French Bistro Comfort Mat
4.5
5
456
456
Water marks?
Although this mat is sizeable and comfortable to stand on, I was dismayed to see that the aged look of the chalkboard design really resembles water marks rather than aging. The mat has a very strong chemical odor like turpentine. I'm sure that will naturally dissipate, though. I had to come online and look at the images again in order to discern if my mat indeed had water marks or that is truly part of the design, which it appears to be. From the other reviews I read, I didn't see anyone else mention this as a problem so perhaps it is something I just need to get used to. My first instinct was to send it back but I may live with it for a few days and get a few other opinions from friends.
April 20, 2011
smelled awful
I LOVED the look and feel of this...and it looked adorable in my kitchen. BUT, the rubber smell was so overwhelming, I had to return it. My whole house smelled like it. I even tried to wash it and let it sit out in the sun for a few days. Smell was still awful.....
March 31, 2011
Very happy skeptic
After reading the reviews, I too was worried about the smell! My daughter and I both have very sensitive noses to strong odors. After a month of debating, I went ahead and ordered 2 of them. I ordered the large and the demilune thinking how bad could it be? Uh, not at all...slight odor that went away after a couple of days. Didn't even put them outside. They both went straight into the kitchen. My mom loves them too! She ordered 3 for her large kitchen. Clean up is easy. No need to get out the vaccum every time! I use a damp sponge and lightly wipe up crumbs, etc. Also, if you are concerned about shipping time, 1-3 weeks, we both received ours in 3-4 days. Ballard, I'm impressed!
September 28, 2012
love the look in my kitchen
The bistro mat is exactly as described in your catalog. It did have an unpleasant chemical odor which went away after a week or so. I'm very happy with the mat
September 20, 2012
Great idea but very poor quality
I have had my mat for only a few months and already the top layer is peeling at the edges. I've had to hot-glue the edges several times already but it keeps peeling away. It's a beautiful, comfortable mat for in front of the kitchen sink but the quality leaves much to be desired. Very disappointed.
March 16, 2011
Love My French Bistro Comfort Mats
I received two of the large mats as a gift. I wanted to use them in front of my stove and in front of my sink. Initially there was a very weak tire smell to them, but within a day or two there was absolutely no smell at all. One of the mats was too large for the front of my sink so I ordered the demilune mat. Same story...there was really no odor to this mat, and I started using them both immediately. My sister bought the mat I couldn't use and another of my sisters is going to buy 2 of these mats for her kitchen because she fell in love with the look of these comfort mats. I would highly recommend these mats for both their beauty and functionality.
February 18, 2013
I would not recommend this product because it has a terrible odor!
I had to put the rug outside on my balcony for days, hoping that the fresh air would take away some of the heavy smell of rubber. I even bought "Scotch guard", because someone told me it takes away the smell of rubber. I have new wood floors in my kitchen, and I was afraid that the odor would seep into the wood. After days outside, I put the rug in the kitchen. Even now, if I pick up the rug, I can smell the rubber. The rug was very attractive in your catalog, but I never expected it to smell so bad. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to comment on this product.
February 22, 2013
Sad
I have to admit I'm sad about this product. I love the look of it and the feel of it. In those regards it's perfect for me.
Too bad my kitchen smells like a tire. I initially left this in my garage to air it out for several weeks. This was ineffective so I put it outside and washed it with the hose. This helped somewhat, but my kitchen still smells like a tire. Honestly, I'm afraid to put it in my washing machine for fear it too will end up smelling like a tire. When guests come over I have to remove it to avoid being asked about the smell.
June 23, 2011
Looks and feels good
This mat has a nice cushion feel and stays looking good day after day.
June 15, 2013
It has an offensive odor
I love this rubber rug, it's great, but it is has a very harsh
rubber, chemical smell. I can't believe others haven't noticed it. I soaked it in the tub for a couple days...it still was there. I have now had it for a year...the smell is finally gone. It would be GREAT if they could just get rid of the smell
July 8, 2012
I own two!
I have two of these mats one for each home I own. The two homes have very different styles and the mat works great with both of them. Add how good it feels on your feet and you've got a winner.
June 6, 2013
Just the thing.
Just the thing for the kitchen floor by the sink. Sticks to the floor - no tripping, even for my trip-prone feet. Attractive without attracting attention, durable, easy to wipe off.
