LIBRARY LOOKS - THIS OR THAT

Option #1 - Abstract modern built in book shelf (above)

Where oh where to put your books...oh where or where could that be?  Do any of these home library looks appeal to you?  All are different but all of these built in bookshelves provide nicely designed storage for precious reading materials.

Option #2 - Going with the architectural flow - built in bookshelf wall surrounding a double interior doorway. (above)

Option #3 - Classic library with cut out for art! (above)

I like Option #3 the best - more traditional but with a modern feel. Which of the three do you prefer?

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Remember to follow me on COCOCOZY Instagram.  I am @COCOCOZY.  Keep up with design, decor and more with me!

P.P.S.  Still on vacation with TE!  It is delightful.  It is our last day in paradise.  Have fully enjoyed.  Off to the pool.  Here's a snap from yesterday's sunset!

A tree, the bay, green grass and a sunset in Princeville, Kauai - dream vacation (above)

Photos: Arkpad

READER SUBMISSION: MM NEEDS YOUR HELP WITH HER SHELVES!

Have a reader's design dilemma that I want you to help solve.

Just a few weeks ago, I got an email from reader Melissa Malleck (MM).  MM and her hubby completed the build of their custom home in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada.  They've been living there about 2 years and love it but MM has a decorating issue she still hasn't resolved.

Below are a few photos of MM's new great room...

Here's MM's decorating stumbling block.  Flanking the fireplace in her great room (living room) are two built in cabinets in dark wood.  MM knows that she wants to style these cabinets right but needs ideas.

Here's an excerpt from MM's email to me from a few weeks ago:

"I have these large built-in cabinets in my home (the ceiling is 11ft and the cabinets are 9' high by 4-5ft wide - each is about 14" high). I just don't know what kind of accessories to put on them... Is less more? Should i use larger pieces, but less of them? Or fill the shelves? Only light-coloured pieces against the dark wood?"

So I ask you dear readers to take a look at MM's living room shelves and please give her some ideas!

MELISSA MALLECK'S (MM) GREAT ROOM

The almost empty shelves in the great room in COCOCOZY reader  Melissa Malleck's (MM) Ontario, Canada home (above and below)

INSPIRATION

Built in shelves are painted white to blend with the adjacent fireplace.  Shelves are filled with books stacked in vertically and horizontally. (above)

The back of this shelf is painted a contrasting avocado green...shelves feature books, framed art, and small decorative items. (above)

Large pieces of matching blue and white pottery and important black framed mirror make a huge statement on this designer built in book shelf. (above)

Shelves in these two cases are filled with books, decorative accessories, keepsakes and also small  bars. (above and below)

What design ideas can you share with MM so she can style her built in bookshelves? Any decor tips you can give her? Please comment below!

Thank you MM (Melissa) for sharing your design dilemma with me and COCOCOZY readers.  Hopefully everyone comments and this helps you and a few others!

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  So excited...today I am getting my first samples for a new line in the COCOCOZY collection I am working on in conjunction with a new partner.  This new COCOCOZY offering will debut in January 2013!  I have to review the samples and give notes right away so we can begin production.  I am so excited.  I can't take it!  Still waiting for the package to come in!


Photos: Jarlath Mellett; Elle Decor; M Design; Anthony Cochran Design; Architectural Digest; Melanie Acevedo; House Beautiful

BLACK & WHITE OF GOOD BEDROOM DECOR!

Like everything about this space. The white walls and floor, the bed draped in simple clean bedding, the floating bookshelves filled with all things and books black and white, and the signature Artichoke pendant light to top everything off. Nice.

Happy Thursday!

xo
Coco

Photo: Emmas Blog

A POM POM PERFECT PARTY!

Photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

So...last night, I donned a cute peplum top, Rag & Bone skin tight skinny jeans, my standard Chanel purse and headed to Pom Pom Interiors, a gorgeous European chic home furniture store here in Los Angeles.

My second soiree of the week...another fabulous event.  This time it was Pom Pom's 20th anniversary party and a signing for books by celebrity designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard and another lovely book from Katrien Van der Schueren.

The party was being thrown by Pom Pom Interiors owner Hilde Leiaghat, her husband Reza and their son Sam.

I must say...it was a fantastic party.  Beautifully and elegantly done.  Filled with a fun exciting crowd.  Very beautiful but also very warm and inviting.  It is Hilde's Pom Pom style at play...elegant relaxed chic. I liked the vibe!

Hilde is also quietly a Hollywood go to person for design and decor.  Among many celebs, Hilde and Pom Pom have worked with stars like Jennifer Lopez - Hilde did rooms in J.Lo's homes in New York and Los Angeles!

When I got out of my car at valet, I was immediately thrown against a step and repeat wall and photographed with Hilde and guest of honor Martyn. Then after my mini red carpet like moment and the wonderful whirlwind of hellos and kisses, I wandered inside to one of the most lovely stores in the country.

Hilde has designed the flagship Pom Pom store on La Brea Avenue like a gorgeous home filled with relaxed romantic chic home furnishings. Every nook and cranny is filled with a new delight. A beautifully curated collection of vintage, antique and reproduction furniture in a huge space. For years, I've gone to Pom Pom and browsed and dreamed...Hilde's designed a store where you can dream.

