fess up friday - tiffany leigh interior design

Today's Fess Up Friday host is going places. Tiffany Leigh from Tiffany Leigh Interior Design moved to a brand new city, all on her own to pursue her dream - a career in interior design. It has been so fun to 'go to school' with Tiffany and to see her shine is what is obviously her calling. Her sketches alone make me want to hire her! So Tiffany, take it away.

Hi Everyone! I'm Tiffany Leigh and I'm thrilled to be here today Fessing Up my dirty little secret (literally...dirty). It's such a fun series Elizabeth has cooked up here, isn't it? My secret is as shameful as my love of The Bachelor. Here we go:

If you follow my blog, you might have caught hints of this before, but today I'm laying it all out on the line with pictures. The horror! I live in what I call my 'studio apartment'. It's a lovely, yet teeny tiny little space where my living area and bedroom are one, but it does come with an extra large bathroom and walk in closet. Let me indulge you with some pretty before we get to the ugly:

I love living there, except for one tiny detail...

My apartment lacks one thing - A private kitchen. There is a kitchen in the building but I share it with five other girls. Five loveable but messy girls. As someone who values cleanliness, I avoid the kitchen at all costs. It's a dirt pit. I'm talking once I found decomposing fruit on top of the fridge. I'm talking we had a cockroach problem this fall.

I'm talking I have to leave notes like this all the time:

Please note this is my fourth note this month asking the culprit to wash their dishes. Still no change!

Here is a look at the dish situation in the kitchen on a typical day. Most of these are clean, but doesn't anyone know how to put something in the cupboard?!

Sighhhh. Fed up and frustrated with this whole student living thing! I cannot wait until I graduate from Interior Design School and can have my very own clean and organized kitchen. So there! I confess. My living situation as a whole isn't as pretty as I let on. Thank goodness my individual apartment is my happy place (and that I don't have to share a washroom with these slobs!).

Come on by Tiffany Leigh Interior Design and say hello! Thanks so much for having me Elizabeth!

Oh Tiffany, I've been there! Does this bring back memories for anyone else?

Don't forget to enter my Wash Away Winter Giveaway!

one room challenge - where are they now

Today is a fun 'this is your life' kind of day. My friend Linda, Calling it Home fame and creator of the One Room Challenge, is having a party today. Everyone and anyone who has participated in the One Room Challenge over the years will be giving updates on their rooms.

Projects that were unfinished, changes that were made, or just the general state of the room today will all be shared.

As for me, not much has changed in the girls' room by way of additions or changes.

Full disclosure it looks like this most of the time. True life. (my mom is horrified right now).

Herbie did get some new bright orange poppies which he is very happy about.

And I did get a pom pom garland on clearance after Christmas that I'll use as a tie back for the corner window. Current version styled by my three-year-old assistant.

So the girls still love the room, I still love the room. The room is well loved.

The family room is pretty much the same story.

All the major players are still in place, it just has a more...lived in patina now. I won't blind you with the general state of toy tornado that that room seems to be in. Even I have my sharing limits. :)

So that's my ORC update. All is pretty quite on the western front. Be sure to go over to Linda's to see what everyone else's rooms are up to now. I can't wait to check them out!

And don't forget to sign up for my Wash Away Winter giveaway! You could be smelling sweet in no time.

wash away winter giveaway

As I mentioned yesterday, I love adding K. Hall products to my house whenever I can. So in honor of my bathroom makeover I thought a sweet smelling giveaway was in order.

K. Hall makes the finest soaps, lotions, candles etc. you can find and they smell simply heavenly. K. Hall is a local (St. Louis) company with a national reputation. They've been featured in House Beautiful, Lonny, Real Simple, Allure, Southern Living and the list goes on and on.

I have the pleasure of living not too far from their store so I stalk shop there often (they also have great things for the home and beautiful jewelry). But since I can't take you all shopping with me I thought I'd bring K. Hall to you.

