COLLECTING COLORS - WEEKEND PHOTO

Today, I am picking colors for COCOCOZY pillows, rugs, throws and fabric for 2014.  The process has taken a couple of weeks...longer than expected.  I went and cut all of these fabric swatches, have looked through my Pantone color books, perused inspiring photos of interiors and collecting thought provoking images of fashion.  Then after all of that, I started picking colors.  My design process is always about gathering way too much information to start for fear of not having everything I will need to make the right choice.  Then after all has been amassed, I sort through it all in detail to make choices I can live with.  I have hundreds of fabric swatches sitting in front of me this morning...this weekend morning...choices...choices.

What colors do you think will inspire you for your home decorating in 2014?  Do tell!

Oh did I mention, I am about 3 months behind.  After over 2.5 years of having my own textiles collection, I now know you should really have your designs and samples done about 4-6 months before you want to debut them in stores...so you can get them to press...and out to buyers.  I am behind.  Hence this weekend photo...color color color!

Can't wait to show you what I am cooking up for 2014!

Happy Sunday!

xo
Coco

Photo:  Coco of COCOCOZY

THE ALL WHITE BED - STYLE STATEMENT

I love a clean simple all white bed. Never goes out of style.  Is it stylish to just put a white cover or duvet over a bed and call it a day?  Don't get me wrong...I love a fun patterned bed...the COCOCOZY Bedding collection is full of that - interesting textures, graphic shapes, timeless colors.  But on a day where you need mental quiet, deep relaxation, no noise, or a soft touch to the eye...an all soft white bed will do the trick.

Does an all white bed make a style statement?  I wonder.

What do you think?  Do you like an all white in the bed or is it way too boring?  What is your idea for bedding that makes a style statement?  Florals, prints, color?

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Okay...best of friend AM and her hubby JE and their two kids arrive tonight.  My deck is still under construction!!!  It is a mess.  They are outside sanding and staining right now.  Follow along on COCOCOZY Instagram @COCOCOZY to see updates of the work in progress.  I'll be posting a few images today!

P.P.S.  Today am wearing a sparkling jeweled short sleeve sweatshirt.  Kind of cute.  Bought it to meet TE's dad and stepmom.  Ended up not wearing it then...but it is good for work!  I am wearing it with some old sparkling Prada flats.  Is that too much sparkle to be taken seriously on the job?  We'll see!

Photos: Brooklyn Home Company; Folkhem; Architectural Digest; Lonny

TWO FACED ROOM

Cute modern den with mid century touches...charcoal gray wall on one side and white painted walls with windows on the other.  One side is moody (in a good way) and warm, the other is bright and cheerful.

One room...two faces...didn't know rooms could change moods so easily!

Face #1 - Charcoal gray wall makes a the den feel quite cozy! (above)

Face #2 - White walls and curtainless windows make the other side of this room feel bright and light. (above)

Do you think this two toned look works in this apartment decor? Like or dislike?

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco



Photos: Planete Deco

BOLD BEDROOMS - THIS OR THAT

Making bold design choices in the bedroom today!  Two rooms with very different design aesthetics but with one thing in common...bold design.

In the first picture above, a geometric colorful rug makes an eye catching statement.  Below, a huge brightly colored suzani (Persian decorative tribal textile) is draped along the walls surrounding the bed...acting as a headboard of sorts.

What do you think of these two bold choices...like one or the other better...?

So which of these rooms do you prefer?  Which bold design choice might you be willing to try in your bedroom.  I'm having a hard time deciding but I think I might pick the second photo with the suzani fabric on the wall...there is something quite cozy about the look.

Please weigh in.  Choose your favorite!

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

Photos:  Elle Deco Spain

APARTMENT VERSUS ESTATE - OUTDOOR LIVING ROOMS 2

Another outdoor living room face off!  I am all about outside living spaces in the summer.  So this week I bring you two more outdoor living rooms to compare.

Last week the outdoor room choice was City versus Sea.  Most of you chose the sea outdoor deck.

Today, the face off is Apartment versus Estate.

The patio above is outside a New York City apartment.  The decor is sleek with modern white metal furniture, lots of neatly trimmed boxwood and ficus plants and a living wall of greenery.  Well manicured.

The outdoor living room below has softer edges with more traditional decor.  The metal furniture with big fluffy cushion sits under a white pergola.  A large Moroccan style coffee table, lots of cushy decorative pillows and black lanterns finish off the decor.

