COCOCOZY HEADQUARTERS OFFICE - NIGHT SPARKLE

COCOCOZY front office late night with a Louis XVI chair upholstered in signature COCOCOZY fabric.(above)

Had an after hours meeting at COCOCOZY HQ yesterday with the very smart TH. Trying to see if there is a project we can work on together. Went by the COCOCOZY offices for the meeting at about 6:30pm last night and our little headquarters office in Beverly Hills was sparkling.

During the holidays, our landlord puts lights on our building...and last night, the office was sparkling with the light from our front office crystal chandelier, mood lighting from some Stiffel vintage brass lamps and then the wonderful white holiday lights shimmering outside the window.

As most of you know...I have another full time job during the day...but at nights, my full time job is COCOCOZY. I love our little office. I feel inspired here. I wish it was bigger...we are growing...slowly but surely.

I told TH that my business strategy is to build my little luxury textiles company into a huge national lifestyle brand. He liked our little space and said it was "stylish"...he told me that I should continue along the path I am on.  He said I am laying good ground work.  Was very good to get some encouragement. I've been making up my entrepreneurial plan along the way...it was good to hear from somebody who knows business that I am building a good foundation.   First a blog, then a luxury textiles company, then...

We'll see...to get to where I want to go, I'm sure I will spend lots more late nights at these little offices, lots more elbow grease will be used up, and lots more risk taking to come.  Exciting...scary...living my dream really.

In the meantime before all of the hard work ahead...I'm just enjoying the simple things...a little glow and a little sparkle in the COCOCOZY headquarters office on the eve of wonderful holiday season.

I like.

Here is a glimpse into my world.

(Sorry for the blurry pictures...I took them with my phone!)

This is our main conference table...where we get a lot of business done! (above)

Blurry photo of the sparkling lights outside our COCOCOZY headquarters office window...right in the center of Beverly Hills! (above)

Just to note...COCOCOZY textiles started out of my house...for over a year, I had all of our textiles and business functions based out of my little tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills.  Now we are in about 45 stores around the country, have several license deals, and we are in great fabric showrooms around the country.  Last year,  during the summer, we moved into these offices.  Baby steps! One foot in front of the other.  Step by step!

I am still decorating the office and will give you a better glimpse in the future...but we are building!

Thanks to CM and NG for keeping COCOCOZY HQ so neat and orderly.  Looks great guys!

We'll add some subtle holiday decor into the mix over the next few weeks...will share with you all definitely.

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

Photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

COCOCOZY EMBROIDERED PILLOWS IN STOCK

COCOCOZY Embroidered Pillow Collection from $90-$120 (above)

I am very happy to bring you my latest line of pillows...ready for your picking at the COCOCOZY Shop now.

The COCOCOZY Embroidered Collection has been super popular. It seems COCOCOZY devotees were definitely in the mood for some embroidered textiles!  For those of you who have not shopped COCOCOZY yet, the good news is these embroidered pillows range in price from $90-$120!

I developed this new embroidered collection of linen pillows under a license deal with Peking Handicraft.  Spent some time designing, picking colors and reviewing samples for this project.  It was so much fun working on this new collection with a partner who knows how to manufacture and distribute home furnishings.

The embroidered pillow collection launched this past summer to the wholesale market and I wrote a post with full details on how this license deal came about back in July.

These new embroidered pillows are imported.  That means the some are priced under $100.

We still proudly offer our equally popular high end made-in-the-U.S. popular luxury COCOCOZY Classic Linen pillows - these luxury classic signature COCOCOZY pillows are carefully custom-made-to-order here in Los Angeles (on U.S. soil).  Think of the luxury collection as our base that will never go away.  These styles have become COCOCOZY classics and they way we design and craft the COCOCOZY Classic Linen pillows makes that collection a timeless designer must-have statement for the home.

Back to the embroidered pillows - the fun, fashionable and affordable line. 20"x20", down filled, embroidered, linen, in six designs...in a variety of colors including a lemon yellow, bright orange, mint green and more.

