HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

My tip for your fabulous New Years Eve Party? Run out to the dollar store and get some disco balls and strings of beads, then bling out your chandelier like the picture above. It adds instant glamor and sparkle!

And of course, look fabulous yourself. End 2011 by looking and feeling your best, no matter what you're doing.

This is the dress that my boyfriend got me for Christmas, and I know he can't wait to see me wear it! New Years Eve offers up the perrrrfect opportunity to get a little dolled up.  I'm pairing it with the necklace he got for me, and some black alligator pumps (a la Breakfast at Tiffany's: "Be a Darling and look under the bed for a pair of alligator shoes"-Holly Golightly). I'll post some pictures tomorrow!

What are your NYE party decorating tips and what are YOU wearing?
I'd love to know!
-Tiffany Leigh

Favourite Furniture Fridays: Eames Lounge Chair

EAMES LOUNGE

To kick off my very first Favourite Furniture Fridays I wanted to pick a piece that reshaped the history of the furniture world. I had to pick the classic Eames Lounge 670 and Ottoman 671. I recently saw the handcrafted process of making this lounge chair on HGTV’s ‘Design DNA’ and learnt that the construction hasn’t changed much since it first hit the market in 1956. This iconic beauty was designed for the Herman Miller furniture company by Charles and Ray Eames (a married couple) who were inspired by a baseball glove. The design took years of planning, trial and error. In the end, the final design was a keeper, and hasn’t been messed with for over 60 years! The only major changes are switching from rosewood veneer to a more environmentally friendly plywood, and from five layers of wood fused together to seven. In fact, it is part of New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) PERMANANTLY, making it not only an ingenious piece of design, but a work of art in itself. What an honour! Just looking at it you can see why. 

Its molded plywood shell is what makes it truly beautiful, and keeps each chair unique. The cushions are made to maximize comfort, and rubber shock mounts allow the chair to flex slightly for a discrete rocking motion. It also swivels 360 degrees. The leather is cinched for a worn look. The classic black leather is a popular choice (and my personal favourite), but Herman Miller now offers the Eames Lounge in a variety of colours and finishes. It makes my favourite list because I love its masculine, industrial and yet comfortable look and feel. It is an iconic piece instantly recognizable in any space.

Warning:
Before you fall completely head over heels in love with this furniture piece (maybe I should have cautioned earlier), I should warn you that it is pricey! In 1956, it retailed at a bit over 300 dollars. Now, a newly constructed Eames Lounge will run you about $4500 before tax in the United States, with some classics selling in auction for close to the $7000 mark! Even high quality and convincing replicas approach two grand. The European Vitra version is even more expensive. But hey, we can dream right? If you’re ever blessed enough to purchase one of these beauties, however, the attention to detail and high quality, hand crafted construction will last decades making it an heirloom to be passed on from generation to generation.

This chair made its TV debut in 1956 on NBC’s broadcast of Arlene Francis’s ‘Home’. You can watch the videos of this vintage appearance on Youtube. Part one here and part two here for those interested. 

This chair is often quoted for its prominent appearance in the hit show Frasier (reportedly seen in all episodes but one!). I'm not the hugest Frasier fan, however, so my favourite guest appearance of the chair is on Gossip Girl, where it was recovered in a gorgeous Missoni fabric. 

I hope you enjoyed reading all about this iconic and historical piece of furniture as much as I enjoyed researching it! Stay tuned every Friday for an edition of Favourite Furniture Fridays.

Love always, Tiffany Leigh

Get the Look for Less

One of my favourite stores right now is Dynamite. It's so affordable and offers trendy and popular looks for much less. Here a couple of celebrity inspired pieces that I own that I LOVE.

At the Friends with Benefits movie premiere in July 2011, the always fashionable Olivia Palermo donned this ultra sheer white blouse with a maxi printed skirt. The sheer blouse has become a major trend for many celebrities.

Dynamite offered the look for less with this sheer white blouse for under $30. When I bought mine, they only had a size Small when I usually wear an Extra Small, but the loose look works! (It looks less sheer when it's on)

Anybody out there a fan of Gossip Girl? I am, and I loved the character Charlie Rhodes in this gold, sparkly sweater. Unfortunately, it's a bit out of the budget. Alice + Olivia Crewneck Rhinestone Sweater for $330

Although not an exact match, this sequined sweater from Dynamite achieves the same look and vibe for only $18! It was the perfect sweater for the holidays, but isn't too festive so it can be worn year round. Money well spent.

