Card Catalog End Tables ||And a Nod to a Fave Chick Flick||

If you have been sweet enough to follow along with me on instagram, then you may recognize these fugly babies:

Now I have BIG plans to convert these 2 sad end tables into 4 sexy pieces.  As of now, I've only halfway fulfilled my promise and converted them into 2 new beautiful pieces:

Did you even recognize them?!?  Changing the legs on anything really can go a long way!  (Need further proof, check out these chairs).  

The reason why I rescued these sorry lookin' little guys was actually for the 6-paneled drawer front.  I love the idea of a faux card catalog file (all the charm without the limiting compartmentalized storage).  Once I saw past the eyeball-like white knobs, I realized they could easily be replaced with brass library pulls.

Now I know what you avid readers are thinking, "But Cate!  Why did photographing these tables outside work for you this time when you wrote all about your al fresco staging saga in your Part I and Part II posts from last week?!?"  

Am I right?  Thought so ;)  Well what I realized last week was that staging outside wasn't capturing the "feeling" I was going for the piece I was photographing.  So what changed this time?  Well... the pieces!

Staging outside didn't create the right feeling for my cowhide bench, but it totally captures the exact ambiance I wanted for these card catalog tables...

Here was my chain of thought:

Card catalog tables make me think of old libraries.  Old libraries make me think of old books.  Old books make me think of old type writers.  Old type writers make me think of old-school authors typing away while on a secluded creative retreat...  Which then lead me to think of one comical scene in one favorite movie... can you guess it?

Yup.  Love Actually.  More specifically the scene where Colin Firth's character is typing outside only to have the pages of his book blow away and land in the lake.  

Lúcia Moniz [In Portuguese]: This stuff better be good...
Colin Firth [In English]: It's not worth it, you know.  This isn't bloody Shakespeare... 

Love it.

When I first saw the view at our "summer home" I couldn't help but think this scene.  And when I was looking around for things to stage the tables with, all I had on hand was my old type writer.  Perfeito [that's Portuguese for perfect].

This pair are still for sale at Sweet Clover and will be available to firthasize about [that's Colin Firth for "fantasize"] at our second  Pop Up Shop!  We hope you pop in and say hello - Chelsea and I will be there Saturday morning and would love to meet you in person!

Back to Style Event
Sept 5 & 6 10am to 5pm
Sweet Clover Barn 4051 Stanford Ct, Frederick, MD 21703

Southwestern vs. SOUTHWESTERN!!! ||One dresser, two options||

Howdy, friends! Yee-haw, yippy-yi-yo, and ride em' cowboy. Or whatever. Western doesn't roll off my tongue so well, but I had a southwestern itch, nonetheless. I found the dresser above last week tucked away in one of my favorite thrift stores, (Pender Regift Thrift in Chantilly, VA). I intended to give it a really rustic finish by simply stripping the blood red stain and then wrapping it's simple wooden pulls in some leftover faux cowhide fabric from Cate's stunning upholstered bench.

After a 'lick and a promise', there was no doubt that this was a southwestern style dresser:

(And I couldn't resist staging this one with my Axel Co. hexagon shelf and arrow. They just restocked their shop for Fall/Winter - check out all the new goodies here!)

However, the 'afterclaps' of this makeover was just all 'beer and skittles'. I wanted to create a southwestern looking dresser and I did. But something just seemed off. I didn't hate it, but it was missing an element of sophistication that I was hoping for. It was far too literal and I realized I was looking for more of a southwestern whisper rather than a 'cattle call'. 

So I went back to the drawing board and found these stunning hexagon knobs at Anthropologie. 

Bulls-eye!

This three-across business is just so fun, isn't it!? 

I had so much fun staging with this branch - when I saw it in our back yard I knew he needed to join this shoot. However...

...just keepin' it real here, folks! It was monstrous and definitely not something I would permanently use in our home. In case you were wondering if I was just that cool and abstract. I'm not.

So here we are with two looks. One will be comin' with us to the Sweet Clover barn this weekend for the Labor Day sale, (Sat & Sun, 10am-5pm)! And now I'm excited to sit back and hear what you guys think! Which do you like better?! 

Thank you for stopping by and making us a part of your day! We're so grateful for you guys. XO,

Reader Design: Beverly's Trendy Home Ensemble

We know, we know - it's been TOO LONG since we've done a Friday reader design.  We took a brief hiatus for the Sweet Clover sale but don't worry.  We've been saving a winning look for a juicy StyleMutt Spaces feature.   If you are new to this little corner of the interwebs (welcome!), almost every Friday we like to feature a reader's home from anywhere around the world on our Spaces.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, these reader designs are the jewel in our StyleMutt crown. And we just can't get enough.  So if you love your home, we want to share it!  Just post your photos on our Facebook page or tag your instagram pics with #stylemuttspaces and we'll contact you with further details.  

Today's feature is a fun one FOR SURE.  Fashion consultant Beverly (@LuLaRoe_beverlylilly)  has perfectly translated her fun and flirty personal fashion sense into her home decor!

From Beverly:

When it comes to decorating my home, I try to think of it like an outfit. What pops? What can I mix and match? What is timeless? I love fashion and putting together outfits comes easy to me, but it takes me a while to decide on decor.  For instance, our living room walls have been blank over the last year (we moved in last July) because I had no idea what to put on them. I just knew it needed to be large.

I would describe my style as rustic chic. Funny story, the sticks laying against the wall I bought at TJMAXX. When my husband saw them in the house, he said, "Please tell me you found those in the backyard." Not exactly, but they were too perfect not to buy!!!

Bev, I've bought sticks before too so you are not alone ;)  And hanging a giant retro coral door on the wall is like my dream.  MY DREAM people!!!  It the perfect large element to balance out the large sectional.

When it comes to decorating, I love incorporating meaningful pieces to my decor. Through out our living room there are pieces from my grandmother's river house that I inherited. One of my favorite pieces is her bible.

When Bev posted this pic on her facebook of these amazing DIY industrial pipe shelves, practically begged her to showcase her home.  Floating them above the couch is a great minimal-furniture-footprint alternative to Chelsea's wall unit.  Snaps for Bev (and her husband Craig who helped with install).

Gah!  I can't get over the mid-century door and windows for dayssssssss!

I love this space because it feels so inviting where meaningful conversations can take place. My husband and I want our house to be a space for others and this room allows for many people to gather. 

Guys, I've known Bev since college and I have to say her most noticeable trait is her killer confidence.  But what I love the most about Bev is that she's made it her mission to give women everywhere that same confidence.  Which is why it's PLUM PERFECT that she's the newest fashion consultant for LuLaRoe in the Hampton Roads area  (I'm jealous of you 757 area code.  Tres jealous).  

Thank you Bev (and Craig) for letting us into your home!  I hope you will host a pop up LuLaRoe boutique in the DC metro area soon so I can comb through your treasure trove of dresses, skirts, tops, and epic printed leggings! And if you're not already in the fashion loop, follow Bev (@lularoe_beverlylilly on instagram) for more flirty fun fashion!!!

Happiest of weekends to you friends,