Hammocks from Latin America!

Back from a trip to Playa del Carmen and was amazed at the range and variety of hammocks from Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Colombia and Brazil. I had a very comprehensive and whirlwind education about hammocks during this one trip - mostly from shop owners who are just as happy educating their customers as they are making business selling these wonderful floating things.

On average, a good quality hammock should be about USD50 and above. Beautiful handwoven textile hammocks from the Chiapas/Guatemalan Mayans are USD100 and upwards - and had been the best-looking hammocks I've seen. Prices could be lowered by bargaining, so shop around, ask many questions such as material (cotton, sisal or nylon), weave, size, how much weight it can support, and origin of the hammock. Educate yourself about fair trade policies. A good hammock will last years of enjoyment!

The best and most comprehensive hammock store in Playa del Carmen is Hamacamarte, just off of 5th Ave. (the main pedestrianized street) on Calle 38. Not much bargaining here, but the owner Maya (if you ever meet her) is lovely and passionate about hammocks. I find the prices reasonable, but I also found versions of the chair hammock for a little less in some outlying hammock shops in Playa del Carmen. It's worth exploring every little shop and asking around!

Las Persianas Bellas!

Did you just see this? The most wonderful persianas (blinds) ever to have graced the earth. I saw these in an interior design magazine several months ago and have since wondered where these exotic natural and handwoven blinds came from. Little did I know they are from Andalucia, Spain, more specifically from the town of Pilas, just outside Sevilla, Spain's 4th largest city. Luck must be on my side, as I have been looking for their origins online and everywhere else. I vow to visit Pilas one day. Sevilla, here I come (maybe sooner than later)!

Another fine example of Andalucian native craftmanship is the tolda, or awning. Look at how the grassmat has been intertwined into the wrought iron structure to make a graceful awning.

Contact Information:
www.elespartero.com
Pol. Pilas Sur
C/ Espartinas nº 11
Pilas (SEVILLA)

teléfono: 629 27 95 75
teléfono y fax: 955 752 685
e-mail: info@aljarafe-persianas.com

Hammock Converted to Chair

Finally, a prototype of a swinging hammock converted to a chair. Goes to show how versatile a hammock can be with a metal base built as a support. This hammock shown was built as a prototype.

Contemporary Philippine Furniture

There is a really cool Filipino furniture designer based in Cebu City, Philippines - Kenneth Cobonpue - who is currently making waves in the international contemporary furniture design scene. I had not known of Kenneth's designs until now. In fact, his Voyage bed is just the coolest nest you can ever lie down on. I think Kenneth's designs are not just contemporary, but classic as well.

A Modern Rattan Hammock

An a-ha! moment - I found a modern version of the rattan hammock, for sale (retail price at £110) at the über-cool, UK-based Habitat store with branches around Europe (and one franchise store in Bangkok). Unfortunately, there is no Habitat store anywhere in the U.S....not even one in New York!

Habitat's U.K. web site

My dream beachfront porch:

Featured Product: The Philippine Hammock

Hammock lovers, unite!

My desire to start this blog was borne out of my frustration of not easily finding modern, ethnic or vintage home and garden accessories that are unique, environmentally sustainable and most importantly, make a design and/or functional statement.

Case in point: the Philippine hammock. What makes the Philippine hammock unique? For one, it is handcrafted by indigenous people from the Philippine provinces by weaving together strands of rattan to form a canoe-shaped object, with its tips suspended to walls on opposing ends using ropes. Rattan is a lightweight, flexible and durable material and is environmentally sustainable because it can be grown and harvested more quickly than other tropical woods. Above right is a close up view of the Philippine hammock.

View more photos of the Philippine Hammock from other sites:

• Hobotraveler


• "Island Hammock" Photo by Stephanie Syjuco


• "Hammock at Sunrise", PBase web site


• Lady in a hammock, Webshots Travel