DAN'S PAPERS, March 13, 2009 Page 47 www.danshamptons.com
When it Comes to Coasters, Don’t Be a Slouch By Tiffany Razzano The primary job of a beverage coaster is to protect your furniture from stains and rings from the condensation on your glasses. But there are other uses for them as well. Custom made coasters can be used as mementos to commemorate special events, like weddings and anniversaries, or to advertise your business. But the type of coasters you have at home can be used to accent your décor as well as allow your personality to shine through when you have guests. Coasters can come in all shapes and are made from all different materials – stone, plastic, cork, metal, wood. Some more elegant coaster options are made of stone - including ceramic tile, slate and sandstone coasters - which are hardy, absorb moisture well, are heat resistant and difficult to ruin, making them incredibly durable and giving them a longer lifespan than coasters made of other materials. The tiles can be plain simple colors or decorated in anything from vintage images to works of art to portrayals of wildlife - whatever best represents your personality and goes well with your home bar. A great place to check out a wide variety of stone coasters is thirstycoasters.com. Glass coasters, whether clear glass or with a design on them, are also a sophisticated choice, but aren’t the best at absorbing moisture from your drink. Leather coasters are also an elegant choice, while metal coasters have a more modern look. Cork coasters, the old standby, are an inexpensive choice that gets the job done. Be wary of paper coasters, however. They can only be used once before being ready to be thrown in the garbage because they are easily ruined by moisture. Also, there are some really unique and creative coaster options out there as well. If you’re having a more casual gathering, you should pick up the 20-pack of beer coasters that have the official instructions of a different drinking game – from Wibbly Wobbly to Fizz-Buzz – printed on the back of each one for just $7.95. Check them out at vat19.com. There is also a set of four, flexible, 3-D, textured LEGO coasters available at lego.com for $4.98. Audiophiles can purchase a handmade coaster made out of melted down, vintage records. For $20 you can get a pack of six assorted album titles. Go to elsewares.com for more information. Or if you’re really worried about making a mess with your drink, you’d probably be interested in the set of sponge coasters available at felixdepass.com. These coasters will not only protect the surface your drink is on, but it will also be conveniently nearby to deal with any spills. Many companies also offer picture frame coasters, which allow you to give your coasters a personal touch. And if you’re feeling crafty, you might want to consider making your own coasters. You can recycle your wine corks to create a set of cork coasters. A company called Sentilla (sentilla.com) also offers a
DIY smart beer coaster that you build yourself. It can detect when a drink is placed on it and when it’s removed, can communicate with nearby coasters and also provides visual feedback with flashing lights. You can also use a button maker to create your own coasters by gluing cork to the back of what would otherwise be a button, or if you’re good with knitting needles, you can knit a unique set of coasters. So while the function of a coaster might be the first thing you think of when selecting what type of to use at home, remember it’s also important to choose a design that represents your personality and creates the right atmosphere in your home bar.
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