We had a light colored "laminated" tablecloth before that worked well to repel spills and could be wiped clean. However, because Art reads the newspaper for about an hour and a half each day on the kitchen table, eventually the tablecloth got badly stained from the newsprint. We tried everything to get it clean again but nothing worked.
We then bought this darker laminated tablecloth that would be better at hiding newsprint stains but mom just didn't like it. She felt it darkened the room and she prefers a cheerful, bright kitchen. So we put this tablecloth away.
Sigh...
And we stuck the old, stained laminated tablecloth back on the table until it got really, really yukky and had to be thrown away.
Then I had this idea.
I remembered these old vinyl placemats that we used on the mainland. I dug them out of storage and put them on the new brown tablecloth. Then I waited for mom to come into the kitchen.
She was delighted. Mom loves flowers and she especially loved the tulips that she saw in Skagit Valley and Butchart Gardens last year.
The side benefit is that when Art reads the newspaper now, we stick all the placemats under his paper. The vinyl placemats protects the tablecloth and Art can read the paper worry free.
Problem solved! Yay!
We then bought this darker laminated tablecloth that would be better at hiding newsprint stains but mom just didn't like it. She felt it darkened the room and she prefers a cheerful, bright kitchen. So we put this tablecloth away.
Sigh...
And we stuck the old, stained laminated tablecloth back on the table until it got really, really yukky and had to be thrown away.
Then I had this idea.
I remembered these old vinyl placemats that we used on the mainland. I dug them out of storage and put them on the new brown tablecloth. Then I waited for mom to come into the kitchen.
She was delighted. Mom loves flowers and she especially loved the tulips that she saw in Skagit Valley and Butchart Gardens last year.
The side benefit is that when Art reads the newspaper now, we stick all the placemats under his paper. The vinyl placemats protects the tablecloth and Art can read the paper worry free.
Problem solved! Yay!
I've often wondered about newsprint. When I read a newspaper, my fingers get stained, too. Your post makes me wonder why my fingers are not permanently stained. I'll bet Art's are! :-)
ReplyDeleteThere you go. You are always a clever problem-solver.
ReplyDeleteGreat solution, and the lovely placemats essentially were free!
ReplyDeleteWe used to have place mats like that. It's a good thing you didn't throw them away.
ReplyDeletethere's always a solution to every problem...lol!
ReplyDeleteWhat about no tablecloth? I too like the placemats. There were dishes and glasses with the same pattern.
ReplyDeleteSigh... We tried that but bits of food would get trapped between the leaf panels. Now we have cockroaches which is driving us crazy. But that's going to have to be another post.
DeleteLove your solution, very cheerful. Our dining chairs all have arms so I use tablecloths only on holidays when the chairs are pulled out. I use placemats the rest of the time. Bob would like your placemats, they're smooth surfaced. He reads the paper and works his puzzles at the table.
ReplyDeletePerfect idea. The placemats offer a cheery perspective and they can easily be changed to alter the scenery, as it were.
ReplyDeleteI love those placemats. Very 70s.
ReplyDeleteSo true! That's about when we bought them, I'm sure.
DeleteThis is so funny. Creative solution.
ReplyDeleteVery clever! It does look very cheerful now and change the entire look of the darker table covering.
ReplyDeleteI have an Amish built real wood table so I always use a tablecloth on top of the table pads.
ReplyDeleteSo innovative!
ReplyDeleteThose really are cheerful placemats. A good solution, Kay.
ReplyDeleteIt must be nice to read a paper newspaper like in the old days ...
A great alternative!
ReplyDeleteI rather like that tablecloth, glad you are able to use it!
ReplyDeleteit does brightens it up, much better
ReplyDeleteYou are the ultimate problem solver. What a great solution that pleased everyone.
ReplyDeleteGreat solution!
ReplyDeletelooks nice
ReplyDeleteI love the "retro" placemats. We always use placemats when eating at our old oak farm table but it does not get protected from newsprint when I read the paper at lunch time. Tom never reads the paper at the table but instead while sitting at the kitchen counter or in his recliner. The counter get wiped down daily.
ReplyDeleteWhat problem solver! Place mats? I think we have a few sets in the house but I haven't seen them on the table for___________many years!
ReplyDeleteOnce again your genius comes through.
ReplyDeletegreat problem solving
ReplyDeletelooks good
I love those placemats too...so colorful!
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Kay. That was some quick thinking, really some very creative thinking. I would love to have seen your mom's face when she first saw it. Don't you just LOVE it when you come up with a solution and it works out well?!
ReplyDelete