BEVERLY HILLS BOUGAINVILLEA - WEEKEND PHOTO

Another photo from the Greystone Mansion garden in Beverly Hills.  Took this last weekend.   Love this glimpse of the garden with so many types of plants including this hot pink bougainvillea intertwined throughout the grasses.  An endless garden with a magnificent city view!

Happy Sunday!

Hope you are having a great weekend.

xo
Coco

WEEKEND PHOTO - GREYSTONE MANSION

Went over to a design show house at Greystone Mansion yesterday in Beverly Hills. Love snooping around a 46,000 square foot house and walking the grounds. No photos were allowed inside. I took this photo of a lily pond in the garden though. Lovely landscaping and architecture. The house was built in the 1920s by the Doheny family and it is quite an architectural wonder. TE and his son EE came with me. They seemed to have enjoyed the tour. We went to the Soho House after, had a late lunch, and played pool (yes, I tried to play pool...).

Hope you are having a great weekend. Seeing my mom later this morning...looking forward to it.

Happy Sunday!

xo
Coco

Photo: Photo in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

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

SECRET GARDEN - WEEKEND PHOTO

Happened upon this pretty last weekend. A charming enchanting intriguing mysteriously beautiful garden door and gate. Was roaming through the streets of Charleston, SC with a large group of friends (we were all there for TF and KF's fantastically lovely wedding). CCF, DH and I were taking our time walking through the streets while everyone else barreled ahead towards the shops. The guys were checking out the plaques on all of the houses to find out which was the oldest...I was furiously snapping photos. Trying to take all of Charleston home with me in my little camera it seemed. I paused and looked up from the camera screen and I saw this. A breathtakingly sweet black garden gate door, surrounded by an ivy covered wall and it was wide open.  Behind the gate...a mossy brick covered patio, a fountain in the distance I think, some iron furniture and lovely cobalt blue pottery.  Felt like a dream.  Oh how I wanted to just open that gate, walk in and take a seat and enjoy.  I did not...don't worry...

So now, back in Los Angeles, this is my weekend photos.  Memories of a lovely weekend past.

Happy Sunday!

xo
Coco

THROUGH THE CHARMED GATES OF CHARLESTON

Took a walking tour on Saturday of a very posh residential area in Charleston, SC.  Was with my dear best of friend FF and her wonderful husband CCF, dear of dearest friend JH and her far too charming husband DH, and very sweet friend JH and her so nice husband FH.  We were all in Charleston for a very warm and convivial weekend at TF and KR's lovely wedding.  In addition, it was so fabulous getting to spend lots quality time with my good friend FM and her super fun husband CM...and great seeing CF (who wore a gorgeous Valentino gown to the wedding), CF, E, RM and lots of others I hadn't seen in awhile.

One of best parts of the whole weekend was getting to hang out with my super cute god son CGF.  CGF danced with me at the wedding (standing in for TE who was back here in Los Angeles shooting some kind of commercial).  When we got on the dance floor for a slow dance, my 9 year old god son CGF whispered to me, "I don't know what to do. I've never done this before". I leaned down and said, "Just look up at me and move your feet back and forth and you'll be fine".  He was fine...more than fine.

Anyhoooo....hmmm.....I digress as usual...

Where was I...oh...Charleston.  Yes. Charleston.  What a stunning city. A jewel in the south.  I have to admit something right off...I have not spent too much time in the south...my favorite place being New Orleans...otherwise, I haven't had too much time exploring that region of the country...so when I was invited to this wedding and sent in my handwritten reply note, I had no idea what to expect...I really had no expectations...none.

Well I can tell you Charleston, South Carolina...is one of the most lovely cities I have ever been too...the nexus between small town charm and big city sophistication.

