COLLECTING COLORS - WEEKEND PHOTO

Today, I am picking colors for COCOCOZY pillows, rugs, throws and fabric for 2014.  The process has taken a couple of weeks...longer than expected.  I went and cut all of these fabric swatches, have looked through my Pantone color books, perused inspiring photos of interiors and collecting thought provoking images of fashion.  Then after all of that, I started picking colors.  My design process is always about gathering way too much information to start for fear of not having everything I will need to make the right choice.  Then after all has been amassed, I sort through it all in detail to make choices I can live with.  I have hundreds of fabric swatches sitting in front of me this morning...this weekend morning...choices...choices.

What colors do you think will inspire you for your home decorating in 2014?  Do tell!

Oh did I mention, I am about 3 months behind.  After over 2.5 years of having my own textiles collection, I now know you should really have your designs and samples done about 4-6 months before you want to debut them in stores...so you can get them to press...and out to buyers.  I am behind.  Hence this weekend photo...color color color!

Can't wait to show you what I am cooking up for 2014!

Happy Sunday!

xo
Coco

Photo:  Coco of COCOCOZY

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AN color, color spectrum, color wheel, design, fabric, rainbow, swatch

THE ALL WHITE BED - STYLE STATEMENT

I love a clean simple all white bed. Never goes out of style.  Is it stylish to just put a white cover or duvet over a bed and call it a day?  Don't get me wrong...I love a fun patterned bed...the COCOCOZY Bedding collection is full of that - interesting textures, graphic shapes, timeless colors.  But on a day where you need mental quiet, deep relaxation, no noise, or a soft touch to the eye...an all soft white bed will do the trick.

Does an all white bed make a style statement?  I wonder.

What do you think?  Do you like an all white in the bed or is it way too boring?  What is your idea for bedding that makes a style statement?  Florals, prints, color?

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Okay...best of friend AM and her hubby JE and their two kids arrive tonight.  My deck is still under construction!!!  It is a mess.  They are outside sanding and staining right now.  Follow along on COCOCOZY Instagram @COCOCOZY to see updates of the work in progress.  I'll be posting a few images today!

P.P.S.  Today am wearing a sparkling jeweled short sleeve sweatshirt.  Kind of cute.  Bought it to meet TE's dad and stepmom.  Ended up not wearing it then...but it is good for work!  I am wearing it with some old sparkling Prada flats.  Is that too much sparkle to be taken seriously on the job?  We'll see!

Photos: Brooklyn Home Company; Folkhem; Architectural Digest; Lonny

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AN bed, bedding, bedroom, blanket, cover, design, headboard, minimal, modern, white bedroom, white decorating

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

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AN charcoal gray, color block, decor, decorating, den, design, double doors, family room, french doors, glass door, interior design, interior doors, living room, mid century modern, room, two toned, wall

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

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AN bed, bedroom, decor, decorating, design, geometric, rug, suzani, THIS OR THAT, wall hanging

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

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AN covered patio, decor, decorate, decorating, design, outdoor living room, outside, patio, pergola, porch, yard

AN OLD STONE BARN TRANSFORMED

Am fascinated with converted barns for some reason.  Is that weird?  I think it is very cool when an old barn or stable is turned into a home. Re-purposing a space into something new.

This once abandoned barn in Spain was transformed into a contemporary living space.

Solar panels were installed to provide electricity during the summer. During the winter, turbines were installed to convert energy from the two nearby streams.

Love the minimalist decor too. A nice country house with a modern eco friendly twist!

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

Photos: Abaton

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AN barn, converted barn, decor, design, eco friendly, green, modern, restored home, Spain, stone house

AN OLD HORSE BARN GETS A MODERN DESIGN KICK

The property is called Stable Acre. It is 2700 square foot home on a remote farm in Norfolk, England. The home, a former 19th century horse stable (barn), was restored into a contemporary weekend house for London art gallery owner Stuart Shave.  The project was designed by by architect David Kohn and completed about 3 years ago.

I like it.  Modern rustic.  High pitched lofty ceilings, white painted exposed brick doorways, grey washed wood paneled walls, cement floors and all.  The mid century modern furniture works in the living room. A clean wood furniture aesthetic to go with the modern rustic architectural touches.

The home has been written about a few times over the last 2 or 3 years. I discovered it though only after seeing this first image on photographer Damian Russell's website. I super sleuthed my way into reading about how this modern barn came to be!

Love the white washed wood paneled walls! (above)

Must find this pom pom bed cover...so darling...a good dose of whimsy in the very minimalist modern master bedroom. (above)

Like!  Like a lot.  I would warm up the space with some rugs...might even use a COCOCOZY rug or two in the home.  I'd like to stay as guest in this weekend house...wonder how I could get an invite?!?!

What do you think of this old barn made new? What would you add to the decor to make it your own?  Wish I could see the before photos!

Happy Thursday!

xo
Coco

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AN ARCHITECT-TOUR, architecture, barn, barn house, contemporary, design, living room, modern, restored home, SEE THIS HOUSE, stable

DOORMAT PICKS FOR MY BLACK FRONT DOOR!

Option #1 - Bienvenue coir doormat (above)

This is my front door at my little tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills.  It is a black shiny front door with frosted glass widow panes.

My front door decor is simple, the black door, white trim, brushed silver knob and lock, a square silver outdoor sconce for lighting and finally the door is flanked by potted boxwood topiaries. My front door was yellow at one point and then it was brown.  Now this is it.  A glossy shiny black front door.

This past weekend I was thinking a lot about door design for a guest post I am doing for another website.   I wanted share a photo of my front door but realized I needed a new doormat.  So off I went on Memorial Day...in search of the perfect doormat.

I, of course, can never make a descision so I bought three different doormats.

Option #1 (above) - A coir front doormat with black frame and Bienvenue written on it
Option #2 (below) - A coir doormat with black and white ticking stripes
Option #3 (below) - A simple wire lattice mat

Now I need your help! Vote on which doormat you think works for my front door decor?

Take a look...

Option #2 - Ticking stripe coir doormat - $54 (above) 

Option #3 - Wire doormat - $48 (above) 

My mom, sis DS and TE all weighed in...they all picked Option #3 (the wire doormat).  I can't decided whether Option #1 with Bienvenue ("welcome" in French) is cheesy because of the words...I have never had a doormat with writing on it.  I like Option #2 a lot too.  Each day this week, I have put a different doormat out to figure out which I like best.  Help!

There is also the option of no doormat...but then I worry about my new wood floors...

Please weigh in by commenting below.  Which doormat would you choose?  What might you add to my front door decor?

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Thank you for all of the nice comments and emails about the COCOCOZY feature on the Architectural Digest website.  You are all too sweet!

Photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

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AN black, black front door, decor, design, door, doormat, exterior, front door, green, home, house, mat, ONE OR THE OTHER, outdoor decorating, THIS OR THAT, white trim