GALLERY WALLS - THIS OR THAT

If you have been considering adding a collection of photos, drawings, art, paintings or prints onto your wall, there are options for your look.  Either a an organized arrangement of different sized wall art or a very symmetrical no bending the rules version.

Today I bring you two little living rooms...both feel very fall.  Dark greens, browns, rich textures like velvet, suede, cane, patterns ... both feature gallery art walls behind classic sofas.  The wall above is a wonderful mix match of photos, prints and clearly collected items.  The living room below has a more tailored gallery wall with uniform framed botanical prints.

Which do you prefer...?  This or that?

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

Photos: Source Unknown; Harper's Bazaar

$12.9 MILLION STATELY HAMPTONS SUMMER HOME - SEE THIS HOUSE

The other day I was on the phone with best of friend AM.  We were catching up on the weekend - just doing our regular phone call check in.  She lives in NYC and is a high powered finance girl.  Well, half way through the conversation she said, "What did you say?".  I repeated what I had just said.  AM said, "I still can't hear you."  I repeated what I said again.  Then AM said calmly and distractedly on the phone, "Either you need to speak up, or I need to find friends who talk louder."  Hee hee!  A NYC girl type of comment indeed!

People always think I am from New York or I live in New York...I think it is because I feature so many homes in Manhattan and in the Hamptons.  I am not from NYC.  I was born and raised in Los Angeles...but somehow it seems born with a bit of an East Coast point of view.  Here's what I've found...I move at NYC type of pace...I talk faster than most people in Los Angeles but probably slower than many people in NYC, I definitely eat faster than most people in the world (was a bit non-dainty when on vacation with TE, my guy who runs marathons, and I managed to down every meal at least twice as fast as he did and had to sit and watch in quasi humiliation as he deliberately ate each bite (he clearly listened to his mother's warnings on chewing food) and then left food behind because he couldn't eat anymore...hmmm...grrr.....

Anyhooo...all of these seeming non-sequiturs do lead to a point...really...they do...

I am trying to justify another East Coast Hamptons SEE THIS HOUSE.  Make sense...I have East Coast friends, I eat and talk faster than lots of people on the East Coast...so therefore it makes sense I would constantly feature houses from NYC and the Hamptons.  Logical...right?  Or faulty logic?  Help!

This time a $12.9 million dollar Water Mill estate with 8 bedrooms, 7 baths, 2 partial baths and 8,600 square feet.  The home is listed by Sothebys and sits on 1.6 acres of land.  No water view for this home but lots of area to roam and lounge.

There is a pool, a wood panel library, 2 staff rooms and more.

Would you take this or leave it?  SEE THIS HOUSE!

Exterior of Gambrel style architecture Water Mill estate (above)

Entry hall sets the traditional decor tone of the home and features a stairs leading to a second floor balcony, and traditional paneled wall. (above)

Living room has coffered ceilings, french doors and a very traditional fireplace mantel. (above)

Dining room with glossy wallpaper covering the walls and more coffered ceilings.(above)

What stately home doesn't have a wood paneled library den (above)

The master bedroom features a mirrored four poster bed - I wonder if this is just staged or if the owners really have a mirrored bed! (above)

The grounds - or more commonly known as the backyard! (above)

What do you think?  Would you take this Hamptons home if someone gave it to you?  Or would you stay where you are now?  Please weigh in on the comments below!

Happy Thursday!

xo

Coco

RESTRAINED DESIGN - A WELL EDITED HOME!

When I typed the word "restrained" into my search engine (I am a Google girl all the way), here's what came up as far as a definition:

re-strained
Adjective:
1. Characterized by reserve or moderation; unemotional or dispassionate.
2. (of color, clothes, decoration, etc.) Understated and subtle; not excessively showy or ornate.

Merriam-Webster defines the word "restrained" as "not excessive or extravagant"

Today I bring you a post directly from the pages of this month's Architectural Digest.  A home conceived by renowned interior designer Darryl Carter and architect Donald Loccoco.  I like this house.  Its decor is elegant, simple classic and most of all restrained.

To me "restrained" in decor means well edited.

This home is in the suburbs of Washington D.C.  It would make a very comfortable but stylish family home. Good architectural bones, well curated combination antique and new furniture, a neutral palette...and tah dah.

I'm loving the work of Darryl Carter...I'm not the only one though...his work is always noteworthy it seems! He could be my next design crush...let's see we have Jonathan Adler, Casamidy and now Darryl Carter on the crush list. How many design crushes can one girl have? Anyone? Anyone?

Anyhooo...take a peek at this home.

What do you think? Like or dislike? Too restrained or just right? Any ideas here you might want in your home?

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

P.S. I am on a plane right now. It is Thursday night actually. Am in business class (thank goodness). Am heading to New York to show the COCOCOZY home furnishings collection for the fourth time at the New York International Gift Fair. I like the fair...the whole thing - the set up (tiring but fun), the show (time for me to chitter chatter endlessly with people...in my element), and the dismantle (a little sad to see the COCOCOZY booth display go down but it is so cool to watch an entire village of mini showrooms shut down and pack up in a matter of hours). Me and the team (I have a team helping me this time) will set up tomorrow and hopefully just a little bit on Saturday and then on Sunday the doors of the textiles division at the Javits Center open and then COCOCOZY is at market on show! I can't wait.

P.P.S. Am a little tired. Feel a cold coming on. Zicam where are you? Vitamin C...I need you. :-)

P.P.P.S. Friend BN called me today...hadn't talked to him in awhile. He is like an older brother type. :-) We had a good brainstorming session on the COCOCOZY business!

P.P.P.P.S. Had a great dinner the other night before with JO and CS. We went to one of my favorite restaurants in Venice Beach...Gjelina. Nice evening.

