Simply Set, Fully Enjoyed || A Holiday Collaboration with Carthage Co.

November 24, 2017 Chelsea | StyleMutt Home

Hello and Happy Thanksgiving, Friends! We hope you have been able to enjoy time with those near and dear to you and that your hearts are feeling full. We are delighted to continue the celebrating on here with you today through a partnership with a wonderful company who is hosting a giveaway!

Allow us to introduce you to Carthage Co ., an ethically responsible company creating beautiful stoneware with local manufacturers in North Africa.

We're proud to work with local manufacturers that employ and empower their communities with dignity and equity. We believe in sustainable entrepreneurial growth that would rather partner with, than compete against. -Carthage Co.

So their ethics are sound, but what about their pieces? Well, my photos don't do the beauty and quality of their products justice, but take a gander at some pieces I've had the pleasure of getting my hands on these past few weeks.

What I find so beautiful about these pieces is their quiet presence on our table. I don't want anything to distract from the faces that gather here. I desire for everyone to be able to see one another, to talk to each other and pass dishes around with ease, so I keep centerpieces simple and to a minimum. When I set my table it is with one purpose in mind - togetherness.

Carthage Co. stoneware dishes support that goal with pieces that are beautifully simple, uniquely designed, and allow quality time to happen around them.

-Pitcher in 'Rose' (10 colors available)

-La Marsa Dinner Plate in 'Chalk' (5 colors available)
-La Marsa Dessert Plate in 'Muslin' (5 colors available)

As I have gotten older I've come to appreciate a few things I once took for granted: higher quality pieces for my home, raw beauty straight from this earth, and most of all, time with those I hold close to my heart. If you've spotted something of interest, (whether for you or someone else), or you resonate with Carthage Co.'s mission, I invite you to enter a Giveaway they are graciously offering the StyleMutt Home community for a $50 gift card to their shop! Please leave a comment below of a special item you've spotted in their shop that's piqued your interest - your comment will be your entry. Entry closes at midnight tonight so this is a quick one, guys!

Winner will be announced in this post tomorrow, so if you enter be sure to come back tomorrow to check the results! And whether you see your name or not, all are welcome to use the discount code STYLEMUTT15 for 15% off their entire order now through December 5!

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today! Have a wonderful rest of your holiday weekend!

Reader Design: Diane's Intuitive Home

November 17, 2017 McKenna Begin

It's clear when you peek into Diane's home that she really went with her gut. Diane shares her PNW home with her boyfriend, and its laid back vibe and simplicity make it the perfect place to unwind. No item necessarily comes from the same family - some are boho, some traditional, and some minimalist - but every piece works together to create "home."

“I’m a firm believer that if a product speaks to you, it will work with your aesthetic because it will be among other items you love and are drawn to. Letting my intuition steer my decisions helps create a space that evokes who I am without adhering too much to trends.”

This often requires patience. Diane is rightfully focused on carefully and intentionally creating a home not just for herself but also for the other very important person who lives there. After all, a home is meant to be representative of all who live in it.

Take the living room for instance.

“The print is a film photo my boyfriend took during a vacation to Europe - the space above our couch was bare until a few weeks ago because we were waiting for the perfect piece, and I’m glad we prevailed. It was meant to be.”

Another example in the value of patience? Diane's perfectly on-trend dining chairs.

“They have been my best Goodwill score to date; I got all four for $20, and they just needed a little polish on the chrome. The wood has a perfect weather to it and the cane is still in tact.”

At the end of the day, Diane is focused on one thing.

“It’s as simple as coming home to a space you enjoy and want to spend time in. I feel much more at peace when I’m surrounded by beautiful things I love. You have to appreciate the journey knowing the effort you’ve put into curating your home, even though I always feel it’s a work in progress (as I’m sure many others do as well! We are ever-evolving as human beings).”

Diane, you keep doing you! For more, follow Diane along on Instagram @dklawrence.

Enjoy your Thanksgivings next week, mutts, and we'll see you back with more Reader Designs in December.

NY-Bound Custom Order

November 13, 2017 Cate | StyleMutt Home

There's a lot about this little business that has blown me and Chelsea away. We've accrued clients from across the US (and even Canada!), designed for a battery of dream spaces, and even shipped pieces out of state! That's crazy to think about - I mean, we're just two women working out of our homes! In our garages, at our dining room table, late at night or the wee small hours of the morning. And God is still growing us!

Recently I was commissioned for a custom order for delivery to New York. And I gotta say - it makes me feel swanky to have a piece in the Big Apple *sheepish grin.* The client wanted something similar to my brass finger pull tall boy but needed a lot more storage.

I did some hunting on my local craigslist and found the perfect low boy (from the same furniture line no less - how does that happen?!?).

Her design aesthetic was simple: she wanted a matte color that could go with anything and a touch of brass. After seeing some photos of her space and discussing her vision, I worked up 3 renderings for her to review:

She liked the idea of a warm gray or white in her space, but in the end she kept coming back to her first love: the moody dark finish from my finger pull tall boy. My client had a tight deadline so I immediately set about painting. But T-minus a few days until our scheduled for pick up, I ran into a bit of a problem...

Where was the brass hardware?

I had ordered these yummy brass finger pulls a week prior and had selected 2-day shipping. 7 days later, my tracking number was reporting that it was bouncing between distribution centers in the vicinity but never “out for delivery.”

What the?!?

Stupid hardware. Why you got to play me like that?!? I looped the client in on the conundrum and she gave me the green light to get creative in order to meet our deadline. She only wanted a “peek” of brass anyways so I combed through my local hardware store to see if there was something outside-the-box that would work. And I found...

Strike plates!

ould you tell?

Strike plates are those metal plates that you attached to a threshold to correspond to the bolt of the door. Much like the library pulls I reconfigured for my original tall boy, the strike plates had a subtle lip that could protrude off the drawer top like a true finger pull. I used the same brass tacks as my other piece for a low-profile attachment method that wouldn't interfere with the functionality of the drawers.

Recognize them now?

I showed my alternative idea to the client and she was all for it! So I attached the hardware right-quick and had the piece ready for pick-up in the NICK of time.

The piece arrived at my client’s NYC walk-up the next day and after the delivery guys fenagled it up the stairs (Pivot! Pivot!), it is safely in its new home with minimal wear and tear from the harrowing out-of-state journey.

And I can officially say I have big city clientele ;) *Eek!*

If you’re interested in a custom order like this piece or how we can work with you out-of-state, check out our helpful FAQ guide or email me at cate@stylemutthome.com.