accessories by Grace Bonney 67

ribbon coat rack

18
it’s not often that i waffle back and forth on whether or not i like something. but this ribbon coat rack landed in my inbox yesterday and i’ve found myself flip flopping between “i like it” and “meh”. part of me is drawn to the bronze design and it’s sort of worn-in look (especially with the pink against it), but then part of me wants it to be even more roughed-up and perhaps a bit thinner or chunkier. what do you guys think? i think the bronze has the most potential but maybe i’m just having an off internal-design-meter day…

67 Comments

Anne

It looked like a belt to me – so I would agree that more (or less) would give it a bit more oomph.

Suhita Shirodkar

I agree- I saw it and thought “belt”, the bronze and the chunkiness don’t help it look like a ribbon

Sasha K.

Funny, I thought it looked like a belt too because of the rounded ends and the color sort of makes it look like brown leather. I’d say “eh”.

Lynn

I like it as is, but I think it could be quite whimsical (and beautiful) if the ends were “snipped” into inverted Vs like a real ribbon, and if it were hand painted with a grosgrain pattern.

Julie

I love it! It’s hard to make steel look so elegant. I’ll bet the photograph just doesn’t do it justice.

Catherine

i like the chunkiness. it’s not hiding from the fact that it is a rigid material, yet it’s showing it’s ability to be curvy and fluid. reminds me of chris farley doing the chippendales dancer audition on SNL. somehow, there was beauty and grace in his floppy dance!

laura K

I think it looks unique. But my next thought is “How functional is it?”. Since this is a double duty piece of art. How do you fasten it to the wall? How well do heavier items – coats – hang on it?

Ashley Judge

I absolutely love it. I think the simplicity of it is stunning, to be honest. I like Lynn’s suggestion of making it look more ribbon-like by snipping then ends, but think it could also be unique as a belt. Hmm, DIY….?

LULU

I love that someone commented meh! so great! I’m torn… I think its the white wall behind it that’s throwing me off.

myredboots

i like it. perhaps because i am looking for a coat rack of these dimensions and this would definitely fit with my decor in the entry (deep brown walls & antique litho prints).
but i would go with “Lynn” on the snipped ends and grosgrain pattern for a bedroom or studio/den.

Beka Pirwitz

I absolutely love the contrast between it and the scarf… I agree with Lynn about the v-snipped ends, though. It would complete the look for sure! It’s amazing what one little change can significantly do when it comes to art.

Kathleen

I kind of love it. I do wish the ends weren’t rounded, and kind of wish it were MORE finished…like powder coated a color or something…I think it would have more impact. The form is great, although I think putting actual coats on it would like like a hot mess in my entry way…to throw a scarf on it, or hang up a bag it could be really nice.

Lynn

Kathleen- check the linked website. There are powder coated versions- white, black, red, yellow.

jaime

I like it- it’s a functional art piece! I agree it does resemble a belt more than a ribbon, but i think it’s a keeper!

DebarinoSeattle

I actually love it. That you don’t sense it’s metal is what is surprisingly delightful!

Abby

Not a fan, to me it just looks like a mistake. It doesn’t push things on either end: not rough or refined enough.

Ryan Green

Not sure how functional it is, but that aside, I agree that I would like it better if it was powder coated a rich color and had the V-snips to make it look more like a ribbon. I also had the first impression that it was a leather belt.

Jess W.

I love the yellow version of it. I think it’s much more interesting and whimsical than any other coat rack I’ve seen.

michelle

I think I like it…but I want to see a group of 3 of them together…maybe even hung vertically.

Jessica

The yellow version or the white appeal to me. although if the metal were pitted and roughed up looking I think it would be more art than function. I like it.

Angie

Meh. It either needs more textural interest, or it needs the ends ribbon cut.

Stephanie

i like this piece, although I immediately thought “belt” as well. I prefer the bright colors-this feels dirty and rusty to me.

Elyse

I think it would be quite fantastic against a roughed-up wall, but against a white wall, I think it would look better much thinner. =)

Amy

I like it – especially cause you can easily drape scarves over it – doesn’t work so well with chunky scarves and old school hooks. I vote YES!

twilight

Cool concept and I want to like it but, I’d prefer a v-cut or simply an angle cut. The rounded finish keeps the ribbon’s movement trapped at each end and your eye isn’t encouraged to keep moving past the edge of the piece. It feels more frozen-in-time than whimsical to me.

Hannah

lol@Catherine and the Chris Farley comment. I really like it. I agree that the v ends would make it even better but I think it’s a great concept.

camelama

I like it, even as is. I don’t think “ribbon” or “belt”, I just think “metal”.

rr

it is a nice design as is and “v” ends would be brilliant. i do wonder is this ribbon rack was not featured on this blog what would your opinions of it be. i would love to grace come up with her version or something better ;)

april

I think that that hideous pink scarf is throwing everyone off! That styling is not going to sell anyone on anything! I think it would look really nice on a different background using more rustic looking props. It has potential.

grace

rr

if i was to make my own version i would make the metal much more weathered and include some heavier, chunkier (but smoothed to prevent clothes snagging) nuts and bolts to give it a more worn in look.

i actually made a few coat racks from found metal in college and usually ended up going for a rougher look because the smooth metal just isn’t my style ;)

g

caro

I think it’s fantastic, if you click the link, you’ll see that it does comes in some other colors – It IS hard to get metal to look graceful, but when it does it just works!

