Project Pimp my Dollhouse & Some Big News

Happy Monday everyone! Is it weird that I love Mondays? (Probably because it is my only day each week with no school or work...does it even count?)
 Today I'm so excited to be over at Kim's fabulous blog, The Green Room Interiors, participating in her fun series, 'Pimp my Dollhouse'. Basically Kim asked a few of us here in blogland to each create a design board for the living/dining room in her own place, which she calls the dollhouse. Today is my day to share what I've created! The main guideline was that we had to incorporate the following elements:

 I mean with these as starting points, you can already tell the room is going to be amazing!
To see what I designed, head on over to Kim's Blog!

 I also have some very exciting news to share with all of you!
 On Saturday I found out that I got a new part time position as a KITCHEN DESIGNER for a particular hardware store that we bloggers absolutely adore. I have worked with this company for the past 8 months in the flooring and decor department, but this new position is much more in line with my career aspirations.
I couldn't be more thrilled, it is an excellent opportunity for me while I complete my degree and I can't wait to take on some clients and start designing!

Lastly, it's time to pick a winner for the $50 Minted Giveaway!
Congratulations to another Kim, who said "If I won, I would spend the money on one of the beautiful art prints, like The Peony Bottle! :)".

Hope you all have a great week! xox

Favourite Furniture Fridays: Love on Sunday

Such a beautiful piece Amy! Thank you so much for sharing. You all need to check out Love on Sunday. Amy is currently undertaking an ambitious louis chair reupholstery...girl's got guts!

Favourite Furniture Fridays: A Creative Day

A man who makes furniture this beautiful? Now that's a keeper. Seriously guys, you need to check out Eileen's blog! She just did an amazing DIY gold wallpaper that you won't believe!
Thanks so much for sharing with us today Eileen :)

My First Floor Plan

So, this assignment was a doozy.
It was for my Fundamentals of Space Planning class. We were required to draft a living room/ dining room combo, transferring a given room outline from a 1/4" scale to a 1/2" scale.
Then we had to provide a living room area with seating for 8 (Realistically speaking...whose living room readily seats 8 at all times?) and a dining table for six.
The fun part was inventing our clients (and budget woo).

The hard part? We have not yet learned how to do floor plans in my drafting class yet. We are still on lettering...
Awkward for all of us.
I spent all of last week figuring out my way through this drafting process with no knowledge!
I'm sure there are technical errors, but my prof is aware of our lack of experience with floor plans and hopefully will go easy on us. And I really like what I did. Any space with a cowhide rug, a sputnik chandelier and an  Eames Lounge Chair is pretty sweet in my books!

Right after we submitted this one, we got assigned another one! A kitchen this time.
We also need to do elevations (which we also have not learned yet eeek).
Wish me luck guys! This program is more intense than I expected.
xo

Design that Stands the Test of Time

 Trends are inescapable. As a social media driven society, we have consistent exposure to these fads that are pretty, fun, popular, and well received. But for me, really good design is about incorporating those trends in a timeless way... in a way that won't need to be revisited or redecorated in a few months, or even a few years.

When I was browsing the current fall decorating issue of Style at Home Magazine, I was stopped in my tracks by this home:

So beautiful, and SO current. The zebra print, the lucite and butterfly artwork, the grasscloth wall coverings, the use of the color coral, the chippendale chairs, the polka dotted seat cushions - All of it embodies the major design trends of today.

And yet, when I read the article, I couldn't believe that this room was designed 30 years ago and has been unaltered since. That is the talent of the late and iconic designer Ray Staples, who decorated this room in the eighties.

The timeless beauty of this space and the careful and imaginative forethought and talent of Staples has left me truly awe inspired.  Her legacy lives on through her works that withstand the test of time.

Favourite Furniture Fridays: Simple Dwellings

Hi, my name is Amber from the design blog Simple Dwellings.  I am so excited to be on Tiffany's blog for her favorite furniture series!  I love this idea and instantly knew what I would choose.  As I look around our house, there are many things I would love to revamp and change, but our dining room hutch has a great story attached to it and makes me smile when I see it! 

We purchased our hutch when my husband and I lived in Germany.  While we lived there for three years, my love for interior design and unique furniture grew.  I used to often walk into this one furniture store and browse around, seeing if they had anything new.  Then one day, I fell in love with this off white hutch.  It was definitely one of those had to have pieces!  Well, it was over budget, so I moved on.  I often thought about it, hoping it would go on sale.  When I went back to the shop one afternoon, it was no longer there.  I was heartbroken, figuring someone had bought it.  Then one night when my husband and I were on our way to the movies, we spotted a discount furniture store with the same name as my favorite shop.  We had some extra time, so we went inside.  It was their discount store, and there it was- 40% off!  It was truly meant to be. We paid for it that night, and the rest was history!  My husband still says it was the most expensive movie date we ever had!  :)  I smiled from ear to ear throughout the entire movie!  Some things are just meant to be.

Thanks so much for having me here today, Tiffany.  It was fun going down memory lane!

Such an amazing story Amber! I completely love the piece and am smitten with your blue and white china collection!
Be sure to visit Amber's blog Simple Dwellings!

