Now that my kitchen is done (pictures next week- I promise!) the little things are bugging me. Like the fact that my coffee mug cabinet is a) completely out of control, I think we have about 30 mugs b) they are all mismatched and ugly. And while I will never chuck the Hawaii mug I got on our honeymoon and Andrew will never get rid of the mug his late aunt gave him for Christmas one year, I really want to have (for the most part) a nice, matching collection of mugs. It’s such a trivial little aspect of the kitchen but has big impact on the daily ritual of a nice, hot cup of coffee or tea. Which for me is ESSENTIAL. So I rounded up some good mugs to consider- as I sit here and sip out of one ugly mug. :)
1. // 2. // 3. // 4. // 5. // 6. // 7. // 8. // 9.
I’m with ya! I feel like I have been on a never ending quest for decent mugs that make my morning ritual nicer. My problem is because I can decide I continue to collect one or two nice ones to see if I like them! I need to pull the trigger and get myself a beautiful set — add to the list!
Four and five are definitely my favourite. We are going through house renovations and I too have been thinking about mugs, but then we all have our own individual favourites, but I think I may need to go mug shopping now!
I love my enormous mugs from crate & barrel. white simple and lovely.
Love all the ones you posted too. There should be a coffee table on all the ugly and sentimental mugs and stories.
I could illustrate it :)
pve
I’ve got #7! I love mixing and matching Royal Copenhagen and their mega line! Thank goodness I registered for this china or I could never afford it.
I have #2 and #5 – and #5 is my go-to EVERY morning! Perfect size for keurig, 10 oz, and strong! Something about the lip and size is just right.
Btw, reading and hearing about the RH PR snafu last night is a hoot!
My mis-matched mugs bothered me to no end until I finally replaced them with a set that’s really similar to #6. I love that the white really matches our white china but is visually interesting thanks to the textural details on the outside of the mug. Of course, a few “ugly muglings” stayed. You can’t give away ALL of them.
I could never make up my mind, so I did the same as PVE (C&B large white – beautiful)and then we each (hubs + 2 teens)found our “perfect” mug and each bought one. I love being able to enjoy my beautiful mug every morning, but I also like the fact that, when we have company, everyone has the same, pretty white mug to match.
I’m like a mug hoarder! Obsessed with the le creuset ones.
Ha! Us, too! My husband’s line of work, for some reason, brings in loads of hideous coffee mugs. I accidentally broke one the other night – oops.
But then, the debate starts: fine and delicate or thick and sturdy?
I recently helped a friend move and counted that she and her boyfriend had accumulated 47 mugs. It was ridiculous and I’m sending her this post so they can clean house and just pick one and call it a day. I love #6!!
My husband went through the kitchen two years ago and removed every last random glass and mug. We now have white mugs from Crate & Barrel that I love…and managed to keep the sentimental ones in the back of the cabinet.
Haha, Annabel’s “ugly muglings” is so funny!
I have the #2 Juliska print in the bowls and they’re so beautiful. They’re timeless and whimsical, and would match a white and gray kitchen perfectly.
BUT they’re not exactly masculine. I can’t imagine my husband drinking his gallon, man-sized portion of coffee out of them. Pinkies out, men!
I’ve come to realize that the handle makes the mug. My vote is #1 or #6. Classics!
I love #2. It is a pity the Royal Copenhagen mug looks like a souvenir from Disney World. The rest of the collection does not reflect this. Le Crueset is a safe choice and a good size. Can’t wait to see your kitchen!
I guess I’m the only voting for #3, so far. Love the bold color, especially in a “greyscale” kitchen. Looks sturdy and comfortable to hold. A thicker, heavier mug keeps the coffee warmer longer. I have these mugs from Heartstone. Most of their patterns are too country-ish for me, but I love the simple Checkmates pattern. The mugs are perfect – large, heavy, great lip and keep my coffee warm a long time. https://www.hartstonepottery.com/store/shopexd.asp?id=121&ccode=20401060
LOVE 1,6 and 9. I’m totally in the same boat as you with all of the mismatched coffee mugs!
Thanks for this post. I am moving into a new kitchen soon and am on the look out for some new mugs too. A matching set would be so much nicer than my collection of mismatched mugs. Also cheap mugs scare me- we had a Florida Gators mug that went all weird on the inside, don’t think the glaze was right-probably not too healthy.