Chelsea

I too have been going back and forth on this piece since I saw it posted on Apartment Therapy about a week ago. Ultimately, I decided that if I didn’t have an immediate reaction either way at first sight, I should pass on it. Also, it doesn’t look very functional.

queenpretty

as far as coat racks go, this is pretty interesting. I’d put it in my house if I had a need. I agree about the ends “trapping” the design. But my first thought was “cool”. Meh-ers- what kind of coat racks are in your house? ikea eames knock-0ffs? talk about “meh”…

Emily

I like it, but maybe with a more varied width (not just thinner or thicker but BOTH) it would be better.

Reefer

My first thought was, “I wonder what that could have been a part of?” and I started envisioning industrial equipment. Then I wondered if I could cast bronze thin enough to work it into that shape, keeping the happer marks, perhaps. I’m against ribbon-cutting the ends and faux-painting – robs it of too much implied heritage.

kristina

I think it’s perfect and beautiful just the way it is.

Jacquelyn

My first reaction is love it, but I also wonder… will clothing actually stay on it? and keep organic flow, but have a little more consistent height from top to bottom in each “ripple”… but this might just be the anal graphic designer in me, that likes to see something align…

themark

It needs to have a better finish, chrome, or anodized color to make it appear more ribbon-like. As it is now it looks like just bent metal. Satin red would definitely lift my opinion of it.

Lynn

Grace, reading all of these responses makes me thing that (if you don’t already do something like this), you should sponsor some sort of personalize-a-piece post, where anybody who wants to join in can personalize something that’s decided upon beforehand – like that $10 Ikea table or what have you – and then you could post a compilation. Everybody’s had such interesting and varied responses to this ribbon hanger.

-P

So- I’m not sure if anyone mentioned this, but there are too many comments to read all right now! But, I also think it looks like a belt, as do most people, so I think it’s fine as it is, but it would be awesome if there were “belt holes” in it, and a belt buckle on one end. Also, because it’s so simple, I think it would look cute on wallpapered wall.

-P

oh yes- i just read someone’s comment on making it look more like a ribbon… that would be nice too, the V shaped ends and maybe wrapped in a patterned fabric, or at least an actual ribbon for that shiny ribbon look.

Daniela

I think it´s very nice! The “v” ends would be too obvious and maybe “dangerous”. Then who said that art or design should be functional….. usually it isn’t… so?
It works well as it is.

swee swee

I love the design, I agree about the ends, but even if they were at an angle vs. round would make the ribbon effect more definite. I would buy and use…but I am a ribbon fanatatic too.

strelka

i think the ends should have just been snipped at an angle–ribbon-like, but not too “cutesy”.
i would also like to see the finish rougher/more industrial on one side and smoother/sleeker on the opposite face, revealed as the piece is twisted.

gwen

If the ribbon was more rough, I would be concerned about it snagging on my scarves and coats. Probably not very practical.

Cristi Lyon

It’s a lovely idea, but…
the ribbon is too regular- needs some thick and thins- perhaps some extra tight curls to create a more active rhythm

charlene

I think it has kind of a script-like feel. Reminds me of when I was a child and would pretend to write like my mother. I like it just the way it is, organic, free-flowing and energetic. Perhaps it would help to forget the word ribbon and look at it for what it is without preconceptions?

Tinabobina99

I like it and would give it wall space in a heartbeat.

Jeff Flemings

I find the organge quite exuberant and optimistic. I like the weathered as well, because it looks found and loved. I have a concern about using it for coats: I don’t know about you, but I don’t want the jacket shoulders getting mis-shapen from the curves that don’t correspond to my body shape. Scarves, accessories, garments where shape’s not an issue, definitely.

Shelley

I actually like it, as is, in the bronze. It looks as functional as any coat rack I’ve seen, but a great deal more unique in design. ..I like the free flowing feel.

...t

Love it! My coat closet is usually too packed to add guest coats. A piece of art for us and viola a coat rack for guests. I’m get’n it!

gayle australia

i really like this – its just a stepping stone but has so much potential – i’m thinking smooth and rippling ribbon across rough plastered walls. great.

aphrochic

I really love it! The white is my favorite, but I also love the yellow. Would be great for a pop of color in the hallway. I’m buying one.

Scott

I’m drawn to it. I too thought belt. I think it has a random look to it, so you have to focus to get it. Use it as a coat hanger or just look at it.

julia

I thought it was belt too; I think that the idea is brillant, it just needs a different colour (pale blue?).

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