The placemat is a favorite at many dinner tables: The often-whimsical plastic version catches the slip of spaghetti from a youngster’s fork, while a nice cotton placemat elevates the dining experience just a little without having to lay a tablecloth.
There’s something civilized about setting an individual dining place with a frame of sorts. An heirloom set of fine linen placemats are an elegant way to dress the table.
For something unusual, mats made of faux or real tropical leaves, lashed bamboo sticks, glitter, pebbles or squares of birch bark create a textural platform for plate and meal.
Placemats are a relatively inexpensive addition to dining-room decor, and can also be used on portable trays or big coffee tables if meals are served unconventionally.
Here are a few new options from retailers and designers:
San Francisco-based Lian Ng’s PopMat paper placemats are inspired by children’s popup books. Made of recycled paper, Ng’s mats come in packs of 10 and have a spot to write a guest’s name. There are many designs that would work well for themed affairs or just for fun — butterflies, balloons, cakes, trees, even a troupe of safari animals. Available at www.publiqueshop.com.
New York designer Sandy Chilewich continues to experiment with her woven vinyl material, producing an array of textured mats in neutrals, metallics and colors. There’s a hand-silkscreened, brushed-dot pattern, a delicate filigreed foil mat, faux printed cowhide, and a hip mod croc pattern in red, black and tan. Go to www.chilewich.com for retail locations.
Elizabeth Liberty elevates lowly burlap to simple chic with hand-painted placemats stamped with cows, roosters, flowers and lettering. Get them at www.etsy.com/shop/LibertyByDesign.
There are more woven mats at CB2 (www.cb2.com): a selection of vinyl, basket-weave squares in on-trend hues like carbon, chartreuse, orange and white. Textile designer Liora Manne’s signature felting technique of layering and interlocking acrylic fibers is used in two very different placemats. A sophisticated plaid mat in layered grays and lime yellow pops when set with white china. And her laser-cut, geometric Corte mats in peacock and fire engine red pack a playful punch.
Zazzle.com has a variety of placemat designs, including edgy street art and vintage flora and fauna. You can contribute your own design if you’re creative; most custom mats sell for around $20 each.
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