Ivy de Leon Design | Decorating and Life Style

Happy Monday 12/2/13

Posted on December 1, 2013 by Ivy de Leon

How was your Thanksgiving? I hope it was great. I was happy the winds calmed down for the Macy’s Day Parade balloons to fly. The temperature was cold, but the sun was out. I even got a little jog in before the big meal. We joined family in the city for Thanksgiving dinner. We had a beautiful view, a marvelous sunset and a delicious meal.

Here is the modern tables via our wonderful host.

Since I didn’t cook dinner this year, I decided to set the table for a post-Thanksgiving dinner. HomeGoods: Ralph Lauren table cloth, Moroccan glasses, bamboo silverware. I love mixing what I have with vintage finds. vintage soup bowls and saucer, black candles in brass candle holders, pheasant feathers in vintage candle holders. All the little things I like to collect.

A mix of old and new.

Thanks for stopping by.

Posted in Decorating, Entertaining | Tagged glasses, HomeGoods, modern, table setting, table top, Thanksgiving, vintage | Leave a comment

Holiday House NYC Part II – Color Bliss

Posted on November 27, 2013 by Ivy de Leon

My tour of the Holiday House to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation continues. Color in design is very important. Color changes the mood of a room and how you feel stepping into it. This time of year when the days are shorter and nights longer, more color is the perfect remedy for those winter blues.

Gregory Allan Kramer – “Celebrate the Holidays”

High-end graffiti paint imported from Germany was used by Kramer. “The good thing about it is that there are no mistakes, and the kids can do it, too, as long as they wear vapor masks,” he says.

If you dare be so bold…. elegant, colorful, playful, stimulating the child in you.

Color to wake up the senses. Susanna Salk – “New Year’s Eve”

A sprinkle of red in all the right places. Rachel Laxer -“Valentine’s Day”

Beautiful jewel tones – J Cohler Mason Design “Recovery Room”

J + G Design – “A Painterly Christmas” Traditional meets modern style.

There is so much more to see and share. Bring your out-of-town guest with you t0 share the experience of high-end design. Take a tour of the mansion and help raise awareness and critical funding for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Event details: General Admission is $35, and the event is open to the public from November 21-December 18 (closed on Thanksgiving). Hours are 11-5, with extended hours on Thursday nights. The Academy Mansion is at 2 East 63rd Street.

All images are my own. Please credit images.

Posted in Decorating | Tagged Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Christmas, Holiday House NYC | Leave a comment

Happy Monday 11/25/2013

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Ivy de Leon

Monday Inspirational Quote: Unconditional love is a template that the world can benefit from employing.—Billy Porter (Actor, Tony Award winner “Kinky Boots”)

Photo: Dining By Design Event

Posted in Decorating | Tagged inspirational quotes | Leave a comment

Holiday House NYC Designer Showcase Part I

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Ivy de Leon

With grand style, the Holiday House opens today to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation® (BCRF), founded by Evelyn Lauder in 1993. With the generosity of 27 design firms, donated products from companies, Tiffany & Co., Baccarat, Sleep Studio, and Fendi Casa, to name a few, the rooms of the Academy Mansion were transformed into exquisite interiors. Traditional Home® Magazine will serve as the national media sponsor of Holiday House NYC, again this year.

Glad to be out of the cold, I entered Holiday House to a warm welcome from Sarah Sarna and Tina Ramchandani of Franklin Eight. Inspired by the complexity and contrast within jazz music and Art Deco aesthetic, Sarah and Tina bring their sophistication to an elegant first floor ladies lounge.

Wallpaper: Feather Fan by Cole & Son, exclusively through Lee Jofa

Art Petta Thompson/Gianni Burratoni and James Meyer all through Dorfman Projects.

Large Escher wall light: Porta Romana through Donghia . Art by Petta Thompson.

Custom tufted banquette: Pollack fabric. Brass coffee table: Ultra Champa, Stephanie Odegard Collection.

Sarah and Tina use patterns and textures popular in the 1920’s (geometrics, sateens, and mohair) and make it current with a palette of black and white for modern elegance.

Designers Tony Ingrao and Randy Kemper explore the exotic and design a Casablanca Christmas Parlor. Think Moroccan club meets the grandeur of the Woolworth mansion. Take a close look at the exquisite lighting by generous sponsors Fendi Casa and Dedar.

