BRICK WALLS - PAINT OR LEAVE EXPOSED - THIS OR THAT

Charming exposed brick wall in a Los Angeles living room (above)

My friend A.Ro. sent me some photos awhile back of the adorable NYC apartment she moved into. The apartment is perfect and what makes it even better is that it has great exposed brick walls.  I love the look of exposed brick - charming, so full of character.

Found these photos of painted brick walls as well...got me thinking...to paint or not to paint exposed brick?  That is the question.  If you had a brick wall in your place...would you leave it exposed or paint it?

Black brick wall in a small loft apartment (above)

A large loft apartment is made to look sleek and modern with a white brick wall. (above)

I think I like a white brick wall or the classic exposed brick the best.  You?

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco

P.S. COCOCOZY Flash Sale - Our Chain cotton pillow below is 35% off on our new COCOCOZY Flash Sale page today.  Only a few of these pillows available at a super reduced price with free shipping.  If you didn't hear the Valentine's Day announcement about our Flash Sale page...every week I'll choose a pillow style (limited number) or items from the COCOCOZY Collection and put them on super duper sale.  This is new.  Trying it out for a bit.  So make sure to check in to see what is on sale!

P.P.S.  Spent a fantastic long weekend in Ojai with my lovely guy TE.  He took me there for a spa getaway.  Follow along on COCOCOZY Instagram to see more of those personal photos from our trip!  I also share a few of my favorite Ojai spots later in the week here on the blog.

Photos: Nickey Kehoe; Jason Busch, The Names Agency

SEE THIS HOUSE: A MULTI MILLION DOLLAR NEW YORK CITY LOFT EXPOSED!

I found it. Yoohoo! Yay! Wow! I found my dream apartment in New York City.

It is somewhere on the border between Soho and Tribeca...so I would be close to my best of friend AM who lives in Soho. It is bright, cheerful, modern with just a touch of old world architectural charm.

The penthouse apartment is located at 50 Lispenard Street inside a building built back in 1866 that has been perfectly converted.

This 1900 square foot, 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath NYC loft like apartment is listed for sale by Eklund Stockholm New York for $4.55 million dollars - I think this may be considered affordable by New York standards.  Note to self: come up with $4.55 million dollars immediately before this place is snatched up.

A private elevator lets you out into this upper floor apartment. It has 18 foot ceilings, a skylight in the living room, floating staircase, a glass bridge on the upper floors, 8 inch plank heated wood floors and so much more! Did I mention the gorgeous outdoor decks and terraces some with amazing city views?

Enough said...I'll let the pictures expose all in this lovely city space.

Modern art and furniture contrast nicely against the exposed brick in the home's open great room area. (above)

I love this sleek modern cooking area! A Valcucine kitchen with a Subzero refrigerator, Viking cooktop and Kuppersbusch oven, built in Miele Nespresso machine, glass counters and cabinetry. (above)

The floating staircase, 8 inch plank light wood floors, and the glass skylight above make the living room bright and airy. (above)

How many people have a decked terrace with a jacuzzi in their NYC apartment?  The large over sized woven furniture and the Panton chairs are nice additions to the outdoor living space. (above)

The master bedroom offers floor to ceiling windows/glass wall that leads out onto a little private balcony with a big view. (above and below)

The master bathroom features a custom vanity with extra long sink, imported Italian marble and glass on the floors, Hansgrohe fittings and faucets, double steam rain showers,  and a deep stand alone Duravit soaking jacuzzi tub - all with amazing city views. (above)

The hallway between the bedrooms on the second floor features a glass floor walkway bridge. (above)

The guest bedroom - just the right size for kids room or family and friends (above)

Okay...so what do you think of my new dream apartment? Love it or hate it? Do tell.

I even like the furniture they've chosen which includes some wonderful midcentury classics by Eames and Mies van der Rohe. Nice.

Now it is your turn to weigh in on this million dollar New York real estate listing. Comment below please!

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S. I had a very good weekend...in fact it was amazing. Hope you had a good one too.

P.P.S. Oh...Happy Columbus Day to those of you who have it off. I do not. I have to work. Enjoy the day for me please!


