TALE OF A TWO TONED KITCHEN

A color blocked kitchen in gray and white! (above)

Oooohhh...I like this modern farm style open floor plan kitchen, den, dining room from Dan Scotti Design.  Two toned walls and cabinets make a huge design statement.  I love the high ceilings, charcoal gray wood paneling and the clerestory windows.  So much light but effectively incorporates a rich dark color.

So many styles mixed in one space but they work...the farmhouse style feeling kitchen with its gray (maybe soapstone counters), the rustic country knotty pine wide plank wood floors, the Palm Beach like rattan furniture in the den and then the mid century dining table and Hans Wegner chairs in the dining room.  Doesn't feel like all  of those styles should work together but they do.

Nice, bright, airy, convivial space.  Perfect for cooking big meals and inviting lots of people over.

The kitchen island features gray soapstone counters and white cabinet doors framed in a light gray....love the see-through glass door refrigerator too! (above)

The farm house kitchen sink in white and with a lovely picture window (above)

The kitchen with its knotty pine hardwood floors also opens up to the dining room with a mid-century modern table and Hans Wegner chairs. (above)

Mosaic tile backsplash covers the wall behind the stove and sink. (above)

So what do you think of this two toned kitchen?  Like or dislike?  What might you add to it or take away.

I would leave it as is...although I might change out the round pendant lights...not sure but I might.

Happy Wednesday.

xo
Coco

P.S.  Soooo many of you have asked about the turquoise painting in my living room featured on Monday's post.  I went to the artist and will reveal who it is by tomorrow and more of his latest work!  Please stand by.

Photos: Dan Scotti Design

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

WEEKEND PHOTO!

Cute living room. This one is in an old train depot converted into an apartment in Hamburg, Germany. Nice sleek open floor plan where you can see through from the living room to the dining room right into the kitchen.

A chrome arched Arco floor lamp looms over a modern living space.  Camel colored most likely vintage leather and chrome chairs and a pink Ligne Roset sofa.  Love the pale aqua painted backsplash in the kitchen in the distance.

Note to self: must find train station to convert into a cute modern living space.  Design on track! :-)

Happy Saturday!

xo
Coco


Photo: Vartnyahem

BIRD'S-EYE VIEW!

Light knotty wood floors and a striped black and white wall make a statement in this living room from this angle. (above)

A bird's-eye view of living rooms. Love the perspective of viewing any room from up above. Great way to see how the room's floor plan flows and just cool to get to see a space from an angle that gives you the big picture - an interior aerial of sorts!

Here are four very different spaces...each with their own appeal...a glimpse from above.

A D.C. townhouse beautifully designed by Lauren Liess features exposed brick, black trimmed French doors and a nice fireplace. (above)

Non traditional use of color in this Watermill, NY home works but to balance the designer here kept the seating arrangement in the living very simple and traditional. (above)

Looks like this modern living room has concrete floors, sleek modern sectional sofa, a hot pink credenza and disappearing glass walls that expose a gorgeous hillside view! (above)

Which of these bird's-eye views do you like best?

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Ground Level View on Pinterest - If you would like to see what a few of these rooms look like from down below at ground level, go to COCOCOZY Pinterest. While there, follow along and check out some of my latest pins!

P.P.S.  Loving the Olympics. I am so inspired by these athletes. Perseverance and hard work paying off! Two things: 1.  I feel like I'm turning into a total sap though.  Every time someone wins I cry, every time someone tries really hard I cry, and every time someone loses, I cry.  What's wrong with me?; 2. Have started doing sit ups every time I'm watching the games...makes me feel like I'm doing something!

P.P.P.S.  Running hither and thither lately...will share some fun photos soon.

P.P.P.P.S.  I am prepping for the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF).  This will be the fourth time I'm showing in NYC.  We just shipped all of our COCOCOZY throws to NY for the COCOCOZY booth yesterday. The fair is 3 weeks away and am still terrified they won't get there! Paranoia! :-)  I'm so jittery about not having goods to show that I hand carry about 150 pillow covers with me to the show each time!

P.P.P.P.S. New to Market - Speaking of the NYIGF...COCOCOZY reader and new friend Beata Henrichs is showing her super duper collection of "throw beds" for the first time at the show. Her line is called Hedge House. The throw beds are totally chic long floor pillows of sorts that you can use inside or out. They are quite fabulous. This is Beata's first show and I am so excited to see her collection...she'll be right down the aisle from the COCOCOZY booth. I've pinned some images of the Hedge House throw beds onto COCOCOZY Pinterest so please check them out.  I predict that these throw beds are going to be a must have in home furnishings!


Photos: Ty Larkins; Lauren Liess Interiors; Eve Robinson; Michael Wells Photo