BLACK & WHITE DIAMOND RUG DELIGHT - CHEAP TO CHIC

I am a fan of decorating with black and white.  Simple and striking.  Came across this photo of black and white rug in sort of a modern version of Turkish Kilim carpet.  I like.

So today I bring you some modern reproductions of a classic Kilim rug diamond design in black and white!

Turkish Kilim reproduction from West Elm 5'x8' - $299

2. Flat weave Black & Ivory rug 5'x8' - $399

1. Black & Ivory Hexagon Wool Rug  8'x10' - $521

3. Madeline Weinrib Jordan cotton carpet 6'x9' - $1079 (above)

Happy Thursday!

xo
Coco
Photo: Adore Magazine

LIVING MODERN IN WASHINGTON D.C.

Once again, I feel lucky and happy. Simple things make me happy. Take for example, yesterday, when I received an email from talented New York interior designer Amy Elbaum of Amy Elbaum Designs. I had not met Amy before nor was I familiar with her work.  Her email was a simple introductory note to say hi and that she reads the blog and she wondered whether I might be interested in looking at her portfolio.  I was delighted to immediately see images of this well designed Washington D.C. modern apartment as one of the projects in Amy's portfolio.  I immediately wrote back asking her if I might be the first person to publish these newly released photos.  She said yes.  Eureka!  Bingo!  Woohooo! Yay! Hence, the lucky and happy feeling I have today!

So anyhooo...Amy, a Parsons graduate, just last year opened her own interior design firm.  Her aesthetic seems to be fresh and modern.

This apartment is in the Woodley Park area of D.C.  Apparently a brand new apartment that Amy was commissioned to decorate. A blank slate well filled!

Custom cobalt blue upholstered Pierre Paulin chairs from Ligne Roset surround the modern dining room table from B&B Italia. (above)

Living room is neatly designed with a graphic blue greek key rug, silver blue velvet gray sectional sofa, glass coffee table and a burgundy accent chair and ottoman.(above)

A sleek modern master bedroom with charcoal gray wallpaper, a leather platform bed, crystal chandelier and floor to ceiling windows (above and below)

The desk in the home off ice is custom built and designed. (above)

Amy, thank you for giving COCOCOZY a first look at your new project. Nice work!

Readers, which room or element is your favorite? I am loving the dining room and the custom upholstered blue chairs.

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S. HALLOWEEN - I am not one who dresses up for Halloween on a regular basis. I have not had a costume on in years.  I am not even sure I really love Halloween for adults.  I think it is great for kids and I love seeing little kiddies all dressed up.  For adults, not sure.  In the distant past, when I was forced to wear a costume to attend a party, my costume was always a makeshift brain teaser; only because I couldn't be bothered with really pulling together a costume and pretending for an evening that I was some imaginary character. My staple non-costume costume is as follows...I would wear all black, red gloves, plastic handcuffs, carry fake jewelry, and wear a mask...what was I? "Caught Red Handed"...I know...silly...right? Even though, I am not a die hard Halloween type of girl nor am I invited to a single Halloween party, I have, however, spent the last few days freaking boyfriend TE out because I have been begging him to wear matching Halloween costumes with me. He keeps on mumbling into the phone "No. I'm not doing that. No."  Just because he is so apathetic about Halloween, I have all of a sudden taken on Halloween as my "cause celebre".  I told TE that we could do something simple like wear all black, put yellow tape on our shirts in the shape of half of the letter Y and carry forks. He asked, "What kind of costume is that?" I smugly replied "We'd stand side by side and be a "Fork in the Road". This suggestion was met with a groan. Oh well...he's a Halloween stick in the mud!

STRIPES & CHEVRON TOGETHER? - FEARLESS DECOR PART 2

Last week I showed you a bright pink living room and said that was fearless.  This week I bring you a home in Morocco with a wild blue chevron pattern floor and bold stripe walls!  Wow!

Could you do it?

Would you go fearless or play it safe?

FEARLESS - Cement handmade tiles...

Zigzag cement tiles (above)

SAFE - Or try a rug to get the same look!

Wool flat weave ikat chevron rug (above)

So regarding the rooms above...I would probably do the floor but not the stripe walls.  I love the idea of a beautiful graphic pattern tile on the floor.

