Tiffany & Co. Reception - Completed Project

A couple of weeks ago I shared some sneak peek shots of the Tiffany & Co. reception area that I designed for a school project, but it was all crinkled and the pictures were horrible quality.Today I wanted to show you the completed project, including my presentation boards, floor plan, elevations and perspective drawing! It looks so much smoother now that it is glued down.

I wanted to create a sense of classic luxury and refined style that reflected the company's long history in the jewelry business. It was a fun to render in all the architectural detailing. The design was inspired by the exterior of the Tiffany's in Soho:

via Architectural Digest

And my best friend Laura gifted me this sweet little print, which I think ties in just so perfectly with today's post:

I love it!
Lastly, don't forget to hop on over and check out this weeks nursery at the Baby Blog Party! Have a great weekend xo.

Kantha Throws from Dignify

We all know that anything that adds a tribal or global flare to decor is right on trend right now.
This includes Kantha throws, which are made from saris and sewn together using a traditional kantha stitch.
 I was recently contacted by the owner of Dignify, and after checking out the site, instantly fell in love with their gorgeous selection of Kanthas, all made from 6 layers of vintage saris!

 

The thing I love about Dignify (even more than the fabulous throws and other home accessories) is the company's mission is to provide dignity and livelihood for the creators of the products.

Dignify was sweet enough to send me a beautiful little sample of one of their Kantha throws.

It is so soft and lovely! In the package was a powerful and moving story about one of the kantha craftswoman in Bangladesh, who has struggled through physical abuse, sexual abuse, and poverty while trying to support her son before being embraced by the Dignify community.

So if you happen to be in the market for a Kantha throw, I highly recommend Dignify! 

This is not a sponsored post, just something I believe in!

xo

Watercolor Wednesdays: Inspired by The Perfectly Imperfect Home

I'm bringing back Watercolor Wednesdays for two reasons:
1. To bring you guys original content
2. To keep my sanity

There's something so therapeutic about painting and lately I haven't been making the time in my busy schedule to sit down and relax. Now is the time. Ahh, the art of imitation. You know that movie, Julie and Julia? Where Julie tries to cook her way through Julia Child's cookbook and then blogs about it? Yeah well this week I'm pulling a Julie and Julia as I attempted to practice my work by reproducing some paintings by Virginia Johnson in one of my favourite coffee table books, 'The Perfectly Imperfect Home':

 ^ Left: Virginia Johnson / Right: Tiffany Leigh

^ Top: Virginia Johnson / Bottom: Tiffany Leigh

^ Top: Virgina Johnson / Bottom: Tiffany Leigh

The reality is I'm nowhere as dedicated as little miss Julie, and won't be painting my way through the whole book, but this was a fun experiment to get back in the swing of things.
From now on, each Wednesday, I am going to paint my interpretation of a photo of a room!
Can't wait to share with y'all. Also, these are the first photos from my new camera. Even though I have no clue what I'm doing, it really does take beautiful shots!

Needing.Wanting.Loving: Sequin Pants

 It's Victoria Day here in Canada and holidays always get me thinking about party pants...I know I'm not the only one.

via

I need a pair of sequin pants and I need them NOW. How bratty of me, no? I have the most perfect event for them this weekend! Plus I would totally wear them to see The Great Gatsby. I feel like that's the kind of movie you gotta get glammed up for...am I right?

via the glitter guide

via Kayture

via

I'm really loving the gold and silver options. Oh and true story...until I was 14 I actually thought it was called a 'sequaine'. Good one Tiff.
Hope you all had a wonderful weekend/ Happy May 2-4 to all my Canadian followers!
xo

Moody Home Libraries

via VOGUE

I adore books. I told you about my coffee table book collection here, but I also love literature. I graduated from the University of Guelph with a degree in Honours English before deciding to pursue and education in Interior Design and can honestly say that reading is one of my most beloved past times. While I enjoy a good fluffy book now and again, my heart truly lies in the classics. Wuthering Heights, The Great Gatsby, The Picture of Dorian Gray, my list of favourites goes on and on (as does my list of Bucket List Books). I dream of owning a home one day that can house my collection. I amassed quite a few books while studying at Guelph, and want to add so many more!

I dream of a moody, library-dining room combo. It's on my dream house wishlist.

via Nate Berkus

via

via

So lovely, no? There's something about the smell of books, old and new, and about the feel of dog-eared pages that just melts my heart.

Just a reminder that it's Friday which means it's time for another installment of the Baby Blog Party!
Today's host is Katherine of Rhymes with Smile! Click the link below!




ps. I PROMISE to get back to more regular posting next week! I'll admit I have too much on my plate at the moment between school full time, a 25+ hour a week part time job, the blog, etc. etc.
But I miss you -  you guys keep me sane. Love you all, have a great weekend!

My First Bloggy Date

Yesterday was a great day. I met a blogging friend in real life for the first time! It was so lovely to meet up with Laura of Gracefully Searching for lunch downtown Toronto. We'd been planning to meet for awhile, and she was even sweeter in person than I could have imagined.  

