Simple Christmas Tour

Hello, hello! 'Tis the season for Christmas decorated home tours, and while it's been really fun to see how other friends have decorated their homes for the holiday season, I wasn't planning to share my own home until yesterday afternoon! We've enjoyed getting our Christmas decorations out as a family and setting up our tree and lights, but it's kind of been something I just wanted to enjoy with my family this year. It's easy to feel pulled in a lot of different directions during the holidays, and with our plates full of other really good things, this was one that I was planning to shed. I confided my conflict to Cate who wisely advised that if it doesn't bring me joy, then don't worry about it. And at that, I decided to whip up this post!

I don't share a lot about life behind the scenes of StyleMutt Home, (not as much, anyways). But it's moving forward at Polar Express speeds, (just like anyone's). The way I decorate our home is every bit a reflection of that passage of time, our growing children, myself. Our home has always been an extension of the character of our family and my personal development as a creative individual. The reason I enjoy documenting our home is the same reason I journal - to be able to look back and see growth and movement. So, despite the simplicity, it warms my heart to share our Christmas 2017 home with you, friends!

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Notice the angel on the far left, with her nose in the air and arms crossed. No candle, baked good, seashell or wreath like the others....she's my favorite. Hah!!

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Oh my goodness, I hope I can still remember in years to come how funny it was trying to figure out a layout this year! We are right smack in the middle of a sofa debacle that is a story for another day, but we figured things out by using only the chaise part of a massive sofa / chaise combo.

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Our kitchen has seen A LOT of action lately now that we're in full swing holiday party season. Yup, lots of mediocre baking going on in here. If you like quantity over quality, I'm you're gal! Lol! Between the kids' classrooms and their various activities, it's been one party after another!

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Shire's bedroom is pure Christmas magic to me. I find myself in here without any reason to be; it's just a happy place. The bedspread was from my grandparents' old lake house, and the mini tree is on loan from my sister. I love that Shire's room is a compilation of special memories, people and places.

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Our bedroom is the last stop because the boys room is just done being photographed. It's a charming hot mess and I love it because I birthed them, but their door is officially closed to the public. :)  I enjoyed adding a tiny bit to our own bedroom, though, to make it special for the holidays! The bunch of boxwood was just the kind of small festive nod I was looking for for our room. It suits the simplicity of the space well and because there's not a lot going on, I feel like you really see it, you know? I often tell clients, the less there is, the more you see.

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The only other impactful addition to the room is the kilim rug  covered bench at the end of the bed! Both the rug and the bench were found on a neighbors curb on trash day, so I brought both pieces home and turned them into one!

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Well that's it! Thank you so very much for taking the time to come by. I hope you enjoy these days until Christmas and have peace about what is on your own plate. A bit of advice - no one else will really notice what you don't get done. As I walked into yet another children's holiday party last night for my son's cubscout pack, I placed my 4 dozen brownies on  table full of other various treats and thought to myself, no one would have noticed if I didn't bring these. Here's to shedding the excess so we can focus on the priorities.

Merry Christmas and God bless!

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Industrial Pipe Bookshelf

Only 3 more days until Christmas!!!!  Admittedly I am equally counting down to spending time with family as I am to having a real break from my day job.  I haven't taken more than 2 days off for over a year so I am really really looking forward to a bit of an extended stay-cation.  As we count down to the holidays, I am also wrapping up some overdue flip debuts before getting ready to start rolling out new pieces in the new year.  

Remember my industrial sawhorse desk?  Well when the buyer came to pick it up last fall, it turns out she didn't need the 3-drawer hutch since she planned to float the desk in her office.  So she bought the desk, chair and lamp, and left the orphaned hutch drawers behind so I took the opportunity to play around with a new take on industrial-inspired storage.

Industrial Pipe Bookshelf

I re-re-used the drawers to make a 3-tiered bookshelf with loads of storage.

I drilled two holes through the front and back of each drawer and threaded a section of galvanized pipe through.  Each dovetailed drawer hangs level and secure by resting on pipe coupling at one end and a heavy-duty wall bracket at the other.

The staggered heights provide visual interest while allowing space for art or plants.

I tested the weight limits of the unit myself by literally loading up every flat surface with all of our hardcover books.

At the top, a small section of pipe also secures to the wall for more stability. 

And another flange at the base can be secured to the floor too.

The entire length of pipe disassembles easily into 4 sections for transporting. 

You could even swing out the middle drawer and mount the whole unit into a corner for even more versatility.

I would love to see this baby go to a cool loft or some other city space!  If you are interested in this piece or a custom order like it, please email cate@stylemutthome.com.

Industrial Pipe Bookshelf
Now Available for Sale
63"W x 7.5"D x 78"H
$395

As we gather together this Christmas, Chelsea and I pray that your holiday is filled to the brim with treasured family time.  We hope that the hustle and bustle will fade away and we'll all be able to truly savor the real reason for the season.  Merry Christmas to you all!

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.
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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,