I caught a glimpse of myself in a car window as we were all walking from King Street downtown, over down Legare Street to see the stunning old mansions, then onto the Battery and to see the ocean view...I was so in awe of the residential architecture, the horse drawn carriages, the Palmetto trees swaying in the warm (slightly sticky) breeze, the adorable downtown filled with the most darling shops, that when I caught a glimpse of myself in the reflection of that car window, I saw a girl with her mouth wide open in awe, a huge happy smile on her face (in a beautiful setting with such lovely friends), looking up, moving along, feet back and forth...and like my little god son, she (me) was more than fine

So now I bring you a collection of photos I took of some of the homes and surroundings...looking through the magnificent gates of Charleston, SC.

The grand entrance to the historic Sword Gate House known of its ornate wrought iron gate. The mansion is currently for sale for $18.8 million dollars...see the real estate listing for this home here! (above)

A divine manicured garden with trimmed boxwoods and crushed gravel (above)

This stunning glossy black wood fence rivaled many of its iron counterparts in the neighborhood (above and below))

This scrolling wrought iron front gate was open just a crack to reveal an arched carved red door with checkered patterned marble path (above and below)

After all of the snooping behind gates...sightseeing and shopping were the order of the day...

So fun to see Charleston's version of a tour bus - horse drawn carriages! (above)

American revolutionary war statue of a commander named Moultrie in The Battery park overlooking the Charleston Harbor. (above)

Stopped into antique shop Birlant & Co and bought these vintage rock cut stemware glasses...the set of 6 was only $165 - so love these...they are being shipped to my house here in Los Angeles! (above)

Thank you FF and CCF for inviting me along on such a lovely weekend in Charleston!  Absolutely love my friends FF and JH - my dear dear friends for life!

Am back in Los Angeles, in my tiny little cottage in the Hollywood Hills, blogging, getting ready for work, to start the week...dreaming of all of the delightful things I saw this past weekend and all of the lovely people I spent time with...dreaming of my weekend in Charleston.

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Uh oh...just got on the scale...after several days of Charleston cooking (went to several nice restaurants)...various Southern delicacies (fried food), lots of grits and eating to my heart's content, I am two pounds heavier this morning!!!  ARGHHHHHH.  Okay...fruits and veggies...here I come!

All photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

CO-ED BABY SHOWER POWER

So I co-hosted a little baby shower this weekend for dear friend AG and her hubby TG.  It was a co-ed guys and girls, mixing together backyard style casual cute baby shower.

My co-hostesses were JH (sister to TG), AS, WH and KD.  The best co-hostesses ever!  The whole shower was planned on email.  LH and JH, TG's brother-in-law and sis, were kind enough to invite us to use their LOVELY home for the shower.  We decided to make use of their gorgeous backyard overlooking a golf course in Hancock Park.  AS did invites, JH did party decor as it was at her house, WH was in charge of party favors and games, KD had beverages and I was in charge of food.

Loved JH's party touches.  Colorful, festive and relaxed. She rented several picnic tables, orange market umbrellas, cute mason jars with yellow and orange Gerber daisies, clear fish bowl like vases filled with rubber duckies swimming along in blue water, a few navy COCOCOZY Logo Throws for anyone who would venture to lay out on the grass and then done!  Voila!  A warm and inviting environment for guests to spend a casual sunny Los Angeles afternoon.

WH decided on lovely summer half bottles of rose wine as party favors.  I ordered all of the food from Joan's on Third...an array of sandwiches, hors d'oeuvres, quiche, salads and other brunch lunch foods. KD put together a colorful self serve bar with sparkling water, lemonade, wine, champagne and beer.

Here are few scenes from our co-ed baby shower!

I think AG and her hubby TG had a good time.  It was certainly a relaxing lovely afternoon.  TE came with me; he enjoyed it all to...including the co-ed shower game where all of the guys had to line up and drink soda through baby bottles. TE did not win btw...LH, JH's hubby, got caught up on a technicality of a dripping bottle, and TG, the guest of honor, was a bit of slow poke - about 10 guys participated...only one drank the entire bottle!

AG and TG's baby is due in October.  Can't wait.  BTW...there were four other pregnant ladies at the shower including co-hostess AS.  Something is definitely in the water here in L.A.!

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Was so honored to be profiled on the Interior Collective blog the other day!  Check out the post here.  Also, ask me a design question on Interior Collective and you can enter to win a COCOCOZY pillow!

