SMALL KITCHEN STRIPES - BOLD v. DEMURE - THIS OR THAT?

Two small apartments in Sweden for sale...two very different use of stripes in their very small kitchens.

I like a small kitchen with a feature wall.  If done right, can certainly add a nice design twist to a small space.

Here, one apartment kitchen has a bold colorful feature wall with horizontal multicolored stripes.  A no holds barred burst of color and pattern.

The other is an all white kitchen with a subtle gray and white striped wall paper on one wall behind cabinets.  A safe and subtle approach to decorating.

Which of these two kitchens do you prefer?  The bold or the demure?

Which one do you prefer?  In this case, I am going to go against my usual all white inclinations and say I like the first kitchen best!  Is that a design do or don't?  Hmmm....

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  While most people were celebrating Easter with lovely brunches and dinners and Easter egg hunts, I put my dear sweet mother to work all weekend.  We spent the weekend doing inventory at the COCOCOZY headquarters in Beverly Hills.  Lots of COCOCOZY fabric to count...lots of COCOCOZY product to organize and we are still not done. Spring organizing on over drive!  Was fun hanging out with my mom.  She is hard working!  And mom is very goal oriented...when I wanted to take a break...she encouraged me to push forward...like she has done all of my life.  A good parent indeed...pushing me through the challenging times and encouraging me to do the right thing and to be a good person.  She is an amazing role model!  Had a nice lunch with sis DS and mom too (our one break).  Very different kind of Easter weekend but still had a very nice time with family.  Thank you mom.  Thank goodness for my dear family....they are the most important people in the world to me!

COCOCOZY Arch fabric by the yard in Sea Green - spent the weekend counting yardage with mom at COCOCOZY HQ! (above)

Photos: Stadshem

DESIGNING A SMALL ONE WALL KITCHEN - SMART DESIGN

Small spaces require small kitchens.  I know having lived in my tiny little cottage in the Hollywood Hills for years and years.  Certainly get design inspiration from "done up" decorated large rooms, but true inspiration comes from the ingenious ways people use small spaces.  The one-wall kitchen is an example of this!

Have featured one-wall kitchens here and there in the past.  Always marvel over the creativity involved in making one work.

Key tips to designing a chic one wall kitchen:
1. Keep cabinetry simple  - Flat front cabinets are the best or cabinets doors that do not have too much detail on the front.  This is an issue of visual clutter. The less you have going on visually with the cabinets the less the space will feel cluttered.
2. Monochromatic or neutral color scheme -  Might be fun to paint upper and lower cabinets different colors or to add a splash of high beam color to the walls or backsplash.  Don't.  Keep the color scheme all in the same family...neutrals would work best if you want your kitchen to stand out in a stylish way.
3. A marble slab or sheet metal backsplash - Mosaic tiles or regular tiles can add visual clutter...better to smooth out the look with a simple uniform backsplash.  All three of these kitchens use Carara marble slabs.
4. Elegant simple streamlined lighting - Don't over do it with a big overbearing chandelier.  Keep lighting simple.  If you most go big, make sure the shapes and forms are not too detailed.  Make a statement but make a simple well scaled statement.
5. Add flair in faucets and fixtures - Notice that in two of the kitchens the faucets are actually gold.  Love this!

Which of these one wall kitchens do you like best.  Pin the one you like the most onto Pinterest.  Follow me on COCOCOZY Pinterest and I'll add a few more one-wall inspiration photos!

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco

Photos: Magnus Marding Link Deco; Oscar Properties

SUPER SMALL LIVING - A GENIUS 350 SQUARE FOOT BEACH COTTAGE

A super small cottage with a really smart space saving solution - a built in sofa! (above)

Two things excite me when looking at places for sale or rent...either extremely big mansions on one hand...or super duper small living spaces on the other.  I know. Diametrical sized living spaces!  I love the idea of living in a big house for once.  I live in a tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills that I bought years and years ago.  I love my cute cottage in the hills but I admittedly at some point in the future I am ready to move into some place bigger (a mansion, a large farm, a castle, a compound...you know...just something a little bigger).

