Trend Watch: Learn the Ropes

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Natural rope has invaded the lighting market. Buy or try the trend at home.

Lately, everywhere we look lighting seems to feature natural rope. The rustic, rope look first appeared on our radar at the New York International Gift Fair earlier this year, and it's been growing ever since. If you like the look of natural rope, here are ways to buy or make the look in your own home:

Above: Anthropologie has rope accents throughout its collection of homewares this summer. We're particularly drawn to the Bimini Pendant Lamp ($398) and the even more stunning Dock Glow Chandelier ($798), both of which are crafted form natural jute rope.




Pottery Barn's Rope Chandelier (regularly $299, current sale price $250) takes a classic chandelier shape and wraps it from top to bottom with natural fiber jute rope. The end result is a refreshing twist on the expected.

DIY It: Martha Stewart was far ahead of the trend when she featured a do-it-yourself rope wrapped lamp in the magazine back in June/July 1994. To make your own roped lighting, Martha recommends using a hot glue gun and lots and lots of 3-ply rope made of manila, jute, or sisal from a hardware store; use the full directions on MarthaStewart.com to try the rope-wrapped look yourself.

If you don't have an existing fixture you'd like to wrap, Lamps Plus's Iron Arm Six Light Candelabra Style Chandelier ($149) has a similar shade to Pottery Barn's model. For inspiration, this detail of Pottery Barn's Rope Chandelier (left) shows how rope should be wrapped.









The rustically chic Burlap Dome Chandelier ($595 to $695) from Restoration Hardware pairs burlap with rope-like twine stitching; the light's cord is concealed within a 6-foot hemp rope.

DIY It: Look for a dome shade at flea markets and craft a new cover from burlap. No need to be an expert seamstress; the irregular whip stitching is part of this light's charm.



Terrain says it drew the inspiration for this natural fiber-supported Rope Chandelier ($1,548) from "old-world French and Mediterranean architecture."

DIY It: If you have a hanging chandelier in this style, you could replace the existing chains or other supports with bunches of rope similar to the ones shown above

 

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