May 22
Some may still have the scars and trauma from the ubiquitous plastic carpet runner, the original "slip and slide" for the indoor enthusiast. This ad perfectly captures the 1980s anxiety of owning nice things. Look at that child; he's navigating the living room like a tightrope walker, knowing one step off the plastic path means immediate exile. He is clutching a sandwich with the chaotic energy of a linebacker, and that kidney-shaped table is trembling in fear. It’s a beautiful reminder of a time when we preserved our floors by turning our living rooms into obstacle courses.
Source: House & Garden Magazine, September 1981.
