Reader Design: Iris' Peaceful, Coastal Home

Boy, what a week! When the blog is quiet it means one of two things - we are either on vacation or busy being! In Cate's and my case on this particular week, it's been the latter. And what better a way to treat ourselves and all you hustlers out there than with a gorgeous Reader Design by a beautiful friend! I mean, do we know how to celebrate Friday or what?!

We've mentioned Iris before - the kindred spirit who nominated us for the Liebster Award after receiving it herself over at Around the Watts House. It's been a privilege getting to know this sweet soul through Instagram and to call her a friend, (you can follow her @irisnacole). At left is just a peek of the goodness on her Instagram feed. So refreshing! 

As soon as she revealed her newly finished entryway and living room, we just couldn't wait to share her from-scratch job here!

 

 

Entryway

From Iris:

"The new year has brought with it my confidence in knowing what I want out of a home.  I have come to the realization that I don't have to stick to one style, which is something that I love about StyleMutt.  They show that as long as you are creating for yourself, you can't go wrong.  My tastes vary, but at the heart of it all I have found that coastal décor brings me so much peace."

 

"I tried to pull in as many natural elements into the space as possible.  The agate print on the wall has such calming colors which is what initially attracted me to it.  It pulls double duty, because it also reminds me of the ocean.  A few more touches of coastal décor, such as using a glass hurricane to hold coastal vase filler, and placing a starfish figurine in the glass box finished up the space for me. "

After an entrance like that, aren't you just dying to see the rest of her home?! Let's roll!!

Living Room

"Completing my family room has been something I've been looking forward to for about a year now.  Back when I first started building my entertainment center, I couldn't have ever known that it would end up like this.  I really hadn't "found my style" yet, and I'm sure that if I had completed it back then it would have ended up being something I would have wanted to redo soon after.  Luckily life happens, and other projects took priority, so I had time to learn about décor, and really get in touch with my own style. "

"Once I took the time to do that, I came to the conclusion that coastal décor really speaks to my heart and makes me feel comfortable and relaxed.

Because this room is on the second floor, and really only seen by family, I wanted to go all out with this theme.  My biggest goal was to make the space comfortable for the three of us, but to also accommodate other family and friends that may come to visit.  This meant making sure I had plenty of seating.  The couch we found is a three seater and fairly deep, because who wants to sit straight up watching tv?  Not this slouch!  I found a great striped chair to add to the mix.  It's not only pretty, but very comfortable to sit in."

As you might know, kids come with a million toys.  I just can't seem to keep them contained to his play room, so I can easily scoop them up and store them away if I need to.  We have ample storage in the media unit, as well as the bookshelf in the back of the room, and I brought in a bench that I placed behind the couch, and a small stool that I added to the main area.  Both of them open up to store things too, so that was a plus."

"Luckily for a home décor enthusiast like myself I had a lot of shelves to decorate.  I brought in previously owned coastal items, and when I found that I needed more, I hit up Home Goods, TJ Maxx, and Marshall's for the rest.  Each store is packed with items like this right now, so it wasn't a huge burden to go and look for stuff."

Duly noted!!!

"We've had the room put together for a few weeks now, and we love it.  Rordan rides his little car though the open spaces, as John and I watch movies, and it really brings a new level of excitement for family time."

Isn't this the best tour to share on the first day of Spring?! It's got me counting down the days to our beach trip. :) Iris, thank you so much for sharing your beautiful home and hard work here! What a treat!

Remember, all are invited to share their homes here! If interested, please share pictures of your creative space to our Facebook page or tag #stylemuttspaces on Instagram and we'll contact you with further details. Our desire is to draw inspiration from one another and have a place for all style mutts to share their home. Find this and all past Reader Designs on our SPACES page!

Thank you so much for stopping by and have yourselves a wonderful weekend!

Reader Design: Karen's Chippy Charm in Chile

Ok guys here's a fun fact about me: I grew up as a diplobrat.  Meaning my State Department family would up and haul our homebase to a new country in a constant three-to-four-year rotation.  We moved all over the world and I have had the pleasure NAY the honor of meeting so many wonderful internationals - many of whom, like me, had been uprooted and replanted in a foreign country as well.  It was often difficult for our grents and aunties and uncles and cousins, etc... to trek all the way across the globe to visit so our local friends became our surrogate extended family by distance default.  I spent many a Christmas celebrating with blood brothers instead of blood relatives :)

So it has been especially tickling to have StyleMutt Spaces submissions coming in from all over the globe!  You all are such a sweet reminder of my childhood and the amazing people I now count as family.  And whether you know it or not, you are such a vibrant and important installation to StyleMutt Home.  Thank you for sharing your slice of globe with us and we are so honored to all of you (natives and internationals alike) who have found our site.

Today's reader designer is a Chilean who has filled her living room with vintage European touches.  Karen's home is full of chippy charm and re-found, re-purposed, and re-loved pieces. 

