BEVERLY HILLS BOUGAINVILLEA - WEEKEND PHOTO

Another photo from the Greystone Mansion garden in Beverly Hills.  Took this last weekend.   Love this glimpse of the garden with so many types of plants including this hot pink bougainvillea intertwined throughout the grasses.  An endless garden with a magnificent city view!

Happy Sunday!

Hope you are having a great weekend.

xo
Coco

SECRET GARDEN - WEEKEND PHOTO

Happened upon this pretty last weekend. A charming enchanting intriguing mysteriously beautiful garden door and gate. Was roaming through the streets of Charleston, SC with a large group of friends (we were all there for TF and KF's fantastically lovely wedding). CCF, DH and I were taking our time walking through the streets while everyone else barreled ahead towards the shops. The guys were checking out the plaques on all of the houses to find out which was the oldest...I was furiously snapping photos. Trying to take all of Charleston home with me in my little camera it seemed. I paused and looked up from the camera screen and I saw this. A breathtakingly sweet black garden gate door, surrounded by an ivy covered wall and it was wide open.  Behind the gate...a mossy brick covered patio, a fountain in the distance I think, some iron furniture and lovely cobalt blue pottery.  Felt like a dream.  Oh how I wanted to just open that gate, walk in and take a seat and enjoy.  I did not...don't worry...

So now, back in Los Angeles, this is my weekend photos.  Memories of a lovely weekend past.

Happy Sunday!

xo
Coco

CO-ED BABY SHOWER POWER

So I co-hosted a little baby shower this weekend for dear friend AG and her hubby TG.  It was a co-ed guys and girls, mixing together backyard style casual cute baby shower.

My co-hostesses were JH (sister to TG), AS, WH and KD.  The best co-hostesses ever!  The whole shower was planned on email.  LH and JH, TG's brother-in-law and sis, were kind enough to invite us to use their LOVELY home for the shower.  We decided to make use of their gorgeous backyard overlooking a golf course in Hancock Park.  AS did invites, JH did party decor as it was at her house, WH was in charge of party favors and games, KD had beverages and I was in charge of food.

Loved JH's party touches.  Colorful, festive and relaxed. She rented several picnic tables, orange market umbrellas, cute mason jars with yellow and orange Gerber daisies, clear fish bowl like vases filled with rubber duckies swimming along in blue water, a few navy COCOCOZY Logo Throws for anyone who would venture to lay out on the grass and then done!  Voila!  A warm and inviting environment for guests to spend a casual sunny Los Angeles afternoon.

WH decided on lovely summer half bottles of rose wine as party favors.  I ordered all of the food from Joan's on Third...an array of sandwiches, hors d'oeuvres, quiche, salads and other brunch lunch foods. KD put together a colorful self serve bar with sparkling water, lemonade, wine, champagne and beer.

Here are few scenes from our co-ed baby shower!

I think AG and her hubby TG had a good time.  It was certainly a relaxing lovely afternoon.  TE came with me; he enjoyed it all to...including the co-ed shower game where all of the guys had to line up and drink soda through baby bottles. TE did not win btw...LH, JH's hubby, got caught up on a technicality of a dripping bottle, and TG, the guest of honor, was a bit of slow poke - about 10 guys participated...only one drank the entire bottle!

AG and TG's baby is due in October.  Can't wait.  BTW...there were four other pregnant ladies at the shower including co-hostess AS.  Something is definitely in the water here in L.A.!

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Was so honored to be profiled on the Interior Collective blog the other day!  Check out the post here.  Also, ask me a design question on Interior Collective and you can enter to win a COCOCOZY pillow!

P.P.S.  Check out COCOCOZY Instagram and Twittter - @COCOCOZY - to see where TE and I went after the shower...from roof top to roof top.  Remember to follow me around the web to see more of what I'm up to.  Would love to hear from you too!


Photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

$25 MILLION DOLLAR ART DECO STYLE ESTATE - SEE THIS HOUSE

A newly built mega mansion named "The Reserve". The lush estate's architecture and feel hearkens back to the Art Deco style of the 1920's, 30's and 40's!  10,000 square feet of home built on 2 sprawling acres in the middle of Los Angeles in the tony neighborhood of Holmby Hills.

The home is listed for $24,950,000 by Hilton & Hyland.  A one story home with 6 bedrooms, 11 baths, a pool, home theater, 5 fireplaces, a cobblestone driveway, 14 foot ceilings, floor to ceiling windows and top finishes.  The home was designed by Kristoffer Winters and realized by architect Philip Vertoch.  There is some connection with Bourne Legacy and Hurt Locker actor Jeremy Renner...he apparently flips homes with Winters and this is their latest multi million dollar real estate project.

If you are interested though...it looks like you might be too late...judging by my not so professional perusal of a few sites...it looks like a sale is pending as of mid June!

Something very glam and retro about this home although it is brand new. From the verdant gardens filled with iron crane statues, to the large iron windows that line the checkered covered patio, to the geometric tile floors, the marble bathrooms, the detailed carvings in the exterior architecture and much more...maybe the way it staged and furnished helps too...feels like a different era...the best of old Hollywood and the early to mid 20th century.  I like.

