BUILT-IN HEADBOARD - BEDROOM DESIGN IDEA

Built in furniture is definitely a way to save space in a small room.  I wish I had built-ins in my tiny little cottage in the Hollywood Hills.  I could use every inch of space there.

This lovely little room in a cottage designed by Jessica Helgerson has everything built in even the headboard!  A tufted arched headboard behind the bed built right into a nook created by built in closets and drawers.  The room is very small but it doesn't feel that way.  No clunky headboard attached to the bed sucking up space.  With the head board flush to the wall...every inch is saved...leaving more room between the foot of the bed and the French doors leading to the garden.

Smart use of space I think.

What are some space saving tricks you've used in your home?  Do you like this idea?  Just noticed there are drawers under the bed too!

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

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

ARTIST BRIAN WILLS & MY LIVING ROOM ART

Untitled Brian Wills art in my living room! (above)

When I put up photos of my living room the other day to get your thoughts on my new COCOCOZY Fence rug, I didn't even think about describing some of the pieces in my living room including the large turquoise painting over my sofa.  Well besides the size of the rug, it was the most commented on piece from my living room in my little cottage in the Hollywood Hills.  I received dozens of emails and a few Facebook comments asking about the origin of the art in my living room.

Well today, I'll give you the scoop.  The work is by the super talented Los Angeles based artist Brian Wills. Brian's work is abstract, linear, modern and fresh. I am truly a huge fan of what he does.

Back in 2003 (I think), my sister and mother gave me the gift of art.  Back then, my sister had been introduced to an up and coming Los Angeles artist named Brian Wills.  She had acquired a few of his pieces. At Christmas (or my birthday...I can't recall), she and my mother felt I needed art in my living room so they gave me a Brian Wills much to my delight.  Well...me being me...so picky...way too picky...while I loved the piece they picked out for me, I wanted to see what else Brian was working on.  I remember, it was a cloudy day in December (or January...oh dear...can't remember anything), and I went to his studio (I may or may have not been with my sister...or I may have been by myself...I have no memory past yesterday...oy va voy).   I walked into the artist's studio, introduced myself to Brian and was thrilled to see there were lots of works in progress.  It was so cool to go into an artist's work space and in a way to see what and how he was thinking through his works in progress.  I spotted this turquoise piece in a corner and I immediately said "I want that one".  It is a huge wood piece...about 4ft x 6ft in size...it is made up of small painted strips of wood...lined up to create a visual staccato of sorts...there is a rhythm to his work that I just love. About a week later after my studio visit, Brian came and delivered the work to my house himself and he installed it...and it has been basically hanging in the same place ever since.  I love it!

I have owned this wonderful Brian Wills turquoise wood and paint piece of art for about 10 years! (above) 

Lexi Brown of Nye + Brown who represents Brian sent me these fantastic images below of his 2013 works.

Brian Wills

Untitled, 2013

Oil, rayon thread on wood

36 x 36 in.

Brian Wills

Untitled, 2013

Enamel, rayon thread, bass wood on wood

24 x 24 in

Brian Wills

Untitled (Blue Cross), 2013

Oil and rayon thread on wood

36 x 36 in.

Brian Wills

Untitled (Peacock Blue), 2013

Enamel, rayon thread, and linear polyurethane on wood

12 x 24 in.

Brian Wills

Untitled (Pink), 2013

Rayon thread, oil and linear polyurethane on wood

48 x 36 in.

Brian's new pieces pictured here range from $7000-$16,000 each.  There are other pieces in his collection not pictured here that start at about $2000 each. An investment well worth it!

If you are interested in artist Brian Wills and his work, please contact:

Lexi Brown
Nye + Brown
2685 S La Cienega Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 559-5215
lexi@nyeplusbrown.com

To learn more about Brian Wills and to read about his last show called Unwound, please click here.

