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I find myself in need of placemats--just two, preferably matching.

Scenario: we are in the middle of redoing our kitchen, and I now have an island that can have stools pulled up. The countertop edge hanging over the stools is narrow, suitable for just a quick snack while in the kitchen. Not a full-scale eating bar where you can relax for hours.

Kitchen is a mix of traditional country, in warm neutrals.

Dishes that would be used for eating in the kitchen are red transferware and blue transferware (two different sets), combined with white ironstone pieces.

I'm lost when it comes what to use. Primitive country is too primitive. Checks seem boring. Lace seems too formal. Larger florals are too traditional, not country enough, and may be overkill with the transferware. Solids seem plain. Smaller florals are too cottagey.

Any other suggestions? I really don't like dinnerware direct on a tabletop (countertop).

How about straw for summer?

For winter, maybe the matelese. Probably misspelled that. Think I have seen those some places.

Used to could find a type of woven, kind of a fabric tubes that were woven

Don't have any to show a photo of them. Haven't seen them in a while. Some of the rectangles had a "fringe" of the tubes for the edging.

Nice dish towels. Napkins on an angle. Think outside of the box. Tablerunners.

I am sure you will get some good ideas.

Great ideas, Strings! I hadn't thought of any of them. I'm decent with a sewing machine, but couldn't even think of current stuff I could repurpose. Thanks!

Sur la Table has these matelasse placemats in a few different colors.
http://www.surlatable.com/prod...4DD621EBDBBE151859EC

I think April Cornell table linens are so pretty. Consider quilted placemats or even chargers in wicker for summer. HOME GOODS may have cutwork mats (some in felt), embroidered mats or even bamboo, quilted shell shapes or faux embossed tin tiles.
http://www.aprilcornell.com/pr...st/placemats-runners

Thanks for the sites! Pretty linens!

Hi IL. I have lots of placemats. Just picked up some the other day at the town swap shop. Mine range from nice linen with ***oting to straw to quilted to plastic. We almost always use a placemat in addition to a table cloth.

The plastic ones (well they are really rigid so maybe not plastic) anyway they are a spode design that matches the the Spode tablecloth and napkins.

I probably have 20 to 30 or maybe more place mats so they are not too important to me. your china selections sound pretty much like mine. I would probably pick out a solid color if I wanted only two placemats. Either blue or red whichever would look best in the kitchen. I do love checks though too!

With transferware you may not want anything too busy such as a floral.

Some of my favorite placemats were bought at a farmers' market where a woman sells quilted items she makes. Other, much less expensive ones, are from Ikea. As well as place mats Ikea has some cream with red stripe tea-towels that can be used for all sorts of things. They were on sale one time I was there so I bought a stack and have used them as WT's, runners (several used together, bread basket liners, and place mats. Haven't used one as a tea-towel yet and may never. They are a nice decorative touch and easy to wash. http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/10100909/

The problem with things such as place mats is that there is unending choice of designs and colors. Bring a plate with you when you shop for them to see how it looks.

Thanks, LoS. Not sure what I'll end up with. I'm culling lots of my other household linens--many of them hand-embroidered and from Germany, thanks to a former eBay seller. Been inspired to look through them to see if I can repurpose any of them into placemats.

Joyluck, that reminds me of the toweling sold through Susan Branch's site. I've had it bookmarked, and forgot about it. It really fits the look I'm going for... something casual since the foods eaten at the countertop will be just that, but not primitive.

I might need more than two. I can see this becoming a small collection.

http://shopping.susanbranch.com/toweling.aspx

Thanks!

A tablecloth that will most likely be creatively remade into placemats. Of course, it will take me 10 years to do it.... Ha! Thanks for the inspiration!!!

Tho I realize this idea (as well as others posted) and design doesn't suit everyone's taste or decor, I stumbled upon this repurposed mat idea I just had to share:
http://thepinkcouch.blogspot.c...lacemats-part-2.html

Yearning for the unique (and...feelin' crafty)?
http://www.stylelist.com/2011/...emats_n_1011387.html

http://athome.kimvallee.com/20...ly-unique-placemats/

Rustic (and able to be personalized), you can make these for far less, but be sure to cover back w/ felt to protect countertop:
http://www.westelm.com/products/slate-placemat-c523/


This idea is equally rustic/casual and a possible DIY project:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Inspir...cemats/dp/B003JQLJUM

Wow, Froo! So many creative ideas!

I knew I'd end up with a collection.

I have some wallpaper of my Mom's that I just love. Part of it I am putting on a canvas and hanging as artwork in the kitchen. The leftover? Didn't know what to do with it.

Now I do... make placemats!!!

Thanks!

Boy, you are getting lots of unique and good ideas.

This is our 2011 Christmas Table before we finished setting it, with a "French Grain Sack" table runner. The plates are Memory Lane transferware.

I also think laminating wallpaper that you like would be a neat idea. Please show us what you end up doing.

Cassia, I love your pattern. What a unique idea for the runner! Thanks!