Photos: esny

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

DESIGN IDEA: PAINTED BRICK!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating getting rid of classic exposed brick walls in interior design and decor BUT...I do love this painted gray brick here around the arched doorway on the columns in the modern kitchen.

So elegant and calming I think. Lots paint exposed brick white but I'm liking this gray.

What do you think? Should we leave exposed brick alone or does this gray painted brick work for you!

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  One week from now, I'll be at the New York International Gift Fair setting up the COCOCOZY booth!  This is my fouth time showing the collection in NYC.  So exciting and nerve wracking at the same time!

P.P.S.  Going to dinner tonight with some fun friends...lots of couples...nice couples...need a date...any ideas...I am open for suggestions? :-)

P.P.P.S.  Follow along on COCOCOZY Pinterest please!  See my new pins!

Photos: Ty Larkins

EXPOSING THE DETAILS IN A LONDON APARTMENT! (AND A GLIMPSE OF COCOCOZY IN NANTUCKET)

Exposed brick in the kitchen of a London loft apartment! (above)

So the long holiday weekend is about to begin!  Happy Memorial Day weekend! I am so excited for a little time off. Best of friend AM and her hubby JE are going to be in Los Angeles for a week staying with me...they are bringing their adorable kiddies.  A family in my little tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills.  We'll all be very very cozy! It should be a fun long weekend and a great week too. I have been sprucing up things around the house and on the outdoor living spaces in anticipation of their arrival. Major construction things that only I will notice have changed...but the house looks tidier with a new fence, new gates, new paved side walkway, new side deck, newly painted main deck, a dry walled sky light in the bedroom and a reupholstered den sofa! Phew. Still a lot more to do but am on my way with making the house perfect for summer parties.

Anyhooo...enough about me...and onto this very cute London loft apartment. I like it because of the white washed exposed brick throughout. The brick wall adds so much character, texture and visual interest to the space. I like.

Take a look!

An open plan living room dining room area gets a boost of character with white washed exposed brick walls.  Love the long white dining table and the French metal cafe chairs. (above)

More of the kitchen...with the round edge stainless steel island countertops, great metal swivel stools and a mirror over the kitchen sink! (above)

Perfection - a dark wood canopy bed with a trunk at its foot with a brick wall providing the backdrop. (above)

Do you like this apartment? If so what stands out to you? If someone said you could put brick walls in your house or apartment and it would somehow work...would you want an exposed brick interior wall? I would and I would paint it white or white wash it! Please do tell.

Also, I definitely want to know what you are doing this Memorial Day weekend. Any fun plans?



P.S. Got an email this morning that made my day. It came from Jillian Fraker. Jillian is the daughter of Debbie Fraker who owns and runs a chic home furnishings shop in Nantucket named The Lions Paw. Debbie and Jillian were some of the first customers to buy a lot of COCOCOZY textiles to feature in their store last year. Well they sold out in the summer of 2011 and made a very nice order in 2012. We sent their huge shipment off a week or two ago and they just received the shipment (takes a bit for things to get to the tiny island of Nantucket). Jillian sent me an email they liked all of their new COCOCOZY pillows! The email was titled "Crazy for Coco at The Lions Paw - Nantucket" and there were several photos attached of their beautiful store. Here's a look at COCOCOZY in Nantucket.

COCOCOZY Quatrefoil and Circle Chevron pillows on display near a white dresser at the Lions Paw in Nantucket! (above)

COCOCOZY Vent  and Fence pillows mix in wonderfully with a bed display at the Lions Paw. (above)

An arrangement of COCOCOZY pillows in light blue and sage stand out in a beautiful color coordinated display. (above)

The Lions Paw in Nantucket with COCOCOZY pillows featured throughout! (above)

P.P.S.  Thank you Jillian for sending in those photos.  They made my day!  Glad we made it to you in time for the long weekend.

P.P.P.S.  Readers, I want to hear what you have planned for the long weekend...are you traveling or staying home?  Are you relaxing or getting projects done?  Do share!

Photos: 1st Option; The Lions Paw (Jillian Fraker)