REAL WELL DESIGNED HOMES!

Mix and matched red and green chairs, white wood floors and a black painted feature wall make this eclectic dining room a lively eating space. (above)

Was browsing through Dos Family, a decor and design website created by Swedish designer Isabelle McAllister and photographer Jenny Branch when I popped into their House Tours segment.  Lots of interesting real homes in Sweden.  I use the word "real" because I do recognize that a lot of the homes that I feature here on COCOCOZY are "fantasy" high end homes with endless decorating budgets...well at least they are my fantasy.  I do however think it is equally as fun to sneak a peek into homes that are real and accessible and well designed.

Anyhooo...found quite a few fab vignettes on their site.  Here are just a few rooms that got me inspired!

Love the all white decor aesthetic in shown in this home's entryway. (above)

Minimalist decor with a classic silhouette sofa on brass casters and a stack of magazines used as a side table in this Swedish living room. (above)

Floral wallpaper and a collection of plates and accessories on the wall create a visually interesting living room space...and uh love the herringbone wood floors. (above)

I like the use of the backsplash in this kitchen...shelving, a magnetic knife rack and dangling cooking utensils free up the counter space for the cook. (above)

See anything here that inspires you?

Happy Thursday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Floors in my little tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills have been refinished...as you might recall, just weeks ago, I had new floors installed and finished.  Once done, I was not happy so the guys re-sanded and refinished my new floors.  I went to the house the other day to view and now I am happy.  Was going for a matte finish medium to light brown color with some gray. We used 7" wide white oak with a beveled edge so the yellows in the wood also come through.  I wanted to achieve more of a rustic cottage look...and I think these floors now work.  I am happy now.  5 days of painting and then I move back in!  Woohooo!  Floors are shown below.

My newly refinished wood floors at my tiny little house in the Hollywood Hills...these are 7" white oak boars with a beveled edge using a custom mixed stain of 3 parts white, 1 part ebony and matte water based varnish. (above)

P.P.S.  Will show you some paint options later in the week.

P.P.P.S.  Am so thrilled and excited...in just over a week or so I'll be in High Point, NC debuting my full rug and full bedding collections at market there!  Will preview all this week and next!

P.P.P.P.S. TE and I are going to San Francisco this weekend to see his brother ME and his sister-in-law SE! Can't wait!  Am so excited to see them again.  They are so sweet.  Will be fun hanging out with TE as well!  Of course...have not a thing to wear. Oh...TE's brother said "bring walking shoes"...had a panic attack...can imagine myself huffing and puffing my way up and down the hills of San Francisco and the rest of the group's shock at my lack of endurance! Oh dear.

APARTMENT DECORATING - 1000 SQUARE FEET IN SWEDEN!

A white bedroom with a mix of old and new. (above)

This cute one bedroom apartment is located in Linnéstaden, Sweden. It was recently on the market but was snapped up understandably. Bright, cheerful and light is how I would describe the interior design. White walls, white floors, lots of natural sun light. The decor fits the setting. Not too important, very easy, both modern and classic at the same time. I like!

Love the printed fabric wall hanging that acts as a headboard of sorts over the bed. (above)

Smart use of space with cute storage boxes on top of a white armoire wardrobe. (above)

Lots of pillows on a gray sofa and framed posters make for easy living room decor - and don't forget an Eames chair classic! (above)

White wood floors throughout the apartment and in the dining room help add to the cheerful feel. (above)

A stainless steel backsplash in the small modern kitchen.(above)

What do you think of this little flat?  Do you think it needs a little more decorating or is it just right?

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Was sitting at the office the other day at my real job - minding my own business - and these lovelies arrived. From the very nice TE. He is very thoughtful and sweet. Once they came, every girl I work with ran into my office...they were all cooing, oooohing and aaahhing. We then staged a mini photo shoot with the flowers where all of the girls were texting and putting them on Instagram. Got so caught up in "flowerpalooza", I forgot to text TE a thank you right away! Flowers...they do the trick every time.

Lovely flowers and my silver pig at my office. (above)

P.P.S.  Allegedly, I am doing a 5K tomorrow.  Okay...strike the allegedly.  I am doing a 5K tomorrow?  Okay strike the question mark.  I am doing a 5K tomorrow!

P.P.P.S.  Have a great weekend!

Photos: Stadshem

WEEKEND PHOTO!

Love this fireplace mantel.  So simple...a Louis style flea market find arched mirror, a collection of brass candlesticks, a small piece of art on a tiny stand, flowers all against a white background.   Perfect decorating because it is so simple.

Less is more...

Happy Sunday and happy weekend!

xo
Coco



Photo: A Country Farmhouse

THE BLACK & WHITE OF WORKING AT HOME!

A cute black and white home office. Right?

I found it on Norweigan blog Stylizimo.  Such a cute blog created by a 30 something year old Norweigan stylist/designer.