Which of these two patio living rooms do you prefer?  I feel like if I was having a party I would like the apartment version and if I was having a cup of tea and a good chat with a friend I would enjoy the estate living room.  The question really is though, which would you pick for your home?

Please do tell.

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Sorry I didn't post yesterday.  Lots brewing!  :-)  Will keep let you know what is up next week!


Photos: Nikolas Koenig; Windsor Smith

AN OLD STONE BARN TRANSFORMED

Am fascinated with converted barns for some reason.  Is that weird?  I think it is very cool when an old barn or stable is turned into a home. Re-purposing a space into something new.

This once abandoned barn in Spain was transformed into a contemporary living space.

Solar panels were installed to provide electricity during the summer. During the winter, turbines were installed to convert energy from the two nearby streams.

Love the minimalist decor too. A nice country house with a modern eco friendly twist!

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

Photos: Abaton

AN OLD HORSE BARN GETS A MODERN DESIGN KICK

The property is called Stable Acre. It is 2700 square foot home on a remote farm in Norfolk, England. The home, a former 19th century horse stable (barn), was restored into a contemporary weekend house for London art gallery owner Stuart Shave.  The project was designed by by architect David Kohn and completed about 3 years ago.

I like it.  Modern rustic.  High pitched lofty ceilings, white painted exposed brick doorways, grey washed wood paneled walls, cement floors and all.  The mid century modern furniture works in the living room. A clean wood furniture aesthetic to go with the modern rustic architectural touches.

The home has been written about a few times over the last 2 or 3 years. I discovered it though only after seeing this first image on photographer Damian Russell's website. I super sleuthed my way into reading about how this modern barn came to be!

Love the white washed wood paneled walls! (above)

Must find this pom pom bed cover...so darling...a good dose of whimsy in the very minimalist modern master bedroom. (above)

Like!  Like a lot.  I would warm up the space with some rugs...might even use a COCOCOZY rug or two in the home.  I'd like to stay as guest in this weekend house...wonder how I could get an invite?!?!

What do you think of this old barn made new? What would you add to the decor to make it your own?  Wish I could see the before photos!

Happy Thursday!

xo
Coco

DOORMAT PICKS FOR MY BLACK FRONT DOOR!

Option #1 - Bienvenue coir doormat (above)

This is my front door at my little tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills.  It is a black shiny front door with frosted glass widow panes.

My front door decor is simple, the black door, white trim, brushed silver knob and lock, a square silver outdoor sconce for lighting and finally the door is flanked by potted boxwood topiaries. My front door was yellow at one point and then it was brown.  Now this is it.  A glossy shiny black front door.

This past weekend I was thinking a lot about door design for a guest post I am doing for another website.   I wanted share a photo of my front door but realized I needed a new doormat.  So off I went on Memorial Day...in search of the perfect doormat.

I, of course, can never make a descision so I bought three different doormats.

Option #1 (above) - A coir front doormat with black frame and Bienvenue written on it
Option #2 (below) - A coir doormat with black and white ticking stripes
Option #3 (below) - A simple wire lattice mat

Now I need your help! Vote on which doormat you think works for my front door decor?

Take a look...

Option #2 - Ticking stripe coir doormat - $54 (above) 

Option #3 - Wire doormat - $48 (above) 

My mom, sis DS and TE all weighed in...they all picked Option #3 (the wire doormat).  I can't decided whether Option #1 with Bienvenue ("welcome" in French) is cheesy because of the words...I have never had a doormat with writing on it.  I like Option #2 a lot too.  Each day this week, I have put a different doormat out to figure out which I like best.  Help!

There is also the option of no doormat...but then I worry about my new wood floors...

Please weigh in by commenting below.  Which doormat would you choose?  What might you add to my front door decor?

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Thank you for all of the nice comments and emails about the COCOCOZY feature on the Architectural Digest website.  You are all too sweet!

Photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

APPEALING APARTMENT DESIGN!

LOVE this apartment...the collection of furniture, the modern sensibility and the overall hue!  Fantastic.  Nubby gray Bo Concept rug and sofa from there too. Custom modern white coffee table on casters (wheels).  These standard pieces are all complimented by an array of midcentury modern looking arm chairs and a classic black Thonet bentwood chair.  Of course, you know me, I love the white wood floors.

