Bamboo to You, Too

I vividly remember Disneyland in the ‘60s. All the birds sang

words and the flowers bloomed in the Tiki Room. I think I started my

love for bamboo in Adventure Land and it has continued ever since.

Of course, back then it was easy to like bamboo. Faux “island”

overtures were everywhere. My parents’ favorite restaurant was the

Royale Polynesian. It was a special treat to be included in an

evening out surrounded by lava rock, trickling fountains and the

prerequisite wood parquet dance floor.

My bamboo fetish remained long after my dinners at the Royale

Polynesian ended. My first piece of “real” furniture that I bought

for my first apartment was a bamboo sofa. I’m not sure if I was

behind or ahead of the times, but bamboo did, and does, have a

prominent place in my house.

Bamboo is not just for those who dropped out, tuned in and turned

on. Bamboo can be integrated into traditional settings, contemporary

schemes, French themes and English surroundings. The Victorians used

bamboo abundantly in their furniture. Bamboo side tables were all the

rage at the turn of the century. Every corner had a bamboo fern stand

and every chair made for lounging had a bamboo table with a bookrack

underneath. They had it right back then so who am I to alter good

design?

Apparently, I’m not the only one to have a thing for bamboo.

Bamboo flooring has become very popular. Bamboo planks are offered

not only as nature intended, but also in a vinyl counterpart that

serves as a great solution in bathrooms and highly traveled areas.

No Bahama mama am I, but I love bamboo furniture and accessories.

Gold shivaree chairs surround the dining room table. The wooden

frames simulate bamboo, and lest you think that bamboo is casual, my

dining room proves otherwise. I also have black bamboo candleholders

and an antique bamboo tray on the buffet table.

The powder room has a large square mirror with a bamboo frame

painted black and touched with gold highlights. It’s next to a fussy

French chandelier and I think the blend of characters works nicely.

The son’s room has bamboo shades. I think every window needs an

“eyebrow,” and whether the window treatment serves a purpose or is

just for looks, bamboo shades are a great layering piece.

The oldest daughter has a seating area in her room with a sofa and

side table. The table is made out of wood but is carved to look like

bamboo. It’s painted a very non-bamboo color; that’s part of the fun.

The outdoor room has three black bamboo sofas with chartreuse

chenille cushions. More bamboo, more black. I never get tired of the

combination. To take things a step further, I planted real bamboo on

the side of the pool and included horsetail down the side yard.

Not only do I love the fact that the real bamboo makes a nice high

fence, but the horsetail is absolutely my favorite addition to floral

arrangements -- or it’s perfect all by itself in a vase. It may be a

small world, but in my opinion, bamboo transcends the test of time.

In my corner of the world, bamboo has reigned supreme through four

decades.

So, what’s new, what’s old, what works? Bamboo.