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

FLAWLESS PORCH DESIGN

Have guests coming in a week.  Arghhh....need to spruce up my outdoor living room.  Looking desperately for inspiration all around.

Found this delightful little outdoor patio with its gray floors, natural toned furniture and Moroccan inspired accents.

Can't quite achieve this look because I'm dealing with bulky brown teak furniture...but I do know I want to neutralize my current deck situation.  I spent most of Sunday morning scrubbing my teak furniture down to remove the teak oil.  I want it to go gray.

Here's my deck's old look...it is long gone though because my patio was pretty much a construction zone for the first 5 months of the year.  Need to breathe new life into my outdoor space.  The old look is a little too kitschy for me (getting rid of the turquoise accents, the cane rug got destroyed by construction crews earlier this year, and all of the stripes and prints will go)...need a more sophisticated outdoor space now....a soft neutral color palette to start.

JH is coming by early this morning to talk about repainting the exterior of my little tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills and refinishing the deck.  I hope he shows up!  I also want him to strip down the now brown stained deck and make it gray.

Have taken all my cushions over to JF to redo those...think I will chose a grayish/taupe color for the seat cushions and as the teak goes gray...things will blend nicely.

I like all of the subtle textures here on this lovely comfy looking porch with its living and dining areas.  Inspiration indeed.

So typical...it is the end of the summer and I am just now getting inspired to redo my outdoor space.  Am one beat behind! Of course.

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Sorry I didn't post yesterday!  Lots going on.  Doing a lot of thinking and figuring.  Hopefully a bright things in the future.

Photos: Concept by Anna

APARTMENT VERSUS ESTATE - OUTDOOR LIVING ROOMS 2

Another outdoor living room face off!  I am all about outside living spaces in the summer.  So this week I bring you two more outdoor living rooms to compare.

Last week the outdoor room choice was City versus Sea.  Most of you chose the sea outdoor deck.

Today, the face off is Apartment versus Estate.

The patio above is outside a New York City apartment.  The decor is sleek with modern white metal furniture, lots of neatly trimmed boxwood and ficus plants and a living wall of greenery.  Well manicured.

The outdoor living room below has softer edges with more traditional decor.  The metal furniture with big fluffy cushion sits under a white pergola.  A large Moroccan style coffee table, lots of cushy decorative pillows and black lanterns finish off the decor.

Which of these two patio living rooms do you prefer?  I feel like if I was having a party I would like the apartment version and if I was having a cup of tea and a good chat with a friend I would enjoy the estate living room.  The question really is though, which would you pick for your home?

Please do tell.

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Sorry I didn't post yesterday.  Lots brewing!  :-)  Will keep let you know what is up next week!


Photos: Nikolas Koenig; Windsor Smith

CITY VERSUS SEA - OUTDOOR LIVING ROOMS

Sea - A stunning outdoor living room on a deck overlooking the ocean! (above)

Summer...all I can think of is outdoor decor really. I love a beautiful outdoor space. Nothing like enjoying the outdoors with the comforts and design touches that we use inside our homes.

I like these two outdoor living spaces. One with a decidedly international flair and a striking ocean view and the other sits in a more controlled environment inside an elegant city brick wall townhouse courtyard. I like both for different reasons.

Which do you prefer...sea or city outdoor living room?

City - A cute structured outdoor courtyard in a London townhouse. (above and below)

I know I should chose the "sea" outdoor room for the views alone...but I think I might like the "city" look. Not sure though. Reason I chose the city is because I feel like this is a look that I could realistically have at some point. Realistic dreaming perhaps?

You? Which do you prefer? Weigh in please in the comments below.

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Grace Home Furnishings, one of my favorite posh home furnishing stores in Los Angeles, is having its annual clearance starting this weekend but COCOCOZY readers can start shopping the sale on Thursday.  So many chic offerings with discounts up to 75% off!  The official sale begins Saturday, June 8th.

Grace Home in Los Angeles is having its annual clearance sale with discounts up to 75% off! (above)

GRACE HOME FURNISHINGS
11632 Barrington Court
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Phone (310) 476-7176


Photos: Pia Ulin; Inspace Locations

SEE THIS HOUSE: A MODERN HOME RUN - BASEBALL STAR A-ROD'S $38 MILLION DOLLAR MIAMI HOME!

Listed for a mere $38 million dollars by Sothebys International, this Miami mansion is being sold by New York Yankees baseball star Alex Rodriguez (aka A-Rod).

Apparently A-Rod bought this waterfront home a few years back for $24 million...then had it re-done...and now he is selling the nearly 20,000 square foot estate at a premium.

This amazing modern home has 9 bedrooms, 11 baths, 2 partial baths, two private docks, a home theater and much more. 

Here's how this little ol' house is described on the Sotheby's website:

"What Miami dreams are made of. Stunning modern masterpiece with uninterrupted Biscayne Bay and skyline views minutes from South Beach on the island's most coveted residential street. Ultimate privacy guaranteed through gated, walled property line, 16 security cameras and 275 feet of water frontage with two docks. Contemporary, casual design with warm, organic materials including coral rock, white oak floors and Zen gardens make 20,000-plus square feet of over sized rooms feel like an intimate home. South Florida's famous indoor/outdoor lifestyle at its finest with covered terraces, vanishing edge heated pool, outdoor kitchen and rooftop deck. Hurricane-ready with thick impact glass and full-home generator. Standalone gym featuring steam room is fitness fanatic's paradise. Entertain to impress with gourmet kitchen, home theater and surround sound throughout. This is a one of a kind, once in a lifetime residence."

