When it comes to the home – or for the matter the office – there’s nothing much more reassuring than a favourite mug. Enjoying a hot drink of tea or coffee is for many of us a necessary part of the day, and one that can be made even more valuable by the addition of a finely designed and produced cup or mug. Some of the world’s leading design houses regularly make use of the humble china mug to imprint their style on the global marketplace, and often do so in some fun and surprising ways. Here at Dotmaison, we love to investigate how style can be brought into everyday items – and, when it comes down to it, it doesn’t get much more everyday than a tea mug or a coffee cup!
Take the Alphabet mugs from Ladybird for example (above and cover). The colourful Bone China mugs show off a keenly aware style harking back to childhood memories of learning the alphabet. Each showcasing its specific letter with a matching picture, the mugs are a fun way to enjoy a tea break. They also arrive complete with the corresponding magnetic letter tag for placing on a fridge. A lovely way to put some retro style and fun learning around the place!
Also bringing a sweet reminder of childhood learning to the home are the Mr Men and Little Miss collection. Consisting of egg cups and mugs, the set takes Roger Hargreaves’s wonderful collection of characters and places them on high quality kitchen essentials. The Mr Happy mug (above) is a great example of the collection’s ability to deliver a great nostalgia fix with a beautiful, timeless design.
A different take on cup design is provided here by Eames with their House of Cards Espresso Cups. Bringing an arts and crafts feel to the home for coffee lovers, the design shows off a vibrant colourful approach to the production of a coffee cup. What all of these styles – and many more – elegantly prove is that while tea and coffee time can usually be expected, they need never be boring or dull!
