Bedroom Re-Do || 2017 Flip List Item No.6

November 9, 2017 Cate | StyleMutt Home

Like Chelsea said yesterday, our bedroom has always been a flat note to me. We've tried a couple different looks over the past two years (see here and here). Each time we rearranged, it felt like I inched a little closer to the vibe I wanted but without ever bringing the design to full fruition.

So I added item redoing our bedroom to the 2017 Furniture Flip Bucket List in the hopes of figuring out what was missing from this neglected space.

The first thing that greets you when you walk into our bedroom has always been my nightstand. I fell in love with this vignette ages ago so I used it as inspiration for the rest of the space: warm wood + pops of color + a glint of brass.

In the past looks I’ve tried, we’ve never had a headboard. I think that made me feel like there was something juvenile about our space. So this time around I needed to see if a headboard would help refine our bedroom. And I gotta say I am loving the anchor of the plush blue velvet!

I also kept my beloved leather + brass cantilever chair in the corner by the window.

I think one day I’d ideally like to use this chair at a desk, but until then I guess my husband can keep throwing his “clean” underwear on it *insert facepalm emoji.*

Next to the chair is our thrifted MCM dresser. I found this bad boy for only $50 and eventually scored the sunset mirror to go with it.

Just outside our door you can peek the roadside rescue ladder I've often used as a lateral storage piece. Our hallway doesn't have much going on so I added the low-profile vertical piece for some architectural interest.

In this redecorating process, I did figure out that I’m bothered by the lack of varied furniture height in our room.

I shopped our apartment to introduce something lower as an alternative storage piece - do you recognize it? This bench was actually our coffee table but I liked the idea of converting it to a get ready station.

The pièce de résistance to the makeover however is new bedding... I never realized how grown-up it would feel to have a real duvet cover! We scored the Marble Percale Duvet Cover and matching shams (guess what - their on sale!) from Cstudio Home and it’s perfect for me and my oven-of-a-husband (ok I’m an oven too).

Don't forget to check out Chelsea's Cstudio Home finds in her bedroom reveal... Gasp! That shag pillow cover! *heart eyes heart eyes heart eyes*

True, most of this makeover is a series of subtle tweaks. What can I say? We’re still in a rental after all. But this modest assortment of new things has me feeling right as rain. Until I get the itch to change it again that is... ;)

And on that note, that’s officially a wrap on the 2017 Furniture Flip Bucket List! After two years of late finishes, it feels good to cross the finish line with a month to spare. I’ve already begun percolating what I want to tackle in 2018 so stay tuned for next year’s list come January!

Seven down, zero to go. Catch up on the 2017 Furniture Flip Bucket List.

Reader Design: Lisa's Global Retreat

January 27, 2017 McKenna Begin

This one is for the travelers. The ones out there who have insatiable wanderlust like myself. Or even those who just like to dabble in some global cuisine every now and then.

Lisa's Chicago home represents years of travel. Her home tells us where she's been and gets more unique with every trip she takes and item she brings home.

The feeling hits you the second you come through the door. And it's not just one thing. But the thing that jumps out at me is that gallery wall. Now, we all see a lot of gallery walls. But this is something else.

It's a lovingly curated collection of works from one of Lisa's favorite artists as well as some of her own work and will be something she adds to throughout her life. It perfectly represents her aesthetic philosophy.

From Lisa:

“I love spaces that are functional and classic, with meaningful keepsakes, souvenirs, and artwork sprinkled in there. If an object/piece of furniture doesn’t serve any sort of purpose in the space or if a souvenir/piece of artwork doesn’t evoke a feeling, then it shouldn’t be there.”

In the living room, you notice the textiles.

“I have a few blankets that I bought in Peru that I LOVE. I came home with a new suitcase full of Peruvian textiles but still felt like it wasn’t enough...”

All those global influences make a place feel special but can be difficult to bring together.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to do a good amount of traveling in my life , and most places have influenced me in some way. It can actually hinder me a lot of times when I’m trying to put together a space. When I was in my early 20’s, I spent some time living in Italy and Southern France. I love the softness of French style, but I also love the ruggedness of an Argentine estancia. Those cultures influenced me a lot in the way I live and especially in my aesthetic choices. The key is to figure out how to make those contradictory elements work together. ”

So how do you do it? How do you take influences from literally all over the place and make it feel cohesive, unified, homey? It's a question Lisa has a pretty good answer to.

“When designing a space, my starting point is always going to be Function. What is the point of this room? What are people going to be doing in here? Once you’ve established the function of the room, you can start figuring out what layout and styles will make the most sense. ”

Well done, Lisa. This home functions beautifully. I know that I for one will stay tuned on Instagram @lisalaurens to see where your travels lead you next!

Thanks for following along, mutts!

Winter Eclectic Home Tour

December 6, 2016 Cate | StyleMutt Home

Welcome to our 800 sq.ft. 1 bedroom apartment! If you are arriving from French & French Interiors on the Winter Eclectic Home Tour hosted by Domicle 37, thank you so much for stopping by! No we are not decorated for Christmas just yet (I know, I know... LAME). I promise you I'm not a scrooge, just a procrastinator and we only just got our tree yesterday. But I am so grateful for the opportunity to share all the little changes we've made since the summer tour.

Growing up, my family would always put a basket of special Christmas-only books under the tree to peruse in your PJ's at will. My favorite was an I Spy Christmas Edition. I kid you not, I've practically memorized all 13 double-page spreads plus the bonus round at the end! So even though I don't have oodles of holiday decor for you all, I thought I would (in my own way) invite you to join in on my beloved Christmas tradition and invite you play a rousing round of I Spy between my Summer and Winter Eclectic Home Tours.

