Living less than an hour from the big city of Chicago doesn't stop me from fancying myself a country farm gal. Within a stone's throw of my home are hundreds of acres of forest, wildlife galore and on any given day I can look out my window to see a rider on horseback or a coyote trot by.  Each morning, I slip on my garden shoes and with an old tin bucket of water, let my chickens out of their coop for the day.  Each night, in the distance, or in a nearby tree, I hear the hooting song of the neighborhood owl.  Everyone should experience country living.

I was so excited when Wayfair approached me to be part of their 2019 Holiday Decorating Campaign.  Their vast product choices are fantastic and inspirational; and with a click an order will arrive. Inspiration for this Holiday decorating concept pays homage to the wonderful, magical environment right outside my door - A Chicago Farmhouse Christmas.  

Everyone should be inspired by the place they call home. Enjoy these Holiday decorating ideas and styling tips to deck your own homestead this Holiday Season. 
Cheers: 

The Tree: 

• Any holiday decorating starts with a great tree. Natural looking, not too full, because after all  - you have to adorn it. 
• Add a trendy tree collar to the base. Collars are a great choice because they bring visual weight to the base of the tree. I chose a galvanized metal one for a casual, farmhouse feel.
• No star topper on my tree. Instead, my nod to my night time songster, the owl gets the highest spot on the tree. Tip:  To attach this sort of topper, use floral wire to secure it to the branches.
• To add texture, interest, and volume to the tree, add decorative eucalyptus sprays.  Randomly insert the sprays into the branches of the tree.  Eucalyptus leaves are soft, round and counter the sharper texture of the evergreen needles. Their gray/green leaf color pairs well with the galvanized metal tree collar. Tip: When inserting the sprays, let them protrude from the tree 7-9 inches. This will give your tree a fuller look.
• The ornament collection.  Each ornament has an artisan, handmade or 'maker' look.  All the ornaments were picked with nature or wildlife in mind - owls, raccoon, deer, birds, fox. Oh what fun for family and guests to enjoy these ornaments on the tree.

The Table:

• Create a beautiful centerpiece with a long decorative bowl. The wood and style adds that rustic, folksy feel.  Build the centerpiece by layering frosted eucalyptus garland on the bottom of the bowl.  Tuck in woodsy Birch bark flameless candles , then add a few red ball ornaments for a pop of color. Tip: Make sure candles are unscented for the dining table -you want to smell the food, not the candles.  
• A rustic burlap runner creates a cozy table.  If you want a twist on the traditional, add two runners vertically instead.
• Dig out your Grandma's China, and create an 'opposites attract' look by using simple, yet festive soft red chambray cotton napkins and galvanized metal and wood napkin rings. 

Around the House:

• Adorn your mantle with a statement piece such as this deer wall decor to set the seasonal scene.
• With Holiday guests galore, you'll need extra seating.  A pair of fun and fluffy faux fur poufs will play into your festive farmhouse look. 
• Stockings hung with care on a blanket ladder rather than the fireplace are so much more interesting. The ladder's white dipped bottom will add to the Holiday flair. Tip: Attach stockings with zip ties. 
• For a real farmhouse feel, take down the usual family pictures on the walls. Hang instead this rustic empty window pane art collage. The window panes have a perfect well worn, farm style patina. Print out recent snapshots or vintage photos of your Holiday guests and add them behind the window panes to create some great conversation.
• Roll out the festive Holiday cocktails on this two tiered bar cart. Perfect for an extra service area, this bar cart has a funky, farmhouse style and will roll to wherever the guests are.
• Deck the doors, drape the mantle, and even the buffet with understated, but lovely eucalyptus wreathes (by now you've discovered my eucalyptus thread) and holiday pine garland to finish the festive farmhouse styling.

Room Makeover ( Photo: Reinventing Space)

Change is good - especially when it comes to your home.  I recently met with a new client who was thinking of putting her house on the market. The kids have flown the coop, and she is ready for a new life chapter, which includes, perhaps, a smaller home. All her home decorating had been done when the home was built, years ago.   Her spaces needed a new color palette and major accessory rejuvenation. My goal was to give her place a fresh new look whether she sells or not.

