TORY BURCH V. THOM FILICIA - BLUE FAMILY ROOM FACE OFF - THIS OR THAT

Tory Burch's pattern on pattern blue family room (above)

Today, I am putting fashion mogul Tory Burch and interior design maven Thom Filicia in a fierce face off.  Family rooms where the walls match the furniture. Tone on tone monochromatic or pattern on pattern  - you must decide which is best.

Above, Ms Burch took an azure-blue tree print fabric from Clarence House and upholstered her walls and sofa and chairs in the same pattern...a pattern play that really works.

Below, Mr. Filicia gives texture and a low luster gleam to a library den with cobalt blue walls that match the blue sofa.  Uniform monochromatic. I like.

Thom Filicia's den with Venetian plaster walls in a cobalt blue and matching blue sofa with piping (above)

Vote on which one you like the most in the comments or on COCOCOZY Instagram (@COCOCOZY) or COCOCOZY Pinterest.

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Shop the new COCOCOZY Resort Collection of pillows and throws at the COCOCOZY Online Store!

Photos: Wall Street Journal; Elle Decor

COZY NAVY BLUE ROOM

Conventional design wisdom says...if you want to make a room feel larger, paint the walls white.  What if you want to make a small room feel even more cozy?  Paint the walls navy.

I love small blue rooms!  I have a small den in my tiny little cottage in the Hollywood Hills that I've painted a shade of gray/blue with a glossy finish.  The room works in my opinion.  My friends SN and BN have a wonderfully blue painted small office library in their beautiful Los Angeles home...the walls are and shelving there are painted a wonderful shade of dark blue.

So this navy blue room with green velvet sofas, chevron patterned drapes and gold accents hither and thither works for me!

Notice the textured paneling below the chair rail...love that.  Only thing I might lose is the deer head!  What do you think of this cute blue room.

It is about to rain here in Los Angeles (that is our form of winter)...would be nice to cozy up in a room like this on a rainy day.

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

Photos: Prue Ruscoe

$30 MILLION DOLLAR PARK VIEW PENTHOUSE - SEE THIS HOUSE

A $29.5 million dollar Park Avenue penthouse on the market - a holiday present for someone?  Anyone?  Anyone?

Listed by Sothebys agent Serena Boardman, this duplex two story home is 12 rooms - 5 bedrooms, 6 baths (3 full + 3 partial) in 6,286 sq. ft.

The apartment is on the 30 and 31st floor of a high end condominium building. 52 large windows, 10 foot ceilings, large rooms including a state-of-the-art kitchen, library and media room.

Love the light colored herringbone wood floors and the very architectural steel stair railing.

Take a tour...

Love the light colored herringbone wood floors in the main living room and bottom floor. (above)

Gleaming state-of-the-art chef's kitchen with stainless steel cabinets (above)

Very cool architectural steel railing on the stairs leading to the 2nd floor. (above)

City rooftop views and a glimpse of Central Park. (above)

2nd floor media room. (above)

Question I always have to ask...would you take it or leave it if money were not an issue but you could only have one home. Hmmm....thinking...I would take it for 5 years then give it to someone else. How does that sound?

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Working on 2014 COCOCOZY collection. Lots to do before the end of the year and so little time. Literally just days and counting.  Some new looks! So excited to share with you.  Will be able to give you a glimpse in January.

P.P.S. Must holiday shop every night this week. I am so behind! Arghhh... Also, have to plan my Christmas Eve dinner...now. Oy.

P.P.P.S. Had a nice weekend with TE. Went to drinks at the Polo Lounge on Friday evening with TE (had a cold glass of champagne and enjoyed the holiday mood at the Beverly Hills Hotel), on Saturday saw a movie with TE and his son EE (we saw The Hobbit!...Had never seen any of these movies and it was quite good), and on Sunday TE and I drove around the beach areas with the top down on TE's convertible (yes, we were driving with the top down on a 75 degree day in December). A nice relaxing weekend.  Should have done at least some of my shopping.  I did none!!!! Yikes.  Help.  Need a personal shopper (or I just need to get to it like most people)!

DEN DO OVER - THIS OR THAT

Neutral casual den (above)

Which version of this den do you like best.  Same room...two totally different looks.

The version of this room above is very neutral - white drapes, an off white solid rug, a leather mid century modern leather sofa and modern built ins and desk against the wall.

Below, the room's decor is punched up quite a bit with bold striped drapes, a vibrant blue rug, shiny brass accessories and more.