I had the same to-do list recently and found gorgeous mugs from Williams Sonoma–they’ve recently collaborated with Jars and the results are gorgeous (and 20% off right now). :)
#1 or #8 or a combination of both.
I had the same to-do list recently and found gorgeous mugs from Williams Sonoma–they’ve recently collaborated with Jars and the results are gorgeous (and 20% off right now). :)
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/jars-cantine-dinnerware-place-setting/?pkey=ctabletop-dinnerware
Come on now, Erin :) Your Jil R. collection mugs ALL THE WAY!
Wait until you have kids! Then it will be coffee mugs AND sippy cups!
I like 3 and 9 :)
Susan
simplymodernhome.com
the handle is usually the issue – if I can’t fit my whole hand in the loop it’s a deal breaker. We have #6 and I love them and all their little bumps
Can I vote? I vote #6! I was initially a little demoralized when Jack threw out all of our mismatched college-era accumulations in kitchenware, but years later I really love the all-white-everything look inside our cabinets. Somehow, that’s peaceful. Good luck!
Love my Le Creusets. Come in so many choices, coffee stays hot, feels nice in the hand. But that’s why you included them! Pretty ones are nice for guests though– maybe get 6 pretty, 6 practical.
For the most part we do pairs of mugs. It keeps it from being too random, but also keeps us from using the same mug at the same time and getting confused. Mostly it’s pairs of whites in different shapes, though we’ve branched out into colors/patterns lately.
I have the #6 mugs. They are great because of the price. (But they scratched on the inside bottom insanely fast.) I also love the Juliska mugs. Those would be beautiful in any kitchen.
For us it was all about the size. The first set we have worked well with the coffee machine (single serve) we had at the time so I bought 12..then another 12 for the 2nd machine and now a new 12 for the Keurig. I too have 2 Hawaii mugs I cannot part with but always went with Target basic white mugs. I do have a nice set of Jonathan Adler grey ones as well with the male/female faces on them. So I have 24 spare white mugs if you want..
You should definitely get a whole set of the mugs you helped design! They are really cool
Great choices! I’ve recently liked purchasing a mug or two from random places so my collection’s very mismatched, but I love em all!
Just bought those Threshold mugs in blue and white a few days ago! I keep the pretty, matching ones in the front and the “sentimental mugs” in the back of the cabinet!
I’m slowly acquiring a somewhat mismatched set of handmade mugs from craft shows and farmer’s markets. Just about ready to start weeding out the old, ‘made in China’ ones. The simple handmade ones just feel better!
#3 Le Creuset! It will always remind you of home… Wait, that might be a bad idea ;)
I have a confession to make! I collect coffee cups-Maui, Disney World, Easter, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Halloween, etc. My favorite is my Minnie Mouse mug. It’s like my version of an old lady’s Christmas sweater. I say go for what makes you happy!
You have to go look at the Juliska Jardin de mond in the green color way in person. I just bought 4 after my kitchen remodel and I am obsessed! It’s the perfect green-the website does not do it justice!! Love the white too!
I might be the only one who likes the ugly mugs?? Haha we’ve always bought them from places we traveled to and it makes me happy to relive those memories every time I grab one out of the cabinet. Plus they have character, not everything in life is pretty and coordinated! Anyways if I had to pick I’d go with #4 bc it’s so pretty and handmade looking, it would make me happy every morning.
Ooh, I might have to get the Le Creuset mugs. They are the exact color of the accent walls in my kitchen! Thanks for the tip.
I’m with you, Kate,#3 for me. I do happen to have all matched mugs (OCD!) franki
#6 or #9. Fab and j don’t think you will grow tired of them!
My vote is absolutely for #2!
I had this issue when I reno’d my kitchen, but my problem is always the same, what on earth do you do with all the old ones? I feel horrible just chucking a couple of dozen perfectly functional mugs in the trash, and they’re too yucky to donate. I have this issue with bathroom towels, dish towels and all sorts of things around the house that I’d love to change but get stuck in the “I can’t just throw this out” rut. Anyone have any suggestions?
[...] week, Erin’s post got me contemplating mugs. We tend to favor all-white-everything – we tossed our mismatched [...]
I make and collect mugs; I love your choices but I highly suggest you consider adding a few handmade ones. They will soon become your favorite! I love to decide what kind of morning it is by the mug I choose for my tea. If you are interested in handmade mug suggestions I am brimming with them!
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