Cape Cod Doormats for the Farm

May 10, 2017

Spring is always a good time to replace some of the timeworn items around the home. Recently, I decided it was time to purchase new doormats for the farm - the ones I had were at least 10-years old.

Doormats - though often overlooked - are the first line of defense against dirt, grit and debris that can be tracked indoors. At all my houses, they also serve as good places for visitors to remove their shoes before entering - I don’t allow any shoes inside. For years, I’ve gotten my mats from Cape Cod Doormats in Hyannis, Massachusetts. They've been featured in my "Living" magazine and on my web site. These mats are extremely durable, attractive, and come in both standard and custom fit sizes - plus, they're American made.

Here are some photos - enjoy.

: It was time to change all the doormats at the farm – one for every doorway and the bottom of every outdoor stairway – that’s nearly 20 doormats. http://www.capecoddoormats.com

: Cape Cod Doormats was founded in 1986. Owner, Dawn Stahl, purchased the family owned business in 2006 – and it has thrived ever since. (Photo by Dawn Stahl)

: Each mat is constructed from custom made polypropylene cordage. This is a coil of the black rope that was used to make my doormats for the farm. (Photo by Dawn Stahl)

: The rope coils come in a variety of colors. All the cordage contains a UV additive to prevent fading and color bleed. (Photo by Dawn Stahl)

: To make a doormat, the rope is placed on a metal loom and hand woven – one loop at a time. (Photo by Dawn Stahl)

: Cape Cod Doormats began with only three weavers – now there is a team of more than 50. (Photo by Dawn Stahl)

: I love the craftsmanship and care that’s used to make each of these mats – this doormat is almost complete. (Photo by Dawn Stahl)

: Here is another mat on a loom. Once the weaving part of the process is done, the doormat is removed from the base for the final steps. This doormat is called “Bluestone Basketweave”. (Photo by Dawn Stahl)

: The mat is placed on the table, where it is finished by hand. (Photo by Dawn Stahl)

: The last few loops are complete, and then each pipe is removed. (Photo by Dawn Stahl)

: Here is a doormat after all the pipes were pulled, exposing only the ends of the rope. (Photo by Dawn Stahl)

: Each of the rope ends is terminated and sealed with a special heat gun. (Photo by Dawn Stahl)

: Properly sealing the ends prevents any unraveling. (Photo by Dawn Stahl)

: I have a doormat in front of every doorway. Every one of them is attractive. And, they withstand the heaviest traffic – trapping dirt, mud, snow or sand before anyone walks through the door. This doorway to my basement gets a lot of traffic every day.

: This doormat is in front of my Tenant House, where my daughter and grandchildren stay during visits. I am using all black doormats at the farm, but these come in various lovely colors and patterns that coordinate with any door style or home decor.

: And here is one in front of my Flower Room. I often place them off center from the doorway, where they will provide the most use for anyone entering or exiting.

: This doormat is at the bottom of the steps leading to my Winter House kitchen. These mats are very elegant in their design – guests often ask about them when they visit.

: On my large back porch, I have two – one at the bottom of the steps, and one in front of the door. When selecting a doormat, choose the biggest mat your space will allow, so visitors are sure to place both feet on the mat – not just one.

: Also be sure there’s enough space between the mat and the door, so there is no scraping every time the door is opened and closed.

: Here is a closeup – these mats are perfectly woven. They are also mold and mildew resistant. I leave them out through the seasons, and store them during winter.