Wednesday's Sketchbook Guest Post!

Hey my loves! Here is a little sneak peek of this week's watercolor, which was commissioned by my sweet blogging friend Charmaine.

Are you intrigued? Be sure to head on over to My Best Friend Craig to see the rest, as well as the stunning real life room that this doodle was inspired by!

And if you are interested in commissioning your own custom watercolor, feel free to e-mail me at tiffanyleighinteriordesign@gmail.com. I would love to work with you!
xo

The Charm, The Mix and The Art.

With today's social networking sites, we are bombarded by images of beautiful homes and spaces. It's natural that some just get lost in the shuffle. But have you ever seen a space that you legit could not get off your mind? That is exactly what happened to me when I saw this post over on Little Green Notebook. Anne's space was designed via e-design by Lauren.

I saw it first thing in the morning, and spent the whole day at work dreaming of it...The second I got home, I pinned it all.

Here is what I love:

The Charm. This space oozes charm. The archway, the leaded windows, the old rad...Amazing bones.

The Mix. The room is the perfect blend of masculine and feminine. A little him in the gray suit inspired couches and the antlers. A little her in the sparkly lucite details and the floral pillow.

The Art. The gallery walls in this space are quite literally picture perfect. Each piece is interesting and conversational, nothing generic or overdone. 

I know many of you are readers of Little Green Notebook, (one of my fave daily reads), and I'm curious to know if you were as mesmerized by this home as me! If you haven't done so yet, check out more gorgeous pictures of the space HERE.  

xox
Tiffany Leigh

Pull up a chair...er..sofa!

Well guys, I did it! Officially graduated... Pretty pumped to have an English degree under my belt. Also pumped that I can now resume more regular blogging about my NEXT degree, interior design. Yeah, I'm a professional student, embrace it.

Today I'm bringing you some beautiful images of sofa type seating in the dining room.

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via Simple Dwellings

via

Is it awkward to shimmy into these seats? Do we care? I don't think I care. Too lovely. I think it also adds some extra functionality to the dining area, like curling up to read a book...with wine please, it's time to celebrate!
xox
Tiffany Leigh

Floor Plan E-Design: Girly Glamour

 

This is a floor plan that I designed as part of my application to the design school that I have been accepted to! It's the school of my dreams and this was my favourite component of the application process. I hope you enjoy!

xo Tiffany Leigh

Get the Look: Black and White Rug

I couldn't help but drool over The Aestate's Sexy Space this Saturday. 

I love the dramatic wall treatment and the rug. 

If you love it like I do, don't despair! 

I've found the perfect piece for you're very own sexy space.

 IKEA rug

Happy Shopping and Happy Weekend!
xox Tiffany

Favourite Furniture Fridays: The Wishbone Chair

A Brief History:
The wishbone chair was designed in 1949 by Danish designer Hans J. Wegner. Since it's invention, it has been in constant production by the fine furniture company Carl Hansen and Son. It gets its name from the unique centre piece on the back of the chair, which literally resembles the forked clavicle or collar bone found in most birds, commonly called a wishbone. There was an ancient belief that chickens were fortune tellers, and that when two people hold the wishbone and pull it until it breaks, the person left with the longer piece will have their wish granted. Kinda cool!

For the more practical minded, it's also known as the Y-chair. Officially the CH24. Easily customizable and made from steam bent beechwood. Priced at around $800. It's name is totally appropriate because although it's way out of my budget, one can always wish.

What I love about these chairs is their delicate, gorgeous frame, and their tremendous customizability.

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I'm going to wish on a wishbone for a wishbone chair. How about you?
xox
Tiffany Leigh

Favourite Furniture Fridays: Vintage Teak Credenzas

I'm absolutely obsessed with mid-century modern Danish teak furniture, especially the credenza. I really haven't found a more perfect place to host a TV in currently constructed furniture. Mid-century modern furniture began following WWII, and continued through the 60s.

Although retro and vintage in look, the pieces' clean lines and simplicity allow it to compliment more modern spaces quite well. Mark my words, I WILL have one of these beauties in my future living room.

via Emily Henderson

^^ Emily Henderson is one designer who clearly gets my love of teak. You can see it all over this room: the coffee table, the chair, and of course, that credenza! She keeps the space looking up to date by painting the shell of the credenza white, adding a modern chair to the right, a metallic poof, and a bright and contemporary rug.

via desire to inspire

Teak credenzas work well to hold more than a TV. Use them to display a unique collection (as shown above), or to anchor the bottom of a gallery wall!

via Apartment Therapy

I think that the teak credenza would also be the perfect addition to any dining room! Use it as a sideboard to hold all your china, and dress the top like a bar: think pretty metal serving trays, sparkling champagne bottles, glass wine decanters, martini glasses and a fabulous lamp!

Below I've created two mood boards using the same teak credenza two different ways:

Modern Living Room

Glam Bar Area

Scour your local flee markets, thrift stores, antique shops, and garage sales to snag one of these beautiful pieces for your own home!
Love always,
Tiffany Leigh