Favourite Furniture Fridays: Hodge Podge by Markova Design

 Today's guest blogger is the talented (and Canadian) Barbara from
Hodge Podge by Markova Design!

It's exciting to be visiting Tiffany's blog today sharing one of my favourite pieces of furniture in my home. 

Last year after we switched the kids' bedrooms around, our middle child, J, who is now a 16 year old blonde eyed beauty, moved into a bright and sunny room. It is one of my favourite rooms in the house, as I have stepped out of my comfort zone and embraced colours I normally don't use in my house. We have been using her room as a design lab and are thrilled with the results.

The first pop of colour was on this amazing night table, that had seen better days, I found on Craigslist for only $25! 

It had a sad 70's laquer top that was quite scuffed. After a good sanding, some primer and a fresh coat of  Spectra Blue, 2049-50,  by Benjamin Moore, it looks amazing against the dark brown and cream stripes of J's walls.

I decided the leave the original hardware as-is, as I loved the patina and style.

So if you are ever feeling daring and adventurous with colour, try it on small pieces for great visual impact! Thanks again for having me visit Tiffany. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

XO Barbara
Thank you so much for sharing Barbara, such an amazing transformation! Your daughter is a lucky girl to have such a gorgeous bedroom (and talented mama). Be sure to check out her blog!
 

Pretty Little Liars Returns: My Fave Bedroom

I've been cramming in all of PLL's season 2 episodes to get caught up before season 3 kicks off tonight. Do any of you watch Pretty Little Liars?

To celebrate the new season, I thought I would reveal my favourite bedroom in the show. 

Spencer's Bedroom {and why I love it}

#1) The Wallpaper

 How gorgeous is this floral wallpaper? I love the subtle pallet! I can picture using it in a glam dressing room. Designed by Nina Campbell.
(I also am infatuated with the wallpaper in Hanna's bedroom, but I can't find a source anywhere!..I'm also not sure if it is feathers or butterflies, I just know it's amazing!)UPDATE: A big thank you to reader Clara who found this gorgeous wallpaper source HERE. It's feathers!) See below:


2) The Bedding

Spencer mixes black toile and raspberry toile for an eclectic yet unified look. I've always been a fan of toile in small doses! I used it on the seat of my desk chair!

3) The Desk Area

Okay, yes it's chaotic...but the designer in me is so connected with this space! Look at the decor magazines, the wallpaper samples and and fabric swatches! The over the top inspiration board! The wire chair! Drooling.

Which bedroom on the show is YOUR favourite. They are all pretty fabulous! The countdown is on people! Happy watching.
xo
Tiffany Leigh

ps. My other guilty pleasure shows include the Vampire Diaries and Gossip Girl. Hbu?

New Lease: Planning the Layout

If you all saw yesterday's post, you know that today, I'm continuing to discuss my new rental!

Here are a few more details:

I move in in September.

I'm sharing a house with five other girls (none of whom I know yet!). We have a common living room, kitchen, dining area, laundry facility and backyard. While I'm sure I'll get along with everyone, I also like my personal space (and I'm not sure they will share my love of watching HGTV 24/7). That's why I'm happy that my room is big enough to create a studio style space that will include my bed area, office area, and own personal living room area.

Last night, I whipped up this floor plan quickly to track my ideas so far:

What do you guys think of this layout? Stay tuned because tomorrow, I'm going to show you my fabric scheme options!
xox Tiffany Leigh

ps. If you need help mapping out a floor plan, send me an e-mail at thedesignerlifestyle@gmail.com. I'd be happy to help!

Big News: Signed a Lease

Besides my first year at university which I spent living in campus residence, I have lived in the same house since I was born. It has been a blessing which has allowed me to save money, avoid student debt, and not have to worry too much about daily tasks such as cooking and grocery shopping.

Pursuing my dream career in the big city, however, means big changes. I've been on the hunt for some affordable housing in Toronto close to my design school for the fall. Recognizing that my own apartment was not realistic financially, I settled on student housing. All I wanted was my own washroom. 

I may have gone slightly over my planned monthly budget (oopsy), but I've found the perfect room!

The room is 12' by 19'. Lots of room for all of my design ideas!

This picture doesn't do it justice, but this is my extra large WALK IN CLOSET, maybe big enough for my very own dressing room.

Here is the huge shower in my private washroom!

And my big soaker tub! I love bubble baths after a long day.

I can't paint the walls or change any of the fixed elements, but I think it's a good blank and neutral canvas to create a space that is completely me. Stay tuned each day this week where I discuss my design ideas for the different areas of the room!
xox
Tiffany Leigh
ps. I feel so grown up! Ah! Tell me about YOUR first rental.
All photos sent to me by my future landlord. Better quality pics to come when I move in and redecorate.

