Tour the Fresh and Inviting Home of Toronto Designer Tiffany Leigh

This apartment is a rental. We repeat, this apartment is a rental. After expanding her hunt outside of downtown Toronto, Tiffany stumbled upon what just might be the most beautiful rental in the entire city. The sweet little space, measuring in at just under 700 square feet, is filled with the sort of gorgeous features that most homeowners pay top dollar to recreate (not to mention a few impressive additions you’d never believe are DIY!).

After earning her Bachelor of Interior Design degree, Tiffany landed her dream job with Sarah Richardson Design, and several years in, the excitement still hasn’t worn off. “I’ve been watching her on TV since I was 13 years old, so getting to see her in person every day and work on projects with her is so incredible and endlessly inspiring.”

The third-floor walkup won Tiffany over with its original narrow strip hardwood floors, picture frame trim and plaster crown moldings, but there was one major investment she made before moving in.

As all renters know, it’s a fine balance between personalizing your home, while not investing too much money in a space that may not be your forever home. One thing Tiffany did invest in was having the entire apartment painted, “Every wall, every piece of trim, even every ceiling!” A fresh coat of paint can work wonders to brighten up an older rental and remove any lingering memories of past renters.

After having her home freshly painted, Tiffany set to work sourcing furniture, decor and artwork that would fit the apartment’s traditional style. You’d be surprised to learn that the majority of pieces in Tiffany’s home were discovered in vintage stores or antique markets, or bought for a bargain (the gorgeous rug in her living room was only $90! She scooped it up at an estate sale).

“Good design should be beautiful, but more importantly should reflect the people who live there. I love working with clients and creating spaces that ‘feel’ like them. Good design is also about layered juxtaposition, old with new, smoothness with texture, colour with neutrals, big with small. This adds dynamic interest to any space.”

Though she may have exhibited Herculean restraint when it came to sourcing budget-friendly furniture, Tiffany can’t help but indulge in beautiful coffee table books, “I’m forever buying new coffee table books.” (Peek Tiffany’s Instagram to see how her coffee table is constantly evolving.)

Speaking of Instagram…when asked about where she finds inspiration for her home and design projects, Tiffany surprised us with her answer, “Instagram is a source of daily eye candy and some really interesting ideas. My colleague and I were on Instagram studying ottomans from Steven Gambrel’s account, because he does custom furniture so well and were looking for ideas for a client’s tricky space. Inspiration is everywhere though – in my trips to the Art Gallery of Ontario, in my travels to Europe where I was fascinated by the colours and architecture, even in an interesting textile on a dress in a shop window!”

Ultimately, no matter what inspires you, your home should be a reflection of your taste and lifestyle. “My home feels like me. It is light and feminine, full of pieces that I hunted down and refinished myself. I am proud to have a place I call my own that I worked hard for. It’s that feeling of independence and accomplishment that my home gives me that makes me most proud.”

And if Tiffany needed one more accomplishment to feel proud of, this DIY IKEA dresser will certainly fit the bill! Visit her blog to see how she transformed the builder-basic dresser into a one-of-a-kind, vintage inspired stunner.

Though most of Tiffany’s furniture was sourced from thrift stores and estate sales, she did decide to splurge on new upholstery for a pair of beautiful cane chairs.

We couldn’t pass up the chance to pick the designer’s brain for decorating tips! If Tiffany could have her wish, chevron fabrics would retire for good, but classic herringbone floors, in wood or tile, are forever on trend.

Tiffany’s living room is her favourite area in the home (she spends the most time on her couch or in her dining room!) and her fireplace, styled with flowers and a gorgeous gold mirror, is without a doubt the main showpiece. But it wasn’t always so.

“Because I’m in a rental, I’m not able to make any major changes to fixed elements. I struggled with this on my fireplace, which was gorgeous except for a bunch of cracked yellow tile on the surround. I solved this with a clever DIY using marble contact paper – perfect for renters. You would honestly never know that it is not real marble.”

Tiffany had a hard time selecting her most sentimental pieces (every item in her home has a story tied to it) but the sconces hung in her bedroom are particularly special to her. “The sconces in my bedroom were sent to me by a blogging friend, Gina Julian, who I’ve never met in person. That blew me away and I will treasure them always.” They’re the perfect addition to her lovely and luxe bedroom. But don’t get too attached to it, the designer’s already scheming a master bedroom makeover, with a new coat of paint, “I’m thinking something moody like dark grey!”

Matching pedestal tables serve as nightstands, adding a sense of formality usually saved for living rooms. When not styled for a photo shoot, Tiffany typically keeps her latest read and a glass of water by the bed, “and embarrassingly, my mouth guard.” (There’s no shame in good dental care, Tiffany!)

Tiffany’s small bathroom is kept simple and clean, with fresh white linens, and small pieces of decor that add a spark of interest.

Tiffany worked with what she had when it came to the bathroom, and incorporated a touch of black into the shower curtain to pull together the floors and vanity.

Tiffany’s biggest embarrassment in her home? The lack of attractive window treatments. (#lifeofarenter)

When she’s not whipping up meals in her cute and colourful kitchen, Tiffany often enjoys Italian at one of the city’s prettiest restaurants, “I love Oretta on King St. W., it is so beautifully decorated!”

Kitchens are usually a sore spot for renters, but decorative serving pieces, kitchen linens and potted plants can go a long way to spice things up. We love how Tiffany’s used a propped up cookbook to add a little burst of colour to the kitchen counter.

This light and airy corner of the apartment doubles as a dining room and a home office with a “library” for Tiffany. There’s so much to love about this area of the home, from that incredible leopard print pillow, to the mix-and-match bamboo chairs and table, and Tiffany’s expertly styled shelves, but the real eye-catcher has to be the elegant chandelier that perfectly fills the space and balances the room.

For the designer who spends her free time hunting through vintage stores and strolling through antique markets, it should come as no surprise that the design trend that frustrates her most are matching furniture sets. “Matching furniture sets – so common, but definitely not my thing. I like a space to feel collected over time.” And as you can clearly see, everything in Tiffany’s home has been handpicked with great thought, and styled to showcase it.

These statement shelves with a grasscloth lining make for a breathtaking backdrop in the dining room, and if you can believe it, they’re actually IKEA! Tiffany bought the budget-friendly shelves and lined them herself with wallpaper from Thibaut. The dusty blue contrasts so beautifully with the gold and white decor she placed throughout the shelves.

Dining rooms are usually the first thing to go in cramped condos, but Tiffany’s older apartment offered more than enough room for a four seater (six if you squish!). For the hostess who loves to entertain, this was essential!

This narrow bar cart was scooped up at an antique market that Tiffany visited with her brother and his girlfriend. Its smaller size makes it perfect for apartment living!

This gorgeous throw is from Sarah Richardson’s line. The young designer credits her multitasking boss for inspiring her to dream big, “In this industry, you have the opportunity to wear many hats and to be as creative as you dare to be.”

“Every day with Sarah is a day where I become a better designer, and I am so grateful for the opportunity. Through working with Sarah,I’ve learned the power of appreciating and respecting everyone involved in a project from start to finish. It really does take a village. From our trusted vendors, to our hardworking trades, to our fellow designers, we are a collaborative team working to produce the best product for our clients.”

Tiffany, thank you for sharing your unique and charming home! To see more of Tiffany’s space and design work, visit her blog and Instagram.