It’s amazing how something as simple as a new finish can come along and make everything else look so dated and out of style. Lately, this phenomenon has happened to wicker. Suddenly, gray wicker – or a gray washed wicker - has exploded on the scene and all other wicker stains and finishes look so…. granny.
No one loves wicker more than I do – especially dark, deep brown stained wicker. But, that’s all over now. The end of dark brown wicker came when I started noticing the gray wicker finish here and there. I also used to love white wicker. No more. Does anyone out there want to buy some white and dark brown wicker? I’ve got a few pieces for sale!
My guest room – yep, there it is, hiding its ugly face in the corner! A dark brown stained wicker chair, just waiting to be replaced. It thinks if it keeps hiding it will go unnoticed.
And oh, I used to love white wicker. No more. Sold to the highest bidder!
Ah…there she is. The most gorgeous wicker chair in the world. Gray wicker. It’s color is subtle: light brown with a hint of a whitish gray paint covering it. This chair is perfect either inside or out. I especially love it in a dining room paired with a limed wood table.
Just like this! Jill Brinson’s gorgeous dining room. The chairs look especially good when placed near the gray faux finished cabinets. PERFECTION!
These gorgeous chairs were seen in the Kirby Mears designed house in Veranda. They are sold at Thompson Hanson in Houston as “Belgian Wicker.”
Brooke Giannetti of Velvet and Linen pairs her gray wicker with grayish old shutters. So beautiful!
The same chairs then go outside on Brooke’s gravel courtyard.
Houston interior designer Sally Wheat used these gray wicker chairs in a breakfast room – paired with a Wisteria steel table.
In this house, Sally Wheat used the gray wicker with painted legs as bar stools.
For this client, Sally took a paint brush to white wicker, turning it luscious gray. Hmm. That’s not a bad idea!!!
Heaven on earth! I ordered three sets of three wicker baskets – all heavenly gray.
The smallest sized basket sits on my kitchen counter – filled with take out menus.
The medium sized basket on my bakers rack holds Elisabeth’s school books.
My Albans client is borrowing a set of the baskets until she finds a Mora clock for that wall.
Noir Furniture LA is a great wholesale company for this chair. Doxa Home HERE carries this chair for retail clients.
Of course Restoration Hardware is all over the gray wicker. They call it their Provence Collection. And of course the French would want credit for this gorgeous wicker.
Restoration Hardware: It is a pretty collection. Not as fluid or sensual as the chairs with curved lines though.
Restoration Hardware: These make great chairs for the inside dining room.
OKA – the best catalogue in the world. They get it. HERE.
Pottery Barn – you need to wise up. These two shades are out, finished, over, done-with, out of style. Get with the program, Pottery Barn!
While I am dying to get with the program myself – and change out all my wicker to the new gray - for the moment, I am going small. I recently bought two tiny gray wicker baskets with filled with succulents at Thompson Hanson (of course!) For now, I will be happy with my small nod to the new gray wicker. Ben is hoping this will get me through the trend. Somehow, I doubt it. But – we’ll see!!! It might!
For now, I will be happy with my small nod to the new gray wicker. Ben is hoping this will get me through the trend. Somehow, I doubt it. But – we’ll see!!! It might!
REMEMBER: PVE Design give away ends on Saturday - hurry and sign up!!!!
Patricia Van Essche at her easel.
The Winner’s Blog: Loving Every Minute of It (I LOVE this picture – it’s so Texas Hill Country with its fossil laden paths!!)
