CasaSugar

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?

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

(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.

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.

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?

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?

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.

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Casa Quickie: Cut It Out

CasaSugar — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:00:00 -0800

I love the transparent colors watercolor paints can create and the way different hues instantly blend on the page. But the trouble with watercolors is that mistakes can be much harder to remedy than with acrylic paints. If your brushstrokes don't turn out as intended with acrylics, you can just let your canvas dry, and you're ready to paint over it as intended. With water-soluble watercolor paints, you kind of have to work with what you've got.

I painted this tropical plant with watercolors and accidentally smudged my crisp white background. Instead of trying to fill in a background, or worse, starting from scratch, I decided just to cut out my painterly plant with an X-acto knife. Then, I placed it on a white mat in a frame, and voilà, it turned out to be a happy mistake! Now the painterly plant has depth, and its stems, leaves, and blossoms cast pretty shadows on the paper below it. Since then, I've painted a few other pieces, purposely cutting out the imagery to give them more texture and dimension with this technique. Give it a try!

Do You Use Doilies?

CasaSugar — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 05:30:00 -0800

Hello doily! Pretty and protective doilies are making a comeback with designers, but the dutiful days of the doily have passed. There was a time when disposable paper mats lined every platter and tray, while their cloth counterparts topped nearly each piece of furniture - now they're a quick way to add vintage flair to your décor. Grannies everywhere are still rocking the crocheted discs, but many folks find the napkins to be too old-fashioned for their modern pads. Do you ever use doilies?

Casa Quickie: Dual Doormats

CasaSugar — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 05:30:35 -0800

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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