 I really like the black and gray collection embroidered on a darker natural linen pictured below - perfect for fall. Of course, I love the blues and there is a very special gray color in the mix.

Please check out the entire COCOCOZY embroidered collection here.  Hope you find something you like!

Am already working with Peking Handicraft on developing the embroidered pillow collection for 2014 if you can believe it.  Next year, the collection includes never before seen COCOCOZY designs, lots of saturated colors, a cheerful bold group of accent pillows.  Can't wait for the 2014 collection.

In the meantime, enjoy your browse of this collection! Let me know which ones you like best and where you might put in your home.  Let the shopping begin!

Happy Wednesday.

xo
Coco

NEW COCOCOZY EMBROIDERED PILLOWS DEBUT IN ATLANTA

New COCOCOZY embroidered pillows in shades of blue! (above)

I am so thrilled to introduce you to our latest COCOCOZY partnership - a line of 20 fantastic embroidered pillows!  COCOCOZY for Peking Handicraft pillows debut this week at market in Atlanta!  Wooohooo. Yippeee! Yay!!!!

Peking Handicraft makes renowned designer Trina Turk's collection of oh so popular embroidered pillows and now they are making COCOCOZY's!

These COCOCOZY embroidered pillows will start shipping to retailers this month and hopefully will be available to you in a store or online by August!  The 20 embroidered pillows come in a variety of colorways including navy, light blue, sage, turquoise, red, orange, yellow, black and gray.  We did 6 different patterns!

This week marks the beginning of the summer Atlanta International Home Furnishings Market and COCOCOZY is all over market this year!  For those of you who do not know what "market" is...essentially it is a trade show for home furnishings.  Every July and also January, Atlanta's America's Mart becomes the destination for all things to do with furniture, textiles, bedding and home accessories.  The market is officially only open to press, designers, and stores (major retailers, boutiques and more)...it is the time of year when stores do all of their buying of product and stock for the fall winter.

All of our different COCOCOZY home furnishings collections will also be on display in different showrooms in Atlanta this week! So exciting.  I'll be running around market from showroom to showroom, seeing all of the different COCOCOZY goodies on full display.

COCOCOZY collaborations/partnerships are all showing in Atlanta at market in the same building (240 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA):

• COCOCOZY for Capel Rugs (Indo Tibetan hand knotted woold rugs) - Capel Rugs Showroom, Americas Mart Building 1 6th floor

• COCOCOZY Linens for Downtown (bedding) - Christian Mosso Associates (CMA Showroom), Americas Mart Building 1 9th floor

• COCOCOZY for Peking Handicraft (embroidered pillows) - Peking Handicraft Showroom, Building 1 Amercas Mart 10th floor

In Atlanta at the Americas Mart building, we are also showing our own COCOCOZY Collection of luxury custom made pillows, graphic cotton knit reversible throws, lucite trays, candles and lacquer boxes at the Christian Mosso Showroom in Building 1 on the 9th floor.  I'll be there Friday and Saturday!!!

I really love the black on natural linen and the taupe/tan collections below.  I think they would look great mixed and matched on almost any color living room sofa!  Graphic neutrals.

New COCOCOZY Embroidered Pillows in red! (above)

This Maroc embroidered pillow in navy blue is one of my faves from the embroidered collection. (above)

COCOCOZY Embroidered Pillows in taupe and black (above)

Please make sure to stop by and see the collections at market if you are going to be in Atlanta.  I'll be buzzing about on Friday and Saturday!  I would love to say hi!

Happy Thursday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  MY "DREAM SMALL" GUEST POST ON INTERIOR COLLECTIVE - Please head over to Interior Collective blog to check out my guest post on designing small spaces.  I share some key tips on how to decorate a small space effectively.  I really love the kitchen featured in the piece and my favorite tip might help you figure out your living room design!  Browse on over to read my secrets to small space decorating! Would love to hear your secrets too!

P.P.S.  I take the red eye out to Atlanta tonight...don't have a thing packed and got no sleep last night (up until 3:30a this morning)!  Oy va voy.

