changing seasons.

i scored a small victory when i convinced my husband that he could not place a rug on our coffee table (literally, a rug. and it clashed beyond repair with everything.). my compromise was instead of a rug (or his next suggestion: a large round table cloth for the poor, defenseless rectangular table) was two placemats. i even let him help choose - a nice neutral beige. he likes it because it breaks up the plain monotony of a wooden table top, and i like it because it doesn't overpower the simplicity - and it will be changing with the seasons. it is a perfect foundation for a festive, fall table decoration (or two small ones). these are examples from bhg.