HOW TO DESIGN ODD SHAPED SPACES

A small bay window nook is transformed into a home office for two with a built in desk and white Panton chairs. (above)

Unless you live in a castle or mansion (my dream), the concept of maximizing space usually comes into play when decorating a home (my reality).  The question is...what should one do with small odd size spaces?  Lots of people just leave these spaces empty or put a chair and small table in them and call it a day.

I say...why not make the most of those odd shaped spaces in your home?

Here are some tips:

1. Embrace the odd shape - Don't fight against it...if you have an unconventionally shaped space, do not fight against the odd lines or strange foot print...embrace it.  Be open to changing your ideas of how a space should look or be used.

2. Use built ins - An odd shaped space usually means that most regular furniture will not fit.  Use cabinetry that can attach to walls...furniture that becomes part of the architecture.

3.  Define the space with a little drama - Use wallpaper, tile, a bold rug or some sort of accent to define the odd shaped space.  Why not show off your ingenious use of space? If you can figure out how to cleverly use a difficult space, you should celebrate it and set it apart.

Small white kitchen squeezed under a staircase. (above)

A strangely angled wall is turned into a cute laundry room with zig zag tile backsplash (above)

Which of these spaces is your favorite?  I like the laundry room and the kitchen...clever use of space!

Happy Friday!

xo

Coco

P.S.  COME SEE ME IN HIGH POINT! - Am off to show off my COCOCOZY rug collection again! Am leaving tomorrow morning for a whirlwind trip to High Point, North Carolina for market.  I'll be doing a meet and greet at the Capel Rugs showroom...talking with designers, buyers and press about the COCOCOZY collection of rugs.  If you are going to High Point Market, please stop by the Capel Rugs Showroom at Market Square on  Sunday, October 20th between 10a-2p to say hi.  I would love to meet you in person!

P.P.S.  Been a long week...slept on a bench two nights...can explain later! :-)  Welcome to my world!



Photos: Buckingham Interior Design; Johanna Ekmark

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

MY NEW NAVY LOUIS CHAIR - COCOCOZY OFFICE DECORATING!

Here's a new addition to COCOCOZY Headquarters (HQ) in Beverly Hills!  A side chair with an oval back upholstered with my own fabric from the COCOCOZY fabric collection.  A little navy chair.  At first I wasn't sure I liked it but now I'm loving it!

My little tiny tiny office is starting to come together!

I went with a dark blue matte finish for the chair and chose navy COCOCOZY Logo linen on the front and COCOCOZY Fence in navy on the back.  The dull matte finish is a nice contrast to the glossy white desk I think and my vintage brass Stiffel lamp.

The Louis Side Chairs is from Ballard.  Ballard's p.r. people asked me to customize my own chair earlier this fall.  So I did. I chose the fabric from our collection and the color, CM who runs operations at COCOCOZY sent the fabric to them and just yesterday Jenn West (aka JW) who assists at COCOCOZY HQ took these photos (great photos JW!) with the huge NSR camera I bought last year that I never use.  Well it got put to good use yesterday. &nbsp

What do you think of our little office addition?  Like or dislike?

Happy Thursday!

xo

Coco

P.S.  Am blogging this morning from my sister DS's warm comfy house after my unplanned move out of my cold water damaged house yesterday.  Feel very lucky to have a cute sweet nice older sister (she is 10 months older than me) who told me as I moved several huge suitcases into her house, "this is your home".  Mr. Boo, my dog, is also here.  He's welcomed too but if he chews anything up he will have literally worn out his welcome.  Watch it Mr. Boo. (see yesterday's post if you don't know what happened)

P.P.S.  My mom has been so fantastic through this whole thing.  She knows I've been stressed but she continues to give good advice about solving the problem.

P.P.P.S.  I mentioned silver linings yesterday.  In the middle of the move, one of my moving guys said to me..."Lady, how old are you?".  I asked, "How old do you think."  He said, "Oh maybe 19, 20 or 21".  This nice moving guy made my day!  I'd like to point out that he said this at the beginning of the 7 hour moving odyssey...and while I was tapping my feet and looking at my watch the whole time and I even started loading boxes and furniture, this moving guy's age comments worked.  Somehow, I was not at all annoyed that a 4 hour move turned into a 7 hour ordeal.  Flattery will get you everywhere!

P.P.P.P.S.  Thank you for all of your nice emails about my house...you are so sweet.  I will be more than fine.  As I said, this is merely an inconvenience...a hiccup in life...a very challenging hiccup...but a hiccup.  Seeing the news of all of the families mourning in Newtown has helped me keep great perspective over the last few days.  Again, my thoughts, condolences and deepest sympathies go out to them.

P.P.P.P.P.S.  Must go buy storage today for sis DS's house...I brought so much stuff over...if I don't organize it, I will wear out my welcome I'm sure!!!

P.P.P.P.P.P.S.  TE is leaving today for a week. He is going to Europe to see his family. In the middle of all my house craziness chaos, last night we managed to exchange Christmas presents.  He is so sweet.  He got me something for the vacation we're taking next week. Was nice taking a breather from construction and moving to enjoy the holiday.  We're going to Beaver Creek for New Years.  We'll stay with best of friend FF and her family in their huge home and then we'll go to a resort for 3 days.  Can't wait.

P.P.P.P.P.P.P.S. UPDATE ON COCOCOZY LUCITE TRAYS - Not too late to order these trays before the holiday or as a Christmas gift, a present for yourself or housewarming gift. We have them back in stock and can overnight ship to you so they make it in time!

WEEKEND PHOTO!

This weekend I'm doing two things:

1. Working on all things COCOCOZY
2. Going to see Skyfall on Saturday with JLF and NC - I am a huge James Bond 007 junkie...this is a must see.

