Ivy de Leon Design | Decorating and Life Style

Women In Business: Monday Motivation

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Ivy de Leon

Monday Motivation

williamsonoma

Hello, again!

Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving! I had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends. This time of year, when everything seems to move faster, I’m making a conscious effort to slow down, taking time to reach out to friends and making phone calls to family members I don’t always speak to because life gets busy. Of course, I’m thankful for you, too. Let’s stay connected and give thanks every day for all the little things.

After a great turkey dinner, this week I’m looking forward to getting back into a fitness routine. I’m in need of some Monday motivation. Staying healthy is important for us women in business and at home…. family business. Maybe an upgrade to my work-out gear will give me some Monday motivation. I think hitting the treadmill would be more fun in these hi-vis leggings from Tory Sport. The leggings are also great for outdoors. They have a white reflective tape detailing designed for low-light visibility (now that it gets dark earlier). The Merino hat and tech gloves are stylish and are a must-have to keep warm after a workout.

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Tory Sport: Leggings, Merino hat, Merino tech gloves

tory sport hat tory sport gloves

How are you staying motivated today?

Thanks for stopping by.

Posted in Business | Tagged fitness, Monday motivation, thankful, Tory Sport, women in business | Comments Off

One Room Challenge Guest Participant Week 7 – Powder Room Reveal

Posted on November 16, 2017 by Ivy de Leon

This is it! The moment has arrived for the One Room Challenge Guest Participant reveal. I’m so excited to share with you my DIY powder room makeover. Before you continue, let’s remember where I started.

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Last month I was horrified by my powder room. Fast forward 7 weeks …now I’m as happy as a clam.The powder room is a cozy surprise upon entering. It is painted in Farrow and Ball Drawing Room Blue. The paint is silky and rich. After painting one wall, I hesitated to paint all four walls in a dark color. I’m so happy I did! (It took me three days to paint a small powder room. At 5ft tall, it wasn’t easy. The powder room ceiling height is 12ft. I managed to stay on the ladder and finish the job.)

drawing room blue fb

The large Ming vessel sink I found fit perfectly in the powder room cabinet. I also used marble contact paper to cover the top of the cabinet to keep it from being damaged. In the spring, I hope to replace it with marble stone.

Getting everything centered around the Grohe wall mount faucet was a challenge, not to mention the installation of the faucet was not easy. (This is when you call the plumbing professionals.)

Remember the awful lighting the powder had before? Now I have two beautiful vintage sconces with custom-made Brunschwig & Fils lamp shades in Les Touches fabric.

A few months ago I found a great Drexel Heritage mirror. It now has a permanent place. It is the perfect fit for the wall above the sink.

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A few items did not arrive in time for the reveal so I did the next best thing…. shop the house. One of my favorite pieces: The White Egret print by Mary Maguire art.

I love my powder room makeover. It was fun participating with all the talented bloggers and designers. Thank you, Linda, At Calling It Home and Media Partner House Beautiful. Now grab a cup of your favorite beverage and enjoy the other fabulous reveals here.

Thanks for stopping by.

beauty

Posted in Decorating, Project | Tagged art, blue and white, Chinoiserie, Farrow and Ball, One Room Challenge, powder room makeover, vessel sink | Comments Off

One Room Challenge Fall 2017 – Week Six Power Room Update

Posted on November 9, 2017 by Ivy de Leon

Hello again! Week six of the One Room Challenge Guest Participant has arrived and brought our first frost this morning. I am reminded that there are only 7 days remaining to complete my powder room update.

There were a few challenges on this project. I had to work with the current vanity since the wall molding was cut around the piece when it was installed before the house was bought. The wood floor will not be painted this time around. Instead, I ordered a vinyl floor cloth from Spicher and Company in the Williamsburg Brand Octagons Washington Squares. The vinyl floor cloth will give the floor much needed color and pattern. With the lead time on the floor cloth 6 days, I know I’m cutting it close, but I think it will be worth the wait. A few art pieces have been ordered also from Spicher and Company. In just a few more days the powder room will be functional just in time for the holidays.

I still need to finish painting, order guest towels, install the sink, install the fixtures, find a wastebasket worthy of the powder room update, change the electrical plates, hang art, and patch the hole from the previous light fixture.