My dream big house aside, over the last few days, I have been helping a girl at work look at apartments for rent.  She has to move out of her place in about 7 days so she is in a mad search for an apartment.  Well yesterday, she found a super small studio in Los Angeles and came into my office to show it to me.  We stayed late yesterday as I helped her map out a floor plan for the apartment and figure out furniture.  I really enjoy the challenge of taking on a super small space and making it livable.  Is that weird?

So today (unlike yesterday...see the post on the $75 million dollar house), I am thinking small!  That is why I am posting this little Venice Beach, California cottage cutie that I saw on Apartment Therapy yesterday.  A couple lives in this tiny abode.

This home pictured here is only 356 square feet.  It is a 1920's craftsman cottage on a small lot in the Venice Canals.  Apparently the couple who lives in this house rents it.    There is just one bedroom and a nice garden.

Here's the cool part...in order to maximize the little space there is in this cottage, the owner had a built in L-shaped sofa bench made and also made a built-in bed in the bedroom.  The built-in furniture dimensions were customized to make the most of the square footage

Take a look.
 

The L-shaped built in bench sofa also acts as room divider between the tiny living room and the small kitchen. (above)

Every inch of wall space is used...there is even room for a small home office that doubles as a dining room for two. (above)

More built-in space saving - this time in the bedroom, with a built in bed and book shelves. (above)

A small patio is perfect for a tiny outdoor living room (above)

What do you think of this small space?  Do you prefer a little tiny home like this or a penthouse apartment like I featured yesterday?  Please let me know in the comments section below.

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Was so excited to see on Instagram that Apartment Therapy founder Maxwell Ryan saw the COCOCOZY Rug Collection at High Point Furniture Market yesterday and really liked it.  Here's his Instagram photo and the caption below is what he had to say about our COCOCOZY Loop Rug in Hot Pink!  Maxwell has seen it all in home furnishings so was honored that he is "impressed" with my rug collection! Thank you Maxwell for the nice words!

"Super simple but elegant and with great colors. I was totally impressed with Cococozy @Capel rugs #hpmkt MR"

Photos: Apartment Therapy

HOW TO DESIGN ODD SHAPED SPACES

A small bay window nook is transformed into a home office for two with a built in desk and white Panton chairs. (above)

Unless you live in a castle or mansion (my dream), the concept of maximizing space usually comes into play when decorating a home (my reality).  The question is...what should one do with small odd size spaces?  Lots of people just leave these spaces empty or put a chair and small table in them and call it a day.

I say...why not make the most of those odd shaped spaces in your home?

Here are some tips:

1. Embrace the odd shape - Don't fight against it...if you have an unconventionally shaped space, do not fight against the odd lines or strange foot print...embrace it.  Be open to changing your ideas of how a space should look or be used.

2. Use built ins - An odd shaped space usually means that most regular furniture will not fit.  Use cabinetry that can attach to walls...furniture that becomes part of the architecture.

3.  Define the space with a little drama - Use wallpaper, tile, a bold rug or some sort of accent to define the odd shaped space.  Why not show off your ingenious use of space? If you can figure out how to cleverly use a difficult space, you should celebrate it and set it apart.

Small white kitchen squeezed under a staircase. (above)

A strangely angled wall is turned into a cute laundry room with zig zag tile backsplash (above)

Which of these spaces is your favorite?  I like the laundry room and the kitchen...clever use of space!

Happy Friday!

xo

Coco

P.S.  COME SEE ME IN HIGH POINT! - Am off to show off my COCOCOZY rug collection again! Am leaving tomorrow morning for a whirlwind trip to High Point, North Carolina for market.  I'll be doing a meet and greet at the Capel Rugs showroom...talking with designers, buyers and press about the COCOCOZY collection of rugs.  If you are going to High Point Market, please stop by the Capel Rugs Showroom at Market Square on  Sunday, October 20th between 10a-2p to say hi.  I would love to meet you in person!

P.P.S.  Been a long week...slept on a bench two nights...can explain later! :-)  Welcome to my world!