My design motto at Reinventing Space is- let's use as much of what you own first by assessing your furniture, accessories, art and then come up with a plan.  A goal is to compliment what we keep, shop for new pieces and accessories to redesign, and pull it all together.  And if needed, I'll suggest updates such as paint projects, light fixture replacement, floor re-staining/replacement and more.

For this client, her furniture was great, but in dire need of a new paint palette. Change your paint, and your old stuff looks like new stuff.  Home decorating colors change over time, so what was stylish then, may not be stylish now.  We focused in her living room as a template for the rest of the home. The room had been painted a Merlot red - including her built-in cabinets. My goal was a room that was bright and airy with a casual comfort style.  I picked a pale gray (greige)  for the walls, along with an off-white for her built-ins, fireplace and trim.  While she had her painter busy, I was enlisted to shop.

Keep the bones, up-style with new accessories.  My shopping plan was to pull in a new accent color for her - Blue. Trending, but classic; if she decides to move, she can bring these accessories with her, and was we style her other spaces, we have a color to sprinkle about.  The blue shows up in new pillows, a throw, art and rug.  To raise the style level of her existing taupe furniture, I included rattan lantern candle holders tucked into her bookcases,  and the candle sticks on the mantle are oak with a whitewash, so will pull that color over to the bookcases and mantle. The new abstract art over the fireplace adds that POP of color, as well as brings down the formality of the living room.

With the living room styled, we moved onto the family room. That too was painted, but we also whitewashed  the fireplace.  The same off-white trim paint color was used to give the fireplace a fresh new, updated look. While shopping for the living room, I found family room mantle accessories as well.  With the room's focal wall complete, we could move on to the rest of  the space.

Whitewashed Fireplace (Photo: Reinventing Space)

To Market To Market -2012 4 Interior Decorating Trends Straight from Market


Reprinted from High Point Market newsletter, photos & comments by me.

For 2012, ethnic embellishments abound, over sized botanicals are in bloom, metallics make their mark on all things home decor and bold graphic patterns make furnishings come alive.

All that glitters

Look for a range of metals, from bronze and copper to platinum, gold and silver - Metallic, gilded and shimmering finishes turn ordinary decor into luxurious pieces that pack a punch. With lux finishes on, hints of metallic in upholstery fabrics and shimmering precious metal glazes on earthenware, the look is honest and wholesome without being kitschy.


Vanguard console by Horchow

 Try adding an accent piece of furniture in a metallic.



















Pattern-happy

Reproduced on textiles and incorporated into accent furniture, geometrics now lead the way. "Mid-century design undergoes a bold renovation rendered with an artist's perspective and equally vivid palette," writes Tracy Bulla for Home Accents Today. Graphic patterns come alive in brightly contrasting color combinations or look elegantly subdued in chic neutrals.

If the vivid colors and print are too much for you, try them in neutrals.



Arhaus Room




Cultural influence



Pouf by West elm

 Inspired by global trends, 2012's patterns and motifs blend the texture and color of old-world looks with modern decor. Textiles are inspired by temples in Thailand, while rugs feature Moorish motifs and Moroccan patterning. Also look for African kuba cloths, Central Asian suzani prints, ikats, Scandinavian designs, intricate Indian handiwork and Chinese medallions, lotus blooms and anything dragon-related. The ethnic trend also finds inspiration close to home, as Native American dream-catchers, feathers and tribal patterns influence decoration and print.

Us textiles from pouf coverings to window wardrobes to spice up your space!



Fresh blooms

Trend Bible's spring/summer 2012 forecast, Palm Springs, features a laid-back West Coast-style that encompasses a tropical backdrop, "loud patterns with exuberant florals" and "abstract patterning." This thriving trend showcases bold, unexpected color palettes on upholstery, pillows, tablecloths, rugs and wallpaper, and botanical prints as wall decor.

Retro is all the rage- from over sized florals to abstract lattice patterns - Mix and Match has never looked so good.

 

It’s my business to make homes better. As an interior stylist, I’m the new generation of designer that can seamlessly progress from a home staging professional to interior design consultant (always on a budget.) My job is to celebrate your home and make it beautiful no matter what chapter you may be on in it. From when you 1st move in, to when you sell - I’m there to make your home better.



