Quatrefoil Credenza ||A Collaboration with Modern South||

Today I have the privileged of debuting not only a fresh piece but also a fellow creative!  Posts like these are some of my favorites - when two creatives join forces to make something together.  I connected with Cory of Modern South via Instagram and jumped at the chance to work with her on a juicy collaboration.

Modern South Studio

Original Artwork by Cory McBee
Charleston, SC

Cory and I share a mutual love of color and abstract art.  When we were looking for an excuse to work together, I had the perfect piece in mind to show off her ethereal landscapes art.  I found this four door credenza without a leg to stand on and the sweet quatrefoil detailing was so endearing that I couldn't pass it up. 

Plus I was jonesing to do something in a buttery gray again.

The classic lines of this piece called for a feminine and glam look - something a little softer than I normally debut in the garage shop.  

The paint color I went with was Hailstorm Gray by Behr Marquee.  In person, it's almost blue, almost purple, almost green and therefore an all-around very mysterious neutral.

It actually did pain me a bit to paint the burled wood inserts on the doors but there were too many areas of damage that needed repair and I just couldn't picture a two-toned look.  I think because the two-tone is more indicative of a modern streamlined piece that wouldn't fit a piece like this with more decorative details.  

For her new gams, I found these metal 7" legs.  Their sleek lines help modernize the credenza so it can appeal to a wider variety of home decor styles. 

The piece's original floret-ed knobs complimented the quatrefoil design on the doors too perfectly to give up so I gave the legs our favorite faux-gold finish to match.

Inside is a cabinet on the left

and a set of drawers on the right.

Any one of her prints would have been the perfect compliment, but Cory's "Blue Fever" and "Dreaming in Orange" make such a lovely couple. 

Blue Fever by Cory McBee, Modern South Studio

Dreaming in Orange by Cory McBee, Modern South Studio

The navy and blush paired with the gray and gold of their piece reminds me of a quiet sunrise.  

I kept a relatively neutral color scheme with the rest of my decorative items: dried eucalyptus in a white ceramic vase, a couple stacks of books, white picture frames and touches of glass and gold.

Cory's prints are the precise soft/ feminine accents I was picturing when I finished this piece.  If you want a set of your own, you can shop Modern South Studio or email Cory for customize print sizes.  And if you're local to the DC Metro area, this gray quatrefoil beauty could also be yours.

Gray Quatrefoil Dresser
Now Available for Sale
72"L x 20"D x 30.5"H
$685

If you are interested in this piece or a custom order like it, email me at cate@stylemutthome.com.

Kesslyr's Artistic Flat

Mutts: Allow me to introduce you to Kesslyr. She not only has an incredibly unique name (as a 'McKenna,' which went from unique to fairly mainstream in the world for 4-year-old girls, I'm very jealous) but is also a wonderfully unique and inspiring artist - check out her website which has its soft launch TODAY! 

        Images source: Kesslyr's Pinterest

And her home in Brooklyn, New York is the perfect backdrop to showcase her work! 

Here's an important piece of information for you all to keep in mind as you read this post. Kesslyr and her husband moved in to this space in June. Of this year. I'm not telling you that to make you feel bad - but WOW! 

Now, over to the artist herself: 

“For us, we start firstly with bringing life into a room; in our case, this means plant life. Then we add a few pieces of necessary furniture, then sit back and let that soak in. Its easy for a space to get cluttered, so we take our time in choosing the mood of the room. The older we get, the fewer things we like to share in our spaces. So simplicity is key. ”

I know most of our Mutts have cultivated impressive green thumbs recently, but ladies & gentleman, Kesslyr's skills in this area should be taken seriously. Very seriously. 

“Our Brooklyn home is pretty small, and [I would describe our style as] simple & modern with an eclectic touch.

Throughout our home, we have tons of locally crafted pieces from our own art to pottery. One of our favorite spots is our office nook. Super cosy little nook with frosted windows that give off warm light throughout the day. The clash of stainless steel from the mirror and brass from the sconce is a unique contrast. ”

Green Thumb Badge EARNED, Kesslyr. 

Now, if I had you all guess where Kesslyr and her husband got married, do you think you could do it? I'll give you some hints: the natural plant life, the mid-century influences, the welcoming 'stay a while' vibe. Anyone guessing Palm Springs? GOOD! 

“We are constantly evolving as people and with that, so does our taste level. We are loving the feeling of modernity but not overtly sterile. We want our home to feel warm and still have character. Some modern homes can feel like museums and make you feel like you cant disturb anything or even sit on the couch. Which is the opposite of what we are going for.”

After only three months in this home, it feels so loved - and that is no small feat. 

“Its about collecting those quality in pieces that are timeless; lamps, mirrors and art seem to be what draw us in. Its a small collection that builds slowly and methodically and will be enjoyed for years to come. ”

Kesslyr, thank you for letting us in! And Mutts, show Kesslyr some love and follow her along on Instagram for more design and art inspiration! Now, everyone, go enjoy your weekends!  

Reader Design: An Artists Bungalow

Well alert the papers and toss the confetti!

This isn't just our first reader design of 2016, it's our 50th tour on our Spaces page! We are incredibly humbled by the talent and inspiration spilling over that page and it doesn't slip by us that it's our most viewed page and generates the most traffic to our site. You are amazing and we are so very grateful for what StyleMutt Home is because of your generosity in sharing here. We wanted all our eclectic pals to feel at home and have a sense of ownership here at StyleMutt Home and sharing through the Reader Design home tours, (collected on our SPACES page), has turned out to be an amazing way to get involved. If you're a new friend here and interested in a home tour feature, all you've got to do is contact us at admin@stylemutthome.com! We'll be happy to chat with you!

We are celebrating our big 5-0 today with a true style mutt's home. Holly not only knows how to blend style and functionality, but her home also serves as a gallery for her brilliant art pieces. Let's take a look around!

Holly:

My husband and I moved back to Peterborough (my hometown), in Ontario, Canada two years ago. This 1300 sq ft bungalow was the only house we looked at and I knew this was where we should raise our family. We have two daughters age 4 & 6, our dog Dublin is our first child age 9.

In our foyer there was no room to hang coats or bags. My Uncle helped me hang salvaged pieces of wood on the wall and then we added hooks. I was on the hunt for the perfect hardware online and my mom mentioned that she had a bag in her basement I might be interested in. She had saved these hooks from her childhood home, I think they add character with the bits of pink paint chipping off. 

My favourite spot to relax and enjoy a cup of tea is on our sofa in the living room. This room also gets incredible light and I’m able to look around and see so many of our collectibles and artwork. We love midcentury design and architecture, and bungalows are what I’m personally drawn to.

Well, hello there, Dublin!

The kitchen has a full wall of windows that opens up to a very private yard. In the warmer months it is filled  shade, something our last backyard was lacking. Our girls are able to play and we can watch them from inside if we are preparing a meal or lounging in the living room. The previous homeowners did a great job on the renovation in this space and it is filled with high end appliances. While the finishes may not have been my first choice, I’m learning to like them. My studio is in the basement so if I feel like painting upstairs I set up at the table & get messy with our girls. 

Our taste is definitely an eclectic mix of styles. I love thrifting and mixing vintage furniture and accessories with my artwork. I love colour, texture and pattern and I’m not afraid to mix things together. I think when friends enter our home they see our personalities in our décor choices and artwork. 

Thank you so much, Holly, for this amazing tour! What brilliant style; so inspiring. You can follow Holly and her work on Instagram @hollyyoung77 and on her site, www.hollyyoungart.ca.

Thank you so much for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!