Building Block Home Decorating Accessories You Need!

Whether you live small or large, this accessory collection can seamless change from decorating to entertaining in an instant. Use my "Good Bone" accessories as your base template for styling your home. Each can be used in multiple ways, be changed out quickly space to space, for a season or the holidays. These accessories too can make you a bit more organized, and when entertaining - some, can be staples and service any of your hosting areas from bar to buffet. Win, win.

(** Heads-up, if you’d like to shop my collections, the links are in the item and the picture - I’m part of the Amazon Influencer program and receive a small commission of sold items.)** Link to entire collection - LINK

JULEA’S LIST OF BUILDING BLOCK HOME ACCESSORIES

TALL CANDLESTICKS: A set of tall candlesticks elevate your styling whether topped with candles or any scale friendly object you want to display. Their height is the key ingredient to great accessorizing - Always perfect for a mantle, but also should be considered on a coffee table, kitchen island, or even in a bookcase. For entertaining, add a plate (use poster tack putty) and your buffet or bar will be elevated to new heights.

DOUGH BOWL - The perfect decorating vessel. Rustic, organic, Farmhouse style, with just the right ‘opposites attract’ interior design element that any room needs. Fill it with whatever you please, from holiday greens for the season to faux succulents as a centerpiece. Line it with cloth napkins and for entertaining - it’s the best baguette holder for your dinner party.

LARGE BLANKET BASKET - A large blanket basket can service besides blankets, entry shoes, seasonal wear, kids/dog toys, a statement in-door plant, towels, laundry. Too, it brings texture to a space, and its lovely form offers a pretty visual for a storage piece.

LONG WICKER TRAY - A nice long wicker tray adds casualness and texture to a surface. Great topped on a granite island, your dining room table or to house personal items on a bathroom counter or nightstand. A tray too offers a template to decorate in. For entertaining, pop in a long platter or bowls with your favorite sides, or use for serve items such as napkins, silverware, plates, or more.

WIRED CLOCHE - Bring the outside in with a wire cloche. Casual, unbreakable, and easy to use and store. Anything under a dome becomes more important and adds an element of surprise to your accessorizing.

CAKE STAND - A cake stand can hold more than cakes - as a decorating element, it can be the needed centerpiece element to an arrangement. Alone, or with an added plate, the stand can make something simple stand out and up. Add to the cake stand with the above cloche and you have real WOW factor decorating accessory!

NATURAL ABOLONE SHELL - I know it sounds a bit weird that a shell would make my ‘must have’ list. But I stand by my shell. This pretty, small, vessel can be a lovely natural addition to a side table or a vignette on your coffee table. Perfect in a Powder Room with a bar of soap, wrapped candies, on your kitchen windowsill to hold your rings, or a spoon rest when entertaining or as a salt cellar. It too can sit alone on a bookcase or in a cubby. I found mine while walking on a beach in Half Moon Bay, CA, so besides being functional, it holds a special memory.

WINE/CHAMPAGNE BUCKET - Iconic shape, better than a bowl, Can house ice to a tabletop Christmas Tree. What’s not to love about an oversize wine bucket? On your dining room table as a centerpiece, in your foyer with floral arrangement, on your coffee table with magazines and books. You know what to do with it for entertaining…

SILVER TRAY - Anything silver adds panache, especially a tray. In baths to entry tables - this fancy tray makes anything on it, special and upscale.

FAUX BOOKS - Faux books are a favorite for any home stylist. An added element horizontally, or vertical, they add dimension to any display.

FOOTED HURRICANE VASE - A workhorse accessory. A footed hurricane vase can be your standard decorating element in one spot. It can change each month with fresh flowers, change seasonally or with a holiday. It can be flipped over and used as a candle stand, or as a lift for a buffet with an added plate, bowl or platter. In a bathroom with bath salts, washcloths or kid’s toys, in the kitchen as a terrarium or water garden, and in the laundry with laundry care products.

RECHARGEABLE ELECTRIC CANDLES - Oh happy day! No more batteries. Candles add that ambiance and the 5 sense element needed in a space. These offer a timer, and a remote for ease of use, and then when spent, you just recharge them. We all know where to use them, and if you need direction, see above list. One added idea, since they come in a trio, consider ribboning them together as 1 cluster.

I hope you were inspired to weed through your current accessories, perhaps shop for some new ones, and use these great building block accessories in creative ways. Please share if you use one of these accessories in an different way, we’d love to know!

Stay tuned for a new collection - HOME STYLING or STAGING TOOL KIT FAVORITES. Staples and tools that I have in my tool bag when I head to interior style and home stage a home. - JULEA.