P.P.S.  Check out COCOCOZY Instagram and Twittter - @COCOCOZY - to see where TE and I went after the shower...from roof top to roof top.  Remember to follow me around the web to see more of what I'm up to.  Would love to hear from you too!


Photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

HOW TO MAKE A LIVING ROOM LARGER - DESIGN IDEA

Have a small living space? Here is a design solution for making it bigger.

It's simple...create an outdoor living space on an adjacent patio and mirror what is going on inside.

I like this small 2 bedroom home on the island of Majorca, Spain.  The owners took a very small open floor plan living room, dining room, kitchen combo and increased the size by using the outdoor space wisely.

Conventional design floor planning would probably have the furniture on the patio facing the garden.  In this case, the owners faced the outdoor furniture in towards the house...so when the large sliding glass doors are open...the conversation area of the living room is doubled!

Good idea I think!

The pretty much all white interior makes this small open floor plan living area seem larger...love the use of  natural materials like the tree stump stools and sea grass rug combined with the modern furniture. (above)

FLOOR PLAN (below)

The public living areas are to the right...the outdoor space almost doubles the size of the living room! (above)

To see the rest of this home click here.

What do you think of this design idea?  Any tricks you might have to grow a living room without doing a full remodel?  Please comment below!

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

Photos: Mi Casa Revista

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Wishing my fantastic mother, my godmother, aunts, cousins, dear friends and COCOCOZY readers who are moms a very Happy Mother's Day!  Took this photo this morning...went on the hunt in my neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills with TE, searching for the perfect flower to photograph for moms on Mother's Day.

Mother's Day makes me think of all of the unconditional love moms give and the touching sacrifices they make for their children.   My mother certainly has loved me and sis DS unconditionally and has given us so much loving support over the years.  She has always been there for both of us...loving and encouraging through everything good and bad.  A rock. Thank you to my own mom...I love you!

This holiday also makes me think of my dear sweet late grandmother.   She was an amazing mother of four and grandmother to many.  Like so many grandmothers and mothers do, my grandmother loved us, cooked for us, played with us, adored us, encouraged us and devoted her life to her kids and grand kids.  The cool thing about my grandmother was that while she loved her family and her own children dearly, she really opened up her heart and gave her love to anyone who wanted and needed it.  Her home was always bustling with dozens of people - many of whom were family and many of whom were people, friends, neighbors, even some near strangers who just called my grandmother "mom".

So a huge hats off to moms in general for all of what you do for your children whether they be young toddlers, playful kids, independent teenagers or grown adults!  Thank you!

Am spending the afternoon with my mom and sis.  Hope you have great plans too.

Happy Sunday!  Happy Mother's Day.

xo
Coco

Photo in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

ROCKING WORDS OF THE DAY!

Was at a garden store in Marina del Rey yesterday...plant shopping for the yard. I ended up finding some Boxwood topiaries to flank my front door at my cottage in the Hollywood Hills and some Silver Sheen plants for TE's deck overlooking the ocean.

When I went inside to pay, I saw these stones on the counter near the register.  They made me smile.  Don't know what you are actually supposed to do with these translucent white garden rocks but I like them!

Carpe diem, laugh, relax, believe, prosper and celebrate.  I agree.  Wholeheartedly!

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  TE is back from Paris!  So happy he is home!

P.P.S.  Two of my very good friends are getting married!  So excited for them.  Can't wait to attend the festivities.  Must stop eating today...so I can be skinny enough for the festivities...and must find cute outfit.  First world problem indeed!

Photo in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

WEEKEND PHOTO!

Cherries early morning in the Hollywood Hills (above)

This is my first weekend at home in 4 months.  Enjoying just being here.

I've been out of my little tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills due to construction for all of that time...emergency construction after water damage was discovered just days before Christmas.

Well now I'm back...still have lots of sprucing up to do on my little house but I am home!

A neighbor of mine had a little gathering/trunk show yesterday - she makes beautiful jewelry.  I wandered by.  Had a nice chat with several neighbors, caught up with all of what's been going on in the hood and even bought some jewelry.