Look is achieved with a very neutral base (if you take away all of the accessories) all in black white and grays and then textures and patterns are layered in the form of art, pillows, lighting, lamps and other items.

The built in book shelf that divides the kitchen from the living space is fantastic...a functional dividing wall.

What do you think of this apartment?  Like or dislike?  Does it need more color or are you fine with the black, white, silver and a bit of brown?

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Been having nice meetings lately with fab Hollywood agent HM.  He's been introducing me around to his colleagues.   He's nice.

P.P.S.  Have been doing a Vegan before 6pm diet (there is some new book out that says be a vegan by day and then a carnivore by night...am always game for trying something new).  Am a total airhead though.  I pranced out of my office at lunch time the other day singing, "I am Vegan before 6. Vegan before 6.  Vegan before 6".  Everyone just looked at me as if I was kooky.  I walked across the way with a person in my office, I ordered lunch and came back and started eating it.  After I had taken several bites, a person in my office who was also eating the same lunch selection said, "Just thought of something...that turkey chili is not vegan".  Duh.  I do have quite a few airhead moments.  Uhh...what about ordering "turkey chili" would ever make me think "vegan"?  Tomorrow is another day!


Photos: Elle Interior

SCREEN DREAMS!

Saw this white bamboo fretwork room divider screen at market last week in High Point, NC. I like it. Now I just have to figure out where I took the photo!!

I think a fantastic room screen can add visual interest to a space. I have a vintage screen leaning against a corner wall in my living room.

So I'm dreaming of this screen now. Don't know where I would put it...but I can dream.

Happy Thursday!

xo
Coco


Photo by Coco of COCOCOZY

DESIGN IDEA - MIX MATCH DINING ROOM CHAIRS!

Hey...how about this look...a modern eat in kitchen with a long dining table populated with a mix of styles of dining chairs. Mid century modern to classic in all shapes.

Think it could be cute...also think you have to have at least 2 of the 6 chairs match. Deliberate mix and match.

Hmmm...could work!

Here are some dining chair options.

DWR - Bertoia Side Chair - $539 (above)

Wisteria - Louis XVI Dining Chair - $299 (above)

Ballard Designs - Louis Side Chair - $541 (above)

What do you think? Do you like the idea of mixing and matching chairs?

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco


Photo: ESNY

ROCKING WORDS OF THE DAY!

Was at a garden store in Marina del Rey yesterday...plant shopping for the yard. I ended up finding some Boxwood topiaries to flank my front door at my cottage in the Hollywood Hills and some Silver Sheen plants for TE's deck overlooking the ocean.

When I went inside to pay, I saw these stones on the counter near the register.  They made me smile.  Don't know what you are actually supposed to do with these translucent white garden rocks but I like them!

Carpe diem, laugh, relax, believe, prosper and celebrate.  I agree.  Wholeheartedly!

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  TE is back from Paris!  So happy he is home!

P.P.S.  Two of my very good friends are getting married!  So excited for them.  Can't wait to attend the festivities.  Must stop eating today...so I can be skinny enough for the festivities...and must find cute outfit.  First world problem indeed!

Photo in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

COCOCOZY DESIGN FIND - SMOK CHAIR & RUG!

Love the Smok collection by Austrian furniture designer Hans Sapperlot. Invisible stitching and an embroidery technique called smocking to create a modern quilt like effect.  The wool has a soft feel as it has been treated and shrunk...also it is water resistant as it comes from mountain sheep.  Sapperlot has used this smock technique in this modern home furnishings collection to create Eames like shaped chairs, nubby rugs and even lamps and pendant lights. I like!

Smok Chair by Hans Sapperlot. (above)

Smok rug with color blocked stripes. (above and below)

Like or dislike this look? Do tell! Comment below!

Happy Thursday!

xo
Coco

KITCHEN WEEK: COLORFUL KITCHENS!

Hello yellow - a bright cheerful small kitchen with stainless steel counters and backsplash. (above)

KITCHEN WEEK day 3 here on COCOCOZY!  Today I bring you a few very bright colorful kitchens.   I am afraid of too much color as you probably can tell by the images on the blog...but of course, just the right dose of color can really make a huge design statement.

I actually love all of these colorful kitchens pictured here...but which would I actually dare to live with?  Hmmm...thinking....