Since I've got work on the mind, this writing desk would make a nice place to work. Lovely little place to get things done.

I need to get a lot done as I am planning some fun travel for the end of the year hopefully!

How are you spending the weekend?

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco


Photo: Casamidy

THE BLACK & WHITE OF WORKING AT HOME!

A cute black and white home office. Right?

I found it on Norweigan blog Stylizimo.  Such a cute blog created by a 30 something year old Norweigan stylist/designer.

The clear two toned color scheme makes the space crisp and clean. Easy to think big in this cute little organized work area.

The Eames molded chairs are a great style addition. I also like all of the framed typography prints, striped black and white upholstered bench, the DIY deer head with antlers taped onto the wall, and the chalkboard calendar.  Notice how a few sprigs of dry wheat grass on the desk subtly compliment the wicker wastebasket.  Small touches and details throughout that really work.

What do you think of this little home office?  Any tips you can share about your own home office design?  Please comment below.

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Went a cute b-day party for AG...her husband TG planned it.  Got a quick chance to catch up with AS and JH there too.  Lots of funny stories told. :-)

P.P.S.  Good news!  I had mentioned a few weeks back that an entertainment company (a cable network) was thinking of buying COCOCOZY Throws for their corporate gifting.  Well some good news!  They just placed the order yesterday.  Now we are in full on production mode.

P.P.P.S. Finally found the light fixture we are buying for COCOCOZY HQ in Beverly Hills. I love calling our small two room space headquarters...there is an element of irony to it. Anyhoooo...our HQ is going to have quite a cute chandelier in the front room. CM is ordering it today! Wooohoooo!!!! It will come in about 4-6 weeks. The HQ decorating is taking forever because we keep getting sidetracked. We moved in mid May and waited 12 weeks for our main pieces, now we are on a slow but sure mission to fill in the office decor details. Hmmmmm...maybe this black and white theme would work at COCOCOZY HQ too. Will share pictures of the progress soon.

MY FOUND BOTANICALS! (AND A SNEAK PEEK OF OUR NEW OFFICE FURNITURE)

All photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

So...was rummaging through some closets in my tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills this past long weekend...not really cleaning anything out...really just rummaging...looking for stuff...I actually was looking for some stories I had written years ago about my Grandmother.  While rummaging, I happened upon these...

They are botanical prints  that I bought in London maybe 8 years ago.  I bought them at the Portobello Market in Notting Hill while wandering through the market with some friends.  They were about $10-$25 USD each and one of them has "circa 1870" penciled in by the merchant on the back.   If it is true, they are antiques.

I bought these botanicals, brought them back the U.S. to be framed, put them on a counter I'm sure, and then into a closet for safe keeping and then tah dah here they are...years later.

I chose this plant and flower prints for their colors. I liked the tropical plants...the palm tree is my favorite and then I loved the bright orange red color of the mums and the soft yellow of the Acacia flower.

Such a fun surprise to find these pretties...tucked away in a closet...treasure hunting at home I guess!

Which of these do you like? How would you group together on a wall? Do you like botanical prints in home decor or as art? Do tell.

I will get these framed. The question is what kind of frame to put them in? The other thing I was thinking is that I could have them pressed inside a lucite coffee table tray or something...hmmm...thinking... Help!

Happy Thursday!

xo
Coco

P.S. COCOCOZY HQ Office Furniture Update - We got some more furniture yesterday at COCOCOZY HQ in Beverly Hills - 2 huge book cases and a desk were delivered yesterday afternoon! Have been waiting for 12 weeks for this furniture to arrive.  I picked out these pieces back in June or May I think...and because we wanted some customization as far as colors it took 3 months for the items to arrive.  It was a game of patience waiting for these goodies.   We also got a cool outdoor table from France a few weeks ago (it is not shown here) and that is our main conference table.  Went straight to COCOCOZY HQ after work last night to see our newest office furniture.  I immediately took these blurry pictures. Reminder...the office is small small small...the furniture just came yesterday...nothing has been put on shelves...nothing has been styled...but I think we'll be able to work with these new pieces.  I like them! Again, sorry for the blurry pictures...it was getting dark outside and the light was low.

Wood desk that arrived yesterday with custom white lacquer and one of my brass vintage Stiffel lamps. (above)

One of the super tall cases I had custom painted for the COCOCOZY HQ...just came in yesterday so we have to figure out our storage bin situation right away. (above and below)

The COCOCOZY HQ is oh so tiny...we now have to get rid of the temporary furniture we've been using -- you can see a bit of it here on the bottom right. (above)

P.P.S. We are still waiting on a few more pieces but wanted to share the latest. Most people who are smart and coy only share the before and after....I can never wait that long...so does that make me not smart and not coy?  Over Sharing Syndrome (OSS) kicking in as usual!! Wooohoooo....! Let me know what you think.



All photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

DESIGN FIND: STUDYING A PERFECT PIECE OF FURNITURE!

Dering Hall - Montresor Desk - $13,923 (From designer Jiun Ho a desk with sandblasted walnut trim and cinnamon metal trim.)(above)

I think this desk is quite posh.  Very stylish for a well appointed home office or study. Something both modern and traditional about it.  A well designed piece of furniture...with sleek elegant lines and just the right amount of detail. I would pair it with a traditional Louis XVI side chair, a wonderful vintage brass Stiffel lamp with a dark shade, some lacquer desk accessories and a little vase of white peonies...work space perfection I believe.  A brilliant piece from San Francisco designer Jiun Ho (I had the pleasure of meeting Jiun last year at some showhouse event)!

A must have...realize also must have $13K as well...some day!

What do you think of this desk?  What does your ideal home office work area looking like?

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco