Girly Art

 Hi Loves! I'm back. I wanted to thank you all for your kind words of support last week and for understanding my break from the blogging world. I still don't feel 100% myself, but I can't put the world and the things I love on hold forever. Oh, how I missed you all! Now back to the pretty stuff...

I have a thing for girly art. Living in my own studio apartment (bachelorette pad as I like to call it) has really allowed me  to decorate in a way that I might not always be able to when I need to compromise with a live-in situation. Right now my Chanel prints from I See Noise are the epitome of feminine glamour. Sometimes I think about adding a third bottle to the collection (I know you've all heard of the power of three! I love this one from MadeByGirl:

via Made by Girl

I have also been toying with the idea of moving the perfume bottles to another area and painting something large and abstract and pink to hang over the sofa....decisions decisions.

And of course, I can't do a post on girl art and not include Jessica's lips print. It has been popping up everywhere. The girl is literally killed it with this one!:

via Rue Daily

via Small Shop

I want to add the lips print (and probably the OUI print too because how can you not?!) to a gallery wall I am planning around my TV. Audrey is feeling a little bit lonely....

SO happy to be back ladies!
And HAPPY (belated) CANADA DAY to all my fellow Canadian bloggers. xox

Foo Dog Regrets

Usually, I try to live my life with the motto 'No Regrets'.
Today, however, I can't help but feeling like a complete regretful foo....l!

You see, when I was in Florida the other week we went to a big antique and flea market and I found the most incredible, large scale, turquoise foo dog pair. They instantly reminded me of Jen's in this bookshelf styling:

via Made By Girl

 And Naomi's in her old loft:

via Design Manifest

Ahhhh! How good are they? I could cry.
Alright..back to my story.
I looked at the price tag and they were $60 for the pair. But the booth was having a take 20% off everything sale, bringing them down to $48. I love that flea markets have no tax and I bet I could have bargained them down a couple dollars more!

But, for some reason...I left them.
I think it was partially that I didn't know how much foo dogs were worth (which, by the way, turns out is alot more than 48 dollars...I should have known!)
and partially because I was trying to spend wisely and save while on vacation (and I really don't have a spot for these).

Either way...I REGRET my decision, big time. If Florida wasn't a 24 hour drive away I'd race back there right now! Instead, those foo dogs will haunt me for the rest of my life. Seriously..I may never get over this.

Have any of you ever left behind an item you wished you hadn't?

Style from the Crypt Keeper

Do you all remember the "to be or not to be" scene in Hamlet where he holds up the skull? Well, apparently the guy knew a thing or two about sick accessories because, people, skulls are in!
When I first heard about this trend, I'll admit I was beyond skeptical ("Skulls? Ew creepy").
BUT THEN I started to see the trend, and the mind inside my own skull was quickly changed.

via Camille Styles

via The Aestate

via pinterest

via Made by Girl

via Emily Henderson

The key to getting this trend right is to remember that a skull is edgy (and a little dark), so be sure to contrast that with girlier, softer pieces. The pink chair in the first image and the floral wallpaper in the last image are perfect examples of this. Think lace, flowers, the colour pink, etc.

Now I just gotta wait for the Halloween decorations to hit the dollar store so I can gold leaf my own!
I picture it on my little bar cart with a folded card that says "Pick your Poison" beside all the alchy. I'm clever like that.

Are you a fan of this trend? I'd imagine it's probably not for everyone.
But I'm really grave diggin' it. I feel it in my bones. It's to die for (and many other cheesy skeletal puns).
xo

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!
 

Favourite Furniture Fridays: Barcelona Day Bed

When Charmaine from My Best Friend Craig commented on last week's F.F.F saying she dreams of owning a Barcelona Day Bed, I knew that I had to feature this stunning piece. I too am a lover of the sleek design of the Barcelona series, and the day bed is so chic!
 
Designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1929, this piece was created with a modern sensibility and has withstood the test of time. It still looks contemporary over 80 years later!

via

^Jen Ramos of Made By Girl has one, and we all know she has fabulous taste. Here's another shot of it in her former Las Vegas home:

via

Carlos Souza's apartment in Rome, via Elle Decor

Ralph Lauren's beach house in Long Island, via Elle Decor

Materials:
-handcrafted
-individual leather squares
-leather straps
-African ramim hardwood
-polished stainless steel legs

Do you prefer the white, the black or the caramel leather? I just can't decide. I'll take one of each please!
xox Tiffany Leigh

Love is in the Air..

or, at the very least, Valentine's Day is! That's right, the lovey-dovey holiday is right around the corner. This year I'll be spending it alone, courtesy of long distance lovin', but I'm not going to let it ruin my spirit! I've put together a little round up of a few pink, girly, and romantic items that have caught my eye lately. If you're spending this holiday solo, don't despair! Instead, celebrate how much you LOVE YOURSELF by treating yourself to one or two of these items. If you're lucky enough to be sharing the day with a partner, feel free to 'accidentally' leave this up on your computer screen for them to see. Maybe they'll get the hint?

1/2/3/4/5/6