Thursday, April 18, 2013

My Vintage Bamboo

Previously I blogged about vintage bamboo and how versatile it is.   It's neutral, so it fits in anywhere and one piece can be used in so many ways.  If you missed the previous post, go here.

In this post I wanted to share the bamboo pieces I have in my home and how I use them.

I have several bamboo shelves.  I have two in my sun room on either side of my fireplace mantel.  I use this one for books.

Bamboo Shelf with Books

Although they're narrow, I can pack them with books.
 They're also lightweight and can be moved easily when one of my frequent change ups happens.



To add some variety to the books, I put a pedestal orb, some coral, and a string of amber beads on the top shelf.  A framed watercolor is a backdrop.  I also tucked my foo dog on the lower shelf.


I also have a bamboo footstool.  I love its shabbiness.  I keep it on my stairway landing and use it as a riser for my ever-changing displays.


I have another bamboo footstool.  The top was damaged so I covered it with some P.Kaufmann leopard fabric.  The top lifts and I store my candles inside.  On top is my bamboo tray.  It has a lacquered insert with an image of a bird.

My bamboo footstool with a leopard top.  Bamboo tray with bird.
This tiered cart is made of rattan, but I consider and use it like bamboo.  It's in my dining room and holds of all things my bamboo place mats.  These are the best place mats because they wipe clean and I can even use them as trivets.


Here's a closer look.  The prints are vintage framed botanicals.  My grandfather made the plaster bust.



This two level bamboo stand is in my kitchen.  I use it to hold my metal document boxes.  I'll do another post about them, but I use them to cut down on the kitchen clutter.


Yes, there's more of the rough cedar trim in my kitchen too.


Notice the top of this stand.  I've been told that whenever you see this type of a design on the top of a piece of bamboo instead of a woven top, you can assume that it's English bamboo. 


This isn't one of my better vignettes, but I wanted to share this other style of bamboo stand.  We use it to hold one of our phones.


It's also "English".  Notice the leaf pattern.



I use this bamboo easel to hold a vintage book on a shelf in my pine cupboard.  In the plate grooves are some of my green and white transferware.



I think my most unique piece is this side table.  Not only is it large, but it also has two small fold-out shelves.  They can be down as I have them in the photo, or they fold up and are out of the way.



I think it's my favorite bamboo piece.




The side shelves can be for display, or many times it's where I rest my coffee cup.




Our bed is rattan.  It isn't vintage but I still love the look.

Our Rattan Bed

So, do you have any bamboo pieces in your home?

Kathy


10 comments:

  1. I am in love with all your bamboo and your house! Gorgeousness...thanks for sharing!

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  2. Kathy, I love all of your bamboo pieces and the pretty vignettes. I had a few vintage pieces in our beach house but the buyers wanted all the furniture included in the sale. The bottle on your stair landing has always been a favorite of mine. Is it an old demi-john that has been colored?
    xx,
    Sherry

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  3. I love old bamboo too. I do have a few pieces. Your pieces are lovely. Speaking of lovely...I LOVE your bed!!

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  4. Hi Kathy, I wanted to drop by again to let you know this post will be featured at this weeks Open House party. Enjoy the rest of your week.

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  5. Hi, Love this post - I'm in extra love with your bed. Where can I find one?

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    1. I usually reply privately to all comments through e-mail but thought others may have the same question. I'm not sure if it's still available. We purchased the bed in 2003, but it was made by Lane Furniture, Williamsburg Collection, and it's called China Passage Rattan Bed. I'm so glad you like it. It is one of the few pieces in our home that is not "previously owned" and I am so glad I actually bit the bullet and paid full price. I have to admit that I did have a 20% off coupon. Ha!

      I love comments from readers. Keep them coming.

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  6. Absolutely beautiful, also I love how you decorated the table by your bed!

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  7. Kathy, yes we have a few pieces of bamboo in our home ~ a chest, a small side table, a small bookshelf, and a few tabletop pieces. I'm always looking to add more bamboo pieces to our home. It goes with anything and as you say, moves about easily.

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  8. Well, I didn't have any bamboo until I purchased two furniture pieces from Craig's list. They are not a matching set but both have faux bamboo details. One is a 9-drawer dresser that I plan to convert to a media console and the other is a china cabinet. I plan to finish both of them in an antiqued silver finish. Wish me luck as this is my first time taking on projects like this.

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  9. Kathy, who is the maker of your rattan bed. It has such great lines. We are in the market for a new bed here.

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