This morning...I woke up...wandered down my stairs and across the little trail that is my street and took this photo.

Neighbors MR and JH have a cherry tree in their front yard.  The other day, when I arrived home from High Point, NC market, MR welcomed me back and said, "Did you see we have cherries?  You are welcome to eat some".  So early this Sunday morning...I took him up on his offer...I pranced down the stairs from my house, across the trail, plucked two bright red juicy cherries off the tree and ate them.  Delightful Sunday morning here in the Hollywood Hills.  Just delightful. Thank you MR and JH.

Happy weekend!

xo
Coco

Photo: Coco of COCOCOZY

SPRING BLOOMS IN MY HOME TOWN!

Went out to my hometown of Claremont, California yesterday for Easter.  Claremont is a small sweet Southern California college town.  Such a cute place it is...was happy to go home for the holiday.

Had a lovely Easter brunch with my very very nice sis DS (uh I add an extra very because I just found out my floors were done wrong at my cottage in the Hollywood Hills so I may have to stay with sis DS for two more weeks), my wonderful mother and the very sweet TE. We had a really nice time together. Good conversation and lots of warm laughter.

Before brunch, as TE and I drove into the little town square there we noticed a beautiful little park with gorgeous pink and purple flowering trees and plants. After our brunch, we stopped off to take photos. It was a bit of cloudy day and I was in light blue Easter dress and heels but I found myself somewhat inelegantly bending, stretching, standing with legs akimbo to get the best shot of all of the stunning blooms. It seems that TE is a better photographer than me though...for every 30 photos I took, he took one really beautiful one...hmmmm...note to self...take some photography lessons.  Anyhooo...here are some views of some lovely spring pink and purple blooms in the middle of Claremont. Some good ideas for my garden next spring!

I should dedicate this post to best of friend AM who loves the color pink and who has passed that love of all things pink onto her little boo boo daughter.  AM hope you enjoy this one!

 

Pink azaleas! (above)

Is this purple flower a lilac?  Please identify! (above)

I think the pink flowering tree is called an Empress tree....it was so beautiful. (above)

Hope you all had a nice weekend!

Happy Monday!

xo

Coco

P.S.  Have been eating non stop for the last 24 hours because Lent is over!  This year, I gave up corn, anything with flour, potatoes, sugar and dried mangoes for over 40 days.  Oy va voy.  This year was hard.  On Easter morning TE made me a cute basket complete with corn chips, an apple fritter, bundt cake from a delish bakery called Nothing Bundt Cakes, boxes of pasta, truffles, chocolate, jelly beans and a stuffed Easter bunny.  I spent the day nibbling at the basket and then finished off the day requesting pizza for dinner (which TE went out and picked up from a great place in Santa Monica).  Sounds crazy...I know...but 40 days without anything quite decadent in the food department would drive anyone crazy...right????  Or wrong???

Photos:  All photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVE!

Photo by Coco of COCOCOZY

I love Thanksgiving...such a wonderful time with family...enjoying good food...taking the time to reconnect.

I am making two pies (a sweet potato and an apple) for our family gathering at my mom's house. My hat goes off to those of you who are cooking an entire meal. My pies will take some time but nothing like a turkey and all of the sides!

Oh, the color of these leaves reminds me of fall. I took the photo a several months ago...actually back in the Spring...it is of the Japanese Maple in front of my house. Now there are barely any leaves on my little tree. I'm going to deck it with sparkle white lights for the holidays!

Anyhooo...what are you doing to prep for Thanksgiving tomorrow? Any fun plans tonight? How do you spend the night before a big holiday?

Hope you have a great Thanksgiving Eve.

Happy Wednesday.

xo
Coco

THIS OR THAT: OUTDOOR LOUNGING!

