Styling with Heirlooms ||And 2016 Flip List Item No.5||

Show of hands: how many of you have inherited a piece of furniture or decor that you're not sure will translate across generations and fit seamless into your style?

Chelsea and I have both been blessed by (free) heirloom pieces from family members.  These pieces represent our family history - and are usually of a much higher quality than what's for sale in the big box stores (that I can afford anyway).  So do we compromise a fresh young style for dated decor that has better bones?  Luckily it's not always a one-or-the-other situation.

As style mutts, we've learned that there are ways to mix old and new styles that still feels fresh, hip, and most importantly like you.

Take Chelsea's heirloom headboard for example.  I bet if we looked at a slide of Chelsea's blood under a microscope we would see mid century modern sprinkled with bohemian, rustic, and maybe a touch industrial.  And yet, when she was offered a gorgeously ornate bedroom set, Chelsea didn't turn it down just because it was on the traditional side.  She said thankyouverymuch to Grandma and welcomed home a bedroom set with rich family history (her great great grandma was born in that bed - can't get any "richer" than that ;).

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She found a way to take a piece with such formal presence and make it feel ...dare-I-say-it... casual.  The modern stencil (that's right, I said STENCIL) paired with  a floating nightstand, a modern brass sconce, and some fun pillows has this vignette speaking fluent boho-chic instead of in a thick formal accent.

Now recently I had the opportunity to play with some heirloom pieces myself: a pair of rather large and stately ginger jar lamps.  I don't often gravitate towards the Asian flare of chinoserie-style pieces, but these babies have some beautiful details and just the right shade of red for a piece I just finished... 

Remember this guy?

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As you may know, I set out to refinish a dresser in another jewel tone (I just can't help myself) for this year's Furniture Flip Bucket List.  And back in January I asked you all to help me figure out what color I should choose for this mid-century fella.   I thought that by polling you, I would 1) be able to determine what bold color would most attract a buyer and 2) get some clarity on what I my color-loving self really wanted deep deep down...

 
 

 You know when you ask your mom to help you decide between two outfits?  And after she gives you her opinion, you go with the opposite of her suggestion?  I did this repeatedly in my teenage years and my mom would always throw her hands up and walk away saying "Why did you even ask me in the first place?!" Well my friends (and mom) - I ask because sometimes I need you to activate my emotional-decision barometer.  If I feel even the slightest twinge of disappointment when I hear your suggestion, then I can finally get some clarity on what I really really want.  When I asked you all which bold color should I refinish with, I was surprised that Emerald won with Teal and Navy in a close race for second.  But the more I thought about it, the more I realized doing another teal or navy piece or trying to follow up Chelsea's knock-out emerald tall boy  wouldn't satisfy my jewel-tone craving.

Soooooo I went with my gut and chose one of the underdog colors...

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Poppy Red

Did you see that coming?  I'm so sorry if I let any of you down who were rooting for a different color.  But rest assured, my jewel-tone days aren't done so you can expect some future fun projects.

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How does he compare to the original rendering?  Close no? 

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Let's loop back to the lamps really quick.  This staging sesh was a total alignment of the stars.  I had a bold piece to style that really needed to be balanced by a strong pair of  lamps.  My father-in-law had recently decided to shed some office decor he had inherited from his folks and asked Chelsea to help him photograph some oriental lamps for resale.  While loading up for our latest design project, I happened to spot grandma's vintage but in-impeccable-condition lamps (with the PERFECT color scheme and scale no less) in Chelsea's garage. 

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And in the spirit of killing two birds with one stone, I borrowed the lamps in hopes that Big Red and his lamp arm candy could help each other find new homes with a fun photoshoot.

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I accidentally stumbled on this color scheme: poppy red + hunter green.  And I'm really digging it.  Red and green are opposite each other on the color wheel so they really make each other pop.  But a red with an orange tint countered by a saturated green keeps it from going too...Christmasy.

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I decorating with brass to bring out those gorgeous bow tie handles.

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The impromptu moss & candlestick topiaries are both classy and whimsical which keeps this vignette fresh instead of stuffy.

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Now I'm kind of hoping someone will buy all three so they can stay together forever.

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Poppy Red Dresser
64"W x 19"D x 31"H
Now available for sale
$545

If you are interested in this piece, a custom order like it, or if you're local and are looking for some immaculate antique ginger jar lamps, please contact cate@stylemutthome.com.  

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If you want to catch up with my progress so far on the 2016 Flip List, here's where I'm at:

Plant Parenthood ||5 Easy Tips for Success||

 
 

Hi Friends! I know. I realized the ironic title of this post was maybe a little too close to 'planned parenthood' only after I created the above image. And my computer is super slow so it took longer than it should have and I didn't feel like changing it. We straight? The idea for this post came to me recently when I discovered I've had the same handful of plants in my home, thriving, for over a year. I know that's nothing to boast about; gosh, I know people who are now fostering family heirloom plants in their homes until they get passed on to the next generation. Incredible! I have never considered myself to be any sort of a green thumb, (brown at best), until I realized my plants weren't dying. And not only were they not dying, they've been looking pretty darn satisfied in our home! It's not that they've become immune to our typically hostile environment of wild children, nor is it some magical touch I mysteriously acquired. Over time I've been the fortunate recipient of some great, practical advice from various friends, family and my girl Ebony who works at the Lowes Home Improvement nursery in Sterling, VA. There are far, (faaarrrrrrr), more knowledgeable sources than myself, but for me, these 5 tips cover a few steps beyond the most basic plant care and will, hopefully, ensure successful plant life in your home!

