A Wink of Leather || First Flip of 2019

January 2, 2019 Cate | StyleMutt Home

Welcome back StyleMutts! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season with family, friends, and food-but-not-too-much-so-you-feel-bloated food.

I myself tackled several projects around the house between Christmas and New Years (as I often like to do) and realized something... It’s not so much the time off I enjoy most this time of year, but the moments leading up to a new year where all the challenges from the past year become eclipsed by the possibilities of the next. What projects will I tackle? What ways will I surprise myself? What trouble will I get myself in to and then have to figure my way out of?

I like this mixture of hope and possibility. And I’m not-so-much hoping I’ll become someone new or a better version of myself in 2019, I just want to keep being me. Doing what I love. With the people I love. And I recognize that I’m blessed already for having been doing just that all through 2018.

And I love what I do with you - sharing finished pieces or new ideas and pushing myself to try something I’ve never done before. Friends, I managed to squeeze in one last project in 2018 to be the first project to share in the new year!

Meet Blondie:

She’s not much too look at - just a neon shade of yellow wood finish but she had great lines so I brought her home to the workshop. One of the things that stood out to me most was that she had such tall legs - and I got to thinking... I could really have some fun with that.

First order of business: paint. The original buttered wood wasn’t doing her any favors so I went with a good neutral: Silver Drop by Behr.

The color is a soft blend of white and a delicate light gray. It’s not too harsh but still very warm and fresh.

To play up the height of the legs, I decided to add some interest with a “wink of leather” as Chelsea would say.

I added crossing leather straps in an X shape that are secured to each leg. They are completely removable if you need the under dresser storage but add such a fun surprise detail to an otherwise “Plain Jane.”

Let’s take a closer look shall we?

Originally I tried riveting the leather together but couldn’t get the straps to bind so I ended up using brass screws with a nut on the back to hold them taut and in place.

I also replaced the original ring pulls with bright brass whistle knobs.

I love using these knobs in projects to give a easy modern upgrade (like here and here).

If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind piece, this White + Leather moment is available for sale! Email my contact info below for purchasing or third-party shipping options.

White + Leather Dresser
Now Available for Sale
63”L x 18”D x 34”H
$695
If you are interested in this piece or a custom order like it, email me at cate@stylemutthome.com

Pinch of Merriment Home Tour

December 14, 2018 Chelsea | StyleMutt Home

You know, I really debated whether or not to even take photos of our home over the holidays this year to share here - I feel like every year I do less and less out of preference for simplicity in this house! But Cate and I just love celebrating home in all its forms, be it a bedroom to call your own, temporary military base housing, or the home you’ve lived in for 35 years. This home of ours has gone through so much as our family has grown and evolved within its walls. And it dawned on me that sharing it here has been an unexpected way of documenting life as we know it! So I share our home today less for today, and more for the future, when I will look back on this chapter and remember how very good it was, indeed.

Since I just shared our main floor after the kitchen reno, let’s start upstairs in the master!

Just a swag of fresh garland from Trader Joes, ($7.50 for 15ft), and we’re done! Odds and ends from the kids tend to find our bedroom fast, so I really like taking advantage of the wall over the bed for one pretty thing, rather than adding more items to our surfaces.

And on our main floor we would like to introduce you to this years tree, Mariah Carey! Every year I have named our Christmas tree after a person, (fictional or real), based on looks or personality - we’ve had Paul Pheiffer from the Wonder Years, Rosemary Clooney…. This year our tree has been a total nut. It refuses to stand up straight and has fallen over, so if you look really closely you can see the fishing line my husband is using to hold it upright. It’s not even standing on it’s own accord!!!! I had to name our 2018 tree after the diva herself, (it’s lustrous needles sure are pretty, after all). And yes, I prepped that star before taking a photo and it was straight before I turned around to take the shot. You get the name now?