P.P.P.S.  Oh...I know some might be wondering how the collaboration with Peking came about!  I've known about Peking Handicraft for years (they also manufacture my design crush designer Jonathan Adler's needlepoint pillows).  Last year at market in Atlanta, one half hour before I was heading to the airport to leave town, I basically walked into their showroom with my COCOCOZY catalog in hand and said I would like to do a license deal with them and have them make and distribute COCOCOZY embroidered pillows to retailers around the country.  I know they were a bit taken aback by my brazen approach but about 4 months later we were signing a license deal!  Tah dah! Now, here we are...!!!

P.P.P.P.S.  Can one function on just 6-7 hours of sleep over the course of 2 days?  Help!

P.P.P.P.P.S.  COCOCOZY VP of Operations CM is already in Atlanta.  He'll be over at the Christian Mosso Showroom in AmericasMart Building 1, 9th floor...showing off our new lucite trays and a new offering we have for our throw collection!  Please go by and see him if you can today!

COCOCOZY COLLECTION 2013 CATALOG PREVIEW!

COCOCOZY Catalog cover page

So here are the first few pages of the COCOCOZY COLLECTION 2013 Catalog Vol. 1.

Am very excited.  The actual catalogs should be ready today for pick up.

We worked with a special ops team of consultants on this project! The team includes fantastic graphic designer EF and fab photographer Hugh Hamilton.  COCOCOZY assistant JW also helped me out on shoot day with styling and just last week with some last minute edits.

Also, here is the first glimpse of the COCOCOZY Light collection.  A new collection of pillows I am adding into the mix this year.  The designs are more playful than my classic luxury linen line of pillows; the pillows are made in the U.S. from imported cotton; very simple relaxed knife edge construction; down inserts included; and the price point is about half the price than our luxury linen line.  It will be in stores around the country starting this spring and will be available on our site soon.

I'll be debuting COCOCOZY Light, the COCOCOZY Rug Collection and so much more at the New York International Gift Fair starting this Sunday.  I leave for NYC on Thursday...booth set up Friday and Saturday and on Sunday the trade show begins.

CM who runs all things operations at COCOCOZY will be flying in to NYC with me to help show the collection to buyers.  NY based interior designer MK will round out the team.  It is a lot of hard work for about 6 days...but we'll get it done!

The COCOCOZY Collection has now been around for 2 years and this marks my 5th time at this home furnishings trade show.  Am so excited.  I am happy to report that I am still having a blast trying to navigate and learn about home textiles, furniture and design all while still enjoying what I do in my real life as a business executive in an unrelated field.  It has been a roller coaster of mishaps and mistakes and literal and figurative pratfalls....but I've tripped and tumbled my way here...with of course a wonderful support team and fantastic friends (like best of friends AM, FF, NS, AT, A.Ro. and more) and of course my wonderful family (mom, sis DS and supportive extended family SS, RM, MA, AJ, LB, MP, JG).

Will give you a bit of advice (not that you asked for it)...but if you have an idea, a dream, or passion...go for it.  Really.  It is scary and exciting and exhilarating and thrilling and terrifying all at the same time...but well worth it.

I will be announcing one more partnership tomorrow too by the way...  Another new line for COCOCOZY!  Spent much of 2012 working with partners on these new collections so it will be fun to finally chatter about all of them.

In the meantime, please take a look at these first few pages and COCOCOZY Light and tell me what you think.

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Last Friday, I had a great lunch with my fantastic agents HM and SM.  They work for a posh Hollywood talent agency.  It was so nice catching up with them and hearing about their world.  They swung by the COCOCOZY HQ in Beverly Hills for a quick visit too.  I warned them several times over that our offices were SO small and in a shabby little building.  They were very gracious but I know in the back of their minds they were thinking "Wow, this really IS small!".  LOL!

