Modern Bar Table ||and treat yo self to a Giveway!||

One of my favorite parts about furniture flipping is finding something that could be cool - even if I don't know how exactly.  I've mentioned it before, but I often run through a checklist when I'm debating a new potential project at the thrift store: 1) Is it cheap?  2) Does it have good bones?  and 3) Can I make it cute?  When I found this chrome and laminate table, it hit points 1 & 2, but I was a little fuzzy on 3.  

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I thought at first it should be transformed into a glamorous marble and gold console table.  But it was a little too short to be a suitable console and I wasn't really loving the cost of two custom-cut marble slabs.  But this is where it's handy having a partner in the biz.  I bounced some ideas off of Chelsea and was inspired to start simple and see if I liked where the project was heading before investing an exorbitant amount of time, money, and energy into it.

I took a long look at it again and realized this petite table might not be the best height for and entryway piece, but the unique gaps between the chrome trim and the flat surface of the top shelf made for some handy handles...

I replaced the bowing fake parquet with white melamine for a more modern look.

The porcelain pyramids are a Sweet Clover Barn find from their May sale weekend.  Chelsea and I braved the rain and mud and were rewarded with all the goodies.  Guys, if you're anywhere REMOTELY near the DC area, you should plan a day out to Frederick, MD for one of their sale weekends and capitalize on the best barn deals around my friends.  

You heard it here first ;)

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I've been a little obsessed with brass lately, but something about the bright reflection of the chrome [can you spot me??] made me reconsider applying a faux gold finish.  Chelsea advised me to finish the table without painting the chrome to see if I liked it as-is.  And BOY am I glad I listened to her.  I never thought I would like to look of chrome so much!

This time of year Chelsea and I have a lot to celebrate: my birthday falls and the end of May with Chelsea's bday and anniversary right behind in early June.  Being the party people that we are, we thought we'd extend the invitation to you all and invite you to also

Treat. Yo. Self. 

To a StyleMutt Giveaway that is!!!  In the spirit of celebration, we are giving this wall hanging to one lucky winner.  Handmade by yours truly, this wall art is made from a swatch of Milton & King wallpaper, some vinyl letters, and white spray paint.  Their array of patterns is so diverse and downright juicy that it was difficult to pick just one.  But I stumbled on a sinful yet playful pattern named Gluttony and thought the Parks & Rec quote was too perfect.  [That little framed art print is also a swatch of the same wall paper].

To enter, comment below with what you would most like to treat yourself to today and find us on Instagram [@chelsea_stylemutthome and @cate_stylemutthome] for more ways to enter.  US/ Canada residents only. Winner will be announced next week!

And if you're in the DC Metro area, this smashing bar table is now available for sale ;)

Modern Chrome Bar Table
41"W x 17"D x 26.5"H
SOLD
$145

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

Eclectic Summer Home Tour

IT'S HOT.

After all that rain we had mid-May, I guess be careful what you wish for.  But the good news is that heat isn't just ushering in summer - it's ushering in a whole slue of fresh summer home tours!  Jess of Domicile 37 is hosting the Summer Eclectic Home Tours and I'm so honored to be in such company.  Eclectic is the closest synonym for style mutt so I'm rather partial to this group of mutts... I mean er... ladies.

When you walk through the front door of our 1 bedroom apartment, this bright living room is the first to greet you.  

Under the window lays a cot I originally bought to serve as extra seating when we bequeathed our old couch to Caleb's lil sis.  Our pup Thor, however, had other plans - he's claimed it as his personal vantage point.  He spends all day on that thing keeping an eye out for when we return home from work or when his four-legged friends meet up to play on in the grass below.

Adjusting to the merits and pitfalls of a southern-facing apartment [and my pre-existing black thumb condition] has meant mixed results for my plant children.  I'm sad to say we've lost Penelope the String of Pearls and 3 orchids [may they rest in peace].  But Hewie & Lewie the hanging plants are doing alright as well as Sebastian the Snake Plant.  We are all just trying to stay positive while we mourn the loss of our fallen foliage...

Most of the finds in our apartment were thrifted or foraged.  The Blue Chesterfield and magazine-turned-shoe-rack were Craigslist Free finds, the suitcase end tables a generous gift from Chelsea, our TV stand a roadside rescue, and the serape chair and geometric lamp some flips of my own.

Behind the couch is our dining area.  The campaign bookshelf triplets and the white tulip table were also craigslist finds.  I kept the big pieces white to be the stage for my riotous love of color. 

[Some of you may remember this table from it's Instagram debut 2 months ago]

 
 

Around the corner is the hallway leading past the bathroom and to our bedroom.  It's a short walk ;)

Until we can save up for a headboard, I've hung a curtain for some drama and flanked either side with brass sconces.

At the moment, most of our furniture is mid-century inspired [and also thrifted]. 

From the bedroom, you can see into the kitchen [not much to show there - just a builder-grade galley style.  Rental problems am I right?] and beyond is the front door.

Our nightstands were the product of a friendly Flip Off competition against Chelsea.  Her amazing flip sold, but I just couldn't bring myself to say goodbye to mine just yet...

Thanks so much for stopping by our 800 sq.ft. apartment on the Eclectic Summer Home Tour Series!  If you are new to StyleMutt Home and just passing through on the tour circuit - welcome!  Be sure to find the next stop on your tour below and check out the other tours from the rest of the week.  It's dripping with inspiration I tell you - DRIPPING:

A Room for Lilith

"Ladies, meet Lilith."

These were the words spoken by an awesome client we had the pleasure of working with over a year ago that sent us into a frenzy of excitement! Our friend had nothing else for her bedroom except for this painting; a treasured piece she had seen several years before she had saved enough to purchase, and it was to be our jumping off point for her bedroom.

So naturally, we studied Lilith! Her colors, her personality - we were just getting to know our client but felt like we could learn a lot about her from this piece she so cherished. Lilith was rustic and earthy but with a good dose of glam and sophistication. She's both gentle and serene but every bit edgy and fierce. Luckilly for us, Lilith was eclectic! So we created a room around Lilith, just as requested.

We started with this very early design board which served to nail down the general feel of the room through mixing specific colors and styles.

And here's what we came up with!

Lilith got a grand place on a nice blank wall opposite the bed. Once we got her hung she looked like she was on display in her own private museum gallery, so we left her alone rather than add more pieces around her.

The natural and rustic element of the headboard, (an antique door which we repurposed for this project), is beautifully contrasted by French provincial nightstands and brass and white reading lights. The bed is a mix of soft colors and soothing textures.

Lilith wouldn't be one to waste any useful space, so we followed suit and created a built in windowsill desk for our full time employee and grad student client to study and buckle down without sacrificing a beautiful view and natural light.

This was our first experience in creating a room around a solitary piece of art and it proved to be a fun and exciting challenge! Fortunately, I get to work with Cate who is much more the art connoisseur in our partnership! I was at least mature enough to not blush and giggle when I first saw Lilith. ;)

Have you ever created a room around a piece of art? Link your projects below so we can check them out! Thank you all for stopping by!