HOW TO DESIGN ODD SHAPED SPACES

A small bay window nook is transformed into a home office for two with a built in desk and white Panton chairs. (above)

Unless you live in a castle or mansion (my dream), the concept of maximizing space usually comes into play when decorating a home (my reality).  The question is...what should one do with small odd size spaces?  Lots of people just leave these spaces empty or put a chair and small table in them and call it a day.

I say...why not make the most of those odd shaped spaces in your home?

Here are some tips:

1. Embrace the odd shape - Don't fight against it...if you have an unconventionally shaped space, do not fight against the odd lines or strange foot print...embrace it.  Be open to changing your ideas of how a space should look or be used.

2. Use built ins - An odd shaped space usually means that most regular furniture will not fit.  Use cabinetry that can attach to walls...furniture that becomes part of the architecture.

3.  Define the space with a little drama - Use wallpaper, tile, a bold rug or some sort of accent to define the odd shaped space.  Why not show off your ingenious use of space? If you can figure out how to cleverly use a difficult space, you should celebrate it and set it apart.

Small white kitchen squeezed under a staircase. (above)

A strangely angled wall is turned into a cute laundry room with zig zag tile backsplash (above)

Which of these spaces is your favorite?  I like the laundry room and the kitchen...clever use of space!

Happy Friday!

xo

Coco

P.S.  COME SEE ME IN HIGH POINT! - Am off to show off my COCOCOZY rug collection again! Am leaving tomorrow morning for a whirlwind trip to High Point, North Carolina for market.  I'll be doing a meet and greet at the Capel Rugs showroom...talking with designers, buyers and press about the COCOCOZY collection of rugs.  If you are going to High Point Market, please stop by the Capel Rugs Showroom at Market Square on  Sunday, October 20th between 10a-2p to say hi.  I would love to meet you in person!

P.P.S.  Been a long week...slept on a bench two nights...can explain later! :-)  Welcome to my world!



Photos: Buckingham Interior Design; Johanna Ekmark

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AN bay window, built in, cabinet, cabinetry, chevron tile, desk, home office, laundry room, panton chair, small kitchen, swoosh chair, zig zag

TREND ALERT - WOOD KITCHEN CABINETS

This is what wood kitchen cabinets look like today.  Gone are the stained cherry, oak, mahogany carved or raised cabinet door fronts of old.  The new look for wood cabinets is a modern rustic raw wood look.

Non glossy finishes, real wood tones and colors highlighted.  The reclaimed wood look is in.  So is the modern country look with wood paneled door fronts.

You remember what those stained wood cabinets looked like in the past?  What do you think of this updated look of kitchen cabinets?

I like the first kitchen with the bead board like paneled cabinets.  Which is your favorite (if any)?

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Forgot to mention, had a fun night the other night at a party for Domaine Home at chic fabric showroom Harbinger here in Los Angeles.  I brought TE with me and met up with CM who runs all things operations at COCOCOZY.  Have a connection to both Harbinger and Domaine.   The COCOCOZY fabric line is carried by Harbinger and COCOCOZY is featured on the bottom of Domaine.  Ran into the fabulous interior designer Joe Lucas who owns Harbinger, Mat Sanders Editor extraordinaire of Domaine, Nicole Gibbons of So Haute and Christian May of Maison 21 blogs so many nice others (like Typhanie Peterson).  Was a fun evening.  Also got to show off the COCOCOZY fabric collection to TE as our line is carried by Harbinger! It was lots of fun.  We ended up at some party for Veranda where there were two people in leotards doing interpretive moves and acrobatics.  Very interesting indeed!

P.P.S.  Big partnership announcement for COCOCOZY tomorrow.  Stay tuned.  So excited to tell you all.

P.P.P.S.  My favorite foyer from yesterday is the first...keeping it simple! FYI!

Photos: William Hefner; Bates Masi; Light Locations; Studio Plan

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AN cabinet, cabinetry, decor, interior design, island, kitchen, KITCHEN WEEK, TREND ALERT, wood cabinets

KITCHEN WEEK: COLORFUL KITCHENS!

Hello yellow - a bright cheerful small kitchen with stainless steel counters and backsplash. (above)

KITCHEN WEEK day 3 here on COCOCOZY!  Today I bring you a few very bright colorful kitchens.   I am afraid of too much color as you probably can tell by the images on the blog...but of course, just the right dose of color can really make a huge design statement.

I actually love all of these colorful kitchens pictured here...but which would I actually dare to live with?  Hmmm...thinking....

Modern very small kitchen with flat front cornflower blue cabinets and a marble slab backsplash. (above and below)

Green and blue are the order of the day in this rustic kitchen with a gorgeous zellig tile backsplash and a farmhouse sink. (above)

Red kitchen with glossy modern cabinets and wood and stainless counters. (above)

Do you have a color filled kitchen in your home?  If not, would you consider any of these bright options if you could?  Please do weigh in...

I think I would go for the light blue modern kitchen with the marble slab backsplash if I had to chose one.

Do tell.

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Go to COCOCOZY Pinterest to see a very very bright orange kitchen.  Orange! Would love to know whether you could live with that color on a day to day basis.  Also, you can see other views of these kitchens there too!  Follow along on Pinterest!



Photos: Iconify; Sasa Antic; Rum ID; Soderberg Agentur

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AN blue, cabinet, cabinetry, cabinets, decor, decoration., design, green, KITCHEN WEEK, light blue, red, yellow