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Tomorrow, am so excited...I am going back to Brian Wills' studio for a visit with the artist and to see his latest works!  A private visit.  Woohooo!!   I have invited TE along...he might bring EE.  I am going to see if my sis and my mother want to come too!  Anyone else??? :-)

P.P.S. Must run!  Have a great day!  Still haven't solved my dilemma of what I will wear to the black-tie-wedding.  I tried on a black Herve Leger dress I own last night...one of those bandage dresses...super tight...must do tons of sit ups and not eat for a week to look good in that...back to the drawing board!!!

MY COTTAGE LIVING ROOM WITH NEW COCOCOZY RUG

My living room! (above)

I just added a COCOCOZY Fence Rug in Natural Linen into the mix at my house.  Today I'm sharing with you a glimpse inside my little tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills because I need your thoughts on the rug!

Added lots of flowers and the new rug because best of friend AM was visiting.  The rug was initially meant for my bedroom but I ended up leaving it in the living room.

I have a few COCOCOZY textiles in the form of a pillow and a cotton knit throw as accents.  I wonder if I need curtains...thinking...a very small space so I wonder if drapery would finish the space or make it look closed in and cluttered.

What do you think about the rug...are drapes necessary?  Hmmm...thinking.

TE saw the new rug this past weekend.  He liked it. So did AM...so did her little kiddies!

More white hydrangea! (above)

My tiny living room with the COCOCOZY wool rug and a view out of the black front door (above)

A vintage wood 1950s screen sits in a corner behind a side table with a crystal lamp and vintage bowls in gold and silver (above)

COCOCOZY Quatrefoil pillow in brown on my white sofa that I inherited from my sis DS! (above)

So what do you think of my new rug? Would you have gone with a darker rug for more contrast or does the lighter color work? Do tell.

Shop the full COCOCOZY Rug Collection by clicking here!  You can also shop for COCOCOZY pillows, throws and more on the COCOCOZY Online Store.

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Hope you had a nice weekend.

Photos: Coco of COCOCOZY

SMALL BOATHOUSE WITH BIG COTTAGE CHARM

Am partial to cottages.  I live in one.  Guess I should be partial.  I am also partial to waterfront homes.  I wish I had one.

I am also partial to champagne, sparkling headbands and jewelry, large mansions, ice cream sandwiches, quinoa, finding ways to be skinny without much effort, Rag & Bone jean leggings,  my sister, the silver pig that sits in my office, the James Perse jacket/sweatshirt/blazer cute thing I wear all of the time, there's more...uhmmm...but I'm sure you would be bored beyond belief...so many things I am partial to but I digress (as usual).

Back to being partial to cottages and waterfront homes.  Imagine my delight when I saw this cute little summer home right on the water somewhere in Canada.  Charming. A cottage from the front...and a waterfront boathouse from the back.

Not sure I would want to live here day in and day out but I would love to spend a weekend in this charmer.  Benignly rustic and definitely cute.

The original stone fireplace is the focal point of this remodeled cottage's living room. (above)

I like the idea of black wicker dining room chairs (above)

Reclaimed wood upper cabinets and island stand out against the white paneled wood walls in the kitchen. (above)

Open living room area...great for family time. (above)

A boathouse in Ontario Canada on Lake Rosseau(above)

What do you think...would like to live in this little cottage?  Anything you like?  Anything you would change?

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

Photos: Style at Home

DARLING SWEDISH COTTAGE BY THE SEA - SEE THIS HOUSE INTERNATIONAL

Perfect atrium dining room with a glass ceiling and windows all around (above)

The real estate listing calls this home a New England style shabby chic cottage even though it is actually located in Sweden!. I would describe this cute Swedish house in the seaside town of Vallda Sando as plain old darling.

This quaint cottage is listed for about $760,000 USD and is just over 2000 square feet.  A true little gem built back in 1921 and renovated in 2010.  It is listed by Stadshem.

Even though I live in a tiny little cottage in the Hollywood Hills, I wouldn't necessarily say I am a classic cottage type of girl.  However, I could most likely work with this very classic cottage.  I love all of the windows and the bright white painted hardwood floors and walls. Visually manageable and easy to understand.  Not to complicated from an interior design perspective but just pretty enough.  The

1921 built cottage exterior (above)

The painted white hardwood floors throughout the house and the living room make a dramatic design statement. (above)

A nice romantic indoor porch perfect for a nice sit and read. (above)

The kitchen (above and below)

Pitch ceilings and white hardwood floors make this small master bedroom feel bright and airy. (above)

What do you think?  Would you take it or leave it?  Too quaint or just right?