To enter do any or all of the following (one comment per entry)

1. Following The Little Black Door (Google Connect or Bloglovin)
2. Like The Little Black Door on Facebook
3. Tell me which scent you are most excited to try
4. Like K Hall on Facebook

and PLEASE make sure you aren't a "no-reply" commenter or I won't be able to contact you when you win!

The winner will be announced March 5.

Good Luck!

a look at the loo - bathroom reveal

The loo? Yes, I obviously have Downton on the brain (does anyone else think that season went rather quickly?) So as promised I am supplying a good old before and after for your Monday viewing pleasure.

Updates to the bathroom were planned, executed and photographed. Let's take a look.

As I mentioned last week, a recharge for the bathroom that remained untouched for (gasp) almost seven years was long overdue. (Take a look at her major renovation here) Nothing drastic, just new paint, fixtures, shower curtain, towels and accessories. That's how I sell these changes to the hubs by the way - always use the phrase 'nothing drastic'.

To go back to the very beginning, here is what she looked like when we moved in.

And this is what she looked like until very recently.

And here she is in her pretty new outfit.

The space may be small but I'll milk it for all the pictures I can. So here we go.

The most visually appealing, best smelling soap a bathroom could have, courtesy of local favorite K. Hall Designs.

I couldn't find a towel bar that I liked for the right price and the right size, so I trolled the plumbing department at Home Depot and gathered up some lovely copper to make my own towel bar. Tutorial to follow.

The first of many prints I hope to own from Janet Hill Studio.

I got these wonderful white and gold fish hooks a long while back but never found any place to properly 'hook' them. So instead I took out the standard issue knob on the freshly painted medicine cabinet and replaced it with Elton the glamour fish.

Last summer I talked about my obsession with finding a unique shower curtain. Well I never did find one that suited, so I followed the lead of the great Tobi Fairley and had one made.

Thank heavens I have a wonderful aunt who can sew like the wind. She did a beautiful job and because of the custom work I was able to have her make it just the right length so I could take the curtain rod all the way to the ceiling. It is amazing what it has done for the room. The space feels bigger, brighter and well...taller. Imagine that.

On the opposite wall I made the wise decision to ditch the towel bar in favor of hooks. Let's be real, more than one person uses this bathroom so one towel bar wasn't cutting it. Yes we have a hook on the back of the door as well, but this is just so functional, and far more fun.

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl on the walls has done a brilliant job of brightening up the space, bringing out the gray in the marble floor and most importantly - makes the space feel clean and crisp even if the maid doesn't get around to cleaning it for a few days. Of course, not having a maid might have something to do with that.

And there she is in all her clean splendor. The changes weren't major but it has done a tremendous job of making it feel like we have a new room in the house. And she'll hold my spirits up until spring arrives. The moral of the story is small changes = big impact. Every time.

Have you made any small changes lately? Know anyone who will come to clean my bathroom? Is it wrong that I want to hug my shower curtain?

And be sure to come back tomorrow for a grand giveaway!

Linking to The Best of The Nest

fess up friday - sadie + stella

Today's Fess Up host needs no introduction. She is none other than the lovely Lindsay of Sadie + Stella. Lindsay is funny, fabulous and a fellow Missouri girl. What's not to love? And as you'll see she is an excellent Fess Up player. So Lindsay, what do you have to share?

I am Lindsay from Sadie + Stella and when Elizabeth asked me to fess up on one of my deepest darkest, I really had to think because I think of myself as an open book. So here it goes. Lots of people ask me what my secret is to keeping it young and I am here to clue you in. Ready for it? Botox and Taco Bell. Woah and woah. So even though I am rolling into my 30's I decided to jump on the preventative train and start with the injectables and I am proud to say that my forehead now looks like it is in middle school. No, seriously. 