From Karen:

I've always loved when a space has pieces that nobody else has that makes it unique. I know it can be difficult, but you can accomplish this by giving a new life to maybe an old piece of furniture, like I did here: the bookshelf it was made by my father twenty years ago... I took off the back side and the two glass doors from the front.  Then I sanded, painted, and distressed it.  Later I did the same with the chair. 
The brown side table is a second hand piece that I got to restore... for the moment, I love how it looks with the white details.
And finally, my gallery wall which I am absolutely in love with!!  It took me some time to gather all the right pieces, but I am so so happy with the result.

That accent wall is my favorite!  The french-inspired graphics, the black and white, and don't get me started on those gold and mirrored frames!!!  

Karen, this is exactly what we want to hear from our readers: that you love and are proud of your space!  You were one of the first readers to tag your #stylemuttspaces and we are so delighted that you did!  

Don't forget that StyleMutt Home is open to all you fellow mutts out there.  You don't have to be an international, a local, a professional decorator, or even a fellow blogger to share your favorite room with us!  The purpose of Reader Designs is simply to share beautiful rooms with fresh ideas and document these features in our SPACES page as a source of inspiration.  So tag #stylemuttspaces on your IG or FB pics people - we wanna see what your rooms have to say for themselves!

Stenciled Wall Take Two ||+ Win a Stencil||

Hi friends! Posts like we shared yesterday are really what it's all about here - YOU! And we sure are crazy about ya. Isn't it time we move this thing to the next relational level and give you a small token of our love? We've partnered up with the incredibly kind and talented team at Cutting Edge Stencils to do just that! We want to shower you with our love and a free stencil! 

In case you missed it, I was in a stencil frenzy a couple weeks ago after creating this accent wall in our bedroom using Cutting Edge Stencils' 'Fuji' stencil. I've noticed a few comments on Instagram complimenting on the wallpaper - it sure looks like it! But let me tell you, wallpaper has no room on my schedule or budget!  This wall took all of 2 hours, including prep. As a stay at home Mom to three wild ones, time is very valuable to me. To get this much bang for 2 hours of effort is my project happy place. 

I've got a second stenciled wall to share with you guys today, and then all you need to do is hop over to Cutting Edge Stencils, pick out a favorite stencil and leave a comment on this post with your pick! You have until this Sunday, 3/8 at noon to enter for a chance to win your chosen stencil! For additional entries, like Cutting Edge Stencils on Facebook and follow their blog.

Today's stencil project was made possible by the kind folks at the Chambrel retirement community where my dear grandparents have just moved in. They encourage their residents to decorate and make their new apartments and rooms their home. Isn't that awesome! I'm reserving my spot early! 

Here is a sad photo of their bedroom, pre-stencil, (complete with the Crooked Lamp - All-star of all the great Before pictures in the history of Befores):

And 2.5 hours later:

My grandparents are old time Miami, (or "Miama", as they say). Born and raised in Coral Gables, Florida, they were high school sweethearts who moved to Virginia, where they have lived for most of their lives surrounded by their 5 children, 17 grandchildren, and a nice litter of great-grands. After all these years, (they are 87yrs old), you still find bright florals and energetic colors in my grandmothers decor and closet. You can take the lady out of Miami, but you can't take Miami out of the lady!

When planning this wall we knew something floral would be a nice familiar taste of the South for them. The delicate stencil, Lady Slipper, was a sure-fire winner! Since they are fairly traditional, the soft colors don't play as too loud or modern. We used Carolina Inn Club Aqua, (#5004-3B), and Rose Buff, (#2002-4C), both by Valspar and both in a flat finish, (per the helpful instructions provided by Cutting Edge Stencils). 

Just like with our own bedroom, I used painters tape to stick the stencil to the wall in order to roll the paint over. What I did differently this time around, (and LOVED), was the foam roller which Cutting Edge Stencil's sells. The paint didn't get underneath the stencil one bit, and I had so much control with the application. You really don't want a lot of paint on your roller anyways, just a little bit goes a long way! I'd suggest doing a quick clean with your stencil sheet about half way through so that drying paint doesn't start clumping up inside the delicate cuts of the stencil. A dampened paper towel or rag is all you need.

Now you can see how this project flies by! 2.5 hours, folks. Enough said.

This time around I had my Mom following behind me as I rolled, adding a few strokes of soft pink paint to the lower petal of the orchids. 

The last step was using the awesome edger stencil that Cutting Edge Stenils provides to get a tighter fit up to the corners and near the floor.

So there you have it! Two beautiful transformations brought to you by Cutting Edge stencils and my right arm. 

Alright, you know what to do now! Head over to Cutting Edge Stencils, pick your favorite stencil, (tough, I know), jump back over here and leave a comment below with your top pick! And don't forget to up your chances by liking their Facebook page and following their blog!

You've got until Sunday 3/8 at 12 noon EST for a chance at a free stencil! We'll announce the winner on Monday 3/9 and follow up with that lucky duck then. Now, hustle like the lady in pink slippers; she is in it to win it, ya'll!!!

In the meantime you can brush up on your stenciling skills with this quick tutorial video that helps all you watch-and-learners out there prepare before you begin!

Thank you all so much for stopping by!