Which version of this room do you like best?

Bold den with an attitude (above)

Neutral/chic vs. Bold/attitude...which do you prefer?

Can you guess which version of this den is the later version? The do over so to speak?

Happy Thursday!

xo

Coco

P.S. COCOCOZY Pillow Giveaway - Head over to Interior Collective to read my guest post and find out how you can enter to possibly win a COCOCOZY Pillow!

Photos: House & Home

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

TWO FACED ROOM

Cute modern den with mid century touches...charcoal gray wall on one side and white painted walls with windows on the other.  One side is moody (in a good way) and warm, the other is bright and cheerful.

One room...two faces...didn't know rooms could change moods so easily!

Face #1 - Charcoal gray wall makes a the den feel quite cozy! (above)

Face #2 - White walls and curtainless windows make the other side of this room feel bright and light. (above)

Do you think this two toned look works in this apartment decor? Like or dislike?

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco



Photos: Planete Deco

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

BEFORE & AFTER: A VIRGINIA FAMILY ROOM REDO!

I love a decor before and after.

I like the idea of transforming a space...taking something old, re-purposing it and making it into something new.  Simple concept and it works for me every time.

So lucky me that I got an email last week from Christine K. from Virginia interior design firm JWS Interiors.  Christine was sharing the pictures of a family room in 5500 square foot Northern Virginia that had been redecorated for a family of 4 and their dog.

When the family wanted a fresh modern update to their old den, they called in interior designer Jennifer Wagner Schmidt from JWS to do the job.

Jennifer immediately said good bye to the mustard yellow paint on the walls and changed it out for a neutral gray.  The exposed brick fireplace had also been painted yellow but in the redo the fireplace is put into relief by being painted a bright pure white.  The old traditional furniture was exchanged out for pieces with cleaner more contemporary lines and a striped rug was added in to ground the space making it a pleasant spot to hang out in.

A picture tells a thousand words...so I'll let you take a look at today's BEFORE & AFTER!

Before (above)

After! (above)

What do you think of this before and after?  What change do you think works the most?  Please do tell!

I like the new gray color scheme and the transformation to the fireplace the best...a simple coat of paint makes all of the difference.

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco

TREND ALERT: TWO TONED SOFAS!

A small t.v. room - dueling white sofas with tan velvet seat and back cushions. (above)

I'm liking this trend...two toned sofas.

Take a white sofa and make the seat cushion (perhaps the back cushion too) just a tinge darker in a neutral tone. It is almost color blocking on sofas using the cushions!

I like this look.

A white modern sofa with a long linen colored seat cushion in an Atlanta den with charcoal gray walls. (above)

What do you think of this trend of two toned sofas...do you like or dislike? Is this a trend you can see incorporating into your own home?

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

Photos: Jean Allsopp; Atlanta Homes Magazine

THIS OR THAT: SOFA OR SECTIONAL!

Have been looking at a lot of sectionals lately...helping out a friend who asked a question about good looking sectional sofas.  I've never really thought about sectionals until the last few days.  I could never have one...not until I move out of my tiny tiny tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills...so I've never even pondered them.

Well, after looking around, I found quite a few sectionals I really liked.   So I ask myself...if I had a big space for a family room with a big family...would I go for sectional or sofa?

Here are two living areas (I think dens)...one modern and sleek with a huge sectional (above)...the other a little more traditional with a sofa and few armchairs (below).  Which do you prefer?  That's the question in today's THIS OR THAT!

So which of these rooms do you prefer...the sleek modern with the huge comfy sectional or the more classic with the traditional seating...do tell?

Also, please check out COCOCOZY Pinterest and my Fantastic Furniture board to see some of my favorite sectional picks!

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  I will be doing a giveaway on Tuesday...so stay tuned!

P.P.S.  I finally have a story planned in advance!  Woohooo.  Whoa hoa!  Woot woot!  Monday's post is going to be awesome...inside a chic Hollywood party with tips from a fab Los Angeles trendsetter.

P.P.P.S.  This week, have been drinking vegetable juice from a local juice bar...lips are dry...is that weird?  Feel healthier but have dry lips.  I know...strange...

P.P.P.P.S.  Too much information...I know.

P.P.P.P.P.S.  If you know where the first photo comes from, please let me know...I saved it the other day and did not save the source!  I will update source below if anyone lets me know! Update: Thank you to reader AmyK for leaving a comment that jogged my memory on the source for the first photo. It has been added!



Photo source: Kelly Behun; Estee Stanley