On to the diet. I mean I work really hard at it with meals that consist of 4 items from Taco Bell and I am proud to admit I am the girl that pushes $10 on every order. Folks. If you are not familiar with the prices at Taco Bell, that is an expensive meal, trust me when I say. I am talking nachos, chalupas and chili cheese burrito, people. I know I should be ashamed, but I am not. If processed food and injectables don't keep you fresh, I don't know what will. Preservatives my friends, preservatives.

Thanks to Elizabeth for graciously letting me air my dirty laundry and thanks to you all for reading my taxing and strenuous beauty tips. Hope you all will come and visit me over at Sadie + Stella! XOXO

All I can say is - who doesn't love a good taco?!

bathroom refresh - the plan

As I mentioned way back when I've been itching for a little refresh on our (one and only) bathroom for quite a while. We did a gut job on the bathroom when I was pregnant with Amelia (6 years ago) and I've been really happy with it, but lately she was starting to look a bit tired. (the bathroom, not Amelia)

Here she is way back when the blog began in 2011. First blog lesson learned, remove your shower poofs before taking pictures. Duh.

Now there is obviously only so much that can be done is such a small space but I wanted to change what I could without spending much. So paint, and a few new accessories will about cover it.

Be sure to come back on Monday for the big reveal. That will give me time to get that sucker cleaned up and ready for a few photos. And don't forget to come back tomorrow for another great Fess Up Friday.

Have you made any plans to refresh a room in your house?

good things come in threes - estate sale tips

I think it is well established on this little blog that I love a good estate sale. (little gems have been found here, here and here) But I now believe those were all just to prep me for the real deal because over the past several weeks St. Louis has had the trifecta of estate sales. Two design mavens/shop owners that have been local favorites for decades just had estate sales at their homes. And one of them had another retirement/estate sale at her store as well. It was simply wonderful.

We are talking 40 plus years of accumulated awesomeness. Beautiful old homes, upholstered walls, custom drapes in every room and lights you just can't find anymore. Heavenly.

I would have gotten more pictures, but these sales are crazier than a Justin Bieber concert and I had to keep my game face on lest someone would steal my stash right out from under me. I've seen it happen.

I was luck enough to get two killer bamboo pieces at the first sale - the fire screen I used in my Christmas mantel this year

as well as this bamboo side table. Pennies on the dollar people. They were $10 and $20 I believe.

At the next sale I snatched this slipcovered arm chair for $35 that I shared on Instagram. That is a Lee Industries chair in excellent condition with fabulous down cushions. I pet her each and every day. I've named her Sonja.

I also came home with tons of great trim, fabric, decorating books, teapots, and silver. Good god do I love a great estate sale! So how do I find these and what do I do when I go?

- Estatesales.net.
You can search for sales by zip code and most will show pictures of items and give a laundry list of what to expect. If the sale is in a good neighborhood, go. If you see things on the list that interest you, go.

- Fight or flight.
If you know there is something there that you want, go early and stand in line. Bring your cash, or a check if they'll take one (it will say on estatesales.net) and turn on your tunnel vision, making a b-line for the piece as soon as you walk in the door. If you don't see anything particular but it looks to be a good house or the sale is given by a good company, go an hour or so after the sale starts to avoid the lines. There will still be tons of great things to find and you won't have to stand outside in the rain with the weirdos (me).

- Make friends.
Get to know the people giving the sale(s). Most of them have email lists, Facebook pages or mailing lists that you can join to know about sales that aren't publicized and get early entrance to some. This is how I knew about two of the last sales I went to.

-Sunday is deal day.
Saturday is when the big stuff goes. Quickly. Sometimes you are able to possibly get the price down a bit ("Is this the best you can do?" is my standard line) on Saturday but Sunday is the day to wheel and deal. Typically everything will be 50% off. If you can hold out and want to play the odds on something, go Sunday morning first thing and see what you can do. That is how I got the arm chair. It was still there at the end of the sale on Saturday so I figured my odds were pretty good to get it for 50% off the next day. So I went bright and early (in a snow storm) and laid claim on Sonja. The sales lady told me that several people that had their eye on the chair and were coming after church to get it. I skipped church that day because I'm a heathen chair hoarder.

