There are some things about the 1970s that (hopefully) will never return – shag pile carpets, key parties and psychedelic pantsuits – but there is no doubt that elements of the decade’s distinctive interior style is on a comeback – as shown by the renovation of Mikaela and Eliza’s WA home on House Rules.
The ’70s were known for a return to natural materials – hessian, rope and jute in particular – and modern interiors are using this layering of textures to create natural, eco-style interiors. Yarns and ropes were often used in rugs and wall art, particularly modern macramé, and this artisan-style decoration is perfect for contemporary homes, especially those with a Scandi edge and at least one hanging plant.
Macrame is loosely defined as being the art of knotting yarns and was used to great effect with a feature wall of woven wall hangings when the House Rules teams renovated the home of surfing sisters Eliza and Mikaela.
The girls live with their mother Kristen, a hardworking nurse and is set on a beautiful one-acre block surrounded by bushland in the spectacular Margaret River region. The house has never been completely finished and needed some love and attention.
With the theme of beachy/coastal chic throughout the space, macramé seemed to be the perfect choice in home decor, especially for the living area, designed by Pete and Courtney, which had a muted palette, relying on textures to provide the interest.
A whole wall of macramé pieces and tapestries from Early Settler got the nod from the judges, particularly Wendy Moore. “I like macrame, I think it’s a nice alternative to wall art and it gets texture into the space without necessarily busying it up with a new colour,” Wendy says. “It’s a great way to add an extra layer without cluttering the space.”
Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen agrees. “I think clever teams like Pete and Courtney invoked the coast through texture,” he says. “So rather than coastal clichés, with shells and portholes and nets and things like that, they were actually telling a story of textures of the coast, and also showing that the colour palette of the coast changes seasonally and throughout the day. And that worked very well.”
Whilst most macramé wall hangings are relatively affordable, it’s a craft you can certainly try your own hand at – the internet is filled with easy DIYs, step-by-step instructions and free macrame patterns. All you need it some cotton rope and to master the basic macramé knots and you’ll be off and running to create your own bohemian fibre art or plant holder.
3 easy ways to bring macramé into your home
1. Wall hanging
Unique macramé creations you make yourself will add interest to your interiors – choose your colours to tie in with existing pieces or colour accents in the room you plan to hang it in.
2. Plant hanger
An easy DIY project to get started on, a supply of cotton cord in the colour of your choice is all you need to get your creative juices flowing.
3. Macrame curtain
As a light diffuser, room divider or screen, position a large macrame wall hanging in a space to demarcate areas within a larger space.
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