Sisal Archives - Kelley Astore Interiors

Before & After Transformation: Sisal Stair Runner

When designing any space, it’s easy to focus on the larger elements of the design like the layout and main furniture pieces, while losing track of all the small details that really complete a design. Without attention given to the details, a design will end up looking amateur and incomplete. In today’s before and after transformation, we’ll be showing you how one seemingly insignificant detail can really change an entire design’s aesthetic and functionality.

The Space

As you may know, if you’ve been following our blogs, I’ve done quite a bit of work recently on remodeling a beautiful house in Great Falls, Virginia. We redid their entrance, dining room, home office and lighting throughout the house, and more. We have also done quite a lot of work on their living room, which leads to a beautiful winding staircase. As we completed smaller sections of the house, we knew that we could give attention to the elements that connect each space, this stairwell being a prime example.

The Before

The original design had a very fluffy beige stair runner on these gorgeous steps. The fluffiness of the carpet didn’t match the chic aesthetic of the rest of the house. The stairs stood out – not in the way you want them to. They looked quite dated against the lovely black marble floors and created too much contrast against the wooden stairs. When looking at the design, you might not initially realize how much of an eyesore this stair runner actually was – it was a relatively small detail compared to the entirety of the house, and the tone of the carpet wasn’t completely off. However, I knew that we could complement the stain of the wood better, in a way that would ultimately be more beautiful and more functional.

The Why

There are a number of reasons why I think sisal is the best material for stair runners – stairs get so much foot traffic, that a carpet like the one originally there would get worn out quickly and end up looking dirty. Sisal on the other hand is incredibly durable and holds up well through time. Additionally, sisal has a better grip which will make the stairs easier and safer to use – especially for those who are at risk of falling and getting seriously injured. But beyond practicality, a huge design trend at the moment is bringing nature inside. There is something so beautiful using a natural material like sisal in such a modern house – it grounds the design and offers something different for the eye to land upon. It’s no surprise then that as soon as I saw this stairwell, I knew that a sisal stair runner would be the right choice.

The After

We opted for a runner that had a lovely two-toned pattern with a thicker binding on either side in a lighter color. The binding on the sisal provides a lovely contrast to the darker wood, and the light pattern keeps the look interesting. However, all the tones in the sisal are much closer to the tones of the wood, in comparison to the original carpet. Making the contrast more subtle means the eye can enjoy the winding structure of the stairs more and appreciate the contrast already provided between the neutral walls/trim and the wooden stairs.

The Takeaway

I am so happy with how this transformation ended up, and more importantly, my client was happy. Take a look at the before and after photos and see the massive difference it made! The sisal looks far more intentional and thought-out. Design is like any other art: each detail matters and deserves equal attention to the rest of the work. If you are designing a home and think you may be missing out on important details, let us help you! Head to our services page to book your free consultation today!

Sisal Flooring Installation

I’ve been working with a client in the Great Falls, Virginia area to transform her dining room. It has truly come a long way! First, we installed a grasscloth wall-covering, which helped the room appear larger. Next, the window treatments were installed with beautiful blue and white draperies, and the chairs were reupholstered with a subtle blue and white pattern. It already looks like an entirely new dining room. However, there is just one more major change that I know will take this room to the next level. Keep reading to find out how we finished the dining room transformation with a sisal rug installation!

Why Sisal?

After a difficult year and a half, a lot of people have had the chance to reground and reevaluate what’s truly important to them. While society seemed to pause, nature and Earth around us kept on spinning. It’s no wonder then that a major design trend at the moment is bringing nature indoors. And that has been a massive inspiration for this particular dining room transformation, hence the grasscloth wallcovering. But I didn’t want to stop there. I wanted to find the balance of elegant and classy with natural and warm. That’s why I knew the finishing step of this transformation had to be sisal flooring.

What is Sisal?

Sisal, scientifically known as Agave sisalana, is a plant native to Southern Mexico. It harvests stiff fibers that have been traditionally used to make ropes, but is also used for hats, footwear, or in this case, carpeting! I love using Sisal rugs/carpeting both for practicality and aesthetics! Not only does it bring that hint of nature inside and look amazing, but it is extremely durable and sure to last a lifetime.

Installing Sisal

Sisal works best when it is cut to size and bound on site for installation. This gives the designer the most control over the end result, ensuring that the shape and installation of the sisal fit the space perfectly. My contractor glues the binding down and then topstitched it to make sure it doesn’t unravel and that it has clean edges. For this dining room, we laid down a rug pad for comfort and to protect the wooden flooring below the sisal. We paired this particular rug with a 2.5-inch sisal jute border, for a nice subtle contrast.

We also made sure to make the rug considerably larger than the dining room table being placed in the center of it. In fact, we left only a small border of the wooden flooring uncovered. If we were to make the rug fit perfectly underneath the table and chairs, with a lot of wooden floor still showing, the room would appear much smaller. And this entire transformation has been focused on making this room larger, as seen with the grasscloth wall covering.

I think the sisal matches the walls and brings a casual elegance to the design. It is similar tonally and thematically to the grasscloth walls. It opens up the space and pays homage to nature in the process!

Different Sisal Flooring

There are many more options for using sisal flooring other than with a rug. For a different client in the past, we’ve installed wall-to-wall sisal, which is fantastic for those areas of the house that get walked on a lot…nobody likes the look of a worn-down carpet! For the same reason, sisal makes fantastic stair runners. You want a stair runner to be practical as well as beautiful, and sisal gives really great traction. This is perfect for anyone who struggles to get up and down the stairs safely.

Whether we are installing a sisal rug, wall-to-wall flooring, or stair runners, we are also sure to install it over a jute pad for comfort and durability. We source all of our sisal from a fantastic company called DMI, who provide all different types of natural flooring and carpeting.

Nature is the best designer

Having been in the design industry for over 25 years, I can confidently say that nature has always been and will always be the best designer there is. I love how this dining room transformation turned out. It really goes to show that nature is transformative and fluid. There are endless ways to incorporate natural materials into a design while still looking elegant and timeless.

To spruce up your home with sisal, head to our services page to book your free consultation!