Style your Holidays Foundations 2022

I’m super excited to announce that I am now an Amazon Influencer. With that, I am able to share with you my new page Reinventing Space with Julea on Amazon. I’ll be adding collections to my shopping and with a click, you can use my shopping lists to style and decorate your home.

Style your Holidays foundations 2022

With the holidays just around the corner, start with these great home styling foundation accessory, entertaining and styling pieces for your holiday decorating this year. They will elevate what you already have this year when decking the halls and entertaining and make everyone in your home - feel the holiday spirit!

FURNISHINGS FOUNDATIONS -

Hourglass Wicker Table: With entertaining and rearranging furniture to fit in the tree - this great, little, sexy table can hold host your guest’s drinks, and can even replace a larger side table for the season.

Clear Glass Based Lamp: With all the decking the halls, this simple statement lamp can calm your very busy space. If your room is lighting poor - it's the perfect lamp for any style all year round.

Big Ass Knit Throw: Toasty! Cozy, chunky, seasonal - flip the switch for your living spaces to cozy up your space for the chilly weather season with this great throw. HINT: Can also double as a tree skirt.

HOLIDAY DECORATING FOUNDATIONS -

Open Wood Lantern: An open lantern can house anything. Stacked it on a stand, perched on a set of books or on a lift. Add it on the foyer entry table, or the pair the floor next to the door, as a centerpiece for your holiday table with fresh floral - On the buffet as the napkin or plate holder.

Marble Edge Riser Set: Lifts offer unlimited options when styling for the holidays. Anything lifted becomes more important, and creates interest. This set is made of marble with edgy gold accents and hairpin legs making anything on them very chic.

Natural Fiber Tree Collar: Tree collars are the best - they hide the mess under the tree, balance its stature, and this one brings texture and a clean, modern style to a space.

SCENTS OF THE SEASON -

Fresh Bay Leaf Wreath: A fresh Bay leaf wreath (this one has rosemary too!) is the quintessential holiday wreath and my Mom’s favorite. Lovely, richly scented, and it serves double duty in the kitchen (all organic) when cooking your favorite dishes. Just snip off a leaf or two. After the holidays, it will dry out perfectly to be a mainstay on a wall in the kitchen or pantry or broken down into jars or sachets.

Douglas Fir Essential Oil: O Tannenbaum. The scent of the season. Add few drops in a sprayer with Witch Hazel to freshen your linens, in your diffuser, scent your pine cone display or candles. Heavenly.

Rosemary/Mint French Milled Soap: French milled soap is the perfect hand cleanser in a guest bath. A little touch of panache for your holiday visitors. Rosemary and mint scented, a perfect scent for winter.

ENTERTAINING & HOME STYLING FOUNDATIONS:

Holiday Special American Old Fashioned Hard Candy: Little bowls of old fashion wrapped candies remind me of my Grandparents. These old favorites make any day during the holidays a celebration.

Monogram Guest Hand Towels: Pamper your guests with high quality paper in the powder room or table. They’ll feel like they’re at Downton Abbey.

Footed Raised Tray: A raised surface is the perfect starting point to any vignette accessorizing. Also great for your holiday entertaining to raise what you are serving.

Three Tiered Tray: Vertical decorating saves space and creates interest. Treasured collections look lovely on a table or the island. For entertaining - a coffee/tea station, for cookies, or nibbles. This fancy tiered tray comes apart too for more decorating options.

Clear Ice Bucket: Wine, ice, water, flowers, holiday treats, chips or bread when entertaining.

Marble Board: This marble pastry/cutting board can be used as a platform for decorating on your kitchen island, bar area, or is perfect as an appetizer board. Too looks lovely with potted plants on display.

Cheese Markers: Perfect and clever ”fork” cheese markers for your holiday spread.

Black ‘Chalk’ Paper: Buffet saver! Roll out this black craft paper and write your dishes on it with a white chalk pen. Great for the kids table and stylish paper for wrapping gifts.

Parchment Leaves Sheets: Up your cheese board cred with these sassy parchment leaves. Placed beneath your cheeses or fruits, it makes your platter a bit more special. Also great for desserts.

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Not so Fast - Thanksgiving is in-between

It may be the day after Halloween, but don't be decking the halls with red and green just yet - there is a holiday in-between, and it's called Thanksgiving!  Here are some great home decorating and hosting ideas that can ease you into the jingle jangle season.  