Hope you enjoyed, now go out and shop! You don't have to have the income of a celebrity to look like one.
Love always, Tiffany Leigh

New Years Resolution

I'll be the first to admit that I'm a bit of a skeptic when it comes to New Years Resolutions. For the first few days, everyone approaches their resolutions with gusto and eagerness, but before long, real life resumes post-holidays and those good intentions fade into 'maybe next years'. 2012, however, is going to be a BIG, huge, lifechanging year for me.
1) I'm moving out of my parents' house
2) I'm starting a new educational path
3) I will be going to school with future designers in Toronto

These things all lead me to think that something has got to change in order to accommodate all of these grown up changes. My resolution: Look the part.

Something you should all know about me, I LOVE sweatpants, more than I probably should. This is not to say that I wear them all of the time, but I am definitely one of those students who rolls out of bed, throws on some sweats and shows up in class looking lazy (I should note that I am NOT actually lazy at school, just averaged a 91% this semester eeee). As an undergrad at a predominantly 'farming' university and having to drive forty five minutes just to arrive on campus, however, I've felt somewhat entitled to take advantage of the sweat pant luxury while I still can.

By the way, If you happen to be in the market for an amazing pair of sweatpants, I pretty much live in my Roots Original Pocket Sweats in Salt and Pepper. Cute, comfy and excellent quality. Available at http://canada.roots.com

BUT, I know that in Toronto, sweats everyday just won't cut it. Especially considering I will be attending a SMALL school where everyone I run into may play a potential role in my future career. Gotta represent myself right. Besides, I've got a lot of nice clothes that don't get worn nearly enough.

Thus, its time to start dressing more professionally, more often. Start putting my best foot forward to make those good first impressions, and look the part of a successful interior designer. It's never too early to start!
 

What's YOUR resolution? I'd love to hear :) 

Barbie Calendar Makes Great Art

I recently found and reblogged the following picture on my tumblr (http://be-mine-interior-design.tumblr.com):

 

Of course, this room is gorgeous for many reasons. The bubblegum pink tufted bed...the chocolatey grass cloth walls...but for me the ARTWORK takes center stage. I was drawn to this art because it's fashion inspired, and reminded me of the work by Dior Beauty's resident artist Bil Donovan. Here is a sample of his fabulous work:

 Isn't that piece on the wall amazing?! It's a whopping 9'x5' watercolor painting, and an original...I can hear the $$$ adding up, but one can wish right?

So naturally I assumed that the art in the first picture were some original fashion sketches also out of the budget, until an amazing follower (http://ehmihleezee.tumblr.com/), informed me that the prints are actually out of the BARBIE CALENDAR. I couldn't believe it! But it's true, See for yourself:

^2011 Calendar

^ Barbie Fashion Model Collection 2012 Calendar

Illustrator Robert Best does one or more editions of these calendars every year, and for under $20 you can call one your very own. Grab some frames and you've got instant high end art.

Image via

I know I added a Barbie Calendar on my Christmas wish list!!
Will you? If not, many calendars have great prints for hanging as wall art. Do you have a favourite?

DONE EXAMS

^My life has been nothing but colour coded notes for the past few days

All of my studying has paid off because I'm done my finals and officially on winter break for the next month and one day! Then, on January 10th, 2012, I begin my last four classes at the University of Guelph. That's right, I'm graduating in April! It's so insane to think about, I remember it like yesterday when I moved into residence. Of course, I was home almost every weekend. I love my family and love spending time with them. I commuted for my last three years of Uni to be close to them, and to save money.

Now, I think I'm finally ready to move out on my own. And good thing to, because even though I've almost completed one undergraduate degree I'm crazy enough to go and do it all again, in TORONTO and this time majoring in Interior Design. It's going to be a big move and a big reality check. I can't wait.

Small Town Girl, Big City Dreams

Welcome everyone! (Feels a bit silly saying this when I am fully aware that no one knows my blog exists...yet).

I've decided to start blogging as a way of exploring the new direction that my life has taken the past year and a half.
Okay... so the story goes like this:
Summer of 2010, I was living what some might call a content life. It was ordinary, comfortable, and I didn't question the path that I was taking in my personal life or in my professional life. I was on track to getting my undergrad degree and continuing on to teacher's college, I didn't give it much thought.

And then, one day, when I totally wasn't looking for it, I met someone who taught me (word for word), that "you can't live life afraid of your own shadow".

Well, let me tell you something folks. He was right. Since that conversation I've done a lot of thinking about what it is that I want in life. And what I want, is to become an Interior Designer.

Before then, I had only been on a plane once when I was very small. I had not been to another Canadian province other than the one I live in. Since then, I've flown by myself three times to Halifax and back. I've completed a portfolio and been accepted to the design school of my dreams.

In other words, I am well on my way to leaving my beloved small town behind, and trying to make it in the big city. This is my journey, and I invite you along to see how it all turns out!

Love always,
Tiffany Leigh

ps. Everything here is still under major construction, but I hope to get it all more or less sorted out over the Christmas break. Feedback and comments always welcome :)