Quatrefoil Credenza ||A Collaboration with Modern South||

Today I have the privileged of debuting not only a fresh piece but also a fellow creative!  Posts like these are some of my favorites - when two creatives join forces to make something together.  I connected with Cory of Modern South via Instagram and jumped at the chance to work with her on a juicy collaboration.

Modern South Studio

Original Artwork by Cory McBee
Charleston, SC

Cory and I share a mutual love of color and abstract art.  When we were looking for an excuse to work together, I had the perfect piece in mind to show off her ethereal landscapes art.  I found this four door credenza without a leg to stand on and the sweet quatrefoil detailing was so endearing that I couldn't pass it up. 

Plus I was jonesing to do something in a buttery gray again.

The classic lines of this piece called for a feminine and glam look - something a little softer than I normally debut in the garage shop.  

The paint color I went with was Hailstorm Gray by Behr Marquee.  In person, it's almost blue, almost purple, almost green and therefore an all-around very mysterious neutral.

It actually did pain me a bit to paint the burled wood inserts on the doors but there were too many areas of damage that needed repair and I just couldn't picture a two-toned look.  I think because the two-tone is more indicative of a modern streamlined piece that wouldn't fit a piece like this with more decorative details.  

For her new gams, I found these metal 7" legs.  Their sleek lines help modernize the credenza so it can appeal to a wider variety of home decor styles. 

The piece's original floret-ed knobs complimented the quatrefoil design on the doors too perfectly to give up so I gave the legs our favorite faux-gold finish to match.

Inside is a cabinet on the left

and a set of drawers on the right.

Any one of her prints would have been the perfect compliment, but Cory's "Blue Fever" and "Dreaming in Orange" make such a lovely couple. 

Blue Fever by Cory McBee, Modern South Studio

Dreaming in Orange by Cory McBee, Modern South Studio

The navy and blush paired with the gray and gold of their piece reminds me of a quiet sunrise.  

I kept a relatively neutral color scheme with the rest of my decorative items: dried eucalyptus in a white ceramic vase, a couple stacks of books, white picture frames and touches of glass and gold.

Cory's prints are the precise soft/ feminine accents I was picturing when I finished this piece.  If you want a set of your own, you can shop Modern South Studio or email Cory for customize print sizes.  And if you're local to the DC Metro area, this gray quatrefoil beauty could also be yours.

Gray Quatrefoil Dresser
Now Available for Sale
72"L x 20"D x 30.5"H
$685

If you are interested in this piece or a custom order like it, email me at cate@stylemutthome.com.

Reader Design: Bri's Cali Cool Home

It's Friday!! Finally. After what feels like the longest week. I don't know about you guys, but I am in serious need of a good vacation. 

Thankfully, today we are touring Bri's Cali cool home; right in the middle of Southern California in a little town called Aliso Viejo, every day just has to feel like a vacation for Bri right? Her home is certainly relaxing enough to make you think so! 

What you wouldn't necessarily guess, though, is that this open and airy space is also home to Bri's husband and two children. That means that functionality is right up there with appearance. 

From Bri:

“I want our home to be comfortable because we have two children, but I also want it to look rad. Many of my textiles are vintage items that have already withstood many years of use, so I feel pretty confident that they can handle being used in fort building and pillow fights. I’ve recently switched to a lighter color scheme in our main living space because I wanted it to feel light and bright even though our home gets very poor natural light. I love mixing wood tones within my home too because of the warmth and sense of comfort they can exude. Overall, I just really want our home to feel like you can kick your feet up on the furniture, because we are fine with that...maybe take your shoes off at least since we do have a white sofa, but nothing is too precious. ”

That means that Bri decorates by being, in her words, "a little bit of a lot." She mixes lots of styles together, in small increments so that one aesthetic doesn't overtake the whole space. She also mixes and matches when it comes to price points, pairing pricier mid-century finds or local textiles with flea market steals or Target items. 

In the dining nook, that meant Bri flexed her creative muscles to add doors to Ikea toy benches - a simple change that gets big functionality and style points! 

And the style keeps right on going into the bedrooms. 

“In our bedroom, I have to say I love my hat wall. That may sound so silly, but I truly just love the warmth the shades of brown add to the room and that they also serve as wall decor. It’s a simple storage solution that makes a big impact.”

“In my kid’s shared room I love their accent wall that I stenciled. You can see this wall when standing in our kitchen, looking through the living space so I knew I wanted it to standout.”

Bri, thank you for showing us around. I have just one final question for you -

When can I visit? 

Follow Bri on Instagram @brimoysa for more, and I'll see you all next week!

Reader Design: Amy's Bright Bungalow

This post-Memorial Day weather has been quite bipolar recently, from gray to humid and hot. Thank goodness we have Amy's always-consistent, bright, and refreshing 1920's craftsman home to spotlight this week!

Amy and her husband bought their home in the up-and-coming Washington, D.C. neighborhood of Brookland just over two years ago, and they quickly went to work to bring it authentically to life. 

From Amy:

“When I first started the decorating process, I knew I wanted to embrace the home’s cozy vibe that I feel every time I walk in the front door. I have always been drawn to color and textures, and I practiced very little restraint when picking out some of the more eclectic pieces. My husband often jokes that I am the queen of tchotchkes, and I’m OK embracing that title.”

Inspired by the bohemian and natural elements mastered by Justina Blakeney of The Jungalow, Amy set out on a mission to adopt a 'try and see' mindset. That approach allowed Amy to have the freedom to experiment and just see what worked. More often than not, she ended up with something seriously cool and intriguing, like pairing competing patterns or textiles or putting plants in seemingly odd places. 

“Plants, though, can warm up any space and studies have shown that they boost mood and are good for the air quality so I think I can safely justify this obsession.”

Keeping all those plants company in the dining room is a piece that solved many of Amy's art commitment issues - that gorgeous Juniper Briggs original.

“One of the biggest decorating obstacles I have is committing to artwork for the walls so I framed a lot of our travel pictures. They always start a conversation when we have guests over and they evoke my favorite memories when I look at them. That being said, I finally purchased a beautiful print from the lovely and local artist Juniper Briggs. It was the one piece that really finished off my dining room, and I tortured myself for months trying to decide on which one of her pieces to buy.”

And finally, we come to Amy's favorite room in the house: her bedroom (and 'dog's palace').

“It is hands down my favorite room in the house. Almost all of the objects including planters, the brass mobile above the bed, and the light fixture are handmade. I love supporting artists, and I can spend hours scouring Etsy for that one unique item that I know I will treasure for years to come. ”

Amy, you have quite the comfy home! Thank you for sharing it with us today - and for those who want more, follow Amy along on Instagram @lilyslovelies.

See you next week,