See the rest of the decor on decor on Elle Decor's site.

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Packing day at COCOCOZY!  We're shipping off a lot of COCOCOZY product to many of our customers including one of our newest retailers...Candelabra in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.  VP of Operations CM sent me this picture from our headquarters in Beverly Hills!  Yay CM and NG!  Nice work.

Packing day at our COCOCOZY offices!

P.P.S.  Ask Me a Design Question & Pillow Giveaway - I am so excited and thrilled to be this week's Ask the Expert over on Interior Collective blog.  Head over to Interior Collective to ask me a decor related question about color!  Also, if you ask a question, you are then eligible to possibly win a COCOCOZY Pillow!  Next week my answers to selected questions will be answered! Woohooo!  Can't wait to hear what you have to ask!

Photos: Elle Decor

BOLD BEDROOMS - THIS OR THAT

Making bold design choices in the bedroom today!  Two rooms with very different design aesthetics but with one thing in common...bold design.

In the first picture above, a geometric colorful rug makes an eye catching statement.  Below, a huge brightly colored suzani (Persian decorative tribal textile) is draped along the walls surrounding the bed...acting as a headboard of sorts.

What do you think of these two bold choices...like one or the other better...?

So which of these rooms do you prefer?  Which bold design choice might you be willing to try in your bedroom.  I'm having a hard time deciding but I think I might pick the second photo with the suzani fabric on the wall...there is something quite cozy about the look.

Please weigh in.  Choose your favorite!

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

Photos:  Elle Deco Spain

APPEALING APARTMENT DESIGN!

LOVE this apartment...the collection of furniture, the modern sensibility and the overall hue!  Fantastic.  Nubby gray Bo Concept rug and sofa from there too. Custom modern white coffee table on casters (wheels).  These standard pieces are all complimented by an array of midcentury modern looking arm chairs and a classic black Thonet bentwood chair.  Of course, you know me, I love the white wood floors.

Look is achieved with a very neutral base (if you take away all of the accessories) all in black white and grays and then textures and patterns are layered in the form of art, pillows, lighting, lamps and other items.

The built in book shelf that divides the kitchen from the living space is fantastic...a functional dividing wall.

What do you think of this apartment?  Like or dislike?  Does it need more color or are you fine with the black, white, silver and a bit of brown?

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Been having nice meetings lately with fab Hollywood agent HM.  He's been introducing me around to his colleagues.   He's nice.

P.P.S.  Have been doing a Vegan before 6pm diet (there is some new book out that says be a vegan by day and then a carnivore by night...am always game for trying something new).  Am a total airhead though.  I pranced out of my office at lunch time the other day singing, "I am Vegan before 6. Vegan before 6.  Vegan before 6".  Everyone just looked at me as if I was kooky.  I walked across the way with a person in my office, I ordered lunch and came back and started eating it.  After I had taken several bites, a person in my office who was also eating the same lunch selection said, "Just thought of something...that turkey chili is not vegan".  Duh.  I do have quite a few airhead moments.  Uhh...what about ordering "turkey chili" would ever make me think "vegan"?  Tomorrow is another day!


Photos: Elle Interior

GOING EXTRA LARGE AT HIGH POINT MARKET - COCOCOZY RUG COLLECTION - THE BIGGER THE BETTER !

8'x11' COCOCOZY Loop rug in navy - Indo Tibetan hand knotted wool rug! (above)

Can a blogger be a blogger without a proper camera? If the answer is no...then I am not a blogger! Arrrghhh! I hopped a plane to High Point, NC on Saturday night (I took the red eye) with a HUGE piece of luggage, lots of purses and bags, tons of accessories, lots of shoes but with no camera charger. I had everything in the world that one could need for a three day, two night stay EXCEPT for a way to charge my little camera. (Aside: years ago I gave up on even pretending to be a light packer...when I go anywhere I try to ween down my travel wardrobe but always end up with big big big luggage...have always wanted to be a light packer...arrive for a 5 day trip with one little carry on...would seem so sophisticated and cosmopolitan and chic - the sign of a well traveled international girl...right?Instead...when I travel, I basically lug around my entire house and closet with me...very NOT chic, sophisticated or cosmopolitan...hmmmm...must figure this out in the next decade...anyhooo...)