I would take it and visit there for a few weeks every year.  Would be silly to pass up a cute house if someone was giving it to me!  Right?

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Going to NYC this weekend...for a few days...going to spend the weekend in the Hamptons with best of friend AM and her kids (her hubby JE is out of town)...we're road tripping to the Hamptons...don't know what we'll get ourselves into considering both of us have a bit of Lucy from I Love Lucy in us!

BEACH COTTAGE COOL!

I love this little beach house featured in this month's House Beautiful.   A house apparently transformed from an ordinary stucco into an open and airy space fitting for seaside living.  The house re-imagined by designer Peter Dunham.  He used lots of natural materials as accents throughout the home - wicker, rush, abaca and rope.  Fresh, bright, cheerful and accessible.  I wouldn't mind cozying up here!

What do you think of this cute cottage?  Anything you like here.  I love the entry with the fretwork banister and I love the breakfast dining area with the banquette seating.

Happy New Year!

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Still in Beaver Creek.  My computer is not working again.  Have photos I will share with you when I get back today!

P.P.S.  Hope you had a fantastic New Year!

COTTAGE CASUAL!

I like this upstate New York cottage from interior designer Shawn Henderson.  Comfy, cozy, understated, fitting for the setting. Love the living room with the exposed beamed ceiling and the wood furniture with the ticking stripe cushions. And then there is the copper tub in the master bath...love that.

I would call this cottage well edited.  Definitely gives off the vibe of being a outside of the city country home with out screaming "I am a country cottage".  i would like to spend a weekend getaway here!

What do you think of this cottage home?  Like or dislike?  My favorite room is the living room.  Which do you like best.

Happy Thursday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Tomorrow, I am going to bring you a tour of a new cute little vintage shop I discovered this past weekend here in Los Angeles.

P.P.S.  Am about to go sign a lease on some very very small office space for COCOCOZY today.  Just need a new place for my operations assistant and possible intern to work out of during business hours.  The office is small small small, it is in a shabby older building but in a good location (right in the heart of Beverly Hills).  The owner says he'll put in new hardwood floors for me.  There is also room for expansion in the building if I need more space.  It is only about 400 square feet of space and has a strange partition with louvered windows in it too.  It is in a great location - near my day job office - so I could easily pop by during lunch if I had to.  We're currently working in a space that will not do and I have to move COCOCOZY business offices as soon as possible.  This tiny tiny office is very expensive for the size because of where it is located. Does the rule about location, location, location apply to office space too?  What would you do?  Tiny offices in a shabby building in Beverly Hills or slightly bigger offices in who knows what kind of building elsewhere?  Should I wait or sign?  We are not doing a showroom yet...hopefully that will come in 2013...this is just a place for my peeps to work out of during the day.  Argggghhhhhhh.  My appointment is at 3pm with the lease office.  Help.  Here are some pictures.

A view of part of the small office space in Beverly Hills. (above and below)

P.P.P.P.S.  Wish I had pictures of other options.  I went to look at a space in the Pacific Design Center (PDC).  The space at the PDC had low ceilings and no windows and it totally made me feel claustrophobic.  It was larger than this tiny space for sure but had no windows...yikes.  The pros of this tiny space in Beverly Hills are that it is centrally located, there are windows that look right onto Beverly Drive (a block from Rodeo), it has windows that open and it has light.  It is small small small small for the money though.  Oh dear. I have a huge decision making problem.  Help.

P.P.P.P.P.S.  Would look forward though to decorating this small space though.  Have ideas for a cute work space already.

P.P.P.P.P.P.S.  On another note, SM is so fabulous...she is working on some great things for COCOCOZY that I'll be able to squawk about later this year.  Very excited.  Will also tell you who SM is at a later date as well!

P.P.P.P.P.P.P.S.  Have a great day! xo