So Canadian eh? : Tiffany Leigh Interior Design


I love it when a person follows their heart and takes a leap of faith by listening to that heart!

My guest this week is no exception.

Please welcome.....

Tiffany Leigh from Tiffany Leigh Interior Design.





She is 


Tiffany, is truly a gem! After graduating from university, she realized that she was not listening to her heart and decided to take the plunge and pursue a career in interior design. Interior design has been something she has always been drawn to. After being honest with herself, she decided to enrol in design school, leave her hometown and head to Toronto on an adventure of a lifetime, one she will never regret or forget! Her talent is evident in her photos, design boards and amazing doodles! I can't wait to see her talents unfold as she soaks in all the knowledge design school has to offer!




Her jewelry display and art by Tiffany.

Tiffany's Wednesday doodle. Her hand renderings are fabulous!


Tell us a bit about yourself? Give us some insight into who you are, what are you drawn to, where you always creative?

Me in a nutshell:
artsy, a dreamer, hard working, lover of bubble baths, design enthusiast

I’ve always been a creative soul. I can remember when I was little I was selling original works of my ‘art’ to my neighbours out of a booth in my driveway while other kids were selling lemonade. I took piano and singing lessons and have been involved in several musical theatre productions. I also love classic literature, and recently graduated from the University of Guelph with a degree in Honours English. I’m drawn to people with kindness and sincerity, and to rooms that are classic yet full of personality.

Why made you decide to start your blog? And has there been anything that you have enjoyed about blogging? Not enjoyed?

I decided to start my blog as a way to develop my personal interior style sense before beginning my education in design. At the time, my boyfriend was living almost 2000 km away in Halifax, and I wanted to use the time apart to get to know myself a little bit better. I thought writing and blogging would be a great way to do that, and it has been!

I enjoy almost everything about blogging, especially the amazing people I’ve met and the support and encouragement I’ve received from those new blogging friends.
One thing that I definitely wasn’t expecting was the huge time commitment that is involved with blogging successfully! It’s a lot of work, but totally worth it.

You have finished a degree in English, had plans to be a teacher but then realized your true passion is interior design, what made you realize that was your true calling? {Note: I find it interesting that many designers were teachers in their former life – is there a correlation?}

I remember being nine years old, and watching Candice Olson’s Divine Design for the first time. I was hooked. Seriously guys, I got more excited about the new IKEA catalogue than the Christmas Toy catalogue. In high school, however, I was discouraged by some teachers about entering a creative feild, and it was then that I made the mental switch to becoming a teacher. Now that I’m a bit older, I know that in order to make an informed career choice, you need to take into consideration what will make you truly happy and satisfied.

One night last summer, I was having a starry eyed conversation with my boyfriend about our dream jobs and I admitted for the first time in many years that my true passion is interior design. He has been monumental in encouraging me to pursue my dreams and take a risk! Without him, I might be off to teacher’s college next year instead of design school!

As for the correlation, I’m just not sure! But I think that both teaching and interior design involve creativity and inspiring others, just in different ways!

What are your go-to sources for anything décor related?


While I absolutely love my daily blog reads, I think there is something incomparable to flipping through the glossy pages of a magazine. My favourite is Style at Home, a wonderful and Canadian read. I also like to draw inspiration from unexpected places, a walk by the water or in an antique market always gets my décor wheels spinning!

How would you describe your design style?


My style is girly, glamorous, and a little bit eclectic. I like to combine the old and the new and I believe every room needs a little bit of pink (even if it’s just in the floral arrangement).

Tell us one thing about you that would surprise us!

I have never dyed, highlighted, or coloured my hair (but I will admit to using a bit of lemon juice with water in the sun at the beach).
I'm lucky to have been born with blonde hair that has only faded slightly over time.
Sometimes I think about changing it up...the recent ombre trend had me especially tempted, but then I think of all the money and damage to my locks that I save by keeping it natural, so the virgin hair STAYS, atleast for now.


What is next for you? Where do you hope to see yourself and your design career in the next few years?

In the fall, I’m beginning my education at my dream design school in Toronto. It’s an intensive, 4 year degree program that is crammed into 3 full years of study. I’m so nervous to move to the big city and live on my own, but I know it is where I truly belong right now! After I graduate, I hope to get a job with a successful interior design firm and learn more about the business. My ultimate goal is to start my own firm one day.

If you could meet anyone or do anything your heart desires, who or what would it be?


This is a tough one! I would love to spend a summer in Santorini, Greece without a care in the world. I would also love to meet Audrey Hepburn, who is my role model for living with grace, dignity, beauty and class.

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone”- Audrey Hepburn

What are your views on the role Canadian design plays in the world design scene? Do you feel that Canadians have a unique sense of style and design, and if so, what is it that you think sets us apart?

Canadian Designers got it goin’ on! We’ve got such a diverse and beautiful landscape in Canada from the mountains of BC to the harbors of Nova Scotia, and I think designers take cues from our natural environments. One thing we are famous for here in Ontario: the Cottage Country of the Muskokas. If we look at the cottage designs of Samantha Pynn and Sarah Richardson, two well known Canadian decorators, we see how they are able to take classic Nantucket and Hampton’s style and give it a uniquely Canadian aesthetic by infusing it with unexpected pops of colour and pattern.

Canadians also subscribe to an accepting mosaic identity, which encourages diversity and freedom of expression. I think that this really allows our creativity and individual style to shine through in our designs!

Oh, Tiffany, you have no idea how envious I am that you are off to design school. I wish I had listened to my heart when I was in my 20's. It was whispering to me, but I listened to reason and did not go to design school. I don't regret my choices but regret not listening to my heart's whispers!

I wish you all the best on your new adventure. I can't wait to follow along!

XO Barbara

19 comments

  1. I have become a huge fan of Tiffan'ys over the last few months as well. She is going to go far!!

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  2. This is such a great interview and feature! Congrats :)

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  3. Sounds like her star is on the rise! Loved reading this and learning about all these awesome Canadian ladies...go Tiffany!! great job:)

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  4. I love her!!! I remember putting Sun In in my hair ....... I agree that bubble baths are wonderful. Such a lovely home!!!

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  5. Thanks so much ladies!
    Barbara thank you for your kind words and for featuring me here today. Words can't express how happy this has made me! xo.

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  6. Awesome interview...it was so nice to learn more about Tiffany a blog I like to read daily. Thanks!

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  7. I always wanted a tree house juts liker hers and I still want one though I am much older to have one lol :)

    More Info

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  8. Barbara a wonderful interview! Tiffany has a style all her own. I adore her rendering; very talented!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena
    2012 Artists Series

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  9. I love her passion! Design school, and the amazing friends that I met there, still hold a precious piece of my heart... those were the days!! Tiffany, enjoy every moment!

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  10. Tiffany is new to me, I will definitely be checking out her blog! We share a likeness with virgin hair and my middlename is Leigh. Thanks for introducing another talented blogger Barbara!

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  11. Tiffany is new to me, I will definitely be checking out her blog! We share a likeness with virgin hair and my middlename is Leigh. Thanks for introducing another talented blogger Barbara!

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  12. Such an inspiring interview, Barbara! And so nice to meet you, Tiffany :-) I, too wish I had listened to the whispers instead of the voice of reason. What's up with that? Good for you, Tiffany, for honouring that tug in your soul...

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  13. This is awesome. Tiffany is wonderful :) Her renderings are so beautiful! Love a girl who follows her passion!

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  14. Great interview! I follow Tiffany as well :)

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