 ^Our lunch spread. Delicious!

Before this meet up, I had never actually met anybody in 'real life' who blogs, so it was so refreshing to sit down and be able to talk openly and honestly about both the frustrations and joys of blogging to someone who gets it.
And I completely trust her opinion because well...just look at her space!:

 I mean between the white walls, bamboo chairs and foo dogs, I could just move right in. I can see the start of a long term friendship, and that makes me so happy.
Go check out her blog here and show her some lovin!

Have you ever met up with any blogging friends?

New Camera & Other News

Well guys, last night I finally bit the bullet and bought myself a DSLR camera. I am so excited to start playing around with it. I decided to go with the Canon Rebel T3i. Canon was having a great promotion in which I got a second lens (75-300mm) free. I've been waiting for a good deal for quite awhile now.

 So get ready for some better pictures to come!  Taking it out of the box today!
Do any of you have it? Is it user friendly?

I also got some fun striped straws for my bar cart from this etsy seller.

My accessories to get it all styled up are slowly coming together. I just added the decanter with the crystal bar top (a great Good Will find), and I'm smitten with my gold rimmed low ball glasses.
Now I obviously need some booze!

On another exciting note, I got my ticket to Blogpodium happening here in Toronto in September! Are any of you going? Get yo ticket here (it's pricey this year....it'll be my first time going but I heard that the cost has jumped way up. I'm hoping this means that it'll be a good conference!).

And lastly, it's Friday again and that means another installment of the baby nursery party!
 Today's host is the talented Heather of Vivid Hue Home. Hop on over and check it out here:

Retro Reimagined - Inspired by my Grandma

It's funny what inspires us. Yesterday I was visiting my amazing Babcia (which is Polish for grandma) and I thought for the thousandth time just how awesome her house is. Entering her home is like entering a time warp, it is literally untouched design wise from when my dad was a little boy growing up there.We are talking retro appliances, shag carpeting, green floral couches - the works.
I snapped a pic of her original 1950s kitchen with my iPhone while I was there:

Ahh I mean it's truly lovely in it's own way, no?
I'm especially smitten with the fun counter top.
And the fact that the harvest gold oven is still fully operational is pretty cool too when you think about it.
Anyways, it got me thinking about how you could translate something like this into modern design
(avoiding the cheap finishes and obviously thinking more about function and code).
Here are my tips:

1. I love the idea of using the teal color in a backsplash subway tile. High end finish with a punch.

2. Fun ad posters like this one from Etsy ad instant retro charm.

3. My Babcia's kitchen has yellow everywhere. Yellow paint is so sunny and bright for a kitchen!

4. You can see that the edge of my Babcia's counter is stainless steel. Doing an entirely stainless steel counter top will add modern balance but still tie into a retro theme.

5. My Babcia's house has original crystal knobs on every.single.door. This is probably my favourite detail about her home. Another thing she has a bunch of that I love: rag rugs.

6. Keep cabinets simple and white to balance out all the other color happening here.

7. If you are going to embrace the retro look, go smeg all the way. I love this cream fridge (better than the harvest gold appliances, that's for sure!).

I'll have to show you her bathroom next time I visit. It's equally as cool.
Love you Babcia (I say to my beloved stubborn grandmother who doesn't use a computer and would probably disapprove of this post entirely. She really is the best!).

My Style via Instagram

I'm no fashion blogger but I do put some effort into what I wear. I don't have anyone to take actual post photos of my outfits, but if you are curious about my sense of style you can always follow me on instagram! Here is a look at some of my recent spring looks:

1. I bought this dalmation dress from H&M in the fall, and I am so happy to finally get to wear it without tights. It looks so much cuter this way in my opinion
2. My pleated blush maxi skirt from Forever 21 is better than I even imagined.
3. Jewels from Love Obsessed...Can't wait to wear these beauties. Just need the right occasion.
4. All about the contrast with florals, chambray and jewels!

What are your go to spring looks? And don't forget to follow me on instagram! xo

She Sells Seashells by the Seashore

close up of my mom's collection

Mother's Day is coming up, and it's got me thinking about my mama.
One thing my mom absolutely adores is seashells. In my parent's home, she has set up several lovely vignettes featuring seashells that we have gathered on our vacations.

Our Family Room

Our Powder Room

And don't forget that gorgeous pink shell that I stole borrowed from my mom to style my coffee table with:

Decorating with shells is such a beautiful way to add texture and a natural element to any space.
Can you believe this over the top mantle?:

via

Love the look of framed items from the sea! My mom has a sea fan we are dying to do this to:

via Danielle Oakley Interiors

Barri Leiner Grant via The Things That Matter (by Nate Berkus)

My parents are planning a trip to Sanibel Island, which is known for having some of the best shelling in the world. There is something so peaceful about hunting for shells:

 ^The boyfriend and I shelling last summer in Florida.

Do you collect seashells? How do you display them?