Exterior of home features graphic tile covered patios and several fountains with iron crane statues. (above and below)

The backyard features many seating areas including this one with a fire pit and a wonderful pool complete with fountains. (above)

Love this covered patio with the gray and white check stone floor and views of the pool. (above)

The foyer features built in planters for trees and plants and a fountain. (above)

A large living room with blue velvet sofas overlooks the formal dining room. (above)

A huge gourmet kitchen has pressed tin ceilings, cement tile floors in a graphic pattern, large pendant lights, a breakfast nook and a sitting area  surrounded by floor to ceiling encasement windows. (above)

A white marble master bath with wrap around windows. (above)

Guest bedroom. (above)

Guest bath with floor to ceiling subway tiles with a deco inspired black motif in the shower. (above)

The deco inspired gate at the end of the driveway. (above)

What do you think of this mega mansion with a throw back vibe?  Like or dislike?  Would you take it if offered to you?

I would take it in a minute...then I would make some retro throw back type of friends and dress my family in 1930's garb and hang out at this house for days and days!

Hope you had a great long holiday weekend!

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Had a very quiet holiday weekend.  Went to a barbecue with TE on Friday at AB and GB's house.  It was in honor of friend JTH and her new hubby LH.  Fun catching up with everyone...and made new friend SW!   Will share photos of what we did yesterday in a post later today.

P.P.S.  NEW COCOCOZY LUCITE COLLECTION - Getting ready for Atlanta market this week.  I'll be in Atlanta for two days because we have so many collections showing including a new partnership, bedding, rugs and our own luxury pillows.  In addition to many other things...we are taking some new COCOCOZY lucite trays to market.  Here is a sneak peek of one of them!  I took this photo at the office last week right before we shipped this off to Atlanta! So excited for this new collection of lucite trays!  Will show you more this week.

New COCOCOZY Coco's Flower Lucite Tray in Kelly Green. Will be available in July.  (above)

P.P.P.S.  This week am prepping for vacation!  So excited to get away with TE.  Have been hiking up hills and doing sit ups to get in shape.  Bathing suit time!  Yay! Oy! Yay! Oy! Yay! Oy!

Photos: The Reserve; Coco of COCOCOZY

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

HOW TO MAKE A LIVING ROOM LARGER - DESIGN IDEA

Have a small living space? Here is a design solution for making it bigger.

It's simple...create an outdoor living space on an adjacent patio and mirror what is going on inside.

I like this small 2 bedroom home on the island of Majorca, Spain.  The owners took a very small open floor plan living room, dining room, kitchen combo and increased the size by using the outdoor space wisely.

Conventional design floor planning would probably have the furniture on the patio facing the garden.  In this case, the owners faced the outdoor furniture in towards the house...so when the large sliding glass doors are open...the conversation area of the living room is doubled!

Good idea I think!

The pretty much all white interior makes this small open floor plan living area seem larger...love the use of  natural materials like the tree stump stools and sea grass rug combined with the modern furniture. (above)

FLOOR PLAN (below)

The public living areas are to the right...the outdoor space almost doubles the size of the living room! (above)

To see the rest of this home click here.

What do you think of this design idea?  Any tricks you might have to grow a living room without doing a full remodel?  Please comment below!

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

Photos: Mi Casa Revista

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Wishing my fantastic mother, my godmother, aunts, cousins, dear friends and COCOCOZY readers who are moms a very Happy Mother's Day!  Took this photo this morning...went on the hunt in my neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills with TE, searching for the perfect flower to photograph for moms on Mother's Day.

Mother's Day makes me think of all of the unconditional love moms give and the touching sacrifices they make for their children.   My mother certainly has loved me and sis DS unconditionally and has given us so much loving support over the years.  She has always been there for both of us...loving and encouraging through everything good and bad.  A rock. Thank you to my own mom...I love you!

This holiday also makes me think of my dear sweet late grandmother.   She was an amazing mother of four and grandmother to many.  Like so many grandmothers and mothers do, my grandmother loved us, cooked for us, played with us, adored us, encouraged us and devoted her life to her kids and grand kids.  The cool thing about my grandmother was that while she loved her family and her own children dearly, she really opened up her heart and gave her love to anyone who wanted and needed it.  Her home was always bustling with dozens of people - many of whom were family and many of whom were people, friends, neighbors, even some near strangers who just called my grandmother "mom".

So a huge hats off to moms in general for all of what you do for your children whether they be young toddlers, playful kids, independent teenagers or grown adults!  Thank you!

Am spending the afternoon with my mom and sis.  Hope you have great plans too.

Happy Sunday!  Happy Mother's Day.

xo
Coco

Photo in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

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

WEEKEND PHOTO!

Cherries early morning in the Hollywood Hills (above)

This is my first weekend at home in 4 months.  Enjoying just being here.

I've been out of my little tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills due to construction for all of that time...emergency construction after water damage was discovered just days before Christmas.

Well now I'm back...still have lots of sprucing up to do on my little house but I am home!