A gorgeous city balcony outdoor living room with plenty of comfy cushions and gorgeous views. (above)

Ahhh...summer is here. Yesterday marked the official beginning of summer and I am thrilled. I plan to spend the summer working during the day and in my free time I'll be working some more (such is the life having 2 full time things going on).  I do also plan to spend some down time though with friends and family (although I'm missing the family trip to Paris this year which also includes a jaunt over to Morocco...so sad I am missing out...!!!!). I also plan to spend a lot of time outside...soaking in the good weather, entertaining hopefully on my deck, taking a little time at the beach and for nice walks up and down the hills (some would call it hiking...I call it walking). Now don't get me wrong...I am not an "outdoors woman"...I will not be climbing Kilimanjaro, or biking from Los Angeles to SF, or competitive sailing...but I will be outside...doing some activities and doing a lot of lounging.

Here are three outdoor spaces where I'd be happy to lounge. They are all in homes and they all say "Come put your feet up here!". Which of these three outdoor living areas would be your ideal summer outdoor spot at home...?

A double wide backyard garden chaise lounge with striped cushions looks like an inviting spot. (above)

A modern pool area lounge with bright turquoise cushions matches the bright blue pool! (above)

Hmmm...let me see which do I like best?  I love the city setting with the marvelous views but I think I love the backyard garden the best with the double wide lounge...very cozy I think.

Which of these outdoor lounging areas do you prefer?  City, garden or poolside?  Where will you be spending most of your summer?

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco


Photos: Brian J. McCarthy; Windsor Smith; Tracey Overbeck Stead

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY & MY NEW GARDEN GATE!

All photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY.

Gorgeous fuschia bouganvillea in my garden! (above)

These photos were taken this morning...early...on this Memorial Day 2012.  A bouganvillea plant with bright pinkish flowers climbing up my new garden fence.

Best of friend AM is in town with her hubby JE and their two kiddies.  They left the comforts of their large New York City apartment to come visit Los Angeles and stay with me in my tiny tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills. We have been having a wonderful time.  Yesterday we spent the day hiking, at brunch, at the beach and then out to dinner.  Needless to say we are tired but happy!  The kids are adorable and it is alwasy great to spend time with dear friends.  This has been a fantastic holiday weekend so far.  I'll share more later in the week.

As an aside, in order to prep the kids on how small my house is, I strangely for some reason felt the need to tell them I lived in a "doll house".  Yesterday at brunch, the AM's cute kiddies told the very posh people we were dining  with, "Did you know she lives in a doll house?  It is sooooo small.  It is the tiniest house you've ever seen.  Really"...the people looked at me in wonder as if to say "Whoa...kind of weird...that grown lady lives in a doll house?  Bizarre."  Hmmm...

Anyhoooo...over the last few weeks I've been doing some construction on the garden and the side of the house because there were some major issues that were actually causing some water damage inside the house.  One of the things that was torn down was my old fence and gate that had gotten soaked by the sprinklers and were starting to rot.  In their places, I designed a new fence and gate  with white trim on top (similar to what I've designed for the rest of the house).  I am so pleased with my new white fence...my own take on white picket!

My garden this morning...we also added a hardscape flagstone stone path that leads to the side of the house. (above)

From my little cottage in the Hollywood Hills - California living :-)!

Would like to take a moment to remember why we get today off from work (and I get to spend time with friends and family).  Today is meant to honor those service people who have given their lives to protect the country.  Whenever I start to complain or think that my life is challenging, I do immediately and always consider the sacrifices and real hardships that others have undergone...and I recognize that instead of whining I should be thinking good thoughts for those who really need the help or who have really been courageous.   Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

All photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY.

WEEKEND PHOTO!

An outdoor dining area for breakfast, lunch or dinner...right in the middle of a lush garden. I like.

Can't wait until summer to do a little entertaining outdoors. Getting everything in shape in my own garden and yard to make things sparkle for summer dinner parties.

Hmmm...thinking...getting some ideas!

Where do you like to entertain and have meals during the summer...at home, outside, at a restaurant :-)? Do tell. Any tricks to doing an outdoor dinner right that you might want to share? Would love to hear.

Happy Saturday!

xo
Coco

Photo: Tammy Connor Interior Design