Container Gardens: 

As our 1st frost approaches, it's time to replace the product in our outside container gardens. Opt for mainstays of cut Evergreen greenery or even a live small Evergreen species or tree or bush as your anchor Add fall materials such preserved leaves, pods or flowers and sprayed pine cones in autumn colors. As the season turns into winter, the autumn picks can simply replaced with frosty, winter finds.

Photo: Midwest Living

Wreathes 

The timeless eucalyptus wreath can be dressed up or down with any season. The elegant, interesting, round leaves are the perfect foil for any decorating style. Add your favorite elements of the season, then swap them out when you are ready for the next - no need to reinvent the wheel with a whole new wreath. From doors, windows, table centerpieces to tiered plate stands, wreathes are a perfect elevation. This wreath is from Joann.

Photo: Joann

Simple added elements such as these fall eucalyptus stems can transition your wreathes from one season to another. Eucalyptus multi-leave stems by Michaels

Photo: Michael's

Table

Whether foyer, sofa or dining - your table will always look better dressed in fabric. This in-between time is ideal for texture and neutral color tones. Burlap, linen, jute, cheesecloth, sacking, or any natural fabric in a neutral tone will create the perfect styling veneer for your tables. Used as a runner, wrap or layer, these natural fibers will celebrate the season and give you that base to build on. Runner from Ashley Furniture

Photo Collage: Julea Joseph/Source

What to do About Pumpkin:

As cold weather, especially snow or a frost comes in - your exterior pumpkins need exit the exterior of your home or they'll be nothing but mush. Extend their use by adding them to your interior decorating, and if you are hosting Thanksgiving - those pumpkins can be a part of your holiday table too.

Photo collage: Julea Joseph/Source

With these in-between home decorating ideas, your in-between holiday, Thanksgiving will get it's highlight. Enjoy! - Julea

7 DIY Last Minute Christmas Ideas

1. CAKE PLATTER || MASON JAR CENTERPIECE -  

I have a thing for cake platters (One of my “good bones” decorating accessories) The original post featured mod podge and Epsom salt to make the frosted look.  Last minute look - pour epsom salts, sugar or fake snow into jars, add lighting.

Photo: Remodelandolacasa

2.  USE WHAT YOU HAVE!  - From empty bottles and a bit of ribbon, to food - try shopping your home for last minute decorating inspiration.

Photo: Source

3.  FANCY FOLDED NAPKINS -  Super easy and a creative way to dress up your table.

Photo: Source

 4. Orange Pomander Balls - Old school tradition, heavenly scented and read the backstory on the tradition, it will be a great conversation starter.

Orange and clove pomander. Photo by Wendy Piersall/Wikimedia Commons.

5.  LAST MINUTE APPETIZER - CRANBERRY AND BRIE CROSTINI

The original idea has you making your own cranberry compote , I’d just doctor up store bought - but the idea is just perfect.

Photo: neighborfoodblog

6.  LAST MINUTE GIFT - SPICED NUTS This one I can thank an old friend who made these for me years ago when we lived in San Francisco- we had backyard rosemary year round. I use pecans or walnuts, but feel free to use your nutty favorites, or what is in the pantry!  Perfect for a hostess gift, this tried and true recipe is easy and fail proof.

Photo: William-Sonoma

7 RECYCLED CAN DECOR - Clever idea and great tutorial.   If you don’t want to make it too complicated, just use a black sharpie and one coat of white spray paint.

Photo: lilyardo

Happy Holidays to you and yours! - Julea.

Holiday Home: Start You Amaryllis Bulbs Now For Christmas Blooms!

If you want to have some beautiful Amaryllis blooms for this year's Christmas season, start growing them now. I love having fresh or live floral in my home rather than silk or faux. These little wonders which are easy to grow - pack a huge decorative punch and create just the right ambiance for a beautifully dressed Holiday Home. 

Amaryllis Centerpiece (photo: Country Living)

You can buy Amaryllis bulbs in a nice little kit, complete with soil and a pot, or if you have just a bit of a green thumb - buy loose bulbs which you can plant collectively in a large vase or bowl.  You can purchase the kits at any home improvement store and bulbs at a garden center. A collection of bulbs will create a lovely centerpiece or entry statement maker. A single bloom is lovely on a counter, mantle or part of a tablescape. When to start? Below is a planting and bloom guide to help you determine when to get indoor gardening.

Amaryllis Bloom Chart (photo: Source)

I added a few more pictures to get you inspired to get a bit of dirt under your nails and celebrate the season with Amaryllis.

Amaryllis Tablescape (photo: Southern Living)

Amaryllis in Mercury Glass Vase (photo: BH&G)

I too started a Pin Board on Pinterest with more ideas: AMARYLLIS CHRISTMAS