Petite Parquet Cabinet Converted

January 19, 2017 Chelsea | StyleMutt Home

Hi friends! Back in today with another flip of a recently thrifted find! No yarn involved today. ;) When I saw this parquet and bamboo cabinet I was so excited to get my hands on it; the piece was in amazing condition, just needed a little TLC!

It looked a little sad sitting so low on the floor like that! So I took a cue from the beautiful parquet surface of this piece and ordered a set of hairpin legs. What I adore so much about hairpin legs is the balance between masculine and feminine - they're strong, sturdy, wrought iron legs but the lines look so graceful!

The one factor that hung me up on this flip for a solid week was what height to order the legs. Ultimately I came to two options; use the piece for its top surface and keep it at buffet height, or lift it even higher for easy access to it's cool interior storage. Since all signs pointed to this piece being a vintage piece, (albeit in fantastic shape), I wasn't sure how truly functional the top surface would be since the parquet creates a not totally smooth surface and I don't know how easy it is to clean. I concluded this piece would be best used as a storage piece so I found legs that would give it the height to make those cabinet pulls convenient to open without bending over. Once the piece was finished I immediately pictured it as a small space liquer cabinet/bar. The height and size would be perfect in a small dining room where square footage is precious, and you could even stash a stool or storage basket underneath!

I love the bamboo trim! Such a beautiful detail that just adds something special to this already unique piece.

Parquet and Bamboo Cabinet
$265
Contact chelsea@stylemutthome.com if interested in this piece or a custom order like it!

A Chair to Keep and a Chair for Sale

January 17, 2017 Chelsea | StyleMutt Home

Hi Friends! Jumping on to share a couple chair flips I had the opportunity to finish uplast week - the first being the beautiful mid-century chair from this post! I let my emotions get the best of me and ended up just recovering it in the end. I was really smitten with this piece and as Matt and I are in the middle of re-designing our living room to include a much larger work space, I wanted to hold onto this chair to use at the new desk area.

I used fabric from a large sofa pillow my sweet friend Shelly and her daughter Katie made a couple years ago. We no longer use the pillow on that sofa but the gray chambray fabric was still in great shape and a pretty compliment to the warm wood of the chair.

The centered inside-out seam was just a fun off-beat detail that doesn't take away from the classic look of the chair, you know, just for fun.

When I came across this next chair for less than $5 at the thrift store I scooped it up just to play around with. On a whim, I snagged a ball of yarn on sale at Michaels and this beautiful blue and white 'marbled' pattern fabric. Then the fun began!

After unscrewing the backrest from the chair, I used every inch of the yarn to wrap around the two wooden braces to create a new textured backrest - and it's SO comfortable!

A blue and white combo is classic but this pattern feels fresh and fun - I love finding ways to marry the two! There's always an opportunity to maintain the integrity of a piece while tweaking it just enough to make it modern. Finding that balance is my goal with just about every piece!

Wooden Accent Chair
$45
Contact me at chelsea@stylemutthome.com if interested in this cutie or a custom order like it!
(Imagine this beautiful backrest around an entire dining table!)

Thank you so much for stopping by today!

Reader Design: Courtney's Airy Loft

January 13, 2017 McKenna Begin

I think Winter is playing a trick on us, and I don't know how to process it. DC was warm enough for an evening walk last night, and my friend in Boston went coatless on her way home from work. Do you hear me!? Coatless in Boston in January!!

Ok, enough complaining. Today we're exploring Courtney's airy Rhode Island life, which is completely versatile for every season, photographed by the talented Joyelle West.

Courtney, her husband Brandon, and their cat Oliver share this space that expertly mixes bohemian, mid-century modern, and rustic styles.

From Courtney:

“Our apartment creates a true reflection of us. We wanted it to feel honest and homey with a mix of stylish and functional pieces. I don’t bring anything into the apartment that I don’t absolutely love. Our core pieces are all favorites and we hope to live with them for years to come! ”

One of those core pieces is the dining room table. Courtney's dad built this beauty using hairpin legs Courtney purchased on Etsy and a raw tabletop made from a large plank of wood.

But key message here: sticking with the tried & true things you love does not mean your style becomes stagnant. In Courtney's case, she still leaves plenty of room to be inspired by the places she goes, people she meets, or even trends that permeate everything we see online.

“I always struggle with my place being too trendy. I love marble, pineapples, macrame, mudcloth, rattan, and brass as much as the next person but I try to bring those elements in small doses. They’re a way to make a statement without the investment. ”

Speaking of rattan... take a moment to absorb Courtney's expert incorporation. That hutch piece is to. die. for.

The expert pairing of calm design and showstopping pieces continues in the bedroom. Courtney commutes to Boston for her day job, and this room is the perfect place to collapse after a long day. In the bed... or that chair... THAT CHAIR!!

It's my duty to tell you all that Courtney got that chair from a friend for free. I'm sorry for any feelings of jealousy this fact is now leaving you with...