Easy Entertaining: Mugs Up

Almost everyone I know has a hodgepodge of coffee mugs that have little in common and hog up too much cabinet space. However, if you can narrow the themes of your mugs and eliminate the ones that don’t fit in, you can create an instant collection that appears curated and exudes personal charm.

When I was in Palm Springs photographing the home of GQ creative director Jim Moore for my book The Find, he showed me a collection he created with mix-and-match mugs featuring logos from local businesses. And then when I came home for Christmas just a few days ago, my mother had done the same thing with all the colorful mugs she’d collected over the years and set them in a silver-tone tray just waiting to be filled with a fresh cup of coffee or warming mulled cider.


In May 2009, Clarkson Potter will publish my book, The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating with Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details. Pre-order now on www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com.