Photos: Buckingham Interior Design; Johanna Ekmark

FOUR DESIGN IDEAS FOR A SMALL HOME

Idea #1  - Incorporate a sectional sofa instead of a sofa and separate chairs n a living room...this cuts down on the visual clutter but provides extra seating. (above)

I like this little 700 square foot bungalow.  Such a great use of square footage.  Good ideas for those of us who live in a small space!

Idea #2 - Never get rid of built ins - refurbish existing built in cabinets or build new ones...they are great space savers  for storage and can look good too! (above)

Idea #3 - Add in floating wall shelves - floating shelves are great for storage as shown here in this small home office (above)

Idea #4 - Don't be afraid to use color  - This color blocked small kitchen with black floor and counters, white cabinets and red accent wall and door actually make this tiny space quite cheerful! (above)

What do you think of these tips?  Any you might use in one of your smaller rooms?  Any ideas you can share?

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  I'm still working on that COCOCOZY partnership announcement I mentioned. So excited to share with you my latest collaboration.

P.P.S.  Last night, TE and I went to a party for Nylon Magazine.  There was a dinner in honor of the magazine's Young Hollywood Edition.  Spent the evening chit chatting with lots of cute adorable young Hollywood types. Dinner was followed by a fantastic party at the Roosevelt Hotel.  Thanks to KA and TH for inviting us!  So much fun.


Photos: Daniel Hennessy

KITCHEN WEEK - GEOMETRIC BACKSPLASH!

This week is KITCHEN WEEK on COCOCOZY!  During this week, I'll bring you kitchens I like and some design ideas that you can easily incorporate into your kitchen whether you live in a grand mansion or a cute small city apartment and for all of the houses and homes in between.

First off, on day 1 of KITCHEN WEEK, here is a fab feature wall in this adorable modern small kitchen.  Can't really tell if this is a mosaic tile or wallpaper.  Can you?

Either way, I like the light blue graphic diamond pattern used as a backsplash of sorts behind the sleek white flat front cabinets.  Adds an element of design and visual interest to an otherwise neutral space.

Anyone know where this fab wallpaper or tile comes from?

Pulled some wallpaper patterns that might work below.

Cole & Son - Labyrinth Wallpaper (Light blue geometric patterned wallpaper)(above)

Graham & Brown - Juan Wallpaper - $85 per roll (Greek key like geometric patterned light blue wallpaper)(above)

What do you think?  Like or dislike?

I think if you have bare walls in your kitchen...using wallpaper might be the easiest way to get this look.  If you are doing a kitchen remodel, why not use a fabulous mosaic tile?  I would!

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  We took the dogs on a little walk yesterday in Manhattan Beach...along the boardwalk.  We also went to breakfast at a cute restaurant (diner) called Martha's.  I'm not a Manhattan Beach type of girl at all (Laguna is more to my liking!), but it was a gorgeous day and everyone was in a good mood and smiling...who can complain!  I know lots of you are buried in snow.  I wish you much sun and warmth!!

Manhattan Beach boardwalk yesterday (photo by TE)! (above)

P.P.S.  Have a another shoot tonight on set on the Universal lot for my real job.  Should be fun.  Only part that isn't too fun is that shoot starts at 8pm!  Wooohoooo.

P.P.P.S.  Making some big decisions this week...will have you weigh in...has to do with the COCOCOZY textiles collection!  Exciting but not sure!!!

P.P.P.P.S.  How did you spend your weekend?  Have a great week too!


Photos: Trevor Tondro

BROOKLYN BOUND - A 1200 SQUARE FOOT DUMBO LOFT GETS A $100,000 UPDATE!

This Brooklyn loft belongs to Anne Maxwell Foster, a co-owner in the interior design firm Tilton Fenwick. It was featured on the New York Times website recently.

Maxwell Foster and her husband bought the 1200 square foot 1 bedroom apartment that is located in Dumbo section of Brooklyn for $885,000 last March and then spent almost 3 months updating the space.

The renovation included adding interior barn doors to, transforming a small office into the master bedroom, tearing out the kitchen counters and replacing with Caesarstone quartz counters and changing out cabinet doors...they even transformed a large walk in closet that had a window into a nursery.

