DIY Planter ||Furniture Flip Bucket List||

Ok so something magical happened.  I made something I've always wanted to make using only the items I already had lying around.  That's a project with like no risk and all reward.  Hey-Oh!  Even better, this project also fulfills one of the items on my 2017 Furniture Flip Bucket List.  Double Hey-Oh!

So which item is the first I shall be crossing off this year's list?

Why No.3 of course.

The construction of this little guy was relatively simple.  All I needed was some round wooden dowels, a dowel kit, some wood glue, and a large ceramic planter.  Following along with this handy tutorial, I was able to assemble the four legs and the joining cross section. 

I built the stand to fit a ceramic planter I had lying around (with a dead plant carcass inside).  For extra stability, I secured the joints with wood glue and strapped the base in place to set.

Once the glue dried, I spray-painted the planter white and stained the legs a warm brown to get that iconic MCM planter look.

Now my plant children have a place of honor to reside.

Despite the glue, he's still not the sturdiest but I am proud I built him nonetheless.  And I still plan to improve my carpentry skills and build something SUPER solid to fulfill item No.7 this year.

But of course in the spirit of the upcoming Oscar's, let's play a little round of

WHO WORE IT BEST?

Leave your votes in the comments below xoxo.

One down, six to go.  Catch up on the 2017 Furniture Flip Bucket List:

SMH Picks || 20 Sofas Under $800

Hi friends! We're so excited to share our first round-up with you today! Something that Cate and I feel so passionate about is creating high style from a slim budget. We don't expect our clients, (or ourselves), to sacrifice style based on how much we have to spend. With years of savvy shopping prowess under our belts, it's time to share our expertise in finding deals!

We'll begin with sofas. Sofas are one of those items we see clients budgeting way too much for, time and time again. We recently promised a client we could find her a gorgeous sofa for $1,200 less than she was budgeting. $1,200 less!!! That's a cruise, people! And we're not talking about finding roadside freebies, we're talking new, unused sofas in rich velvet, leather, upholstery and, (keep an open mind), slipcovers! Take a look at a few pieces we've used in our work:

Ready to meet 20 of the most eligible sofas currently on the market? This groups is handsome AND affordable. Each one is under $800, with a hefty handful at less than $500. Let us introduce you!

1.Walmart Leather Loveseat. 2. Walmart Vintage Linen Sofa, 3. Urban Outfitters Leather Sofa, 4. Urban Outfitters Convertible Sofa, 5. Target Mid-Century Sofa, 6. AllModern Green Tufted Velvet Sofa, 7. AllModern Modular Sofa, 8. Urban Outfitters Modern Sofa, 9. Wayfair Soft Leather Sofa, 10. AllModern Del Lago Sofa, 11. AllModern Sleeper Sofa, 12. Wayfair Leather 3-Seater, 13. AllModern Teal Upholstered Sofa, 14. Hayneedle Leather Sofa, 15. West Elm Peggy Sofa, 16. Wholesale Living MCM Leather Sofa, 17. IKEA Karlstad Sofa, 18. Walmart Vintage Tufted Sofa, 19. Urban Outfitters Sleeper Sofa, 20. World Market Teal Velvet Sofa

And that's how we get it done! Each one of these were specifically picked by us as a piece we would use in a StyleMutt Home job. We weren't just looking for affordability, we were looking for style! Imagine that - you can still be picky and have a budget! These gorgeous sofas are all currently available if you're in the market.

Want to see how we finish a room? Stay tuned for our next round-ups!
Want to see how we would finish your room? Contact us here!

Thank you so much for stopping by today!

Reader Design: Kaitlin's Chi-Town Nest

Today, we're off to one of the only cities in the country that is actually being seasonally authentic. I don't know about you guys, but I'm a four season person - and I'd like for things to stay that way! 

Kaitlin is a new mom and design and lifestyle blogger and editor living in Chicago, Illinois who has used all those learnings from her day job to create the most perfect space for her family. 

And with so many influences, it's no wonder that Kaitlin is a style mutt to her core. She incorporates mid century, traditional, modern, and bohemian styles effortlessly in a way that still feels cohesive. Sometimes all those varying styles can breed some insecurity, but Kaitlin totally owns it. 

“I’d call my style ‘modern vintage.’ I love clean-lined modern pieces, but I also love antiques, quirky art, and thrifted finds. I try and mix it all together in a way that works. I live in a city where you can literally find a mix of anything and everything, and I think my style is a reflection of that. A lot of the things in my house have come from fellow Chicagoans via Craigslist and local vintage stores. ”

That quirkiness still leaves plenty of room for mixing in both those items that you will never, under any circumstances, part with and items that are trendy, even just for a short period of time. 

Kaitlin was lucky and found pieces that met both requirements - totally on trend, but also totally perfect for the space and quite timeless. 

“The leather chairs in the living room are from West Elm. I wanted them for about 6 months before I actually committed and bought them, because they’re in a chestnut leather color that happens to be trending, and I wasn’t sure if they would look dated in a few years. I couldn’t find anything else I liked better, though, so eventually I just caved and bought them.”

Of course, though, trendy items don't have to be a splurge, which Kaitlin knows well as a design writer and new mom to her adorable son.

“I write about home decor for a living, so I’m always aware of the latest trends, but I don’t let them dictate my style, because I also know how fleeting they can be. But I’m also not immune to trends, either! Generally, I make sure that most of the big-ticket furniture I buy is more timeless, and then I incorporate trends through inexpensive things like textiles, DIY projects, or swapping out the wall art in my frames. ”

In the nursery, those trends come alive with the Scandinavian rocking chair (good taste, Kaitlin - I have the same one!), the luxurious fur rug, and the Graham & Brown wallpaper. 

Kaitlin, what a dream to not only write about beautiful design for a living but to LIVE IT every day with your family. Thanks for showing us around! 

Follow Kaitlin along on Instagram @kaitmadden or her site. 

And now for me? I'm headed off to a weekend in Florida with my girlfriends. See you all next week, and cross fingers that I don't come back with a sunburn.