The clear two toned color scheme makes the space crisp and clean. Easy to think big in this cute little organized work area.

The Eames molded chairs are a great style addition. I also like all of the framed typography prints, striped black and white upholstered bench, the DIY deer head with antlers taped onto the wall, and the chalkboard calendar.  Notice how a few sprigs of dry wheat grass on the desk subtly compliment the wicker wastebasket.  Small touches and details throughout that really work.

What do you think of this little home office?  Any tips you can share about your own home office design?  Please comment below.

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Went a cute b-day party for AG...her husband TG planned it.  Got a quick chance to catch up with AS and JH there too.  Lots of funny stories told. :-)

P.P.S.  Good news!  I had mentioned a few weeks back that an entertainment company (a cable network) was thinking of buying COCOCOZY Throws for their corporate gifting.  Well some good news!  They just placed the order yesterday.  Now we are in full on production mode.

P.P.P.S. Finally found the light fixture we are buying for COCOCOZY HQ in Beverly Hills. I love calling our small two room space headquarters...there is an element of irony to it. Anyhoooo...our HQ is going to have quite a cute chandelier in the front room. CM is ordering it today! Wooohoooo!!!! It will come in about 4-6 weeks. The HQ decorating is taking forever because we keep getting sidetracked. We moved in mid May and waited 12 weeks for our main pieces, now we are on a slow but sure mission to fill in the office decor details. Hmmmmm...maybe this black and white theme would work at COCOCOZY HQ too. Will share pictures of the progress soon.

MINT & MARBLE - HOW TO MAKE A SMALL MODERN KITCHEN WORK!

I like this small kitchen with its flat front ever so slightly mint colored cabinets and the marble slab backsplash and counters. This small space works.

A one wall kitchen that is oh so small but feels light and airy and roomy. The key is the light colored cabinets, the white washed wood floors and the clean lines used throughout. There is no busy mosaic tile backsplash here. There is also an absence of drawerrs and doors with pulls and knobs and recessed panels. Clean simple.

I like the touch flavor with the gold or brass colored faucet on the sink. Very nice contrast.

To add a bit of personality, the eat in kitchen boasts a long table with mish mosh mix of chairs including some bentwood cafe style chairs and a host chair painted in a dark green to compliment the cabinets.  The round pendant light in chrome mirror finish adds light with its reflective surface too.

I like. Take a look.

What do you think of this small kitchen? Too minimalist for you or just right?

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

Photos: Petra Bindel

THIS OR THAT: THE BENCHMARK ON ENTRYWAY SEATING!

Which of these three foyers do you like best?  They all have something in common...traditional Louis XVI or Gustav style benches, white walls, art.

Wish I had a foyer large enough for seating of some sort. I think even a chair would do!

So do you like any of these or would you prefer your foyer bench free? That's the question in today's THIS OR THAT!

So which do you prefer...1, 2 or 3? Or do you not like any? Be honest...do tell! I'm leaning towards 2 but like the brightness of 1.

Happy Thursday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Sorry didn't post yesterday! Running around like a chicken with no head ...work is super busy...plus making all of these changes at my house before best of friend AM and her hubby JE and their kids come visit in 2 weeks. The not exciting thing is that none of the changes are fun design and decorating changes...they are more functional...like tearing down the fence on the side of my house and building a new one, constructing a new front gate, fixing the side deck, covering the side patio, sanding the main deck, drywalling the skylight in my bedroom and fixing a portion of the wood floors in my house and new outdoor lighting...oh did I mention, I'm sending out one of my sofas to be reupholstered? Things I notice everyday that are driving me CRAZY and would totally bug me if guests were here and saw these things...I'm sure they won't even notice the difference...but I will. So my house is a construction zone right now. Yay and oh dear at the same time!

P.P.S. In the middle of all of this, COCOCOZY is moving into a new office space, so all of that has to be arranged (yes, I took the Beverly Hills office in the shabby building but with lots of light...it is so central and near my day job so I can pop by after or before work...so I chose location. I did inquire about office space in downtown Los Angeles and it was about 1/3 of the price only problem is that I would never ever be able to get to the office because downtown is so far from my house and from where I am during the day that it would have made no sense. We move in on Sunday. Wood floors have gone in, fluorescent lights removed and paint has been refreshed. CM is helping with all of the moving thank goodness.

P.P.P.S. Prepping for my friend AZ's wedding in Puerto Vallarta too...did I mention that? Don't know what I will wear? Resort, casual, beach appropriate attire is in need. Can't wait.

P.P.P.P.S. How do you typically prep when guests are coming to stay at your house? Do you do construction or do you just add a flower here and there? Do tell any stories about getting ready for house guests!


Photos: Stadshem; Bella Casa Design; Joe Schmelzer,Treasure Bite Studios