Adding wicker furniture or accessories can relax a room and add some tropical Latin flair.

Wicker furniture adds a dash of casual elegance to any room. With its intricate weaves evoking a look from the tropics, wicker can be coordinated with a variety of interior styles, from floral and formal English to ultra-sleek and modern.

The key to adding weave is to mix it in in small elements. “I can’t think of any style where you cannot fit it,” says Renee Maria Fanjon, president and director of design of Padma’s Plantation, a Chicago-based company specializing in tropical-inspired furniture and accessories.

Fanjon says wicker-style furniture looks best when mixed in with other styles. “You see the beauty of the weave better.”

Many of Fanjon’s sit-down furniture pieces have cushions in a range of fabrics “We do a lot of the neutrals,” Fanjon says. “Solids tend to highlight the weave instead of competing with it.”  

One of the ways to incorporate wicker into a room is with accessories, which Fanjon calls “statement pieces.” For a touch of the tropics, a wicker chaise lounge can be added to any room. Weaved shelves keep books in place, and wall dividers—made of natural bamboo or rattan—evoke images of a carefree island lifestyle while providing a visual separation between rooms.

Small increments of weave can be incorporated into existing rooms of any style. Or, if you want a year-round retreat, a weaved furniture set can turn lounging on the sofa into a relaxing mini-vacation.

The practical thing about weaved furniture is that a homeowner can use it to achieve a totally tropical look or simply add touches of it. Fanjon says that this versatility was her thinking behind her collections at Padma’s Plantation. “We started as furniture people, but there was an obvious need for accessories,” she says. “Accessories are so important—they can kill the look if you don’t choose the right one.”

Padma’s Plantation utilizes a variety of natural materials, such as sea grass, rattan, abaca, water hyacinth, bamboo, coconut palm leaf cover, and plantation-grow hardwoods. “Because our lighting is made of natural fibers, it also helps consumers bring an element of nature into their homes,” Fanjon says.

Wicker accessories include a variety of baskets, vases, screens, platters, and lamps. Fanjon suggests using wicker accessories to help maintain order in an otherwise hectic household—something she is very familiar with. “I’m a working mom,” she says. “I have three kids. I like things that are functional, as well. I want things that are easy to clean and safe for children.”

One of the ways Fanjon keeps everything neat and tidy is with weaved baskets, such as her collections’ hat boxes and hampers. She finds that these stylish accessories are perfect for storing her children’s toys.

Padma’s Plantation’s furniture and accessories are a favorite among many, especially Latinos. Customers hail from Spanish-speaking countries such as Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Panama. Fanjon attributes the furniture’s popularity with Latino consumers to its connection to their roots. “They’re not shy,” she says of her collections. “They’re whimsical; they’re tropical. A lot of our Latin countries are tropical. It brings us back to those warm climates.”

Fanjon, who was raised in Mexico and came to the United States to study fashion design (she later earned a bachelor’s degree in international business), acknowledges that her furniture has that “Latin flavor” to it.

An avid traveler—“I’ve seen how people all over the world live,” she says—Fanjon nevertheless admits that she stayed close to home when it came time to choose her own signature style. She was inspired by her years growing up in Mexico. “I grew up with old Colonial wood,” she reminisces, adding that although she loved the beauty of antiques, she longed for something more eclectic.

“We Latinos like fine furniture, and we definitely want a touch of our culture in our home décor,” she says. “But we don’t necessarily want the chunky, heavy look of our grandparents’ furniture to be the primary focus in a room. We might put a valued family heirloom in a living room as an accent piece, incorporating it in an eclectic way that mixes with our more casual, contemporary furniture.” Latino culture was important not only in the creation and style of Padma’s Plantation; Fanjon’s upbringing also inspired the mechanics of her furniture.

“We tend to spend a lot of time with our family, in communication,” she says. It is for this reason that when Fanjon designs wicker collections, she keeps in mind that comfort is key for those long, leisurely afternoon visits.

This article has been edited for www.latinastyle.com. For the full version, check out the July/August 2007 issue of LATINA Style.