Faux Sisal: Woven Vinyl Flooring For High Traffic Areas

We've been intrigued by the idea of wall to wall carpeting coming back into style in a chic, high design kind of a way and not in the brown rental way you might think of. The first example that really started selling us on the idea was Zoe Deschanel's LA pad with a light blue wall to wall. But what about in the kitchen or bathroom? We've all probably experienced the horror of a carpeted bathroom but what about a totally durable, stain resistant, very cleanable natural looking sisal?

A number of companies are creating vinyl weave carpeting that looks (and apparently feels) like a natural weave sisal and can stand up to humidity and heavy traffic while it adds something soft underfoot. And with the trend towards natural textures, wood grains and nubby linen, sisal is a great choice and perhaps cheaper than the classic hardwood floor maybe even in a place like a kitchen or a bathroom.

And if natural isn't your thing, you can also find vinyl weaves in bright colors, stripes, zig zags and metallic palettes.

Here are some resources for more info:

Bolon Woven Vinyl Floor Coverings

Alternative Flooring out of the UK.

Here are some common questions and answers about faux sisal

Order samples from Curran or from Coastal Style.

And for a similar product, check out Chilewich's Plinyl.

Comments (9)

hmmm green?

posted by springisnear on March 9th 2009 at 7:21pm
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Love that as a runner in a hardwood floor hallway. Very cool.

posted by sierracreek on March 9th 2009 at 7:26pm
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The sisal looks very cool, but having been in possession of toddlers during toilet training, there is no possible way you could pay me to put in carpet of any kind near a toilet.

I take that back, you could pay me, you could pay me in the weekly sisal replacements I'd need plus installation. Hey, maybe carpet wouldn't be so bad!

posted by Azucar on March 10th 2009 at 12:18am
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Great idea, but wouldn't a product like this off-gas terribly?

posted by Chihiro on March 10th 2009 at 4:52am
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I rented a place once with an aweful teal-blue-green shag wall-to-wall carpeting throughout every inch of the house including the kitchen and bathroom. EVERY SINGLE INCH of the house.

that is all I can say.

posted by msjessiemeghan on March 10th 2009 at 8:29am
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I like the striped runner. I have a deck off the back of my apartment, that is only accessible via my bedroom, which has light carpeting, so I've been trying to find a way to not cringe when inviting guests to the back. Does anyone know which source the striped runner is from?

posted by amt230 on March 10th 2009 at 9:28am
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These look great, but probably still too far out of my price range--although my rental apartment DOES have ugly brown carpeting!

I like the look of the rug near the tub in the first pic, but carpeting near a toilet? no no no!

posted by inertia on March 10th 2009 at 9:36am
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I have Chilewhich mats and carpet tiles. They totally work in wet places. The mat is in the bathroom and the tiles are in my boat! They wipe clean. it looks good and seems to wear well, but it is not a "carpet" feel under your feet though a bit firm.

posted by marid22 on March 10th 2009 at 9:51am
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Does anyone know where to purchase the chilewich plynl modular floor tiles? I live in NYC and have not found a source. Also, what's pricing like? I pray it's like Flor tiles, but I highly doubt it. I have Flor currently in the kitchen, and it's miserable.

posted by Garrett22 on March 10th 2009 at 1:49pm
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