ARTSY APARTMENT IN PARIS - ODE TO PIET MONDRIAN

A house that derives its style from a famous painter!  Interesting 2600 square foot apartment in Paris.  It is located in the 1st arrondissement overlooking the famed Louvre Museum.  Quite apropos to its location near arguably the most famous art museum in the world, the apartment seems to be themed after the work of early 20th century Dutch artist Piet Mondrian.  Mondrian was part of the De Stijl movement in art. Mondrian founded an abstract art style that he called "neoplasticism" - black lines and color blocks on white ground.

This apartment features lots of windows, black wall molding and window trim, and color blocked rooms in yellow, turquoise, white and hot pink.  In reality, the black moldings are the glue to this home's decor by Sarah LaVoine.

Piet Mondrian, Tableau 2, 1922, Oil on canvas. The Guggenheim Museum, NYC (above)

What do you think of this color block style?  Do you like it or would you just leave it for art or fashion?  Do tell.

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

Photos: Sarah LaVoine Design; Guggenheim Museum

TWO FACED ROOM

Cute modern den with mid century touches...charcoal gray wall on one side and white painted walls with windows on the other.  One side is moody (in a good way) and warm, the other is bright and cheerful.

One room...two faces...didn't know rooms could change moods so easily!

Face #1 - Charcoal gray wall makes a the den feel quite cozy! (above)

Face #2 - White walls and curtainless windows make the other side of this room feel bright and light. (above)

Do you think this two toned look works in this apartment decor? Like or dislike?

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco



Photos: Planete Deco

WEEKEND PHOTO

Hope you have a happy restful weekend!

This bedroom is simple bliss.  A striped bed spread, diaphanous white drapes, a decorative mirror, pitched ceilings with exposed beams, lots of light and that is it.

I like.

xo
Coco


Photo: unknown (if you know source please let me know and I'll add!)

BARE NAKED WINDOWS - THE GREAT DRAPERY DEBATE!

No curtains on the very large windows in this Danish apartment. (above)

To cover a window or not to cover a window? That is the question.

I go back and forth on this one. I once told my good guy friend BN that drapes, curtains or shades weren't really necessary if you had great windows in your home. He and his wife SN have great windows in their home. Then, with a little of my help, BN and SN had gorgeous plain off white heavy linen curtains custom made for their living room and the space looked so inviting and finished. Hmmm...so much for my window theory.

Here's what I've decided (for now)...if you have large windows with some interesting features either in size or shape, window coverings aren't necessary unless everyone in the world including the guy who lives next door can see in. Does this make sense?

This window has so much trim and so many "lights" in interesting shapes that it would be a shame to  cover it up with drapery. (above)

Curtains or shades would ruin the drama of this fantastic arched window. (above)

Regular windows in a city apartment definitely could use some sort of window covering (in this case roman shades) to finish the space. (above)

What do you think...drapery or no drapery?  Do weigh in!

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  MY CLOSET RE-DESIGN - Spent the evening at a store last night designing the interior of my closet.  Below the version I bought.  Over $1,200 later, I now have a new closet design that will be installed AFTER I move back into my house in a couple weeks (hint: "after" is the operative word here).  Good planning on my part...right?  Over $1,200 for some rods and wire shelves?  By the way, that does not include installation and delivery...oy va voy. Some might say this is cheap in the greater closet redesign scheme of things...but for me, who has never done a closet...it felt like a lot. Bottom line though after 1.5 hours with a nice lady named Marie at the computer, I gained 4 feet more hanging space in my reach bedroom closet with a little design magic. Woohooo!  Standard reach in closets are about 24" deep...we moved a wall and made my closet (post water damage) now 36" deep...allows for some use of the side walls too!  Can an organized closet design change your life?  I feel like 48" more of hanging space will change mine!

Plans for my revamped bedroom closet (above and below)

Oddly enough, I have several evening gowns and long dresses.  Am all ready for any black tie event I suppose! So the area on the right is for those. (above0

P.P.S.  Staycationing in Laguna this weekend with TE.  Should be a fun one night getaway!  Can't wait.  I asked him if I could drive his convertible down to Laguna with him as the passenger...he just laughed...I think he questions my driving skills.  I wonder why?  Hmmm. :-)   Even though just staying for one night, packing will be its usual dilemma (especially since the majority of my clothes are in storage)!  Will figure it out I'm sure.  Clearly a "first world problem"...

P.P.P.S.  GIVEAWAY REMINDER - Remember you have until noon Pacific time to enter the COCOCOZY Light Pillow Giveaway.  I'll pick 4 winners in the end!  Don't miss out!


Photos: Skona Hem; Alvhem Malekeri; Trevor Tondro

FORMAL DINING ROOM & KITCHEN DELIGHT!

A formal dining room that feels casual and inviting at the same time.  I like this dining room in a Rustic Canyon home here in Los Angeles.  The room is beautifully constructed with lots of painted paneled walls, coffered ceilings, encasement windows and brass touches.  Something very formal - probably the size - yet something very warm about this space.  I love the steel gray blue walls juxtaposed against the gray ceilings.  Looks good.

The dining room leads to quite a swank kitchen with its island wrapped in a sheet of gold or brass finished metal.  Makes the view from the dining room into the kitchen quite a site!

All designed by William Hefner Architects.  Nicely done.

What do you think of this dining room and kitchen?  I love it just in case can't tell!

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Sorry I didn't blog yesterday.  Was running around like a chicken with no head!

P.P.S.  Had a nice weekend actually.  Went to a Lakers game.  The Lakers won.  Then ended up at dinner at Church and State.  On Saturday, saw best of guy friend BN and SN at their family home right on the water in Santa Monica.  TE and I had a nice Saturday lunch with them and their cute kiddies out by the pool.  Going to try to help SN with some bedding for the beach house too.  On Sunday, we went to the Soho House to watch the Oscars.  Met up with my other best of guy friend JD and his fiancé Alison Blumenfeld (she always looks so chic)...we missed most of the show because we were jibber jabbering so much...but we did take time to ooh and ahhh at the dresses of course.

P.P.P.S.  Gave up gluten for Lent...among many other things including sugar.  TE and I managed to find a diner in Marina del Rey that serves gluten free pancakes with sugar free syrup!  They are soooooooooooo gooooood.  Felt like I was cheating because isn't the point to give up something?

P.P.P.P.S.  Wood arrived for the floors in my little tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills!  I ended up getting 7" wide white oak with beveled edges.  The wood will sit at my house for a few weeks to acclimate and then we install.  Still figuring out the color and the finish - I want to go for a natural looking greyish brown...all on the lighter side...trying to get a little bit of rustic old world feel for the finish.  Send me pictures of any ideas you may have!!

My 7" white oak wood floor planks sitting at my tiny little cottage in the Hollywood Hills. (above)

Photos: William Hefner Architects