All of this chitter chatter to say...I took these photos with a mix of Canon Elph and iPhone and even got so desperate at one point, I pulled out my Blackberry (which has THE worst camera in the world on it).

Today a bring you a smattering of not so professional photos of a few of the COCOCOZY for Capel Rugs collection...the 8'x11' super sized versions.

I spent much of my time at market sifting through the 24 rugs hanging in the Capel Rugs showroom at Market Square in High Point.

At one point, I was so eagerly leafing through the gigantic rugs, that I didn't notice that a Capel customer was on the other side and I almost smushed her in between the COCOCOZY gigantic rugs...would not have been good...right?

Must run off to my day job...so I don't even have time to label these rug photos. I will a little later! Hope you enjoy COCOCOZY rugs - super sized!

Again, please excuse the dark dingy photography.  I probably should only show glam shots...but I wanted to give you a glimpse!

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S. A couple people to say hi to that I saw at High Point...a big thank you to blogging friends - Christian of Maison 21, Ashlina of The Decorista, and Edyta of Edyta and Co. for stopping by the Capel showroom!  So nice seeing you all.  I didn't see them but bloggers and friend Nicole Gibbons from So Haute also stopped by and my friend Paloma Contreras from La Dolce Vita did too - they both instagrammed some cute photos.  Thank you all for your support!

P.P.S. Also, was so nice chit chatting with the High Point University interior design students/interns who were working the showroom greeting guests...they were so cute and cheerful...Erica Lange, Amanda Holden and Breanna...wish you much luck with your studies...keep in touch please. Nice to see friend Alyssa Tamez and meet her guy Pete who owns a showroom called Grassroots...and there were so many more nice people who passed by.

P.P.P.S. Had the thrill of hanging out with t.v. personality Genevieve Gorder. We were staying at the same house that Capel rents in High Point (High Point is such a small town that there are not enough hotel rooms at time of market...so families rent out their gorgeous houses for the week of market to different companies). She was leaving and I was arriving but we got a chance to spend about 2 hours chatting in the morning and sharing design stories. She is great. Genevieve also has a fantastic rug collection with Capel. Hi Genevieve and fab make up artist Randall.

P.P.P.P.S. Had a great dinner one night with darling Cameron Capel, cute Tami Wateras and the very nice Krissa Rossbund, Style Editor at Traditional Home. On Monday, we went into Greensboro and had a very nice dinner after a day on our feet at market. A fantastic group of girls.  Thanks Krissa for joining us!

P.P.P.P.P.S. Also had a great chat with Rebecca Hallberg from Edelman leathers...she is a blog reader and came by the COCOCOZY Linens by Downtown showroom to check out the new COCOCOZY bedding and to introduce herself. We had a nice nice talk! Hi Rebecca!

SHOWING NEW COCOCOZY COLLECTIONS - I'M OFF TO HIGH POINT MARKET!

This is the print ad Capel rugs took out in industry trade magazines announcing me and COCOCOZY rugs coming to High Point market. (above)

So excited...am off to High Point, NC for the furniture market this weekend. My new home furnishings collections will be on display! I have never been! I am so so excited!

For those of you who are like me and are learning about a lot of this industry for the first time...High Point Market occurs twice a year and it is the biggest home furniture market in the country.  This is where interior designers, stores, buyers and press go to shop for and see everything and anything that is new for the home.  All the biggest names in furniture, textiles and accessories all show at High Point.

I'll be making two public appearances.  Woohooo.   I am being flown in first class, being shuttled by private car from hither and thither, have dinners planned and will be hob knobbing with everyone in the design industry.  So surreal for me that this all started from this blog!

(An aside note: Am exhausted from my move yesterday...so have lots to do to make myself ready...but am so excited to present these collections and to meet so many of you...will pull myself together...I promise)

My first appearance will be to present the COCOCOZY Linens by Downtown bedding collection (see bedding image below).  We'll show three beds in different colors and we'll also introduce the market to our reversible Convertible duvet concept (that is patent pending)!