June 3, 2013
wonderful on the feet and legs
I have looked at other mats but they have no design or smoothness to them. This mat is extremely comfortable to stand on for hours. I would recommend this to anyone that has to cook dinner every night. It also wipes up so easy and I love the French menu, perfect for the kitchen. I ordered the largest size this is not listed in the catalog and it fits perfect.
May 29, 2013
Loved this comfort mat
I struggle with lower back pain when working in the kitchen. This mat is stylish and is not solid black like others on the market thus it does not show dirt or pet hair much at all. My only drawback is that I am sensitive to a slight rubber smell. It appears to be diminishing so I do not consider it a deal breaker. Great product that definitely satisfied my expectations.
September 30, 2012
Just as it appears.
Lots of comfort under your feet at the kitchen sink. Cleans up nicely!
May 28, 2013
Lovely!
This is my third mat of this kind. They look fantastic. I have gotten many compliments. They last about a year but they are worth it.
May 27, 2013
Gorgeous but noxious odor
I love this, it's just perfect...looks fabulous, but the odor was chemical and rubber and horrible. I couldn't keep it indoors it was making me sick. I even washed it in the tub as instructed by the Ballard people and all that did was make the writing screen separate from the rubber.
They should be able to do this on another material...it's great looking , I would buy 3 more, but I just can't get past that odor that lingers for weeks and weeks.
September 16, 2012
Beautifully made.
I received the French Bistro Mat and was not disappointed. It fit perfectly and stands out for everyone to notice. The best part is the support for my back and feet. I'm thinking about getting one for my daughter.
September 27, 2012
Does not hold up
Very poor quality. Edges all coming up. Looks terrible. They should take this product back. For the price, it should have lasted a long time. To bad, it was a nice style and comfortable.
May 23, 2013
Top layer peeling off
I Love the look of these mats, and I get compliments on them all the time. I ordered it in small and medium for my new kitchen when we were building our house. Unfortunately, after only a month or so, the top layer started peeling off at the edges and corners. I've tried gluing it several times with different kinds of glue, and it works for awhile, but it eventually starts doing it again. I've decided to keep them and just keep trying to glue it to last as long as possible, because I love the design so much, and they match my kitchen so well. I sure hope that Ballard will work on fixing this quality issue!
May 6, 2013
LOVED BOTH RUGS
I purchased both the demuline and small and love them both! super comfortable
May 13, 2013
Loved this Bistro Mat
I have this mat for about three months and it is beginning to peel on the edges. I love it and would like to know what I can do. If it wasn't peeling, I would have given it 5 stars.
April 7, 2011
Is what it is
It's a mat. It's not a substantial mat or a particularly well-made mat. It's a piece of rubber with some print on it. Kind of expensive if you ask me, but my wife liked it so we got it. If it was half the price Id give it 4 stars I suppose.
February 9, 2012
Very cute
It is very nice looking, but is a little firmer than I thought it was going to be. Looks great under my sink in my kitchen!
May 6, 2013
mrs. k
It looks great. We had to hang it out for two weeks to get rid of the strong rubber smell.
May 4, 2013
I love it!
I ordered this rug in large and the demilune size and just received the large rug. I LOVE it! It is so adorable in my kitchen. As some others have mentioned, it does have a strong rubber odor, but I anticipate the smell will dissipate rather quickly. Obviously, I am thrilled that it is machine washable given that it is placed in a busy kitchen. If it doesn't hold up in the wash, I will write a follow-up, but as this time i give it high marks!
April 25, 2013
I love this!
Wonderfully cushy for tired feet ...love that it can be wiped off to clean.
April 27, 2013
I LOVE this mat!
I never imagined I would be proudly pointing out a kitchen mat to people, but I do! It looks absolutely perfect in my kitchen.... I have white cupboards with black granite counter around the perimeter and a black island with white & grey granite top. I like French vintage contrasting with modern for my accessories, and this well made and classy comfort mat in front of my sink is an ideal addition!
June 22, 2012
Love it
Love this mat! It's definitely durable and understated. There was no odor as many of the review noted.
April 26, 2013
Love my new French Bistro Mat & Ballard Designs
Last finishing touch to my kitchen with a Parisian twist~ love it! Nothing as charming elsewhere. Especially loved that Ballard Designs honored the special savings the morning after I placed my order.
April 22, 2013