A spectacular view of the water from one of the home's living rooms. (above)

The den seems to have its own open ktichen. (above)

The game room! I notice an Eames chair over on the left! (above)

The master bath features glass walls. (above)

A cozy home theater boasts a huge screen and a super long sectional sofa. (above)

The views of Miami from the outdoor bar lounge area in the backyard. (above)

The very sleek and modern exterior view of the home...a perfect picture! (above)

What do you think of this modern Miami mansion?  Do you like or dislike?  Would you take it if someone offered it to you?

I have never considered living in Miami at all...ever...but if someone just happened to gift me this gem, I'd move...in a heartbeat.  Hello Miami!

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S. A side note is that on that t.v. show the X-Factor...they have been using A-Rod's house and calling Simon Cowell's home where he auditions contestants.  It looks great on television!

P.P.S.  Had a fun weekend again...was out every night since Thursday...so I am a little tired.  Last night, I went to dinner at a place in West Hollywood called Laurel Hardware...it is awesome. Also had a nice dinner at Mr. Chow on Friday.  The best and most lovely night of all was on Saturday at Cafe Stella in Silverlake. It was like I was on a restaurant tour of L.A. this weekend!

P.P.P.S. Hope you have a nice week ahead!

WEEKEND PHOTO!

Outdoor living at its best. :-)

Happy Saturday and happy weekend!

xo
Coco

Photo: Daniella Witte

THIS OR THAT: POISED PORCHES!

So I've just arrived in Atlanta late last night...am here to show the COCOCOZY home furnishings collection to buyers at the Atlanta Gift & Home Furnishings Market. Please come on by to the Christian Mosso Associates Showroom (my Atlanta home away from home) in the America's Mart Building 1 on the 9th Floor to say hi! I'd love to see you. Come see the collection too!

Well, anyhooo...am happy to be here in Atlanta again. Everyone is usually so nice here.

On the plane ride over, I sat next to a woman who is going to be on a new reality show for AMC (some show about a small town private investigating/security firm).  I was tired and wanted to sleep but this woman just kept chatting and chatting and chatting (more than I chat and chat and chat).  I think her name is Christa.  She said she is the secretary at her company but is a private investigator in training.  This Christa was saying the funniest most amusing things throughout the entire flight...she was so excited about her show being on t.v. starting this Sunday and how AMC was treating her and the group like real stars... and she was bubbling about having gone to Los Angeles for the first time in her life...and showing another guy clips of her show...she tracked the flight the whole way over saying things like "we have a good tailwind, I think we're gettin there an hour early"...and Christa spent some time trying to get the stewardess to communicate a message to her mother ( "She's the one in the middle back there with the teased up blonde hair that's real high...she teases her hair you know...you can't miss her").  By the end of the 4.5 hour flight, she had charmed me and the other man in my row and we were all smiles. Christa was very funny and amusing...she had tons of Southern charm.

Now, speaking of Southern charm...there are many things that remind me of the South and southern charm and one of those things is a lovely lovely porch. And that brings us to today's post.

Two porches...lovely indeed...both with a bit of black wicker furniture.  The one above includes some antique rattan chairs too.  The color scheme on both seem to be a bit of black and white...with black shutters and doors.  One has a white wood floor...the other tile.  Nice outdoor living in both cases I think...but which one is best?

The question in today's THIS OR THAT is...which of these two porches do you prefer?  Take a look.

I'm not going to be much help here...I like each porch for different reasons. I like the first porch just because it is so elegant and tastefully done...I like the second porch because it is cozy and accessible looking and I like the built in bench.

Please do tell...which of these two porches do you prefer?

Happy Thursday!

xo
Coco

P.S. I'll make sure to take some photos here in Atlanta. I've got my camera all juiced up (hopefully) and will find some furniture and home accessories goodies to take pictures of.

P.P.S. Daily reminder...please remember to follow me on COCOCOZY Pinterest too! See the cute little item I found on The Zhush, a fabulous blog and shop run by a very sweet blogging colleague named Sue. She is awesome and her online shop is pretty cool too...lots of fabulous goodies.

P.P.P.S. Am staying at the Ritz Carlton here in Atlanta...finally I think I've found the right hotel for me here...this is my 4th visit to Atlanta and I've made bad hotel selections each time.  This morning woke up to a nice room...and friendly service...I am a happy camper.

P.P.P.P.S. Think I will wear some sparkling Prada mules (I know mules are not at all on trend but the sparkle part is so I continue to wear them...I don't know anyone who wears mules anymore...it is a very early 2000s shoe style...fashion police do not arrest me please) to the showroom today. They are dangerous though. The other day I was running around Beverly Hills picking up some last minute items from COCOCOZY HQ and the sparkles on my Pradas grazed my leg leaving me with a nice little cut! Well...it's the price we pay to look good. My motto is ... I may be bruised and battered by fashion but at least I'll be sparkling. Carry on.

P.P.P.P.P.S. Have a wonderful day! :-)

Photos: Architectural Digest; Jean Randazzo