Things that sit by the front door

How a deep dome umbrella works

A flat umbrella sits above the head and catches every gust that comes down the street. The wind gets underneath the rim, pulls upward, and flips the whole frame inside out before you reach the corner. A deep dome umbrella takes a different shape. The ribs curve down around the shoulders, which spills the breeze over the top instead of catching it like a sail. We put a clear vinyl cover on the frame so the canopy comes down past the eyes without blocking the sidewalk ahead. You can watch the curb, the puddles and the step while the rain rolls off the sides.

Rain hats and scarves for quick trips

Some people will not carry an umbrella under any circumstances. A rain hat or a wind scarf folds into an entryway drawer and ties under the chin in two seconds. The honest trade is coverage. A plastic hood or a coated scarf keeps a set hair dry and sheds water away from the collar, but rain still hits the coat and the shoes. It earns its place for the run to the car, the dash across the driveway or an errand in a sudden drizzle. The plastic folds flat, wipes dry on a kitchen towel and goes right back into the coat pocket.

Choosing the sole under your slippers

A slipper is defined by what sits underneath the foot. Chenille slippers with soft cloth bottoms belong upstairs, in the bedroom and on clean rug. They make no noise on wood floors, but they soak up water from the porch and wear thin on gravel. A clog with a molded rubber sole is built for the walk out to the mailbox and back. It steps on wet grass, takes the cold concrete step and wipes clean on the mat. An open toe slipper lets air move around the foot in warmer months while keeping a firm sole between you and the floor.

Readers that stay on your face

Most houses have reading glasses scattered across three rooms. The readers we carry on our pages magnify the page and come in several strengths, but the shape of the frame matters just as much as the lens. Flexible bows bend outward without snapping, and textured grippers behind the ears keep the frames from sliding down the nose when you look down at a receipt. A double eyeglass pouch gives two pairs a single home on the hall table. You keep the reading pair in one side and the wrap around sunglasses in the other, so both go out the door together.

Bags that wash in the machine

A small leather coin purse holds exact change, a folded bill and a house key, and nothing more. It fits inside a coat pocket because it does not try to hold the whole house. For everything else, a washable cloth shoulder handbag is a practical choice. Leather handbags need special creams and spot cleaning, while a cloth bag goes straight into the washing machine when the bottom picks up dirt from the car floor. It comes out clean, hangs on a doorknob to air dry, and takes its place back on the entryway hook by evening.