After the bones of the space had been renovated...the decorating began.  The designers' goal was to create an inviting atmosphere.

Here's what the updated apartment looks like.

For the living room, they chose a Kravet Medley Sofa ($5,200), the armchairs were $800 for two on eBay (about $800 and the coffee table is a $6000 Oscar de la Renta piece.

An open floor plan allows light to flow through this Brooklyn loft. (above)

Kitchen cabinets were refaced with powder blue flat doors and new Caesarstone counters were installed.

Bedroom wallpaper is Lotus from Farrow & Ball at $295 a roll. The bedding is from D. Porthault ($1350 for the duvet)

A large walk in closet was transformed into a nursery into a nursery. (above)

What do you think of this cozy New York City loft?

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

WEEKEND PHOTO!

A small kitchen that packs a big design punch!  Gold cabin fronts and marble slab floors, counters and backsplash.

This is not a combo I would ever dream of putting together in a home...but it works beautifully.

What do you think?  Like or dislike?

Happy Super Bowl weekend!  Happy Saturday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  I am off to do a quick photo shoot with HH.  A special project we are working on for COCOCOZY.  Then I have to go to my construction zone tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills and then a classical piano concert with my mother (a belated bday present for her).  Happy to be back in Los Angeles.


Photo: Jean Louis Deniot

FASHION FORWARD: HOW FASHIONISTAS LIVE!

The London loft of Tank Magazine editor Caroline Issa reatures a modern gray sectional and a wonderful shelf wall with cubbies in all different sizes. (above)

It is New York Fashion Week right now.  I'd love to be there.

I was at Fashion Week in New York a few years back and it was fun.  I only saw one show but it was fantastic.  Years and years ago I was also in Milan for Fashion Week there and that was an experience of a lifetime - I went to all of the shows - Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Prada, Armani and more.  Wow.

So far, this New York Fashion Week (NYFW), I have loved perusing all of the sites showing the street fashion of those going in and out of shows and presentations and seeing next year's fantastic spring clothing collections - all from afar. I wish I could be there - hobnobbing with the most fashionable people in the world, wearing cute dresses, darling coats, sprinting from show to show in high heels. I also am little happy I am not there - there is a lot of pressure to show up looking chic and to exude an unforced sense of style and elegance I would think. I know, I know, one's sense of style is innate and natural and we should all be proud of who we are...but I would still agonize over daily outfit choices...I know I would.  Okay, I take it back...I want to be at Fashion Week.  I would figure out the clothes....it is an amazing event and I want to be there!

So instead, for reasons that have nothing to do with agonizing about Fashion Week wardrobe,  I am here in Los Angeles...going to work in just a bit, wearing cute workity work clothes and then going to some sort of Hollywood work party tonight.  I'll enjoy this fahionable week in New York via the web I guess.

Okay...enough about me...

In honor Fashion Week, I thought I would share with you some images from one of my new favorite websites...Tales of Endearment. It is a collection of fashion related photographs and blog posts by a Brooklyn based fashion consultant named Natalie Joos.

Natalie from Tales, also takes photos of all of her fashionable friends and acquaintances digs. From flats in London, to NYC lofts, and even over to Sydney to an apartment belonging to a model.

I like to see the way the most fashionable in the world live...don't you?

Caroline Issa's 1970's polka dot Givenchy dress and a 1960's cream, navy blue coat with red trim. (above)

In an open concept living plan, a  small one wall kitchen with black cabinets opens directly onto the dining room table. (above)(

Fashion editor Caroline Issa in her London apartment. (above)

Living room of Australia based model Tanja Gracie (above)

A turquoise dress with feather trim and an electric blue croc bag. (above)

Tanja Gracie at home.

Tanja's dining room features yellow Eames chairs around a modern dark wood table. (above)

Which of these two fashionistas apartments do you prefer?  I like booth...but am probably leaning towards the London loft of Caroline Issa.

Hope you had a great weekend and hope you have a fabulous week!

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

Photos: Tales of Endearment