P.P.S.  In the middle of the chaos of getting ready for the fair and working at my regular job, demolition  and construction continue at my little tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills.  So many choices to make during this mini renovation...wood floors, new doors, heaters etc.  My contractor KM and his team are right on schedule but unfortunately I am not.  KM sends me regular texts reminding me about all of the decisions I have to make.  Slightly challenging...but doable. My dear mother also keeps calling me to check in on the progress of the remodel (by the way, what is the difference between remodeling and renovating...not sure). And of course my dear sweet sis DS who I've been staying with while I am without a home is most invested on the project's progress. Last night over a dinner of take out Mr. Chow, I informed her it could be another month or 6 weeks of me staying with her. Poor sis DS...she got two surprise roommates for Christmas (me and dog Mr. Boo)! I owe her a big present at the end of all of this!

P.P.P.S. I went to my house this weekend to see how things were going with the construction. I also had to move the last bits of furniture and my paintings to my storage unit early Saturday morning.  Here are some shots of my bedroom with the walls completely removed.  Noticed there seemed to be some sort of window framed out behind the walls.  Interesting!

My bedroom and house under construction. (above and below)

P.P.P.P.S.  Engineered wood v. solid wood debate - So have been bopping back and forth from one wood place to another...trying to figure out what kind of floors to use.  My contractor KM says that because my house is right up against a hillside and there is potential for moisture, I should do engineered wood.  I brought home at least 20 samples over the weekend.  Am not sure about the whole idea.  Just heard from my good friend JLF's wood floor installer guy yesterday and he says he can install 6" wide white oak solid wood floors and stain to any color.  Help...what should I do?

P.P.P.P.P.S.  So excited to see best of friend AM in New York.  I'll stay with her and her sweet hubby JE and their two adorable kids.  TE is also coming to NY so that he can see the COCOCOZY gift show booth.  We'll stay at the Bowery Hotel while he's in town for a few days.

P.P.P.P.P.P.S.  NYC Saturday Night Dinner - Also looking forward to dinner on Saturday night with the Capel Rugs executive team.  Will be fun to celebrate the launch of the COCOCOZY Rug Collection with fab VP/Creative Director Tami Watras and the oh so wonderful Capel Rugs President John Magee!   Made a reservation at Gemma which is next door to the Bowery.  Anyone else have any must go to NYC restaurant suggestions?

P.P.P.P.P.P.P.S.  Hope you had a great Martin Luther King holiday and Inauguration Day yesterday!  Hope you have a great week ahead!

P.P.P.P.P.P.P.P.S. One last thing...please remember to come see me at the New York International Gift Fair. I'd love to say hi. COCOCOZY is booth #7919 on the lower floor of the Javits Center starting this upcoming Sunday! It is always so much fun for me to meet you all. So please please please come by and say hi!

FABRIC SAMPLES FOR NEW 2013 COCOCOZY COLLECTION ARRIVE AT OFFICE!

Photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

A stack of new 2013 fabric samples sits on the conference table at COCOCOZY Headquarters in Beverly Hills. (above)

So I went over to COCOCOZY Headquarters (HQ) in Beverly Hills earlier this week before work...to check out and photograph our 2013 new fabric samples!

I was so thrilled when CM who runs all things operations called me and told me JW had picked up the fabric from the workshop where we have all of my designs printed.

Have been working on these designs over the last few months - drawing, photographing, working with graphic designer to realize them in digital files, fretting, being unsure, making decisions and then spending the money to have all made - after all of that, it is always so fun to see the designs that I dreamed up come together as actual textiles!

Can't reveal just yet as we will show the 2013 collection for the first time in Atlanta in January and in New York in late January/early February. This will be a new line of pillows called COCOCOZY Light...a little more affordable hopefully than our luxury linen collection...but still on brand with everything else I've designed for the collection and that have become standard to the "COCOCOZY look".

As with all of our pillows, the new collection is made in the U.S. from imported fabrics (I design, print, sew, and assemble here in the United States but the base raw cloth we use is imported).  Not that you care but interesting to note, for labeling purposes according to the Federal Trade Commission (I called a nice person at the FTC and asked him what we need to say on our labels) - our labels say "Made in the U.S.A.  from imported fabrics" for our pillows.  Our cotton knit throws are just Made in the U.S.A.

