COCOCOZY EXCLUSIVE: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AT A CELEBRITY CHEF'S LOS ANGELES HOME!

Pierre Frey Toile de Nantes ikat wallpaper in shades of blue cover the walls of a small powder room in a Los Angeles  home. (above)

Was so thrilled when House Beautiful magazine approached me about doing an exclusive preview of one of their stories for the November 2012 issue.

The story is a feature on the Los Angeles hillside home of celebrity chef Alex Hitz.  Now truth be told, I had never heard of Alex Hitz before House Beautiful sent me these photos but did a little research to find out that Alex is a big t.v. chef with a product line on one of those huge home shopping networks.

Apparently Alex decorated his home himself and he jokingly calls his style "Continental Mongrel".  In the article he gives tips on entertaining and hosting parties.  Apparently, Alex hosts dinner parties for over 900 guests at his home every year!  Wow.

I liked the private quarters of the home. Behind the scenes...behind closed doors...probably most of Alex's 900 guests do not get to see these rooms. The bedrooms and powder room in particular are of intrigue to me.  So much texture, pattern and visual interest I think.

A twin guest room features beds upholstered headboards in Hinson's Northampton stripe and with  classic Leontine linens and a peaceful light blue Donald Kaufman paint color on the walls. (above)

Vintage Lee Behrens Katamandu silk fabric covers the walls, windows and bed skirt in the very traditional master bedroom. (above)

A modern Indian watercolor painting hangs over a traditional Empire commode. (above)

November 2012 cover of House Beautiful. (above)

My favorite is the ikat on the walls in the powder room.  I like a dressed up tiny powder room.  Anything in any of these rooms catch your eye? If so, what? Do tell?

To see the rest of the home, please pick up the November 2012 issue of House Beautiful - it hits newsstands around October 15th.  Thanks to Sonia for sending me the article and photos!

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Got some good news yesterday! I am now a proud member of the Soho House here in West Hollywood. If you don't know it, the Soho House is a very chic members only club with locations in London, New York and Los Angeles to name a few of the cities. All of my friends are members but I never made the effort to apply. Finally, last May I decided to put my name in for membership. Exactly four months later, I got the email that I had been accepted. Over the last four months, I waited on pins and needles for an answer. It felt like I was trying to get into a sorority or something. I waited...I emailed nice notes...I called friends who were members and asked questions...and I waited. Finally. Eureka. I was at work (at my regular job) when I got the acceptance email. I literally jumped out of my office, started dancing out at the assistants' desks, ran into my boss's office and gave him a hug and danced some more...all the while my coworkers were looking at me like I had gone crazy (I think I did though...temporarily). Anyhoooo...you'll be able to find me at the Soho House all of the time now!

P.P.S. Worked on fun project last night and this morning...a design challenge that I'm doing in conjunction with a big furniture retailer. I think you'll be able to see my project in a few months. Very excited to see the end result.

P.P.P.S. Does anyone else who lives in L.A. think this weather is weird?

P.P.P.P.S.  Check out COCOCOZY Pinterest too...I've pinned just a few more photos of this exclusive look at Alex Hitz's home there as well.

P.P.P.P.S.  Speaking of social pages...for daily COCOCOZY updates, remember to join the almost 54,000 followers on COCOCOZY Facebook too!

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AN Alex Hitz, bed, bedroom, beds, blue, COCOCOZY EXCLUSIVE, House Beautiful, ikat, Los Angeles home, master bedroom, powder room, traditional home, twin room, upholstered bed, vintage, wallpaper

NO CLUTTER AND NO FRILLS DECORATING 101!

These wonderful photos come from a bright college student/photographer Kara Shurtliff, a fine arts senior with aspirations of being in the photo world when she graduates next spring. Kara mainly shoots portraits and weddings...but most recently just started shooting interiors. This is one of her first interiors shoots!

This three story home belongs to a couple and their baby daughter. The couple's style is very simple - no frills...none...clean...so clean...and no nonsense... really no nonsense. I like it.

All clutter is completely edited out...just the basics with a little design flair thrown in. As you can see, this lesson starts with basic good bones - very white walls with dark brown ebony wood floors. Then, throw in the essentials as far as furniture - sofas and chairs in white, tables and beds. Next, add in a few stylish accessories like the union jack pillow in the living room and the great chandelier in the nursery to bring in an element of posh design. Lastly, add a dose of few surprising pops of color and pattern here and there; here they sparingly added color into the mix like the red and white brocade wallpaper in the powder room, the fabulous blue laundry room cabinets and yellow round rug and the pale pink nursery and art that almost give off a slightly neon hue, to give a sense that the space doesn't just happen to look buttoned up but that it was in fact "decorated".

