A New Kind of Play for an Old Toy Chest

Grandpas are special.  They let you eat sugary cereals and watch early morning cartoons when you’re parents are out of town.  They slip you gas money before you drive back to school.  They build things in their basement workshop and teach you all about their tools.  And sometimes they even give you the old family toy chest he built for your mom and her siblings and tells you to “have at it!”

 If you’re popping by from Apartment Therapy, welcome!  We are StyleMutt Home, a sister-in-law duo  (Chelsea & Cate) who love to mix and match a myriad of styles in the pieces we refinish and the spaces we design...

Now my husband (Chelsea's brother) and I don't have any kids of our own yet so I was challenged to rethink what else I could do with this piece of family lore.  So I got to thinking... what if it could still be used for a more grown-up sort of play...

It was a simple transformation really.  I took the lid off the toy chest and flipped it on it’s side to screw in some hairpin legs I had from a thrifted find and boom: record player stand.

Inspired by grandpa's original paint color, I refreshed the muted black paint on the exterior. of the box.

But for the interior I couldn’t bring myself to sand out the assortment of dings.  To me, they are the map of a playful childhood.  

So I just waxed the wood to at least give it back its buttery sheen.

It turns out that the chest is the perfect size for a standard LP sleeve!

For the styling, I used plumb foliage (scavenged from the parking lot no less) + DIY moon phase chalkboard art + a framed floating ghost lady (taken from Gustav Klimt's Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer ).  To me, they all subtlety tip their witches' hats to Halloween without being overly ghoulish.

Adding legs gave it the height it needed to be used as a record cabinet or even a bar - either way it's ready for a more grown-up type of play.

And as much as I’d love to keep this bad boy in the family, we simply don’t have the space!  So DC Metro area: my loss is your gain.  If you are interested in this piece - pop over to our shop to get more info.  

Hairpin Legged Record Cabinet
Now Available for Sale

DIY Rustic Fall Wreath

Hi friends! A couple weeks ago on Instagram I mentioned that I'd be sharing two easy-peasy projects that whisper Fall without a lot of time or expense. The first was the succulent pumpkins, and today's project compliments that one beautifully: A rustic moss and birch wreath!

Moss and Birch Wreath Supplies
-Wood/particle board wreath frame, (Michaels or your local craft store)
-1 package of moss, (Michaels or local craft store)
-Birch tree slices, (I used 15 and found the lot for $5 on eBay).

Start by hot gluing the birch slices around the wreath frame, then fill in with moss. Piece of cake!

I really love how thin this wreath is but still full and dimensional with all the moss hanging off!

This earthy piece could really stay up year round - it's such a fresh way of incorporating green into the home, why not?!

Thank you so much for stopping by!

For the Love of Autumn and the Love of You

So if you didn't know this already fall is our FAVORITE time of year over here on StyleMutt Home.  We take our falling leaves, crisp air, apple pickin, hot beverages, scarves, boots, and sweaters very seriously.  But we also know that the only way to celebrate this hallowed season properly is to also celebrate something else we love: YOU!  

So between now until November 1st, we are offering you a juicy 20% off on select pieces in the Garage Shop!

So let's take a tour of all the fall savings:

Anthro Inspired Dresser
40.25"H x 35"W x 19"D
Was $265

Now $212

Modern Cowprint Bench
50"W x 24"D x 14"H
Was $345

Now $276

Vintage Metal Record Table
40.25"H x 35"W x 19"D
Was $50

Now $40

Navy Campaign Dresser
32ʺW × 18ʺD × 44.5ʺH
Was $345

Now $276

Rustic Army Cot Coffee Table
(and handmade wooden tray)
Was $160

Now $128

5-Piece Scandi Dining Set
48" Table
Was $150

Now $120

Rustic Twin Pallet Bed & Step Stool
(made of solid wood, sanded smooth, stained Golden Oak)
Was $85

Now $68

We know fall is a big time of year for redoing your home decor so we hope this fall sale helps get you into gear for the coming holidays. If you are interested in any of these pieces, please email info@stylemutthome.com to get your fall on!