Reader Design: Kimmy's Cozy Casa

March 24, 2017 McKenna Begin

Kim's home just makes me happy.

There's nothing complicated about it. It doesn't try to be a photo from a magazine (though, Kim hits that mark on more than one occasion.) It doesn't need constant primping and pruning. It's not high maintenance.

It just makes me feel happy.

That's the first sign that this Frisco, Texas home for this family of three + pets is doing its job. Kimberly and her husband Andrew have been partnering up for a total renovation of their home over the past fifteen months. Luckily, they're focused on all the right things:

“My husband and I have found we’re a really great team. This house was a total gut job! We have more projects unfinished than finished, but we’re loving this journey.”

One of the first completed projects was in the living room, where Kim took the plunge and tried out a favorite design trend: dark walls.

“We actually had this can of paint for a long time, because I just couldn’t decide to just go for it. But Andrew called me at work one day and said this is the day, I’m painting the wall! The funny thing is that I had decided to paint an entirely different wall but because of a misunderstanding he painted this wall. And it’s the best design mistake ever! It’s black with just a hint of blue and I love it.”

Another great call by Kim was splurging on this comfy couch in the family room. I've never seen a couch that looks so ready for its family to sink into it as this one. And you know the really awesome thing about this guy? He can handle anything.

“It’s upholstered in a Perennial fabric which is an indoor/outdoor fabric that is practically indestructable. I don’t like anything that’s too precious. We really live in this house and with a toddler and our own little zoo I love that I never have to worry when muddy paws (of the furry or human kind) get on our sofa. It was a splurge but well worth it.”

And now - one of my personal favorite spots in Kim's home is her dining area. First of all, is this not one of the best pillow collection you've ever seen? I think we're all quite aware of how popular indigo and mudcloth are these day, so I just adore the unexpected pop of blush. After all, it is one of 2017's biggest beauty trends! But I'm sure Kim knew that all along...

Of course, a life full of renovations and projects has to be a challenge (even when mistakes turn out to be blessings!), especially with a youngster in the house! But Kim is making the most of it and drawing some awesome influences.

“My husband and I were both born and raised in Texas so I’d say that has influenced our design aesthetic quite a bit. I have traveled a lot too so I love a global mix. My mom has a wonderful eye for design, and I’m certain that’s where I got my creativity and passion for interior design.”

Kim, we are sending your home some serious love. Can you feel it through the interwebs?! Thank you for showing us around your stunning home.
Follow Kim along on Instagram @kimmyintx for more!

Happy Spring, Mutts!

Reader Design: Kristin's Cali Cool Home

February 17, 2017 McKenna Begin

I don't know about you, but I am SO ready for Spring. I know I'm a couple weeks past Groundhog Day, but boy do I wish the outcome had been different. I need to trade in my huge parka for a light jacket, my boots for some sandals, and I long for the day when I don't need to add bronzer to look healthy. All I can say is thank goodness I now see the light when I leave my good ole day job.

That light and hint of summer are two of the reasons for my envy of Kristin's Venice Beach, CA home.

Kristin's family home is mid-century, bohemian, bright, and kid-friendly. It's everything that is right with California style! And that style is the result of some pretty great influences.

One of those? Kristin's mom and her partner.

“They travel to craft fairs and galleries and very carefully hand pick art and pottery. They both have an excellent eye and have taught me the importance of collecting special pieces (furniture, too) over time.”

Another? The physical surroundings in which she's chosen to raise her family.

“Venice has gorgeous diverse architecture. It is so inspiring! I love the modern beachy bohemian design trending here and it has definitely influenced my style.”

It still takes a heckuva internal compass to get the blending of all those influences right. And for Kristin, that compass is her family. Above all, her space feels like it's made for a family. For movie nights, games, making a mess - all without, as Kristin says, "freaking out."

And with a family, everything has to be built to last.

“I love picking furniture that is simple, modern and classic made to last for a very long time. The grey couch in our family room, for example, is a couch I’ve had for 15 years! And then, as trends come and go, I can keep up with them with accessories. Accessories can be sourced for so much cheaper! For example, my bohemian basket wall in my dining room cost $30 total because I found the baskets at antique and thrift stores. ”

Some of those trends that Kristin just nails are her bright white kitchen (Kristin would like to thank her friend Hannah, @repeatworld, for her valuable input), which is the perfect clean and beautiful family gathering place; the indigo and mudcloth pillows, lovingly placed both for their cuddling abilities and for impromptu photo ops; and the graffiti art that pays homage to none other than Venice Beach itself.