Tony Ingrao and Randy Kempner: Casablanca Christmas Parlor

A room is not complete without art. Every room at the mansion enlightens the soul with a with a mix of art from master works and contemporary to art pieces by new rising stars.

You’ll find aesthetic inspiration and so much more in every room. Visit the Holiday House and support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Enjoy the design, art, food, as well as, live music on Thursday nights.

Posted in Decorating | Tagged Breast Cancer Research Foundation, designers, Holiday House, showhouse | Leave a comment

HomeGoods Finds

Posted on November 20, 2013 by Ivy de Leon

Come say hello over on the HomeGoods Blog. Find out why I love shopping at HomeGoods. I’m sharing my recent HomeGoods finds on their blog today.

Fabulous finds: 1st Dibs, Love the Greek Key

Decorating is an investment. Staying on budget and giving my clients value for their money is important.

pillows, hand made pillows

Eyelet Embroidered Sheet Set #anthropologie

I’ve been fortunate to find designer chairs, lamps, console tables and accessories at HomeGoods to complete my projects on time and on budget.

Belgian Roll Arm Slipcovered Right-Arm Sofa Chaise Sectionals

My high-end projects demand custom furniture pieces. Knowing where to mix and find old and new pieces is part of the challenge and fun. HomeGoods surprises me with some great finds.

via

Posted in Decorating | Tagged bedroom, decorating, furniture, livingroom, pillows | Leave a comment

Happy Monday 11/18/2013

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Ivy de Leon

This week as I go about my busy day, I am going to take a moment to be present to enjoy the little things: smelling the coffee, feeling the sunshine and smiling.

Posted in Decorating | Tagged inspirational quotes, Monday | Leave a comment

Five Kitchen Essentials for the Cook

Posted on November 15, 2013 by Ivy de Leon

We are all excited to be together for the holidays. With three runners in the family, I’ll be cooking more than usual, and I couldn’t be happier. Half the fun of cooking is finding great kitchen essentials. These five kitchen essentials will keep me smiling beyond the holiday season.

Feminine and modern apron protects the hostess from spills and splashes.

Monogrammed Carving Board

Bluetooth^® Speaker, Kitchen Stand and Screen Shield to expand the
versatility of your iPad^® in the kitchen.

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day rhubarb liquid hand soap and feminine pink gloves.

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Liquid Hand Soap, Rhubarb, 12.5 Fluid Ounce (Pack of 2)

Apron and gloves, Smart tools and cutting board, hand soap

Posted in Decorating | Tagged cooking, holiday, Kitchen | Leave a comment

Thanksgiving Purple Tablescapes

Posted on November 14, 2013 by Ivy de Leon

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I cannot get enough of the beautiful tablecapes in the magazines and Pinterest. This week purple is winning me over.

carolyne roehm

Purple!

Get the look with Williams-Sonoma Grape Toile Tablecloth

Vintage Amethyst Drink Glass Set via etsy.

Simple fall flower arrangement with winter purple cabbage.

we could use ornamental cabbages and kale, accented with more flowers then shown here (dahlias, hydrangea, and bittersweet) for the urns that will go at the front of the church. All green and white kale...none of the purple.

Blues, violets and winter greens make a special centerpiece. Layer table with fresh seasonal fruit and candles.

With some many colors for tablescapes choosing one will be difficult.

Posted in Decorating | Tagged decorating, glasses, purple, stemware, table cloth, tablescapes, Thanksgiving | Leave a comment

Happy Monday!

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Ivy de Leon

Posted in Decorating | Leave a comment

Friday Flowers

Posted on November 8, 2013 by Ivy de Leon

Happy Friday! My Halloween decorations are put away and now I’m getting ready for Thanksgiving. I love the colors of the season. One way I spread seasonal cheer at home is with flowers. They’re not large expensive arrangements, but easy to make small arrangements from store bought flowers. I like to use berries and fruit to keep it more interesting.

I spend many hours in the kitchen. Little arrangements brighten my morning.

When I don’t have flowers, I use foliage to add texture to my arrangement.

I used a deep silver plated bowl for this arrangement, cabbage, bittersweet and dry leaves.

A pretty, bright turquoise creamer hold the pink flowers for a twist on autumn colors.

Follow my board on Pinterest here to find more inspiration.

Posted in Decorating | Tagged arrangements, Fall, flowers, Thanksgiving | Leave a comment