Then there is COCOCOZY for Capel Rugs - the second appearance will be on Monday evening at the Capel showroom in High Point where all 24 rugs will be on display for the first time.  These are luxury hand knotted indo tibetan wool rugs.  I am getting one for my cute den.

COCOCOZY bedding will be shown at Highpoint! (above)

SUNDAY 4/21/13 from 3:00-4:30pm
Please stop by the Downtown Company Showroom to see the new bedding line and to meet me in person.

Downtown Company Showroom
IHFC Building Space #H429
Hamilton Wing, 4th Floor
210 E Commerce Avenue

MONDAY 4/22 at 4:00pm
Come to "Cocktails with Coco" as I debut the new collection of 24 rugs at the Capel Rugs Showroom!

Capel Rugs Showroom
Market Square, Space 112
305 W High Avenue

Please please stop to say hi if you are going to market.

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Home again - home again: I moved back in to my little tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills yesterday.  As you may recall, exactly 4 months ago I moved out in a rush after major water damage and leaking was found.  4 months later, thousands of dollars later, lots of walls taken down and pavement uprooted...I am moved back in!  At one point yesterday, I had a neighbor yelling at me because the moving truck was blocking the street, my nice contractor asking me questions, the cleaning service owner who stopped by to check up on the job his staff had done and several moving guys all directing questions (and in the case of the neighbor yelling at me) at the same time.  Needless to say...I took a deep breath, had to chuckle as I realized life is filled with these hectic moments, and then tried to deal with all as gracefully as I could. It worked.  I am in the house.  Still have some things at sis DS's.  Need to figure out a huge gift for her after she welcomed me into her home for 4 months.  Thinking.

P.P.S. Hope you have a great weekend.  I'll post from North Carolina!

P.P.P.S.  Oh I had promised to preview more COCOCOZY rugs...let's see...here's one...

COCOCOZY for Capel Rugs - Coco's Flower in light blue, brown and peacock blue! (above)

P.P.P.P.S.  Am stunned by all that is going on in Boston.  Still so sorry for all of those affected by the bombing.  My thoughts are with them.

COCOCOZY EXCLUSIVE: HOUSE BEAUTIFUL PREVIEW OF DESIGNER TOBI TOBIN'S HOLLYWOOD HILLS HOME!

Am obsessed with sisal, sea grass, grass cloth and more lately.  It could be a phase I am going through.

Imagine my delight when SA who does publicity for House Beautiful sent me these photos of  the Hollywood Hills home belonging to interior designer Tobi Tobin.

These photos are from House Beautiful's May 2013 issue hitting stands on April 23rd.

I love the sisal rugs on floors throughout, grass cloth wallpaper in the foyer, the sea grass runner with black trim on the stairs.   Natural woven fibers...I like this look..especially as we approach summer.

Foyer with glossy black front door. (above)

Sisal runner with black trim on the stairs. (above)

Rustic modern dining room with natural fiber sea grass rug, Parsons chairs, capiz shell chandelier and a reclaimed wood dining table make for a nice place to dine and entertain (above)

A sparkling chandelier, white counters and glossy black kitchen cabinets! (above)

An outdoor living room and fireplace surrounded by trees - the woven furniture and gray pillows blend will with the garden setting. (above)

What do you think of this Hollywood Hills home?  Do you like the use of natural fibers?

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Fab weekend in San Francisco.  TE took this photo below on one of our long walks with his so nice sister -in-law SE and brother ME.  San Francisco is gorgeous!  Ate at some fantastic restaurants and shopped around town.  A nice weekend getaway.

TE took this beautiful photo as we were walking near the water in San Fran this weekend.(above)

COCOCOZY DESIGN FIND - SMOK CHAIR & RUG!

Love the Smok collection by Austrian furniture designer Hans Sapperlot. Invisible stitching and an embroidery technique called smocking to create a modern quilt like effect.  The wool has a soft feel as it has been treated and shrunk...also it is water resistant as it comes from mountain sheep.  Sapperlot has used this smock technique in this modern home furnishings collection to create Eames like shaped chairs, nubby rugs and even lamps and pendant lights. I like!

Smok Chair by Hans Sapperlot. (above)

Smok rug with color blocked stripes. (above and below)

Like or dislike this look? Do tell! Comment below!

Happy Thursday!

xo
Coco