-Enjoy the view
I've been to many a sale where I walked out empty handed or even knew before I went that there would be nothing for me. But the house. I had to see the house. If you are a house lover/stalker like me, think of it as an open house without having to lie to a real estate agent about why you are there.

-Kiss the frog
As my grandmother said, you've got to kiss a lot of frogs to find that prince. Sales can be a big bust but the more you go to, the more you'll get a feel for the ones that you know will be good. And when you hit a good one, all of those frogs are worth it.

What about you? Do you go to estate sales? Ever found any big scores? Wanna go trolling with me some weekend?

mommies behind the blog

It is going to be in the 60's today and you would think I just won the lottery. I am ready to tackle this day and I just might even roll around on the snow-less ground to celebrate. Can I get a whoop whoop?

While I breathe in that warm(ish) air, head over to A Dose of Pretty where I'm talking with Sara about the many hats us moms wear.

happy rainbow birthday presidents day

Today is a holiday on top of a holiday. Not only do the girls have school off for President's Day, but it is also this girls third birthday. (you can take a look at her first birthday party here)

We had the family party last night but we've got more out of control 3-year-old fun planned for today. So I'm off to put make-up on Barbie and play with race cars. Check back tomorrow when I'll have a report on some grown-up fun from this weekend. (Hint - it rhymes with mestate sale)

Until then, may your day be as bright and sunny as our centerpiece was. (three guesses what the theme of the day was)

fess up friday - the design daredevil

Happy Friday my Valentine's! Today's Fess Up Friday features the lovely Jessie from The Design Daredevil. Girlfriend has style in spades (check out her latest reveal here), she's been on TWO shows on HGTV, and lucky for me she's local. Oh, and her apartment is pretty much my dream pad. And a warning to all of you St. Louis retailers - Jessie and I are hitting the streets together soon. Prepare.

So Jessie, Fess Up!

Hello hello hello LBD readers! I am excited to be Elizabeth's guest, as she is my fellow St. Louis blog sister. I'm not even half the blogger she is, so I'm sure most of you have not met me yet. I am a 32 year old interior designer working under the firm CURE Design Group. Here are a few looks at projects I've either completed, or am in the middle of working on...

Fun and cheerful, full of color and pattern. Cute, right? Well...it's all a lie. A big, fat COLORFUL lie.

That's right folks; I, Jessie D. Miller, do not like color.

GAH! I'm sure that I just lost 99% of you. Come back. Please? I have my reasons, I swear.

You see, working as a full time interior designer, with anywhere from 4-10 different projects going on at one time, I am visually assaulted with color and pattern on a daily basis. I am constantly selecting paint colors, accent colors, and coming up with a "pop of color"; so in my personal space I crave NO color.

But don't get it twisted, I didn't mean that my home is neutral. Oh no, I want high contrast by way of black, white, and gold/brass.

Here is a peek at my still-not finished apartment by way of crappy, un-styled iPhone pics. Don't judge me. At least not until its done.

Yup, not a "Pop of Color" in sight. Just the way I like it.

But I'm not completely heartless. I did add some green to my balcony, the only "done' part of my home.
I mean, I'm not a total hater.

Plus, I love to go all out decorating for the holidays. My home is adaptable to all kinds of different themes.

Okay, still not a lot of color, but you get the idea. So, do you think I'm all Patrick Bateman, or are you willing to give me a chance? I may live in a stark home, but I lead a colorful life.

Thank you so much for having me Elizabeth! And when the heck are we going to get
drunkdrinks and go thrifting? Hopefully we can report back on that soon, but in the mean time follow my design adventures on IG @designdaredevil

Jessie, we are going to have some colorful drinks in honor of this post! So what do y'all think? Do you live with a lot of color? Or just enjoy it from 9-5?