Kristin, your home represents everything we love about style mutts. It's functional, fun, and most importantly, a reflection of you. Thanks for showing us around! Follow Kristin along on Instagram @ksdion.

See you next week, mutts!

Oh Grow Up... Art ||Flip List Item No.4||

May 23, 2016 Cate | StyleMutt Home

For a few months now, my collection of original abstract artwork has felt...off. It's like you're trying to copy your mom's crowd-pleasing artichoke dip and yet it just doesn't taste the same when you do it - you feel me?

In an effort to solve this art conundrum, I declared "Grown-Up Abstract Art" as item No.4 on my furniture flip bucket list and began to do some research on what ingredients may be missing from my art collection. After consulting pinterest, I kept stumbling on some delicious abstract art showcased in gorgeous, minimal floating frames.

And so my first theory was formed. I rummaged up some spare wood trim to fashion a make-shift gold frame for one of my smaller pieces, but when I finished it still felt juvenile somehow.

Using my day off to work on a #furnitureflip #bucketlist item: grow up my artwork. I'm starting by experimenting with #diy modern frames. We'll see where this goes... #abstractart #floatingframe #gold #stylemuttprojects

A photo posted by StyleMutt Cate (@cate_stylemutthome) on Feb 26, 2016 at 11:54am PST

After mulling over it for a little while longer, I began to think that perhaps my portions were off. I love to paint but I'm no professional artist - when I paint, I can't help myself: I love ALL THE COLORSSSSSS. But perhaps I need to balance out the generous helpings of bold pops of color with some graphic patterns and white elements like this large piece I painted to help stage the cowprint bench. [It actually sold at our Pop-Up Shop at Sweet Clover Barn so I never got the chance to mix it into my new abstract art recipe.] And interestingly enough, despite my obsession with large-scale abstract art, I don't actually have any pieces hanging in our apartment.

Ok so let's meet the "art ingredients" I do have in stock and let's see if we can mix them together for a winning combo.

Van Gogh's Les Alyscamps — Van Gogh's *Les Alyscamps*

"Les Ales Camps" - a 3rd Grader made this piece at a school I worked for. The elementary art program was doing a series on Van Gogh and this young artist was studing Van Gogh's Les Alyscamps (which she mistakenly labeled as "Les Ales Camps" in the top right corner lol. I loved the playful take so much that I had it printed on a canvas to hang in my office.
"Unnamed" - this is the largest piece of abstract art I've done and yet I haven't found a place for it. I think I feel like it would overpower any of our small spaces so I've never hung it in our home.
"Hadley" - this is the piece I tried to give a floating frame. I think the proportions are off and I would like it better if the frame were thinner and little daintier.
"Picasso" - this is another piece I can't take credit for. I just love this line drawing so much that I traced it on some paper and popped it in a frame - forgive me Pablo P.
"A Riot of Color [in a dreary world]" - name that movie! I painted this poppy-inspired piece while watching a Heath Ledger favorite (may he rest in piece). You may recognize this pop of red from staging this piece here.

For plating purposes, I've enlisted the help of a fresh flip who'll be heading to his new home in DC soon [I removed the original toe-kick and added tapered legs with the nickle caps cut off and painted the top and sides a glossy white].

Art Recipe No.1:

Playful "Les Ales Camps" with a side of "Picasso" garnished with plant, brass candlesticks and record player served on a Mid-Century Record Console Table with storage for your vintage record collection.

[How cool is that rolling door for space-saving storage?! And there are four compartments inside with removable vertical dividers.]

To combat my tendancy to over-saturate with color, my thought here was to pair the two "lighter colored" art pieces on a white-wall background. The smaller graphic "Picasso" cuts the intensity of the color in "Les Ales Camps" and the record player.

Art Recipe No.2:

A large helping of "Unnamed" abstract with a side of "Picasso" drizzled with candle sticks and a fern for garnish. Since "Unnamed" is such a powerful flavor, I also tried to soften it with the dainty print and anchor it with a large plant.

Art Recipe No.3:

Spiced "Riot of Color" and "Hadley" with creamy "Picasso" served with natural elements encased in glass cloches and garnished with a potted fern.

[Look at that gorgeous wood grain in the slats of the console table's rolling front.]

Since I was using two bold paintings, I again employed the "Picasso"print and accented with the airiness of the glass cloches.

[Fun fact: the stand for the raw mineral is just one of my fluted candlesticks turned upside down].

Which recipe hit the spot for you? Any suggestions on how to make my art collection more flavorful/ refined/ spicy? Leave your tips in the comments below!