Other than Mariah, just a few little things peppered around this space. Most of it has either been gifted, or I found at a holiday craft fair our first year of marriage - I hit up every single one in a 20 mile radius that year, not even kidding!

I’m very excited about one little project I worked in this season - the bench of my dreams! After Cate designed and started making these to order last Fall, I have been eager to make one for our own home! I actually commissioned one for a design client who’s bedroom I was working on last Winter, but to finally have one of our own is such a treat. I love it! Cate’s very easy to follow tutorial can be found here for anyone curious.

Still getting used to this view! That deep teal island used to be an L shaped wall!

One of my favorite objectives when I am decorating, whether it’s my own home or for a client, is to create as much impact with as few items as possible. I’m not a stone-cold minimalist, but I sure do crave simplicity! It’s funny the things that strike our fancy, isn’t it?

Wrapping this thing up at the kitchen! Isn’t that where company always ends up? I have been loving it in here since we took down that wall, but not by myself! The best part has been using it together! Having this space to interact with each other and with guests is the gift that keeps on giving.

I hope you enjoyed the tour, but mostly that you were able to relax and take advantage of a few moments of peace while you were scrolling through! Those moments are hard to come by these next couple weeks but the Lord can use even the brief ones to rest and restore us. We invite you back on Monday for a tour of Cate’s holiday home, and then next Wednesday, December 19 I’m giving away TWO gift cards to a very sweet and talented friend’s home goods shop. I don’t secret well so I’d better jet before it all spills out. See ya next Wednesday, friends!

Thank you so much for coming by today!

*Have some shopping to do? Check out our gift-buying guide here!

*Need a Christmas tree skirt? Our favorites are here!

Alternatives to The Great Vintage Rug Tree Skirt

November 30, 2018 Chelsea | StyleMutt Home

If I wasn’t already acutely aware of Chritmas’ fast approach, the recent emails and messages would have clued me in! This time of year I get a surge of messages about the Christmas tree skirt I cut out from a vintage rug two years ago. The story goes that I found a gorgeous but damaged 11x13 vintage rug on Craigslist for $30. Due to the damage it was unusable as a rug, (someone had literally cut the poor baby right down the middle and then DUCT TAPED it back together. You can’t make this stuff up, people.) So I took advantage of two perfectly good halves of a rug and created 6 full size Christmas tree skirts out of it! I kept one, gave one away, and sold the remaining 4. When they were gone they were gone. Done. It was a fun project that made me happy but not something I wanted a career in LOL! Turns out cutting through rug ain’t for sissies!

Christmas, 2016

Nevertheless, word about these rug tree skirts spread and unfortunately I think there’s been a misunderstanding that there won’t be new stock coming back. Like, ever. BUT, I do know what it’s like to see something and have that flutter in your heart picturing how lovely it would look in your home, and I want to help.

I scoured the internet everywhere I could think of, and have narrowed down ONLY my toppest top favorite Christmas Tree Skirts that, fortunately, are well stocked and available right now. So let’s meet em’!

Just click on any picture to be directed to the link for more images and details!

Aren’t they fun! I see a bit of myself in every single one of these. Having style mutt taste sure broadens your options! Hah! Quick run-through:

1 - Don’t EVER discount Walmart
2 - This is one I actually got to collaborate on! Angie, the creator, was inspired by my rug skirt that she now PRINTS vintage rug patterns on velvet. Amazing what you can print!!!
3 - For the minimalists. Natural canvas and a wink of leather - so yummy.
4 - I actually passed over a ton of mudcloth tree skirt options until I got to this one. The Citizenry got it right when they lined up the pattern so precisely. I’m smitten.
5 - Can’t go wrong with ivory pom-poms!
6 - Do you know what I see here? A solid DIY project. You got this!
7 - I feel like I need to defend this choice but I’ve got nothing. It’s just precious and different.
8 - Absolutely love the simple stripes!
9 - So many dyed indigo options but I wasn’t feelin’ any of them until I came across this pattern. The leather doesn’t hurt either!