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

THE MOST EXPENSIVE HOME IN AMERICA - SEE THIS HOUSE

Aerial view of the highest priced home in the country (above)

A $190 million dollar home! Yes it is true.  Built in 1898, this 13,500 square foot mansion sits on 50 acres of land and boasts about one mile of shore front.  It is called Copper Beech Farm.  Located Greenwich, CT, a town known for its unbelievable mansions, the real estate listing says this home "has no peers".

Listed by Christies International Real Estate, this estate has 12 bedrooms, 7 full baths, 2 partial baths, a 12 foot ceilings in the main rooms, paneled library, pool and pool house, greenhouse, a beach, a carriage house, grass tennis court, a separate staff kitchen and spectacular water views.

The home was originally purchased by the Lauder Greenway family in 1904.  Harriet Lauder Greenway whose father helped Andrew Carnegie found U.S. Steel apparently sold it to timber tycoon John Rudey about 30 years ago.  Rudey now, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal a few months back, is selling the Victorian French Renaissance mansion because his children are all grown.

Stone towers flank the front door of this Greenwich, CT mansion. (above)

Dining room with carved ceilings and wood paneled walls. (above)

The wood paneled library with fireplace is fitting for multi million dollar home. (above)

A garden gate on the grounds of the 50 acre property (above)

The pool and spa in the backyard overlook the Long Island Sound. (above)

Wow.  Wish I could see more views of the upstairs bedrooms in the home.  Need to assess whether I would spend my $190 million dollars here.  Now...let's say there was a nice person who decided to give me this grand manse, I would take it in a minute...dress it up a bit and settle in right by the pool or walking the gardens.  Would be a great place for parties too.  Anyone offering this home to me?  Hello?  Anyone???

Would you take it or leave it? Do tell!

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

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

INSPIRED ROOMS

I love this home's main living spaces...the living room and the library. Lots of light, just the right amount of texture via plants/decorative pillows/books, great flooring (parquet wood floors and a fantastic rug in the library), neat compact white furniture (a slipcovered sectional sofa in the living room and bench loveseat in the library)...and throw in a little high style in the form of a moulded Eames rocking chair in the living room.  Nice.

These two rooms were the inspiration for our new COCOCOZY Lucite Tray in vibrant green and white pictured below.  Fresh rooms...I wanted the trays to reflect that!

COCOCOZY Lucite Tray - Coco's Flower in green! (above)

Perfect little home library...with a white bench style loveseat, lots of light from a large window and lots of books! (above)

What do you think of these rooms?

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Notice that neither room feature drapery on the windows. Do you think drapes or curtains are a necessary element in a room?  I go back and forth on this!


Photos: Jonas Ingerstedt

RESTRAINED DESIGN - A WELL EDITED HOME!

When I typed the word "restrained" into my search engine (I am a Google girl all the way), here's what came up as far as a definition:

re-strained
Adjective:
1. Characterized by reserve or moderation; unemotional or dispassionate.
2. (of color, clothes, decoration, etc.) Understated and subtle; not excessively showy or ornate.

Merriam-Webster defines the word "restrained" as "not excessive or extravagant"

Today I bring you a post directly from the pages of this month's Architectural Digest.  A home conceived by renowned interior designer Darryl Carter and architect Donald Loccoco.  I like this house.  Its decor is elegant, simple classic and most of all restrained.

To me "restrained" in decor means well edited.

This home is in the suburbs of Washington D.C.  It would make a very comfortable but stylish family home. Good architectural bones, well curated combination antique and new furniture, a neutral palette...and tah dah.

I'm loving the work of Darryl Carter...I'm not the only one though...his work is always noteworthy it seems! He could be my next design crush...let's see we have Jonathan Adler, Casamidy and now Darryl Carter on the crush list. How many design crushes can one girl have? Anyone? Anyone?

Anyhooo...take a peek at this home.

What do you think? Like or dislike? Too restrained or just right? Any ideas here you might want in your home?

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

P.S. I am on a plane right now. It is Thursday night actually. Am in business class (thank goodness). Am heading to New York to show the COCOCOZY home furnishings collection for the fourth time at the New York International Gift Fair. I like the fair...the whole thing - the set up (tiring but fun), the show (time for me to chitter chatter endlessly with people...in my element), and the dismantle (a little sad to see the COCOCOZY booth display go down but it is so cool to watch an entire village of mini showrooms shut down and pack up in a matter of hours). Me and the team (I have a team helping me this time) will set up tomorrow and hopefully just a little bit on Saturday and then on Sunday the doors of the textiles division at the Javits Center open and then COCOCOZY is at market on show! I can't wait.

P.P.S. Am a little tired. Feel a cold coming on. Zicam where are you? Vitamin C...I need you. :-)

P.P.P.S. Friend BN called me today...hadn't talked to him in awhile. He is like an older brother type. :-) We had a good brainstorming session on the COCOCOZY business!

P.P.P.P.S. Had a great dinner the other night before with JO and CS. We went to one of my favorite restaurants in Venice Beach...Gjelina. Nice evening.

P.P.P.P.P.S. Hope you have fun things planned for this weekend! xo

SEE THIS HOUSE: A $23 MILLION PARK AVENUE STUNNER!

The wood paneled library with arched windows and fireplace in a multi million dollar NYC listing. (above)

What do you get for $23 million dollars on the Upper East Side of New York City? Let's see...a home for sale with 6,700 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 4 .5 baths, a few staff rooms, hardwood floors, high ceilings and a total blank canvas to make into a home of your own.

This NYC co-op is listed by Sotheby's International Realty and I think they made the right choice not to stage it with a bunch of furniture.  I like the idea of dreaming and envisioning how this home could look with just the right furniture and an endless decorating budget...one can dream...right?

So today I bring you a multi million dollar listing in New York in SEE THIS HOUSE:

The foyer with a grand stair case! (above)

Love the parquet wood floors and the chandeliers in this fab living room. (above)

A well appointed kitchen with Carara marble counters, stainless steel appliances, wood floors and recessed panel white cabinets. (above and below)

The dining room or could make a nice family room with the fireplace. (above)

A very large master bedroom with fantastic sunlight, paneled walls and decorative molding. (above)

More marble, a drop in tub and a clear glass enclosed shower in the chic master bath. (above)

The floor plan for a $23 million dollar city apartment! (above)

Where do I find $23 million immediately?  So I always ask...would you take this apartment or leave it?  If you had the millions, would you be more inclined to buy it if it were staged with furniture or do you like it as a blank canvas?  What do you think?  Like or dislike?  I must know!

I would take this apartment in a heart beat!  It is elegant, simple, classic, not a lot of frills.  Perfect I think.  No questions (except where would I get $23 million)...I would just sign on the dotted line.  Here's to dreaming...

Happy Friday!

xo

Coco

P.S. Pretty morning here in the hills...cloudy, a little over cast...I have two meetings before 9a (a call and a meeting) and then off to work...must run!

P.P.S. Don't miss the post announcing the COCOCOZY Giveaway winners below.