Please take a moment to relax and visit Linda at Calling it Home and media sponsor House Beautiful and take a peek at the other projects in the Guest Participants One Room Challenge.

Until next week. Thanks for stopping by.

Posted in Decorating, Project | Tagged blue and white, Farrow and Ball, lighting, One Room Challenge, powder room, Spicher and Company, vintage, Williamsburg Brand | Comments Off

One Room Challenge Fall 2017 – Week Five Power Room Update

Posted on November 2, 2017 by Ivy de Leon

This is week 5 of the One Room Challenge and I’m feeling under the weather. I’m thankful for the extra week. This week I was able to get two sconces up, however, I had to use a different pair then the Visual Comfort sconces I had originally intended. You know I love to thrift and collect a few treasures from my weekend hunt and so I will be using a pair of sconces I already have.

Today I started a DIY project for the top of the countertop and tomorrow I will be painting the walls in Farrow and Ball Drawing Room Blue, No. 253.

drawing room blue fb

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Until next week. For now, please take a moment to relax and visit Linda at Calling it Home and media sponsor House Beautiful and take a peek into the other projects in the Guest Participants One Room Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by.

Posted in Decorating, Project | Tagged blue, Farrow and Ball, lighting, One Room Challenge, paint, powder room, traditional | Comments Off

One Room Challenge Fall 2017 – Week Four Power Room Update

Posted on October 27, 2017 by Ivy de Leon

Week four has arrived with some good news … we get an extra week. Yes, that’s right. For the first time ever, the One Room Challenge has been extended a week due to natural weather disasters and shipping delays. I think we were all surprised and thankful for the extension.

With week four, the decision was made to paint, not wallpaper the powder room. Truth be told, I was not sure delivery and project completion could be achieved.

Walls: Farrow and Ball Drawing Room Blue, No. 253 is the winner. The color is rich and traditional.

drawing room blue fb

Lighting: Visual Comfort – Alexa Hampton 1 Light Bing Single Arm Sconce in Polished Nickel. The finishes add a jewelry like glamour. Natural Paper Shade

visual-comforts

Moving forward into week 5, I will be sourcing paint for the powder room ceiling, art, towel hangers, hand towels, candles, flowers, accessories.

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Until next week. For now, please take a moment to relax and visit Linda at Calling it Home and media sponsor House Beautiful and take a peek into the other projects in the One Room Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by.

Posted in Decorating | Tagged blue and white, Chinoiserie, lighting, One Room Challenge Participant, paint, powder room, project | Comments Off

One Room Challenge Fall 2017 Week Three – Powder Room Makeover

Posted on October 20, 2017 by Ivy de Leon

We are at the halfway point with the One Room Challenge at hosted by Linda at Calling it Home. The powder room is coming along. Decorating is a process… It’s not easy to let someone else take control of your home. That’s why you hear good decorators build relationships first and then clients.

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Here is the ugly of our powder room project.

orc before powder room

We found the most amazing sheetrock worker. (Sorry for the dark photos.) Don’t you just love the old builder special lighting?

orc before powder room

Visual Comfort has the most amazing lighting. I seriously hope to use two sconces, but depending on the electrical work I might need to go with a one piece over the mirror solution.

So that’s it friends. This week I’m keeping it real. Check back to see something pretty next week.

Thanks for stopping by.

Posted in Decorating, Project | Tagged bathroom, calling it home, makeover, One Room Challenge, powder room | Comments Off

One Room Challenge Fall 2017 Week Two Powder Room Makeover

Posted on October 12, 2017 by Ivy de Leon

Hello friends, welcome back to Calling It Home week two of the One Room Challenge Guest Participant. I’m tackling a powder room in much need of repair. I found another image of a beautiful Imperial vessel sink. Simple and elegant against blue walls and a marble countertop.

Below is the blue and white vessel sink I hope to use in the powder room project. I was up early washing off the silicone rubber attached to the outside of the sink. Warm water and some gentle scrapping did the trick.

blue and white vessel sink

We made some progress with the walls. The sheetrock was finally repaired this week. There is electrical work involved and plumbing that needs to get started. Scheduling everyone up to get the task complete is time-consuming but so rewarding in the end. Selections for wallpaper, paint colors and lighting fixtures are being narrowed down by next week.

Please follow the many talented bloggers and designers here.

