Custom Car Mats to Spiff Up Your Ride

!–paging_filter–pDefiled by muddy feet, spilled lattes and crushed Cheerios, the car mat doesn’t get much respect. In fact, unless they’re being scrubbed, car mats aren’t given much thought at all. But Seattle-based high-end home furnishings company Curran (a href=”http://www.curranonline.com” target=”_blank”curranonline.com/a) aims to raise footwell fashion to new heights. In January, the Web retailer (with a by-appointment downtown showroom) expanded with new line, Curran Car (a href=”http://www.currancar.com” target=”_blank”currancar.com/a), offering customized, stylish, waterproof car mats that fit any make and model back to 1930. Founder Jeff Curran was already known for helping to develop a synthetic sisal rug (which doesn’t stain, unlike the real thing), and after an expert in the car accessories business approached him about making synthetic sisal car mats, he started thinking, “What would I want in my car?” Curran decided he’d like something that could be easily hosed down, but was also fun. He created a prototype, a blue striped mat, which received raves on sight. Now available in a full spectrum of colors, patterns and textures, the mats resemble thick Chilewich placemats. “They give your car a personality,” Curran says, “and give a person with design sense another room to design.” Prices vary, but a low-end estimate is $445 for two front mats for a Mini Cooper, while a high-end estimate is $2,089 for two front mats, two back mats and a cargo mat for a Volvo XC90. An indulgence, to be sure, but as Curran points out, “They make you happy when you get in your car.”/p