It’s funny how certain things will spark wild enthusiasm in some designers. Antique wicker furniture, for example, has always been one of my special favorites. So much so, in fact, that there are precious few situations in which I would regard it as inappropriate.
When properly conceived and executed – and regardless of the setting – nothing strikes me as more beguiling, unpredictable and smartly decorative than an old wicker whatever.
I avidly advocate using it even in traditional rooms, despite the general perception that wicker just doesn’t work in such a space. No one can convince me that a beautifully lacquered 19th-century wicker and bamboo chest won’t enhance even the most formal setting.
Reluctantly, however, I must concede that wicker may not be the best choice in every single case. One of them, sadly, is the nursery or a small child’s bedroom.
Not that a wicker piece wouldn’t provide much-needed relief from the sterile look of most nurseries. The temptation to recommend it is almost irresistible when I see a truly exquisite painted wicker crib or high-chair collecting dust in the corner of an antique shop. Oh, how I have marveled at their wonderfully woven patterns and precise proportions.
Upon reflection, though, I do understand why these pieces probably wouldn’t be safe to use in a baby’s room. Chipping paint, for one thing, is hardly a preferred surface for a teething rail. Today’s active, bouncy babies, unlike their swaddled predecessors, could easily destroy a relatively fragile crib.
Still, I do think it’s perfectly okay to select a small chair or table or some accessories made of wicker for a child’s bedroom as long as the paint is lead-free, of course.
Even a wicker crib might be safely added to the setting if the room is rather large. It can be used as a decorative receptacle for toys, dolls and stuffed animals, though not, I’m afraid, for babies themselves. Wouldn’t the crib shown in the photo serve as an excellent accent in any nursery?
Completing the overall effect here, notice how the paper on the upper part of the walls is separated from the smaller-scale coordinate below by an alphabet border. That combination really makes the room look special.
So, too, does the matching fabric that covers the inside of the insulating shades. This baby will be kept toasty warm all winter long by window coverings that seal out drafts.
That Indian dhurrie rug with the animal patterns brings the whole composition together. But whatever additional elements are used, it’s hard not to create a charming setting when wicker pieces are present.