Did you spot the major differences? Other than the dog lol? (And no, I didn't replace him with a rug ;) The basic layout is the same (the vintage cot under the window, the tufted sofa dividing the living and dining room). As a general rule of thumb, I like to decorate with a lot of color - no matter the season. To me, layers of colors and textures always make a space feel warm and cozy (especially for the holidays!). Ok I'll give you a 5 more seconds before I divulge the answers... 5...4...3...2...

First, I finally brought home the killim pillows I had my eyes on since before we moved in last November (huzaah!) After waiting so long, I like the idea of leaving them out through the holiday season instead of switching them for something more obviously merry. Besides, I consider them my pillow children and it wouldn't be Christmas without them.

Probably the biggest difference in the room is the big splurge of a rug. Weighing in at $250, I saved up for her for over a year and finally bought her from target last spring with some birthday money. The bonus is that Thor LOVES it - it's a high pile so he rolls around on it like it's real grass.

Still hanging on the wall are the three drawers I rescued from a rotting desk on trash day. Below them is one of the suitcase tables I scored off Chelsea and the brass floor lamp of my dreams.

If you looked closely, you may have noticed that the floor lamp is actually a change: I sold the old faux-gold one when I found this true vintage one for only $5!

In addition to pillows, we also have many plant children (who for the most part are alive and well).

We've added Figadora the Fiddle Leaf Fig to our sunny plant corner which is where we plan on putting the Christmas tree. (But don't tell Figadora - I honestly don't know how the fragile diva will take it).

The brown vinyl chair was about $40 off craigslist and may or may not have smelled like...

“Mothballs and old man farts”

— My Husband

The smell has definitely subsided since it's had the chance to air out (and marinate in the fleet of Christmas-scented candles we light anytime someone's home). Unfortunately, the chair is not the most comfortable so I'm using it as a place holder until I find the perfect camel leather armchair or affordable sectional (even though that would mean also saying goodbye to my bestie the blue tufted sofa).

Sharing the wall with our front door is our makeshift TV stand (also a roadside rescue) - another placeholder until I can convince Caleb we should get a proper piece of furniture that will allow me to hide the necessary evils (aka all our electronics).

Next to the rug, the second most expensive item in the room actually is the little wooden set of drawers which was a recent find for a whopping $75.

I answered a craigslist ad by an elderly gentleman who lives right around the corner from my parents. His listing wasn't very clear so when I arrived to pick up, I was pleasantly surprised that he had two for sale! So I impulsively shelled out double the money right then and there and have been using one as our new end table. Turns out the seller was a retired US Patent clerk and the unique design for these drawers dates back to 1903 - he actually had a the original patent on hand and sent me home with a copy!

Behind the sofa is our dining room that always packs a colorful punch.

In such a small space, the round table makes a huge difference for maximum maneuverability.

The white triplet campaign bookshelves allow my feral love of color to really take over.

Since they are a little on the short side, I have space above to prop artwork I can switch out at will.

The clean, white finish is a nice contrast to my budding collections of books, minerals, terracotta pots, cloches, brass candlesticks, and moss balls. (I'm 99.9987% positive Caleb is rolling his eyes somewhere. At least they are all corralled in on place).

Above the round table hangs my DIY 4-arm brass chandelier. Since we're in a rental, I used a recessed light conversion kit to retro fit the original can light.

Since installing it, I've added elongated bulbs to play off the quirky angles.

Hanging from our copper pipe curtain rod is a happy electric green pothos plant - which makes me smile every time I see it even though Caleb wrestles with it almost every time he tries to close the blinds.

There is actually one thing we have already set up for the holiday season: we repurposed our magazine-turned-shoe-rack into a record station. Caleb loves putting on some Perry Como or Rosemary Clooney during the holidays so pulling them out from their usual spot on the TV stand and putting them out in the open gives us easy access. (Bonus: he's been waking me up to holiday tunes almost every morning!)

Past the bathroom and down the hallway is our one and only bedroom.

Nope, we still don't have a headboard but we realized taking down the giant chartreuse curtain makes the room feel a lot brighter.

For now, we've moved the Johann Steingruber 1773 "H" replica blueprint above the bed and I've started to tinker with abstract and geometric art on either nightstand.

Flanking the bed are my entries to a friendly Flip Off competition against my sister-in-law and business partner Chelsea. She sold her flip, but I held on to mine for some extra bedroom storage.

Above them are the brass swing arm sconces I rewired to plug-in (rental probs) which I snagged from a fellow DC furniture flipper for a steal!

Opposite the window is my dresser and my beloved jewelry collection.

I love being able to see all my accessories in the printer's drawer (even if it is a dust trap).

Opposite the bed is Caleb's dresser - another thrifted MCM find.

I found the waterfall mirror separately on Craigslist but it looks like it was made the dresser no?

In the corner by the window is probably my favorite thrifted find: the brass + leather cantilever chair which sits next to my DIY mcm plant stand.

Well that concludes our tour! (800 sq.ft. goes by fast doesn't it?!?!) Thanks again for swinging by my style mutt of a space (even one that's sans holiday decor)! I promise you that everyone has some EPIC holiday home tours rearin' at the gate. Be sure to check out tomorrow's epic line-up of home tours (and be sure to catch up on yesterday's as well - you shant be sorry my friends!)