CasaSugar

Kick the Dirt With Boot Brushes and Scrapers

Julia Walsh — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 10:00:31 PST

San Francisco's rainy season appears to be in full swing these days, and while I'm encountering plenty of puddles, thankfully (or not) city life doesn't afford much mud or slush. For those of you in chillier climates - like the poor Buffalo citizens! - the roads may have already had their first of many plows. To keep you from tracking that snow and sludge all through your homes this Winter, a boot brush and/or scraper is a must have. Whether you want a cutesy one, like Gump's cast iron Squirrel Boot Brush ($38), or a masculine, utilitarian version, like Gempler's Deluxe Boot Brush ($52), there are endless options to choose from. You can even go the multipurpose route and order the Doormat with Bristles ($80) from DWR. Just click the product images to shop the rest of this roundup.

P.S. This is also a terrific holiday gift idea for new homeowners, friends in Winter wonderlands, or men who have everything - except one of these!

Cool Idea: New Orleans Water Meter Doormat

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:00:42 PST

Anyone who's ever lived in New Orleans recognizes the starry, art-deco design of the city's water meter lids. Designed by Edwin Ford in the early 1920s, the crescent moon and stars became so sought after that people actually used to pilfer them, so much so that for a time the city tried to replace them with plain ones to try to stop the theft. Nevertheless, the 85-year-old design has become an iconic symbol of the city - along with the fleur-de-lys, of course. So, one clever local turned the groovy vintage meter cover into a Decorative Door Mat ($32). The high-quality, durable mat is as useful as it is nostalgic and charming, and you don't have to steal from the city to own it. Clearly, it's not for everyone, but it's a great gift for anyone who knows a thing or two about NOLA. Hint, hint.

Casa Quickie: Dual Doormats

CasaSugar — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 05:30:35 PST

With all the mud, snow, and slush that enter our homes during the Winter, a doormat is a must. But when holiday party season is in full swing (along with the drinks!), you can't count on your guests to be mindful of the mud. So, you can give them a little nudge by putting a second door mat inside the door, in addition to the exterior welcome mat. If they miss both mats, they must have reeeally long legs. Just make sure to use a thinner doormat inside, or even a low pile rug remnant, and test it to be sure that the door will open smoothly!
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Love It or Hate It? Nice Underwear Mat

CasaSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:00:49 PDT

In a way, your doormat is the first impression your guests have when they come to your home. If you want to set a light-hearted tone, the Uncommon Goods Nice Underwear Mat ($22) will do the trick. But, perhaps some of you would prefer to go a more traditional route. Regardless, this one certainly makes me smile; I see London, I see France . . .

DIY: Custom Doormat

CasaSugar — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 05:02:03 PST

In this DIY, I'm going to show you how to personalize your plain ol' coir doormat to assure your guests that they're ringing the right doorbell. I saw this project on MarthaStewart.com, and since it fits so well within this month's Renewal theme, I had to share. To find out how to do it,

A Raccoon Burglar!

GiggleSugar — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 11:00:00 PDT

Dog doors are dangerous things. Even a house in the safest of neighborhoods cannot protect itself from a wild creature that wants to enjoy the comforts of the great indoors. Take this curious neighborhood raccoon, for example. He came, saw, and swiped! It's what he took that's so darn baffling...

Link Time: Victoria's Secret Goes High-End, H&M Denies Stealing Artwork, and More

FabSugar — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:59:08 PST

Victoria's Secret launching a high-end line: see the full collection - Fashionista
Sienna and Savannah Miller quit their fashion label - The Cut
These Missoni ads are kind of hilarious - HuffPo Style
February's best and worst glossy covers - The Fashion Spot
Kirsten Dunst and Isla Fisher talk Bachelorette - The Daily Beast
The essentials of a well-balanced wardrobe - Real Simple
McQueen shoes are featured in the Hunger Games movie - Jezebel
Doo.ri talks Macy's, sexy sweaters, and McQueen - Stylelist
Top Valentine's Day bags: won't you be mine? - Bag Snob
Inside Prada's 24-hour museum - Style.com
Zac Posen and Nanette Lepore are the latest to ink mass market deals - Fashionologie
H&M denies stealing an artist's design for its doormat - Styleite

7 Ways to Organize and Beautify Your Entryway This Weekend

Elka Karl — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:00:28 PST

Winter is often the most challenging season for your entryway or mudroom. Boots, heavy jackets, umbrellas, hats, and mittens are a few of the items that may grace this area during the Winter months, depending on your climate. Chances are inclement weather forces you to store more of these items at close reach - and your floors and rugs may suffer from salt stains or muddy bootprints. Frustrated? Here are seven ways to get this area shipshape over the next few days.

Clean Boots Club Invest in a boot scraper or coir doormat that guests and residents can use to scrape mud and snow off of their boots.
Rug Replacements Switch out a valuable wool rug for a durable indoor-outdoor rug. I'm a fan of this Thom Filicia Hutshsen Rug, which is made from recycled plastic bottles. These rugs are easy to clean and can be switched out once the weather gets a bit sunnier.
Closet Rehab If, like me, you have a hallway closet that's a major disaster area, take the time this weekend to organize it. You won't believe the space that might open up after a thorough cleaning and purging. Then, install hooks and baskets on the inside of the door to stash items like dog leashes, scarves, hats, and mittens.
Be Seated Every entryway needs a place to sit down and slip on a pair of boots or lace up shoes. If you have the room, a bench - especially one with storage capacity - is a great bet. Otherwise, add a funky chair or stool to the space.
Everything in its Place Find a storage system that you like and stick with it. This could be as simple as wheeled crates tucked under a bench or as elaborate as a built-in unit that can house everything you might possibly need. The ability to tuck away items that aren't always in use will keep your entryway looking both tidy and chic.
Be Artful The entryway serves as one of your guests' first impressions of your home. Don't forget to add artful touches to the space. Wall art is often the best bet, as it avoids the clutter that can result from too many knickknacks on tabletops or shelves.
Purge Do you really need four Winter jackets? Seven wool hats? Would it really hurt to cut your collection down by a third or even in half? Fewer items means fewer messes to clean up and organize. Sounds like good trade-off, doesn't it?

Are you organizing your entryway this month? What have you found to be essential in this space?

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Welcome Home With Fashionable Floor Mats

Lizzie Fuhr — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 03:00:06 PDT

A floor mat isn't just a practical necessity. It's the very first impression someone gets of your home, so why not make a stylish statement? Maybe you're lucky enough to have a home with a long and winding entry, or maybe your front door floor mat is the only detail of your space's exterior you're able to individualize as you see fit. Either way, a design-inspired floor mat is a welcoming addition to any space. I always notice when someone has something that stands apart from the standard, tired-looking mat at their door.

I love the majestic monarch rug on Butterfly Orange Rug ($57) from Liora Manne. The detail is exquisite and the shape is anything but traditional. And there's nothing more warm or welcoming than that beautiful butterfly's burnt orange hue. I also love the bright colored symmetrical circles of the Step Lively Polka Dots Doormat ($45). It's a modern and fun option I'd love to see at someone's door before I ring their bell. But my favorite has got to be that whimsy Hippo Door Mat ($34) by Droog. Talk about a quirky and welcoming surprise.

While there are a plethora of options for the material used to create a gorgeous indoor rug for your front door, you'll need a mat that will stand up to the dirty shoes crossing over your threshold. I've pulled some sweet options for every budget!