This Blogger's Bed

Confession... I'm nosey. I like to see where people live because I think that it can say a lot about a person. I want to be an interior designer to help people express themselves through their homes. 

So today, I'm giving you all a chance to be nosey with me! Here's a little peak of my bedroom, or more specifically, this blogger's bed. It's where I do all of my blogging and unwinding. Snoop away!

^ I got this bench for $4 at Goodwill. I'm planning a major DIY for it when the weather gets warm. But for now I just use it to display my heels.

^My bedside table vignette.
So there you have it! What do you think?
I'm curious to know, where do YOU blog? (Told you I'm nosey).
xox
Tiffany Leigh

Look what I found!

On a recent outing to Homesense, one of my fave stores, I came across something that instantly made me think of this beautiful bedroom:

via

Okay.. are you ready? Check it out:

 (Please excuse the image quality, all I had was my phone camera!)
This art piece has a very similar vibe to the one in the inspirational image. The white horse, mane blowing in the wind, an all white background. I think the price of $220 is fairly reasonable! What do you think of this find? Are you a fan of equestrian art? Personally, I love it!

xox Tiffany Leigh

No Pop of Colour: Neutral Rooms

Usually, I am all about a bright pop of colour as an accent in any room. Lately, however, I have been noticing a lot of stunning rooms that lack that pop and make their statements all in a neutral scheme. 

 

 

^From Micheal Buble's Home!

 1/2/3/4/5/6

I find many people in my life are afraid of incorporating bold colour into their space, and these inspirational images have taught me that neutral does not have to be boring. 

The key is to mix patterns, tones, styles and textures to create interest!

My favourites are the first and the last one. That glass garden stool is a-maze-ing. I'm drooling. 

What do you think of neutral decor?

xox, Tiffany Leigh

Medical Motif

There is something undeniably eye catching and breath taking about the usually sterile red and white hospital cross in these spaces. The symbol of Red Cross is made simply beautiful, unique, and conversation worthy. What do you think?

via Emily Henderson

via

^Here it is reversed, like the flag of Switzerland.

There's something about this motif that I can't quite put my finger on, but that I am truly drawn to nonetheless.

xox Tiffany Leigh

Prettiest Little Bedroom

via

Isn't this the prettiest little bedroom that you ever did see? So feminine and delicate. I love the incorporation of Pantone's colour of the year, Tangerine Tango, in such a temporary form, yet it still steals the show. The upholstery on the chair is perfect, the floral pillow on the setee compliments the desktop accessories so well, and don't even get me started on the tutu inspired chandelier! I could go on and on! Photography by Monic Richard for Style at Home Magazine.
Do you love it?
Tiffany Leigh

SATC: Carrie Bradshaw's Interior Style

I’m quite sure that many of you will agree with me when I state that Carrie Bradshaw has become a major fashion icon of this generation. As a fictional character on the hit show Sex and the City, Carrie epitomizes the type of woman many of us strive to be:
Sexy, Confident, Successful, Honest, a True Friend, and of course Stylish.
While her infamous closet is stuffed full of wearable treasures (from pricey designer labels to vintage second-hand finds), her interior spaces have also become iconic and drool worthy and mustn’t go unnoticed.
Here is a look at some of my favourite of Carrie Bradshaw’s interior stylings…sets that provided the perfect atmosphere for the trendy, downtown New York dreamer as we as an audience experienced her life.

 ^Carrie’s closet in her original apartment is my favourite space.
Why not have a little fun in the walk-in closet? Carrie experiments with colour, rug choice, and funky lighting. Her colourful clothes compliment the space perfectly…or is it the other way around?

Get the look in your closet:
Paint colour: Pick a dark, rich, greyish blue. I like Benjamin Moore's Wolf Gray

 Rug: Any bright and girly floral rug will do, like the one below from Urban Outfitters for only $34!

via Urban Outfitters

Lights: Decorate your own oversized white drum shades with a black fabric marker and hang them as pendant light fixtures to achieve the look of Carrie's closet lighting.

Other spaces:

 ^ Carrie and Big’s closet.
A much more grown up, organized closet than when Carrie lived as a bachelorette. I think the difference in cabinetry marking a masculine and feminine side is absolutely brilliant (and I love her clothes spill over onto his side).

^Carrie’s original bedroom.
Such an eclectic, lived-in look. Each piece looks flea-market picked. This is a personal favourite and much preferred to her renovations in the movie SATC 2, which I found just too neat for Carrie.

^ Carrie and Big’s living room.
A little masculinity for him in the sofa, a little femininity for her in the blossom rug. A perfect blend for the newly married couple. The artwork above the couch is stunning, simple, and adds the perfect pop of colour.

Although Carrie is definitely known more for her fashion than her apartment, I just can’t ignore design this good. Have you noticed Carrie's apartment while watching? Which is your favourite look?

Love always,
Tiffany Leigh