic simple and great to layer as well... do it!

xx

rosa said...

I have just discovered your blog and yet falled in love!
Tutto bellissimo.

Julie Holloway said...

No--only rugs, but the look and care of it is wonderful!

Unknown said...

I have a client whose house I have been working on for 1 year and a half( it's huge) and this is the second house I design for her. We put down seagrass rugs and wall to wall in the 1st house and installed w to w in the guest rooms of the new house. It fabulous! it is soft, sturdy, warm,and adds such an organic feeling to even the most sophisticated room. You should definitely go for it( some comments seem to refer to sisal it looks like. VERY different. This is seagrass you are referring to , right? Good luck!

ALR said...

I am so glad you opened this up for discussion. I bought a seagrass runner for our foyer from crate & barrel in February. It is a pretty herringbone pattern an soft underfoot. It has not worn well, looks like a sweater that has been washed too many times. Our dogs are drawn to it in a bad way. I bought a large area seagrass rug from Overstock for the living room to see how we would like it. My husband hates it and I am giving it to a friend:( Maybe it it so rough because it is cheap. I have to use a dry carpet cleaner on the seagrass and it works okay. One of our dogs had a bad accident on the area rug in the living room & it took four days to dry out from the cleaner. A bit of a pain.

Amy R.

Anonymous said...

I positively love and 100% endorse seagrass wall to wall, and have done it many times for myself and clients. Personally, I layer a collection of orientals of all shapes and sizes around to "define" spaces or to suggest traffic patterns, indeed I am always picking up orientals/tribals everywhere I go. My experience is that seagrass floors will divide people into love/hate factions. There's just a little bit of a newly-mown-hay scent the first day or two after installation, some people hate that the scent disappears, others are glad. Keep us posted!

Amy said...

I would do it in a heartbeat! Timeless sturdy and great for traffic and wear and tare...Just make sure the dogs don't poop on them. Happened at my sister in laws house and oh my word...I think she is going to have to replace on of the rugs.....Go for it... From reading on of the earlier post , a lot of the people in area are not familiar with them either...LOL!

Lilacandgrey said...

YES! I love it!
<3 Cara
PS. A Giveaway is going on @ Lilac and Grey...HINT HINT: "KEEP CALM"

kayce hughes said...

I have it wall to wall in my office and I love it. It doesn't absorb sound as well as carpet.

mb said...

Hi there,
I have used wall to wall seagrass upstairs in two houses. I love it. Yes, yes, yes to all the layering options... It finally wears out after years of hard work, so much better than when regular carpet ages. I find that you have to have a good installer to do your edges. It might be worth it to have new cove moulding put down over the edges to extend it's life.

Stairwell? I installed seagrass on the stairs in one client's house (upstairs too) and while she loved the look, she found the surface slightly slick and therefore somewhat dangerous.

Dogs peeing on seagrass? My lab doesn't. The good news is, when my doggie pal was sick and had a bathroom problem on the seagrass, I used Simple Solution on it and irrigated it pretty aggressively only to find that it dried without a smell or a stain.

Good luck.

mb from Dallas

Gretchen O. said...

I love mine....and have a great local resource for you if you decide to go in that direction. Definitely warmed up my space.

--Gretchen O.

Carrie Ann Eddleman said...

I love seagrass. As long as you don't have pets I'm sure it would hold up beautifully. I think it would be lovely, as long as it's comfortable. Can't wait to see what you decide on. : ) Carrie

Suzanne D said...

I've had wall to wall seagrass for 9 years. It looks great and is warmer than hardwood. Like hardwood, you can layer rugs over it to define your space. Couple of things to note, though. There are a couple of places where they didn't use enough glue to stick it down and it is bubbling up. It is also wearing out by the door thresholds. It also doesn't do well with water. We had our Christmas tree on it, and some of the water spilled over and caused black mold to grow which was discovered when we took the tree down in January. It also gives off a distinct grassy smell. It's also greener in color than sisal. Other than that, I think it's great for living spaces.

Sarah @ Modern Country Style said...

Seagrass does look gorgeous but it can be really hard to keep clean. And it's slippy on the stairs.

I love this photo....I really like the red of the lamps with the gentle wall colour. Yummy.

Sarahx

JeanMarie said...

Okay, I love seagrass and have used area rugs numerous times for clients. It is beautiful without a doubt. But! I find many families do not want the double expense of custom fit seagrass plus multiple area rugs. Shaw carpets manufactures a beautiful nylon carpet, available in about 8 colors, that is a wonderful substitute it is very soft, and very durable. It is a totally different product but if you are searching for a more knee friendly family carpet I highly recommend. No commercial affiliation with Shaw or the carpet industry just a somewhat practical Interior designer.

Anonymous said...

A quick spritz from the spray nozzle of Clorox Cleanup will banish any traces of mold [blue, green, or black] without bleaching the color of the surrounding fibers. My first time around, I let them talk me into a glue-down installation; from that unsatisfactory experience, I learned to use a pad underneath from then on.

Susie (So Blessed) said...

Hi, I am Brooke's mom (Blueprint Bliss) and I found your blog from hers. My husband and I are in the tile, granite and floor covering business so I thought I'd offer you my two cents worth on your question...my only advice would be to ask whether the room width will exceed the width of the sisal or seagrass. It does not seam as well as other carpets, so if you can avoid seaming, I believe you would be happier with the end result. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Sarah Greenman said...

I had sea grass on the floor in my Seattle apartment and I loved the look and feel on my feet. The wear and tear was pretty bad though. We're really hard on our floors and the sea grass did get bare in some high traffic areas.

P.S. La Maison Boheme is currently hosting three giveaways as part of a Holiday Gift Guide for 2010. I think you might like some of the beautiful items on offer. Cheers!

http://maisonboheme.blogspot.com/2010/11/giveaway-from-herbstkind.html

Magali said...

Hi!
I haven't done a lot in the house I just bought... But for once I can help you, since I have seagrass upstairs (to cheaply cover an awful floor). I love the fact it's more natural than a carpet and still looks very comfy. It also looks great with English pine furniture! It does need a little time to "find its place" on the floor, because it's a natural product.
I'll come back to visit your blog to see what you've decided...
Oh, and thanks, I didn't know the name of "seagrass" in English, so I've learnt something new...

Renae Moore said...

I do love it, BUT those lamps are so overpowering for the table/room that I had a hard time seeing the floor!

Beth said...

Just saved this post as a favorite! I needed this help. Thank you.

Sandra said...

I might be a *little* late in replying, but I recently installed wall-to-wall seagrass in my dining room and I LOVE it! I wish I would have stumbled upon seagrass a little early and your blog as well. I love the smell of it - it smells so fresh every time you walk in the house! I am very happy with it!

Personal Trainer Girl Putney said...

It does bring a certain cosiness to the place doesn't it? Love it!