Modern very small kitchen with flat front cornflower blue cabinets and a marble slab backsplash. (above and below)

Green and blue are the order of the day in this rustic kitchen with a gorgeous zellig tile backsplash and a farmhouse sink. (above)

Red kitchen with glossy modern cabinets and wood and stainless counters. (above)

Do you have a color filled kitchen in your home?  If not, would you consider any of these bright options if you could?  Please do weigh in...

I think I would go for the light blue modern kitchen with the marble slab backsplash if I had to chose one.

Do tell.

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Go to COCOCOZY Pinterest to see a very very bright orange kitchen.  Orange! Would love to know whether you could live with that color on a day to day basis.  Also, you can see other views of these kitchens there too!  Follow along on Pinterest!



Photos: Iconify; Sasa Antic; Rum ID; Soderberg Agentur

BEAUTIFUL BLACK & WHITE - A HOUSE BEAUTIFUL CHAIR GIVEAWAY!

Black & White classics - COCOCOZY Light Pillows on a Crate & Barrel Petrie Chair. (above)

The perfect match - my COCOCOZY Light Pillows and a beautifully designed chair!

House Beautiful is doing a chair giveaway next week...and this Crate & Barrel Petrie chair is one of the chairs being given away!

Here's what House Beautiful sent me about the chair giveaway:

"The magazine is coming to Hollywood to launch its tribute to the most classic color combination of all with an exciting social media happening called “Beautiful in Black & White.”  House Beautiful editor in chief Newell Turner  will launch the “Beautiful in Black & White” program in LA on March 6, when the HB team will begin secretly placing 20 black and white chairs in iconic locations around the city—all for the taking."

House Beautiful asked me to relate the chair to a classic black and white Hollywood movie.  Well, one of my favorite movies of all time is Notorious (1946).  Notorious is an Alfred Hitchcock film starring Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant.  The movie was on t.v. a few weeks ago and I took pictures of the screen (seen here) just because I love that movie so much (I'm a total old movie geek).

I didn't even know when I would use the photos and then House Beautiful emailed me earlier this week asking me to chat about their chair giveaway!  Not only did I have pictures of my favorite movie but the chair they offered me was a chair I use to shoot the COCOCOZY textiles collection on!  That's why I say a perfect match.  Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant are incredible in this spy thriller...there is so much chemistry between them - a classic duo.  I also think that this chair and my pillows go oh so well together in a classic marriage of black and white!

Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman in Notorious (1946) - took this photo with my phone of the television screen at my sis DS's house a few weeks ago! (above)

COCOCOZY Light - Rive pillow and Etoile pillow in black and white on this classic chair. (above)

Crate & Barrel - Petrie Chair -$999 (above)

In addition to the 20 chairs...the House Beautiful scavenger hunt will also include a giveaway of other items including these black & white custom made Caesarstone side tables! These angular modern side tables have a strong silhouette...a little bit like Bergman and Grant!

Caesarstone Custom side tables in Motivo (Sleek side tables made from quartz surface incorporating sculpted pattern designs. Shown here in a crocodile inspired pattern) (above and below)

Okay...so in order to enter the giveaway...you have to check out House Beautiful's Twitter Page for the clues. It all begins next week on March 6.  Follow House Beautiful Twitter to figure out how to enter!!!

What do you think of the chair, pillows and tables? Do you like the whole idea of black and white home furnishings?

Good luck! Hope you win!

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Sorry posting has been so sporadic this week. Busy busy week for COCOCOZY. In addition to packing up 500 pillows and 275 throws for two very special orders, we are also sending out dozens and dozens of COCOCOZY Collection items to our retailers around the country! When it rains...it pours. This week has been crazy...and I'm sure next week will be so quiet!  CM who runs all things operations has been doing a fantastic superb job of organizing everything and getting it done.  CM and JW are joined by very nice SS and NG who are helping out this "packing week". Here are few pics of "packing week" at COCOCOZY.

Boxes lined the COCOCOZY HQ Beverly Hills office when I walked in earlier this week - these boxes are filled with items for  wholesale orders we are filling! (above and below)

A few of the 500 pillows that are being packed up yesterday and today - these are special pillows I made for a very special partnership. (above)

P.P.S. Have so many emails to catch up on...(Aunt SS...I'm going to email you back..thank you for the link)!

P.P.P.S. Happy Friday again!