My business philosophy is to spend it where you need to, and fill in the blanks with chic, yet cheap finds – The perfect mix of Rich with Poor. Like I always say …“If you keep your big mouth shut, they’ll never know…”

So… it’s almost spring.

Whether you are going or staying, the induction of spring seems to be the cue for home makeovers. Just like the longing for a fresh breeze through open windows, homeowners are ready for change. From simple updates like a fresh new paint palette, to the restless rustlings of bigger remodeling projects; this season seems to burst forth home makeover needs like the crocuses popping up in your lawn.

In this series of three articles, I’ll be offering insight on how to go about a home makeover project. The 1st of the series is “Where to Begin,” followed by two other articles “Style & Details Defined” and “Current Trending & Savvy Shopping Sources.” Hopefully, your makeover needs will be more defined, and if not, I’ll be getting a call (708.448.7500.)

Where to Begin?

The 1st step to home makeover projects is to define your room goals, create a plan, and be realistic of a budget. Unlike the makeover shows you watch on TV, unless you had stock options for an Internet IPO, any home project will cost you more than the materials you purchase.

DEFINE YOUR ROOM GOALS. Is it that darn lack luster living room in need of a décor boost and a color correction? Is it your kitschy out-dated kitchen that will never appeal to the 30-somethings that will be the ideal buyer for your home in need of an overhaul? By sketching out your goals, you’ll start defining the steps you’ll needs to complete the makeover.

When I work with my clients, my 1st step in defining your goals is to use adjective packed sentences to describe how you want to define the space. As an example:

“I want my lackluster living room to feel warm and inviting - a cozy place to curl-up on the couch to read a book, or engage in the latest news with my favorite neighbor. Buttery tones, soft, tea-washed fabrics, with simple, yet sophisticated French flea market inspired accents will fill this space.”

Or, “I want to update and redefine my kitschy out-dated kitchen, complete with duck-with-bows wall border into a turn-key ready, for a family of four, with smart, shiny new appliances, envy-evoking, trend forward cabinets and irresistible, yet no-fuss quartz countertops – so that the kitchen appeals to the target buyer of my home.”

CREATE A PLAN. Create a workable outline of all the projects you’ll need to do to complete your makeover. From wallpaper stripping, to accessory shopping, define, outline and calendar your plan. The best and most effective way of succeeding in this plan - is to take a hard look of what you are and are not capable of. Please, just because you once read in a magazine “3 Easy Steps on how you can reface your cabinets in a weekend with Contact® paper,” doesn’t make a saleable worthy kitchen remodel. Consider your time restraints, knowledge and expertise in all project details, and understand that if you really want to get this done in a timely matter, you’ll need to seek professional help in certain areas.

ATTACH A REALISTIC BUDGET. Once your goals have been described, a plan has been defined you can now attach budget estimates to each of the projects. By attaching a budget to each of the projects, you’ll get a realistic view of your financial investment. By far, the most faulted area of any home makeover is not being realistic of the costs to complete it. It is not an educated guess that your new complete furnishing dreams for your living room will cost $399.00 because that’s what the price quoted on the HGTV show. News alert, a side table for your living room is around $399.00 – Just the side table! Be smart, weed through catalogs and jot down home décor pricing, scour over Sunday newspaper flyers and the internet, and get estimates by referred professionals for deeded work.

Once you’ve established your budget projection, completed your goals and plan - you can proceed to “Style & Details Defined” step of your home makeover. This style definition exercise will help you understand the psychology of the home makeover, understand your home and your lifestyle - which will help you choose color, materials and the overall look of the makeover.

Since 1999, interior stylist Julea Joseph has owned Chicago area based interior design and home staging business - Reinventing Space.  Your can see her work on HGTVor in the news giving homeowners expert insight on how to refresh, style and celebrate their space -Whether prepping their home to go on the market, just settling in, or just in need of a change.  Julea also offers her expertise with certification training and mentoring  offerings to Realtors and Home Stagers in the industry. Visit her site, JULEA.com more information oe email her at Julea@Julea.com.