Below, please see a basic lesson in how home decor can be effective and not that complicated...No Frills No Clutter Decorating 101!

Lesson 1: Keep kitchen simple. White tall cabinetry flush to ceiling, stainless steel appliances, simple counter tops, white basic island stools.(above)

Lesson 2: Have fun with color in a normally drab space like a laundry room. Blue cabinets and a yellow rug make this small space a delight. (above and below)

Lesson 3: If there are any frills in no frills decorating, do it in the powder room. Red and white brocade wall paper and a Venetian style mirror make this little washroom feel delightfully designed (above)

Lesson 4: Keeping clutter and tons of design frills out of the nursery can make for a very modern and chic baby room. In this case, pale pink walls, simple art, a perfectly positioned love seat, a great white metal modern tole chandelier and of course a simple white crib come together nicely to create a very cool space for baby. Lucky baby. (above and below)


Lesson 5: A master bedroom is for sleeping not for staring at decor knick knacks. Take a basic wrought iron bed, a white almost quilted bedspread, a yellow quilted pillow and some simple side tables...and voila...you are done. (above)


Lesson 6: Add subtle accent colors and repeat them. In the master bedroom sitting area, the pillow on the chair. The frame of the artwork on the mantel. They compliment each other. (above)


Lesson 7: Make the master bathroom a spa retreat by keeping all of the bells and whistles down to a minimum. A crystal chandelier + stand alone claw foot tub + large hexagon mosaic tiles on the floor + neutral wall color + half paneled walls = done! (above)
If you follow this simple lesson plan, you too could get an "A" in No Frills Decorating 101!

Thank you Kara for these great photos! I know you will do very well after graduation in your photography career! Really appreciate it!

Dear readers, please let me know what you think about No Frills No Clutter Decorating. What do you like? What don't you like? What have you done in your home's design that embodies "no frills"? Please let me know.

Happy Monday! It is raining here btw! Way to start off the week?!#$^ Anyhooo, happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Please remember to follow me on twitter too!

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AN bath and bathroom, cabinetry, cabinets and chests, chandeliers, kitchen, laundry room, Nbaynadamas, nursery, powder room

BATH WEEK: PLUCKY POWDER ROOMS!

Photo courtesy of Woodson & Rummerfield
A mirrored chest of drawers has been transformed into a vanity with sink in this home's powder room...the gilt mirror, shaded sconces and the pink "fan" wallpaper all create a feeling of decadent luxe. (above)
Day 3 of BATH WEEK on Nbaynadamas! Thank you for your reader submissions. Will be doing a whole post on those...so if you have more remodel or great bath photos, please send in...designers and non-designers alike.

Now onto today's BATH WEEK post...

Webster's definition of the word "plucky" is "marked by courage", "spirited", "brave".

These small powder rooms fit the design definition of "plucky" to the tee. All are quite courageous with design, they are certainly spirited and lively in feel, and the designers were brave in making well edited but bold decor statements.

Think if one is going to get plucky in their decorating...a small powder room is the place to do it! Hope you enjoy!


Photo: Kristen Buckingham
Classic country - a skirted sink and decorative plates on the walls say cozy country in this small bathroom. (above)

Photo courtesy of Palmer Weiss
A sunburst mirror and bold gold and bronze floral wallpaper add playful glimmer and glam to a small washroom.(above)

Photo courtesy of Massucco Warner Miller
Not your average zebra print - Gold hardware and accents shine on as a herd of Zebras gallops across the walls of a small powder room. (above)

Photo courtesy of Elle Decor
Bold black and white is the order of the day in a powder room in the Los Angeles home of fashion designer Monique Lhuillier. (above)
Which of these baths is your favorite? How plucky would you get with powder room design?

Have a great Wednesday!

xo,
Coco

P.S. Still accepting resumes for e-interns. Please email me if you are interested in finding out more - Nbaynadamas@gmail.com.

P.P.S. So close to the Nbaynadamas FACEBOOK PAGE giveaway...! Check back...could start as early as tomorrow (or even today). Reminder that this giveaway is for Facebook fans only (so sign up and suggest the page to friends if you haven't already)!

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AN bath and bathroom, BATH WEEK, Nbaynadamas, powder room, wallpaper, walls