Thanks for stopping by.

Posted in Decorating, Project | Tagged bathroom, blue and white, decor, fixtures, floors, Imperial, ming, One Room Challenge Participant, paint, powder room, vessel sink, wallpaper | Comments Off

One Room Challenge Fall 2017

Posted on October 5, 2017 by Ivy de Leon

Hello, October! The One Room Challenge Guest Participant hosted by Linda at Calling It Home starts today. Linda and the participants are a great support. I’m joining the challenge. We all have six weeks to complete our projects. Come follow along, everyone with a blog is welcome to join the fun as a Guest Participant by linking their own room transformations up during the six weeks. orc

orc bathroom

There is a powder room I’m hoping to complete before the holidays. Right now all I have is a blue and white vessel sink and a big hole in the wall where the wall mount fixtures need to be repaired. I found some inspiration on Pinterest for the powder room.

blue and white orc

blue and white love

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Sandberg wallpaper from Stark via

Time is ticking. Off to source what I need to keep this powder room project on track. Catch our progress each Thursday on the blog and through social media, where you’ll find interior design inspiration, ideas, and encouragement among a great group of bloggers and designers.

Thanks for stopping by.

Ivy de Leon

Posted in Decorating, Project | Tagged bathroom, decoration, fixtures, holidays, inspiration, One Room Challenge, powder room, sinks, transformation, wallpaper | Comments Off

How To Create A “Wow Factor” Room With Wallpaper

Posted on September 20, 2017 by Ivy de Leon

Hello again! Happy to be back. The first day of Autumn arrives in just two days. If there are projects around the house you are looking to tackle, today is all about wallpaper.

We’ve all been there before: walking through a house or apartment, you enter a room and you do a double take. “Wow!” you think, “how did they do this?” And then, you think: “how could I pull off something equally spectacular?” That’s what this post is about: creating rooms with “wow” factors that delight you and your guest.

Creating such statement rooms in your home needn’t be expensive or time-consuming. So read on to discover the secrets behind creating spectacular home décor.

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Make it Monochrome

Black and silver are timeless color combinations that will always be in style. These monochrome hues are a popular choice among homeowners seeking to make an impact. While monochrome décor isn’t particularly glitzy, it’s a powerful visual style that makes a statement you can’t ignore. One option is The Hypnotist Mono wallpaper, a good example of how black and silver designs could add wow to your home.

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White Out

The color white is often associated with understated spaces but used in the right way, white can create a show-stopping space. The interlocking circle wallpaper doesn’t deliver an explosion of color, but its catching pattern is guaranteed to impress your guests. This is a great choice if you want to create a modern space because it lets you experiment with the geometric trend that is popular right now.

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Combine Different Time Periods

Why take inspiration from one time period when you can be inspired by many eras? This wallpaper channels various time periods, resulting in an eclectically modern update from the classic damask print. This design would look stunning in a living room or bedroom.

Think Pink

Pink isn’t the first color you’ll likely think of when creating a statement room, but this fresh design in vibrant pink and blue, adds charm and romance to a room. Wallpaper can’t fail to delight.

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The result is cheerful and colorful. Floral wallpapers offer the perfect statement update for any room in the house and will become an instant talking point. This is a great example of how one décor update can completely transform and dramatize a space.

Have fun exploring these wallpapers at Graham & Brown here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Ivy de Leon

Posted in Decorating | Tagged charming, classic, color, country house, farmhouse, floral, modern, Pink, traditional, wallpaper | Comments Off

5 Fun Ways To Spruce Up Your Home for Summer

Posted on May 19, 2017 by Ivy de Leon

Happy Friday! OMG! Time is flying. Graduation is just around the corner for my daughter. Yes, my little girl is all grown up. While I’m visiting colleges, getting ready for her prom, the house has taken a back seat to a few projects I had planned to spruce up our home for summer.

While searching for items like wallpaper to complete my projects, I hit the Pinterest button and down the Pinterest rabbit hole I went.

In the spirit of summer, I found fun products like a monkey print wallpaper, floor tiles, and fringe lamp shades.

And let’s not forget the how much I love rattan and bamboo. We are going to see lots of it this summer and fall. Below are my fun picks to spruce up a home or just get inspired to try something new.

Are you ready for some monkey business? This playful pattern has me swinging.

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