 
 

Anyone with multiples can attest; only God and your schedule are what keep you alive in those first few 6 and a half years. I remember hearing something about kids being comforted by having a schedule, and if comfort equated sleep, then I'd be the Al Capone of organized child rearing.

It's kind of the same with your plants. They're living things and get acquainted with their own maintenance schedule. Whether your plant requires water twice weekly with fertilization once a month, or just a little water once every other week, learn the care required for each plant, (I just read the back of the tag), and find a comfortable maintenance schedule that works within yours.

 
 

You know that advice you always hate hearing about getting your hair trimmed regularly when you are just trying to grow it out long? Regular trims are vital to healthy hair. I would know; I haven't taken myself in for a trim in over a year so I know unhealthy hair. Anyways, trimming unhealthy leaves is a crucial part of a plants' health. Even trimming the brown edge of a leaf will help it out! Why should the healthy leaves suffer from the toxins of a few dead leaves? Spare them. It's survival of the fittest in the plant world and the dead leaves have got to go!

This guy doesn't stand a chance.

 
 

It's not uncommon for families to upgrade to a larger home at some point of their children growing. You've heard folks mutter the phrase, 'we've outgrown our house'. Well, believe it or not, plants can outgrow their pot! This has been one of the most helpful tips I've learned. A few years ago I went on a plant shopping spree and potted my new finds in the pots that were appropriate to their size. I followed their care instructions verbatim. I thought we were on a good schedule, they were growing healthy and seemed happy; what could go wrong, I thought. Turns out their roots were 'suffocating' as the pots had become too small. So they withered and died and I raised my hands to the sky and asked, "Whyyyyyyy??????" Upgrade your pots if you're caring for your plants per their instructions and they start looking unhappy. They may be telling you their roots are cramped.

After about a year and a half together, these three started to look less than thrilled.

So I gently removed them from the small white pots and repotted them with fresh soil in a larger pot where they can happily stretch their roots.

 
 

Before you head out to buy some plants do a little research in your area on who's supplyling the healthiest plants within your budget. You don't want to be purchasing plants that are already on their way out and find yourself in the business of plant hospice care. We are fortunate enough to have several family owned nurseries in our area as well as a plethora of Home Depot's and Lowes Home Improvement stores. While the family owned nurseries would be my first choice they tend to be a bit pricier. So I do my plant shopping at the big box stores. Nothing wrong with that but it's helpful to know how they handle their plant business. After a bit of research and talking to store employees here is some helpful information I learned that is definitely worth passing on! Home Depot, while my go-to for everything else, is not my first choice for plants because they buy their plants on consignment. This means they don't lose money from plants that don't sell. While their garden centers are usually very large and well stocked, they don't need to pay close attention to plant care since it won't cost them a thing if they lose any.  Lowes, on the other hand, will take a financial loss from plants not sold - probably nothing they'd lose sleep over, but still. They have to purchase wisely and pay attention to the health of their plants until sold. Their nurseries are a bit smaller than Home Depot, but I always see at least one employee tending to their plants every time I"m there.

 
 

Before you invest your hard earned money in that trendy plant you've been swooning over, know if it's right for your home. Do you have a spot with the appropriate amount of light that's the right size for that plant? I've made this mistake more than two times and have finally accepted that some plants just aren't for this home. Look at the areas of your home where you would like to add some plant life and assess two things - the amount of light and the size. Keep in mind a lot plants will continue to grow and fill out, so if you're going to tuck a tree into a tight corner, or a fern on a bookshelf, know that it could soon overgrow that area and not only jeopardize the health of the plant, but become a visual eyesore in the flow of your decor. I've done this exact thing before and when I look at pictures I took of the space all I see are the plants that are awkwardly too big for the spot they're in. If you've got a low light corner that could visually benefit from some fresh greenery, look for plants that have words and phrases like, 'low light, light water', 'durable', 'plant of steel', 'I dare you to try to kill me', that kind of thing. Snake plants are always a win. They grow straight up, not out, so they can be tucked into tight corners where they don't need space OR light. They're the go-getters of the plant world, saying, "Water me, don't water me; I make my own luck".  So, know your home, assess the areas you'd like plants, and find the appropriate plants for that space.

Example of a cocky snake plant dominating in a low-light corner.

I hope you've found this information at least somewhat helpful and by all means, if you've got any tips to add please do share in a comment below!

Thank you all so much for stopping by!