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.

Stress Free Holiday Home Decorating Ideas

Well it’s that time of year again, we head to our attics, basements or garages and haul out oodles of bins and boxes filled to the brim with holiday décor and trimming.  We unpack and reveal years, if not decades of the stuff - Super excited to begin the annual ritual of decking the halls.  As an interior stylist, it’s my job to give my clients new ideas on how to use their old stuff, shop wisely, and celebrate their home in style.  Here are some tips and techniques to shake up your view of how to make your home festive for the Holidays. This is the year be a stress free decorator!

1.)    Inventory what you have before your start any decorating. To get a fresh perspective of your goods, you need to take a step back and look at what you have. 

a.      Can it be re-purposed, reinvented, spray painted or need to go?

b.      Sort your product into category, rather than room.

2.)    Shop your home for “Good Bone" accessory basics that you already have.  I love these standard décor pieces because they can be used in so many ways, can be reused in ever season and most of us already have them.

a.      Tall Hurricane, cylinder or apothecary vases. These can hold a host of holiday décor and too can be used to set a buffet or service food.

b.      Cake Stands.  A great anchors or bases for a wonderful display – Perfect to elevate florals, décor, showcase candles or create height.

Cake stands can become a lift to elevate a display.  Making it a table focal point.  (Photo: Source.)

c.      Silver.  From silver trays, coffee pots to champagne buckets – Silver makes everything more festive and rich.

Aunt June's old silver can be r-purposed into a fabulous seasonal door wreath (Photo: Source)

3.)    Showcase family heirlooms.  Although I’m sure we all have treasured holiday items, don’t overlook what’s already in our cabinets and closets. From Grandma’s China, to your own old ice skates to family photos of loved ones passed – Celebrating our family and what we love is the heart of celebrating this season.  Think of ways to infuse these things into your decorating.  They’ll create conversation and be a gentle reminder of special memories.

Celebrate your family history by displaying heirloom treasures. (Photo: Source)

4.)    Create a theme for your décor. It could be as simple as a color, or inspired by a place. Whatever it is, this is the building block of your decorating.  This theme will be carried from décor to entertaining.

a.      Resist the urge to different theme each room in your home - instead keep a common thread throughout the home.

b.      Spread the decorating to every room of your home.

c.      Set your holiday table in style using the same common theme.

5.)    Move your Furniture.  Holidays bring hoards of people into your home and are meant for great visiting, eating and celebrating.  Remove, shift, move your furnishings so they are conducive to conversations, not TV watching, be aware of traffic patterns so people move freely through your home.

6.)    Entertain in style.  From setting the foyer as the bar or dessert and coffee area, to setting a show stopping buffet, make use of what you already have, making sure your whole home is enjoyed and most of all being a stress free will make your holidays happy.

Spread your hosting around your home. (Photo: Source)

Cheers! - Julea.

Spring Displays using a Wired Tiered Basket

I encouraged my client Kim to purchase a tiered basket for her Kitchen island to use both as a seasonal display piece, as well as a fruit holder. It's what I call a "Good Bone" accessory.  A piece that can be used in multiple ways and can change from utility to display easily.  Each season, Kim will asks for ideas.   Here are a few ideas for your display Kim.

Photo: Source

Violas & veggies! Perfect for your Easter Sunday celebration!

Photo: Source

Source wood Easter eggs, add letter stickers, a few colorful Easter related finds - all placed in a nest of grass green basket shreds.

Photo: Source

Peter Rabbit would be very happy to hop up to this basket!

Photo: Source

Faux greenery and flowers create this base with just a few ceramic rabbits and a bow to complete.

This wicker tiered basket is filled with Easter Basket basics.

Photo: Source

Simple small clay flower pots wrapped in Easter dress gingham, spring blooms and eggs.

Photo: Source

Plaid napkins line these baskets, with kitchen and silk floral finds for a perfect little setting.

Falling for Your Kitchen - Styling tips for a new season

The kitchen is the most utilized and meaningful room in a household. It is the hub for family tasks and used for food preparation, household management, and of course entertaining. It is indeed the heart of any home. No matter how many rooms you have dedicated for entertainment, everyone always ends up in the kitchen! With the kids back in school, a cool nip in the air, fall kicks off our major holiday season - in fact, we can celebrate right through the New Year. Now is a great time to get your kitchen "party readied," and organized for easy maneuvering during the holiday rush, and a seasonally updated..

Need a Color Lift? - Pick a wall if daring - pick them all. Paint it a seasonal color - Ben Moore's Baby Turtle #514, Burnt Sienna #1196, or Sherwin William's Library Pewter SW0038, or Studio Blue-Green SW0047.  It's just paint, and is the easiest and cheapest change you can make.

Counter Tops - Swap out a tired canister set with a new revision; there are loads to choose from (If you're not a gourmet cook, store pens, notepads, takeout menus inside.) They add needed color and design. Large platters on plate stands are good-looking in unused dark corners or grouped on walls. Extra-large clear glass canisters are conversation makers when layered with dried beans, nuts or black, yellow and white dried popcorn. A kitchen must is a sassy new set of dish towels, seasonal kitchen candles, and a hand soap/lotion set in scents of spiced apple, pumpkin or caramel.

Tell a Story with your Floral - A whimsical floral whether store or home made adds a bit of seasonal flair to any table. Create a mini-container garden by abundantly grouping those adorable "mini" annuals and petite ivy or a bountiful arrangement with faux fall veggies, dried pods, leaves and vines.

Smart Cook Organization - An easy way to organize is to create stations within your kitchen. Love to bake? Set aside two cabinets and counter space solely used for baking (near the oven of course) filled with baking essentials such as pans, small appliances, spices and other baking staples. Task clustering such as this will help you to stay on task during the busy holiday rush.

Get your Party Started - Love to entertain, but don't have a Butler's Pantry? Convert your little used desk area into an entertainment station.

• Replace wood panels of upper cabinet with glass, adding lighting, and glass shelves - store glasses and decorative bottles.
• Line desk drawer with felt, and hold bar essentials and serving pieces.
• Add a tension rod with shirred fabric for extra storage to the knee hole space, or find the perfectly sized rolling cart.

Space Game - Use a Lazy Susan cabinet for a "Party Pantry." Store food products, Beverages, paper goods. and china that can be used to throw a soiree at moment's notice. If you're even luckier to have an unused closet. super size it and linens, vases, and decor all in one neat place.

No matter how large or small your kitchen, whether you're a gourmet cook or take-out type, every kitchen needs a seasonal boost and should be readied for family, friends and favorite holiday celebrates in style.