P.P.P.P.P.S. Hope you have fun things planned for this weekend! xo

ISLAND PREPPY LIVING ROOM!

All photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

While on Nantucket last week, happened upon this preppy living traditional living room.

I think the accents like the bright orange glossy side table and the decorative pillows in turquoise and orange make add a bit of modern preppy to the space while the furniture remains very traditional. Notice the graphic pattern pale yellow and gray rug on the floor too.

I think it is kind of cute. Take a look and let me know what you think.

A panoply of paned windows with bamboo shades allow for tons of light in a traditional living room on Nantucket. (above)

Built in corner window bench seat looks comfortable and inviting. (above)

Decorative pillow arrangement 101 - three different pillows that compliment each other nicely due to the coordinating colors. (above)

Hydrangea in the garden. (above)

What do you think of the style of this living room? Like or dislike? Would you take as is or would you make some changes?  Please do tell.

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco


All photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

BEFORE & AFTER: A D.C. TOWNHOUSE TRANSFORMATION!

Before and after views of the living room in aWashington D.C. townhouse that was recently totally remodeled and redesigned! (above)

Here's a never before seen BEFORE & AFTER look at a home featured in the May issue of House Beautiful magazine!

The "after" was created by Los Angeles designer Hillary Thomas of Hillary Thomas Designs, New York designer Jeff Lincoln and architectural firm Franck & Lohsen Architects in a bi coastal collaboration on a multi million dollar 1960's townhouse in Washington D.C.

House Beautiful did a lovely story on the completed project after the designers took to it.  But, here on COCOCOZY, for the first time, you can see what the home looked like before it was remodeled, re-designed and re-imagined by the design and architecture team.

The newly envisioned home now features design touches that makes each room stand out - including golden wallpaper, painted ceilings, Murano glass pendant lights, colorful tile and so much more.

It has been ages and ages since I've done a post showing pre-remodel vs. post. So today, I'm happy to bring you this BEFORE & AFTER!

DINING ROOM

KITCHEN

SOLARIUM

MASTER BEDROOM

Thank you to Hillary Thomas Designs partner and Co-Founder Clara Hendon for sending me the before photos.  So appreciate it...thank you for thinking of COCOCOZY!

Readers, what do you think of this Before & After transformation?  What is your favorite new element? Do tell!

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S. COCOCOZY GIVEAWAY REMINDER - So far over 200 of you have entered and if you haven't there's still time. You still have a few hours to go to enter the COCOCOZY Giveaway - see yesterday's blog post for details. Remember to enter by noon PST/3pm EST today!  Am giving away a cute luxe COCOCOZY throws to two lucky readers!  So don't miss out on a try!  Will announce winners on Friday!

P.P.S.  Design Non Sequitur - Was chatting with my neighbor JH when I got from home from work last night.  Someone drove by us and JH waved and yelled "Hi Beverly".  I said, "Who's that?".  Our tiny street is a dead end and there are just a few dozen houses on our street so I wanted to know who was driving down our little trail.  JH said, "Don't you know?  That's Beverly.  Beverly Hill.  She's lived on the street forever."  Apparently I have a neighbor named Beverly Hill!  Couldn't Google her because only thing that came up was information on the city Beverly Hills.  Then JH went onto say, "I used to know a woman named Holly Wood too.".  Hmmm...


Photos: House Beautiful; Home Visit

THIS OR THAT: THE BENCHMARK ON ENTRYWAY SEATING!

Which of these three foyers do you like best?  They all have something in common...traditional Louis XVI or Gustav style benches, white walls, art.

Wish I had a foyer large enough for seating of some sort. I think even a chair would do!

So do you like any of these or would you prefer your foyer bench free? That's the question in today's THIS OR THAT!

So which do you prefer...1, 2 or 3? Or do you not like any? Be honest...do tell! I'm leaning towards 2 but like the brightness of 1.

Happy Thursday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Sorry didn't post yesterday! Running around like a chicken with no head ...work is super busy...plus making all of these changes at my house before best of friend AM and her hubby JE and their kids come visit in 2 weeks. The not exciting thing is that none of the changes are fun design and decorating changes...they are more functional...like tearing down the fence on the side of my house and building a new one, constructing a new front gate, fixing the side deck, covering the side patio, sanding the main deck, drywalling the skylight in my bedroom and fixing a portion of the wood floors in my house and new outdoor lighting...oh did I mention, I'm sending out one of my sofas to be reupholstered? Things I notice everyday that are driving me CRAZY and would totally bug me if guests were here and saw these things...I'm sure they won't even notice the difference...but I will. So my house is a construction zone right now. Yay and oh dear at the same time!

P.P.S. In the middle of all of this, COCOCOZY is moving into a new office space, so all of that has to be arranged (yes, I took the Beverly Hills office in the shabby building but with lots of light...it is so central and near my day job so I can pop by after or before work...so I chose location. I did inquire about office space in downtown Los Angeles and it was about 1/3 of the price only problem is that I would never ever be able to get to the office because downtown is so far from my house and from where I am during the day that it would have made no sense. We move in on Sunday. Wood floors have gone in, fluorescent lights removed and paint has been refreshed. CM is helping with all of the moving thank goodness.

P.P.P.S. Prepping for my friend AZ's wedding in Puerto Vallarta too...did I mention that? Don't know what I will wear? Resort, casual, beach appropriate attire is in need. Can't wait.

P.P.P.P.S. How do you typically prep when guests are coming to stay at your house? Do you do construction or do you just add a flower here and there? Do tell any stories about getting ready for house guests!


Photos: Stadshem; Bella Casa Design; Joe Schmelzer,Treasure Bite Studios