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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Do this for your FALL Decorating 2022

This morning when walking down the driveway I crunched a dozen fallen acorns. Grounded yellow leaves are starting to fill the yard and the cool morning dew hovers on the grass like a spooky fog. Feels like FALL!

With these changes us Midwesterners head to Farmer’s Markets, home storage to retrieve ‘FALL’ marked bins, and favorite home decorating stores to adorn, drape, and celebrate the changing season.

With this I share some fresh, fun, FALL 2022 home decorating ideas to incorporate into your Autumnal home styling: Please note** Most of the gallery photos have a connecting link for either a project, purchase, or inspiration. Enjoy!

Dried Flowers - With the Vintage Repurposed and Granny Chic style being fully embraced, dried floral is an associated trend. From floral arrangements, wall art, to crafting -this 2022 trend we all can embrace. Dried floral’s soft, muted hues, texture and beautiful form have fancy wedding florists mixing dried into fresh for spectacular arrangements. This is why “dried floral” has over  2.5 million tags on Instagram.  Be inspired by these wedding florals, be a maker and craft your own, or head out to your favorite retailer to pickup a ready made.

Botanicals - Talking about flowers... All things botanical is trending. From hanging planters, terrariums, indoor plants and botanical prints -  Were MAD about the green!  Create a fall inspired terrariums or pots with live plants that have fall color cues, decoupage a pumpkin with floral, mushroom or leaf printed tissue or paper napkins. Swap out your everyday art with art with a botanical theme framed piece. Whether outside or in, botanicals are an easy trend to incorporate.

Preppy Prints - Menswear fabrics and patterns have been trending in fashion and high-end home design.  Plaids, flannels, Hounds tooth and tweeds, as well as old school velvets, paisleys and toiles embraced.   Interpret these Preppy Prints into your home environment with fabric covered pumpkins, runners for your tables, throws and pillow covers for your furnishing. And if you are a needlework aficionado, in the gallery is a crochet project for a menswear inspired throw. Whatever your style is, these classic prints and patterns work within your home environment.

Cloche Dome Décor - Anything under a dome becomes important and a statement maker.  Fall is a perfect time for a walk in the woods, or a neighborhood stroll.  Pickup fall finds and create a natural display, house a pumpkin, colorful dried corn, floral picks , or battery operated fall inspired candles under a cloche for a wonder fall statement.  Dome décor is perfect on an entry table, a sideboard, or as part of a dining table centerpiece. Use a cake stand, stack of books or wrapped boxes to create levels.

Corn Husks! - Being in the Midwest, corn is our crop and at every big box home improvement store you can find dried corn stalks this time of year.  Beyond the basic stalk is a 2022 trend of Corn Husk décor. From wreaths to garland, this very Farmhouse look is a great way of celebrating the season. 

Join me live! I’ll be at the Hinsdale Library next week

Need more inspiration, technique and ideas? Join me next week for a Seasonal Decorating workshop at the Hinsdale Public Library - September 14th, 7pm. For more information visit my calendar or register directly at the library.

Invite us into your home for the day! Hire us.

No time? No worries - Julea and company can get your space reinvented for fall. We’ll sweep in, and make your space spectacular using what you already have. Want to refresh your stash? We can even bring in fresh new fall finds. Pick a shopping budget and we’ll style in the fresh finds with what you already have. 3 hour Makeover package

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook as I FALL decorate my own home over the next week.

Accessorizing Your Home Workshop Elmhurst Public Library 12/6 7pm

Quick and Easy Accessorizing /Decorating Workshop

Put your own personal stamp on your space with help from interior stylist Julea Joseph. Learn the essential elements every room needs, plus get tips and tricks for shopping for great pieces, breathing new life into your existing treasures, and pulling them all together.

Join Julea @ Elmhurst Public Library for this interior design workshop. To register for this program: 125 S. Prospect Avenue, Elmhurst, IL 60126. Phone: (630) 279-8696 Text: (331) 642-0375.

This is a hybrid workshop - both in-person (limited seating) and via Zoom

-Julea

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

A Few of my Fall-orite Things. Fresh ideas for a new Season

Mornings are a bit cooler, there is a subtle fall scent in the air , and the acorns have begun to fall.  

Summer takes its toll on your home interiors.  Perhaps you have piles of papers in the dining room, a spooky dust covered living room, and the family room’s pillows have been over loved by both the kids and your dog.

A fall home re-style is the perfect remedy for your home’s summer style malaise.  It’s time to try a new furniture arrangement, an accessory shake-up, and some strategic power shopping to put a bit of fall zing into your home spaces. Here are a few of my fall-orite things.

1. Cozy Textiles. The term ‘sweater weather’ comes to mind. Nothing gives a space a fall style refresher than touchy textiles. Throws are the sweaters of home and are an easy up-style choice. Nubby mega knits either handmade or purchased, cozy cashmere blends to cuddle up with, or a vintage hand woven blanket can transform, layer and create that ultimate fall home environment. Shop your own home for more rustic pieces to give your main living area a seasonal transformation. Could you swap a leather chair from the study or flip flop the shag rug from the guest bedroom to achieve your goal?

2. Colors of the Season. Rust, indigo, mustard, ink, and pumpkin tones, - all colors of the autumn kaleidoscope. By infusing these colors into your home decor you will revive your rooms. Can you find a color thread in your art and reposition it, swap out lamps shades to set the mood of the season or re-purpose an accessory or furniture piece with paint? Shop for pillows/pillow covers in velvet, plaid, or kilim are good choices. Add a few new trendy accessories that tell the story of the new season to shake things up a bit.

3. Harvest Finds. Think fall farmer’s market. Your fall decor can come into to play here - autumn leaf, berry and nut swags, pumpkins fresh and faux and dried floral.

4. The Scent of Fall. As that weather changes, so do your senses. The simple sense of scent can bring the happiness of the season. In the powder room seasonally scented soap, on the island a big bowl of apples that evokes the thoughts of that crisp sweet scent and in the foyer, soy or bees wax scented candles greeting your guests. And yes, there is always pumpkin spice…

By changing up your home environment, you refresh not only your space, but you as well. A new seasonal chapter can wash away the staleness of yesterday and give a fresh new perspective of things to come.

-Julea

Love these ideas but just want to come home to a refreshed and seasonally changed home? We have a 3-hour seasonal refresher session special for $525. We use what you have and re-style for the season.

And we can one up that by shopping our favorite hidden haunts for just the right new pieces for you to fall in love with your home for an additional fee.

Calendar dates are limited, call/text Julea for details 708.543.8597