Welcome back, StyleMutts, and happy Friday! Today, I want to introduce you to Katie Banks, of CMB World Designs. She is another talented DC area native. I promise I'm not just selectively featuring DC area people - but I guess the best food city of the year is also a hot spot for designers!

Before I jump in, I need to tell you all something about Katie's home: it used to be a fraternity house. And an unofficial one at that, which means no regulation! Bless the soul (looking at you, Katie!) who saw the potential through the Animal House leftovers.

From Katie:

“An unofficial fraternity house. Need I say more?! It was TRASHED! We couldn’t move in for weeks. The first thing we needed to do was get a clean new bathroom (gross). We did most of the work ourselves, from refinishing the wood floors, tiling, framing, new windows - you name it!”

“Our style is a mix of mid century, Hollywood Regency, and industrial. Obviously very eclectic, and color makes me happy. I have always been obsessed with bold color and patterns. I’ve also never been a trendy person, so the fact that bamboo and rattan has made a comeback is working out pretty good for me right now. ”

Based on what I know of Katie, this living room is a perfect representation of her: the macrame, made by Katie's sister who owns Sealily Designs. The chairs are Craigslist. The couch is made for cuddling. What else do you need?!

I feel like 99% of the photos I see of Instagram are of these beautiful, bright white spaces. And, real talk, when do you guys think that trend is going to end? Those spaces are the perfect source of art, but that make you ask "could I actually live in that space?" Katie's home is not one of those places. And I assure you, in no way is that a negative thing.

“We are a super casual family, so comfort is a must; no fancy rooms in our house. I honestly have found that the best things in my house have come from Craigslist, yard sales, or are made by my super duper husband [like the dining room table]! ”

“This hallway makes me happy. My theory is ‘if you have kids why would you ever pay for art?’ Framing all these pics was my Mother’s Day project a couple of years ago. Across the hall is the wood wall my husband made, which doubles as a photoshoot place for some the pieces that I refinish for CMB World Designs.”

Something else I love about Katie's house? SO. MUCH. GREEN. They say decorating with green has seriously restorative properties - perfect for a busy and lively family home! Both the bathroom and the front porch would make my top two locations in this house for some serious 'me time.'

“And, finally, my favorite spot: my bathroom. Well, my tub area in my master bath. The green mosaic tile, with the skylight and plants, makes a great place to relax. At night I can see the stars. ”

Follow Katie along on Instagram at @cmbworlddesigns and check out her incredible furniture designs! We love to support our StyleMutt community! Check back next Friday for the next #stylemuttspace.

Do we all agree there are worse things than a cluttered, unorganized dresser? Of course there are! But it's amazing the effect that living with disorganization can have on a person. It's unsettling! But how unsettled do we allow ourselves to get before we do something about it? Do you organize as you go day in and day out? Do you dump on a surface for a month before you put things away? Or do you wait until you absolutely can't find what you need to buckle down and tackle the job? Our tolerance for disorganization may differ from person to person, but at some point, I think it does affect us negatively. Why live that way?

I recently tackled a corner of our bedroom that's been unattended for quite some time. This beautiful dresser, (part of a family heirloom bedroom set), has been the end-of-day dumping ground where we empty pockets of receipts and loose change, kid's drawings, and random doodads. It never got wildly out of control so we've just sort of lived with it this way for the past few years.

I had an epiphany one day - if I put in even the smallest amount of effort into this dresser top, it could change the way we use it! The first place I started was removing the items that could go elsewhere, (or in the trash).

After a short trip to Target scoping out what they had on clearance, I came home with a small lamp, candle, black washi tape, and wire desk organizer. My total cost was $20 but the collective impact of these items dramatically changes this corner. Check it out!

Ah, much better! Without removing the sentimental pieces, (kids art, a homemade plaque, an old pic from our newlywed days), and with a few new, modern additions, this corner is functional, airy, and much more appealing.

This wire desk organizer, found for $3, is a great way to stash colognes, perfumes, receipts, golf score cards, whatever!

With a gazillion colors and patterns of Washi tape out there, it can be tough to decide what to use! I absolutely love the thin, black option - it's clean, classic, and gives a modern flair to an ever-changing gallery.

I don't claim to be even a half-way decent organizer, (that's Cate's expertise!), but I can certainly tackle one corner, one surface, one shelf at a time. Baby steps, folks, baby steps.

Thank you all so much for stopping by!