A whole crew of folks I know showed up...there was CM and LH who work for COCOCOZY (well technically LH doesn't work for COCOCOZY anymore, she got a new job that she just started on Wednesday but she is still part of the COCOCOZY family), JW also showed up and I am  hoping to recruit her onto the COCOCOZY team part time. Good friends SN (she is so sweet and smart and gives me such good advice) and BN also stopped by too. Beata Heinrichs of Hedgehouse and her husband Josh were also there.  I also had a nice quick chat with Tiffany from Layla Grayce.  I was also able to squeeze in a hello to Jacqui and Wendy who work for Hilde at Pom Pom.

So many wonderful people to see and meet that it turns out I barely took any photos!!! Oy va voy!

Well...here are just a few photos I took from last night!

Party guest wander through the many beautiful rooms at Pom Pom Interiors store in Los Angeles. (above)

I spied a COCOCOZY Logo cotton knit throw in cream and white on a romantic settee. (above)

Martyn Lawrence Bullard's book "Live Love & Decorate" next to "The Art of Instruction" by Katrien Van der Schueren. (above)

Pom Pom owner Hilde Leiaghat and interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard.

The party scene! (above)

What a fantastic night!  Sorry I didn't take more photos.  I was caught up in all of the excitement of it all.

For those of you who haven't had the opportunity to swing by Pom Pom, you should.  It is a true design delight!

Pom Pom Interiors
1401 N. La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
Phone: 323-851-1342

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Was so happy to get an email earlier this week from Lynette Vertoch of Cameos & Crowns.  Lynette makes an adorable line of printed flour sack pillows.  Lynette started Illume Candles years ago...she started and ran the company for 5 years before she sold it.  Lynette was kind enough to mentor me when I was first starting COCOCOZY.  Lynette now lives in Seattle with her family and runs her new company.  Wishing you well Lynette and a happy birthday.

Lynette Vertoch's Cameo & Crowns flour sack pillows. (photo from Lynette)(above)

P.P.S.  Did I mention that a pipe exploded at my house a few months back and now the water damage is showing on floors and walls in my tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills?  Oh my.  Must take photos.  The contractor is coming this weekend to give me an estimate.  If it isn't one thing...it is another.  Right?  Beata and SN think I should blog about my floor/wall/pipe exploding problem...I may.

P.P.P.S.  Hope you have a wonderful Friday!

Photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

SEE THIS HOUSE: AN $8 MILLION DOLLAR SUBURBAN PARIS APARTMENT WITH A VIEW!

I wouldn't mind coming home to a view of the Eiffel Tower every day.  Would you?

In today's SEE THIS HOUSE, I bring you a 3,000 square foot, 4 bedroom, 4 bath pied-a-terre in the Paris suburb of Neuilly sur Seine - an enclave technically considered outside of Paris but that is often lumped in with the chic 16th arrondissement area of the city.  High ceilings, parquet floors, lots of windows and light, this apartment offers views of the Bois du Boulougne gardens and more importantly the Eiffel Tower.

The home is listed for sale by Sotheby's International for about $8.25 million dollars.

Now, not to be too picky as beggars cannot be choosers but I would probably prefer an apartment directly in the middle of Paris...but if someone (and I don't know who that someone might be) offered me this nice little abode, I would take it...I would make do with the hardship of living in the burbs of Paris.

My favorite room is this dining area with parquet floors, built in book shelves, a fireplace and high ceilings.  Would need a bit more furniture because the Saarinen tulip table shown is a little off in scale but that could easily be fixed! (above)

More high ceilings and tall windows in the master bedroom.  Also love the paneled walls...very elegant in my view. (above)

The view of the Eiffel Tower from the apartment window! (above)

So, what do you think of this international home?  Would you take it or leave it?  What might you change, what might you keep?

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Got some cute pictures last week from Kathy...owner of Soiree San Francisco -  a cute gift, paper and stationery store in San Fran.  Kathy carries COCOCOZY Lavender Sachets in her darling little shop.

COCOCOZY Lavender Sachets on display inside Soiree San Francisco! (above)

P.P.S. Had a great weekend. Among other things, had very lovely drinks at the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Saturday and also had Sunday supper at Dominick's last night with some friends. Saw some family and some friend and overall had a nice relaxing weekend. Got no work done so now I am behind. Uh oh...yikes.

P.P.P.S. Did I mention that I went completely vegetarian for about 10 days? It was kind of interesting. I thought I would be starving but I wasn't. I ate only raw fruit and vegetables and nuts. I know it sounds crazy...and I don't know why I decided to do that. I don't think it is for me...but it was an interesting experiment. Have any of you changed your eating habits like that? What do you think? I'd be curious to hear.

P.P.P.P.S. Have a great Monday. Must find cute outfit to wear to work today. I think my boss is flying in from NYC. So must look decent. :-)

P.P.P.P.P.S. Parties - This week, I have 5 million design events to go to after work each day...I think it is some sort of design week here in Los Angeles. I'm always so out of the loop whenever there is some sort of organized design gathering.  This time though I've received so many invites that I have to assume it is a design week.  So, I'll start off tomorrow night with a party at Harbinger where they are having some sort of anniversary celebration. CM, who runs operations at COCOCOZY, dropped off some of our Quatrefoil drapes to the Harbinger folks for one of their displays...I hope they end up using them! If you don't know Harbinger, you should...it is one of the most prestigious fabric and furniture showrooms (to the trade) in the country.   Harbinger is owned by fabulous designers Joe Lucas and Paris Chilcoat.  I am so honored that they carry the COCOCOZY textiles collection at Harbinger - they are my only showroom in the country that sells COCOCOZY fabric by the yard to the trade.

P.P.P.P.P.P.S.  Tah tah!  Have a great day.  Happy beginning of October!