You may not enjoy the scent of cow manure or the sound of a rooster's crow at the break of dawn, but you can still bring a little farm life into your home without counting Babe as one of your dependents. Velocity has introduced
Simrin Farmyard Placemats ($36) into its collection of fashionable table linens, and I think they're just the thing to give us all a taste of the old days, short of rearing animals ourselves. The placemats are made from 100 percent cotton, and can be easily machine washed and dried.
The Petek Guven
Mr. Casual Placemat ($49) and
Miss Noble Placemat ($49) are two cheeky characters well-trained in etiquette, who'll give your guests a good laugh before they're served the first course. Each placemat has two slits on each side which work as fork and knife holders; so unfortunately, the placemats cannot accommodate the silverware required for a seven course meal.
Much like shoes and handbags, you can never have too many placemats — or any table linens, for that matter. They're simply an effortless accessory that dresses your dining room up or down. Inviting the parents over?
You can always incorporate
Summer Style into your home with color, flowers, and beach gear. But honestly, the only time I ever really enjoy the season is when I'm outdoors. And, what better way to do so than to have a picnic or an outdoor barbecue?
Although the
Bushel and Peck Baby Chalkboard Placemat ($9) is described as "a great item to bring to a restaurant to keep your child occupied while you wait for your food," I don't think it needs to be reserved for children. Doodling never goes out of style. And, it might even come in handy for taking notes during lunch conferences, or you could sketch silverware on there for a trompe l'œil effect.