A neighbor of mine had a little gathering/trunk show yesterday - she makes beautiful jewelry.  I wandered by.  Had a nice chat with several neighbors, caught up with all of what's been going on in the hood and even bought some jewelry.

This morning...I woke up...wandered down my stairs and across the little trail that is my street and took this photo.

Neighbors MR and JH have a cherry tree in their front yard.  The other day, when I arrived home from High Point, NC market, MR welcomed me back and said, "Did you see we have cherries?  You are welcome to eat some".  So early this Sunday morning...I took him up on his offer...I pranced down the stairs from my house, across the trail, plucked two bright red juicy cherries off the tree and ate them.  Delightful Sunday morning here in the Hollywood Hills.  Just delightful. Thank you MR and JH.

Happy weekend!

xo
Coco

Photo: Coco of COCOCOZY

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVE!

Photo by Coco of COCOCOZY

I love Thanksgiving...such a wonderful time with family...enjoying good food...taking the time to reconnect.

I am making two pies (a sweet potato and an apple) for our family gathering at my mom's house. My hat goes off to those of you who are cooking an entire meal. My pies will take some time but nothing like a turkey and all of the sides!

Oh, the color of these leaves reminds me of fall. I took the photo a several months ago...actually back in the Spring...it is of the Japanese Maple in front of my house. Now there are barely any leaves on my little tree. I'm going to deck it with sparkle white lights for the holidays!

Anyhooo...what are you doing to prep for Thanksgiving tomorrow? Any fun plans tonight? How do you spend the night before a big holiday?

Hope you have a great Thanksgiving Eve.

Happy Wednesday.

xo
Coco

WEEKEND PHOTO: SWEET PORCH SWINGS!

I love a good porch swing. A place to relax...to gently swing back and forth...reading...thinking...dreaming...watching all that goes on outside a house...the perfect spot for the weekend.

I like these two porch swings.  The woven one above made just for one seems to look out onto a cute backyard...and the bench style porch swing below that can squeeze two people on it definitely provided views of a nice tranquil green lawn in the front yard of an island home.  I took the photo below this summer in Nantucket.  It is on the porch at the house where I stayed with best of friend FF and her family. So wonderfully relaxing.  Hmmmm...on the list of must haves I think...a porch swing!

Photo by Coco of COCOCOZY

Would you add a porch swing to your must have house list? Or is there some other outdoor perch you prefer?

Happy Saturday!

xo
Coco


Photo: Light Locations; Coco of COCOCOZY

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY & MY NEW GARDEN GATE!

All photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY.

Gorgeous fuschia bouganvillea in my garden! (above)

These photos were taken this morning...early...on this Memorial Day 2012.  A bouganvillea plant with bright pinkish flowers climbing up my new garden fence.

Best of friend AM is in town with her hubby JE and their two kiddies.  They left the comforts of their large New York City apartment to come visit Los Angeles and stay with me in my tiny tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills. We have been having a wonderful time.  Yesterday we spent the day hiking, at brunch, at the beach and then out to dinner.  Needless to say we are tired but happy!  The kids are adorable and it is alwasy great to spend time with dear friends.  This has been a fantastic holiday weekend so far.  I'll share more later in the week.

As an aside, in order to prep the kids on how small my house is, I strangely for some reason felt the need to tell them I lived in a "doll house".  Yesterday at brunch, the AM's cute kiddies told the very posh people we were dining  with, "Did you know she lives in a doll house?  It is sooooo small.  It is the tiniest house you've ever seen.  Really"...the people looked at me in wonder as if to say "Whoa...kind of weird...that grown lady lives in a doll house?  Bizarre."  Hmmm...

Anyhoooo...over the last few weeks I've been doing some construction on the garden and the side of the house because there were some major issues that were actually causing some water damage inside the house.  One of the things that was torn down was my old fence and gate that had gotten soaked by the sprinklers and were starting to rot.  In their places, I designed a new fence and gate  with white trim on top (similar to what I've designed for the rest of the house).  I am so pleased with my new white fence...my own take on white picket!

My garden this morning...we also added a hardscape flagstone stone path that leads to the side of the house. (above)

From my little cottage in the Hollywood Hills - California living :-)!

Would like to take a moment to remember why we get today off from work (and I get to spend time with friends and family).  Today is meant to honor those service people who have given their lives to protect the country.  Whenever I start to complain or think that my life is challenging, I do immediately and always consider the sacrifices and real hardships that others have undergone...and I recognize that instead of whining I should be thinking good thoughts for those who really need the help or who have really been courageous.   Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

All photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY.

WEEKEND PHOTO!

An outdoor dining area for breakfast, lunch or dinner...right in the middle of a lush garden. I like.

Can't wait until summer to do a little entertaining outdoors. Getting everything in shape in my own garden and yard to make things sparkle for summer dinner parties.

Hmmm...thinking...getting some ideas!

Where do you like to entertain and have meals during the summer...at home, outside, at a restaurant :-)? Do tell. Any tricks to doing an outdoor dinner right that you might want to share? Would love to hear.

Happy Saturday!

xo
Coco

Photo: Tammy Connor Interior Design