CasaSugar

Casa Quickie: Cool Down With Mats

CasaSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 06:15:50 -0700

Since Summer is fast approaching, I have been thinking about some ways to make seasonal changes in my home. While I think a good shag rug is great for creating a cozy wintry vibe in your home, when the temperature rises, it's time to switch it up. To achieve a cooler look and feel to combat the heat of Spring and Summer, go with a flat weave Dhurrie or plastic floor matting instead. This durable Floral Pattern Reversible All-Weather Floor Mat ($39), which is made entirely from recycled soda bottles, is a great option, and it will stand up well to messy foot traffic as you come in from your garden or the beach.

Guess What This Mat Is Inspired By?

CasaSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 08:30:45 -0700

The design of this plush, carved bath mat is inspired by a particular element of urban architecture. Can you name what inspired this bath mat?

Steal of the Day: Chilewich Woodgrain Floormat

CasaSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:00:25 -0700

If you still haven't gotten your fill of the faux bois trend, thanks to the Chilewich Woodgrain Floormat ($69.95), you can do so without breaking the bank. The faux bois mat is made of vinyl-coated polyester, so it's durable, stain resistant, and easy to clean. And its rubber back will keep you from slipping around. The 2-x-3-foot size is the only one available, but I think it'd make a great little rug in front of your kitchen sink or stove. And while it's definitely not the most natural mat you could buy, you can sleep tight knowing that no trees were harmed in the making of this mat.

Do You Have a Welcome Mat?

CasaSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 07:00:43 -0700

A welcome mat can add personality to the most mundane, run-of-the-mill exterior. It's inviting, and if you have a monogrammed mat, it's a great way to signal to your guests that you live there. Do you have one?Source

Casa Verde: A Mat Made of Belts

CasaSugar — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 09:15:54 -0700

In the last couple years, we've seen belts cinching their way up our waists. But did you ever think you'd find them covering your floor? That is, aside from in your floordrobe? The Branch Home Vintage Belt Floor Mat ($688) has rescued vintage leather belts destined for landfills by mounting them together to become a cushy mat for the floor of your home. The combination of rich, aged tones and textures of each belt comes together to resemble quite aptly the patina acquired by your hardwood floors — albeit you've probably never wrapped your floors around your waist. This sort of inventive design, which reconstitutes recycled parts for a new purpose is becoming more and more common these days. Have you seen designs with similar origins?

Steal of the Day: Anthropologie Crystalline Bathmat

CasaSugar — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:03:07 -0800

Considering that a standard, plain white bathmat usually runs around 20 bucks, I think this Anthropologie Crystalline Bathmat ($19.95) is a great deal. It's hooked on one side and tufted on the other (and claims to be "ultrasoft"), and has a charming green swirling, petal-like design. Along with a feminine shower curtain and some pear-colored perfume bottles, you could usher in a whole new look for your bathroom for under $150.

(Un)Welcome Mats

CasaSugar — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:04:15 -0700

A few years ago, I was getting a lot of mis-delivered mail meant for a local judge, so when I had accumulated a big batch, I decided to swing by her house and drop off her mail. I was immediately won over by the judge's door mat, which simply said "Come Back With a Warrant."

You can buy the High Cotton doormat for $15.99, and that's not the only (un)welcome mat I've stumbled upon lately. Here are two more funny ways for guests to wipe their feet.

The ingenious Come In/Go Away Doormat (about $30) projects a different message depending on which way you turn it.

One more, so read more
I love the color palette on this playful Chiasso Private Doormat ($28), which should make guests smile even as you're shooing them away.

Love It or Hate It? Flax Manhole Cover Floor Mats

CasaSugar — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 08:30:38 -0700

These Manhole Cover Floor Mats at Flax Art and Design ($27.95) cleverly echo the designs of city sewer covers, with versions available for London, Paris, and New York. I don't think I'd want one in my house, but the indoor/outdoor rugs would look cute on a porch. What do you think?

Nice and New: DwellStudio Petal Plus Bath Mat

CasaSugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 04:30:56 -0700

It's hard not to love DwellStudio, especially considering all of designer Christiane Lemieux's talent and design expertise. I've long been a fan of the textile company's bedding designs, but unfortunately I'm not in the market for new bed linens. So, I'm delighted to see that DwellStudio has made its foray into la salle de bain. The DwellStudio Petal Plus Bath Mat ($67) is good, clean fun. Its pared-down "petals" are in essence colorful, iconic, First Aid symbols, which couldn't be more appropriate for the bathroom. The 100 percent cotton mat is also super plush and double-sided, making it a cinch to throw in the washing machine. You like?

Mad Mats Recycled Rugs

CasaSugar — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 13:00:56 -0800

Think this rug is made of wool? Think again.

Mad Mats ($36 for 4-x-6-ft. rug) are made of recycled polypropylene (used soda bottles, milk bottles, packing), which make them great for indoor and outdoor use. Each rug is reversible and constructed with a flat weave and soft, tubular threads, making them dirt and stain resistant. Leaves, debris, and food spills are easily rinsed away with a mop or hose. Water does not get trapped, so there is no chance of mildew and they will not rot wooden decks. These inexpensive, pretty, and kid- and pet-proof rugs are also produced under fair-trade conditions.

Source