There a few designs in the new COCOCOZY Light 2013 bunch that feel somewhat different than anything else I've designed over the last few years - best of friend AM had some notes on one of the patterns because she worries it feels like such a departure from what I've done in the past. She's 100%  right by the way but I'm going to take the risk and see what people think!

Anyhoooo...so I took these photos shown here one morning this week at 8a at COCOCOZY HQ. This is the stack of strike offs which are 1-3 yard samples of the new COCOCOZY designs.  If you look closely you might get a glimpse of what's to come in the new year!

Would like to thank CM and JW who work at COCOCOZY....because when I brought the new designs in...they weighed in on which they liked and which should remain on the cutting room floor...we narrowed it down to about 7 that I am happy with...we'll see what you think.

Here's a close up of all the 2013 COCOCOZY Light designs folded with the designs concealed...but you can see just a bit if you look closely! (above)

I am looking forward to all there is to come in 2013.  Is there anything you are looking forward to revealing next year?

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Our COCOCOZY Logo Lucite trays have been a hit.  We now are sold out...but will be accepting pre-orders that will ship after 12/19/12.  We are going to offer express shipping in case you need it by Christmas.

Photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

THE HARBINGER OF GOOD DECOR!

All photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

When I took someone to an opening at the Harbinger showroom in Los Angeles, they said being at Harbinger was like living an evening right in the pages of a magazine like House Beautiful with all of its beautiful rooms, furniture, wall coverings and textiles. I would agree...

Harbinger is an exquisite showroom in the heart of the La Cienega Design District. The showroom features a well curated selection of fine textiles, furniture, lighting and home accessories.

Owned by uber talented interior designers Joe Lucas and Parrish Chilcoat, Harbinger has a feel of relaxed elegance.

Okay. I must admit, even though I've been to quite a few design showrooms, I still get a bit intimidated by the mood in most high design places...I feel a little out of my element not knowing everything there is to know about everything in design...I often feel like if I say the wrong thing, in those showrooms someone will roll their eyes at me. I may be imagining it but usually when I walk into most high end showrooms, I want to walk right out because I don't necessarily feel welcomed.

At the Harbinger showroom, the vibe is completely different from other showrooms I've been to in the past...comfortable, warm - a home away from home for gorgeous design. While Harbinger deals only in the finest of home furnishings, the showroom personnel (Tami Carey, showroom manager) and owners Joe and Parrish somehow manage to strike a balance between luxury and creating an inviting environment.

So the other day, when JH was in town (after she went to the Clooney/President Obama event), I took a bit of time during my lunch to meet her at Harbinger and hang out in the showroom.  It was only my second time at Harbinger even though they carry the COCOCOZY textiles line (I can't usually peel away from my day job to get to the showroom during the week).  What a lovely hour we spent there. Stunning furniture, beautiful textiles, nice conversation and we got to chat with textiles designer Katie Leede who was showing off her latest fabric line.  Did I mention they were serving a delicious light lunch, drinks and desserts?  Yes.  Home.

The cheerful foyer at the Harbinger showroom filled with texture, patterns and color. (above)

A vignette at Harbinger showcases traditional to modern furniture and accessories all grounded on a very cool striped blue and white rug. (above)

From Harbinger's own furniture line - The Antwerp Tufted Sofa -  a luxe burnt orange velvet sofa with nail head trim

Harbinger's own Swedish Upholstered Back Side Chairs in a dining room vignette! (above and below)

A canopy bed and lovely embroidered linens (above and below)

Textiles display with COCOCOZY fabrics, pillows and throws. (above and below)

Textiles designer Katie Leede showing her amazing collection to my friend JH in the Harbinger showroom. (above and below)

Sigh! Wish I could work out of the Harbinger showroom every day!

See the Harbinger website to check out all of the fabulous lines they represent...a design delight!

What do you think of the furniture at Harbinger? See anything you like? Where are your favorite places to shop for furniture?

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S. More to share with you from design week here...including a bit about a fun party at Michael Smith's Jasper showroom. That's for tomorrow.


All photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY