THE MOST EXPENSIVE HOME IN AMERICA - SEE THIS HOUSE

Aerial view of the highest priced home in the country (above)

A $190 million dollar home! Yes it is true.  Built in 1898, this 13,500 square foot mansion sits on 50 acres of land and boasts about one mile of shore front.  It is called Copper Beech Farm.  Located Greenwich, CT, a town known for its unbelievable mansions, the real estate listing says this home "has no peers".

Listed by Christies International Real Estate, this estate has 12 bedrooms, 7 full baths, 2 partial baths, a 12 foot ceilings in the main rooms, paneled library, pool and pool house, greenhouse, a beach, a carriage house, grass tennis court, a separate staff kitchen and spectacular water views.

The home was originally purchased by the Lauder Greenway family in 1904.  Harriet Lauder Greenway whose father helped Andrew Carnegie found U.S. Steel apparently sold it to timber tycoon John Rudey about 30 years ago.  Rudey now, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal a few months back, is selling the Victorian French Renaissance mansion because his children are all grown.

Stone towers flank the front door of this Greenwich, CT mansion. (above)

Dining room with carved ceilings and wood paneled walls. (above)

The wood paneled library with fireplace is fitting for multi million dollar home. (above)

A garden gate on the grounds of the 50 acre property (above)

The pool and spa in the backyard overlook the Long Island Sound. (above)

Wow.  Wish I could see more views of the upstairs bedrooms in the home.  Need to assess whether I would spend my $190 million dollars here.  Now...let's say there was a nice person who decided to give me this grand manse, I would take it in a minute...dress it up a bit and settle in right by the pool or walking the gardens.  Would be a great place for parties too.  Anyone offering this home to me?  Hello?  Anyone???

Would you take it or leave it? Do tell!

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

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AN aerial, coffered ceilings, Connecticut, dining room, farm, Greenwich, library, multi million dollar home, pool, real estate listing, SEE THIS HOUSE, stone, towers, traditional home, Victorian, wood paneled walls

$16.9 MILLION DOLLAR HAMPTONS TRADITIONAL ESTATE - SEE THIS HOUSE

$16.9 million dollars for this traditional home in Sag Harbor right on a peninsula in the Peconic Bay.

A two story, 7,500 square foot Hamptons house with 6 bedrooms, 6.5 baths, infinity pool and much more.

The home is listed by Corcoran in the event you have a few million you would like to spend!  Water views included by the way.

So, today's non-dilemma dilemma question is...if you had $16.9 million to spend on a summer house, would you take it or leave it?

Here's a short tour...

Water view from living room with French doors, coffered ceilings, a fireplace and wicker furniture. (above)

Eat in kitchen with bay window overlooking the water features an island with wood cabinets and a farmhouse sink. (above)

Sunroom with bay views. (above)

Master bedroom with double French doors! (above)

Infinity pool in backyard with floating decks modeled after a pool at a hotel in Bali. (above)

So...again...I ask you...would you take it or leave it? Would you take the furniture too and work with it or would you want to start from scratch?

Do tell!

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Having a hard time adjusting to being back to reality after 8 amazing days in Hawaii with TE. Here is a picture of a rainbow that showed up outside our window at the St. Regis hotel in Princeville on our last morning in Kauai. Ahhh...pictures do not do it justice. It was a stunning double rainbow at that!!  I've never seen a double rainbow before!  Apparently this particular rainbow was so awesome that all of the hotel employees left their posts to take pictures too...the bellman told us there was a few minutes downstairs where no one was at the hotel's front desk because they ran to take pictures...he said that never happens!  Feel lucky to have spent a fantastic week with TE on my first visit to Hawaii and then to get a double rainbow at the end!  Who could ask for more?

A double rainbow overlooking Hanalei Bay in Kauai on the last morning of our vacation! (above)

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AN coffered ceilings, decor, estate, french doors, Hamptons, mansion, million dollar home, sag harbor, SEE THIS HOUSE, summer house, traditional home, water view

SNEAK PEEK: A NAPA HOME WORTH SHOWING OFF!

Am thrilled once again! Got an email from Traditional Home Magazine editor Kari C. the other day. Kari invited me to tour Traditional Home's Napa Showhouse that is opening up in Northern California. The gala party at the house is tomorrow. Unfortunately, I will not be able to make it.

Kari was kind enough though to give me the exclusive preview on some of the rooms from the home!!  Another exclusive...wow!

Photographer John Merkl took the photos of the showhouse and I'll share just a few of those photos tomorrow on COCOCOZY.

For now, here is a glimpse of the balcony off of the main living and the fabulous views of Napa wine country.  I don't really drink wine but would love to have a home overlooking a vineyard.  I like this little outdoor living room with its wicker furniture and rust colored accessories.  Simple and allows for the view to steal the show!

Love this! More rooms from this Napa style home tomorrow...right here on COCOCOZY!

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

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AN decor, furniture, outdoor living, rust, traditional home, view, vineyard, wicker, wine country

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

FASHION FORWARD: IN VOGUE WITH DESIGNER TORY BURCH AND HER SOUTHAMPTON ESTATE!

I'm fascinated with the brand that fashion designer Tory Burch has built...I am now equally fascinated with her rather regal Southampton estate!

Was browsing around Vogue's website and noticed they had a bit about Tory's stunning home in the Hamptons.  Very traditional but a place I could certainly all home!

With the help of architect and designer Daniel Romualdez, and decorator Eve Hood, Tory created a grand home that also looks extremely comfortable and accessible.

I read this New York Magazine article on Tory Burch and her ex-husband Chris Burch this weekend while driving out to my parents' house with my sis DS.  What was most interesting about the article was reading about how Tory's company got started and has grown.  She had a vision and made it happen. Just a few years after starting her company, Tory Burch the brand is valued in the billions.  Wow.

So let's see...Tory is fashionable, has a fantastic country house, and has built an amazing business...not to mention she's a mom of 3!  My design crush and friend of Nbaynadamas Jonathan Adler might have to inch over a bit and make some room for Tory Burch on my design icon bench!

Anyhooo...here's Tory's little country house...

Needlepoint Louis XVI chairs, an antique crystal chandelier and coral colored drapes make for a very pleasant traditional living room. (above)

Woven furniture and blue and white china are mainstays in Tory's sunny solarium. (above)

Tory wearing a white Valentino dress in her dining room with blue printed walls fashioned by Paris based wallpaper designer Iksel so they look like Persian Iznik tiles! (above)

The pool house features a dark trellis front. (above)

Outdoor dining at its best! (above)

The long drive leading to the brick Georgian style house makes for a very grand entrance or exit! (above)

Not sure where to start here with what I like...I like so much!  I love the outdoor dining room and I love that printed wallpaper in the formal dining room to name a few!  Lovely home!  What do you think? Do you like this home?  Is it too formal or just right for you (I imagine myself living in a castle one day, so no home is too formal for me)? What do you think of Tory Burch's style at home?

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

Photos: Vogue

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AN black and white checkered floor, entry hall, estate, FASHION FORWARD, Georgian style, living room, mansion, pool house, SEE THIS HOUSE, Southampton, Tory Burch, traditional home, Vogue

SEE THIS HOUSE: A PRESIDENT'S DAY ESTATE - WHAT $8 MILLION BUYS IN A D.C. SUBURB!

The formal living room gets good light due the French doors and windows. (above)

$7.9 million for this McLean, Virginia home.  5,617 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 5 full baths and 2 partial, with a guest house, wine room, attic play room, a pool, putting range on almost an acre of land...this is quite a home.

A traditional space with crown moldings, ceiling medallion, decorative trim and all...but not too traditional and comes with all modern amenities and updates including a gourmet kitchen with a Wolf range.  A Sotheby's International Realty listing.

I liked living in Washington D.C. when I was in law school.  I wonder if I would like like living in a D.C. suburb?  Well  I guess if someone gave me this house and asked me to try suburban living near our nation's capital, I might consider!

Take a look at today's SEE THIS HOUSE...if offered the choice to keep your own home or move here, what would you do?

A nice place for a very traditional writing desk! (above)

The bright and cheerful family room or den has a wall mounted television, dueling white sofas and lots of khaki drapes. (above)

The formal dining room features a fireplace, a grand ceiling medallion and a round dining table that seats 10! (above)

Field stone tiles on the floor, white cabinets, dark marble counters, concealed appliance and a glass front book cabinet perfect for a selection of cookbooks and dishware give this traditional kitchen a modern feel. (above)

The master bedroom retreat with a huge closet and marble bath! (above and below)

A nicely appointed child's room made just right for a little girl with a canopy bed and softly hued toile wallpaper. (above)

So, would you move for this house or stay just where you are?  Do tell.

Well I hope you have a nice President's Day whether in a D.C. suburb or anywhere around the country.  Hope you enjoy the day off!

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

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AN bedroom, blue living room, canopy bed, den, gourmet kitchen, kitchen, molding, real estate, real estate listing, SEE THIS HOUSE, traditional home, Virginia, walk in closet, white

SEATTLE GROUNDS & MY STAY AT A LOVELY WATERFRONT ESTATE!

Photos by Coco of Nbaynadamas

Complicated story...but really not that complicated...but you know me...I'll make it complicated. 

I was in Seattle this weekend with best of friend AM staying at her older brother GM and his wife SM's gorgeous house (pictured here).  Uh can I say wow?

Here's the scoop.  Wait.  Warning. This is where I make the story complicated so be prepared.  For those who are too busy to further complicate your own life with a non complicated story about my weekend that I'll some how make complicated in the telling...I would suggest you just scroll to the bottom of this post and look at the pictures. Really.  I strongly suggest that.  I'm looking after you dear readers...trying to save you some time.  For those of you who find my storytelling kind of a maze like puzzle...a mind game of sorts...please read on...I won't disappoint. :-)

Anyhoooo...now here's the scoop... Best of friend AM left her hubby and kids behind in NY to fly across the country to meet me in Los Angeles on Friday where I made her go to the Soho House (she's a member I'm not), and then we both flew up to Seattle on Saturday to attend long time best of college friend AG's baby shower on Sunday at other college friend AS's beautiful home. The trip included a little shopping on Saturday then a dinner with the girls including my good law school friend RRM, AM's wonderful sister-in-law MM, and our very pregnant friend AG.  Then...after a slight pause for sleep...it was off to AG's baby shower on Sunday!  A fab shower at that. I was so happy to see my good friend pregnant and so excited for the new addition...she picked out some Nbaynadamas pillows for the baby room and I brought those up as a gift. I was also so thrilled to see college friend AS who threw the shower at her stunning classic Seattle home she shares with her gorgeous 4 boys and husband...have been hearing about AS's personal and huge professional successes over the years through AG...AS was one of the sweetest people I knew in college and it is really really nice to see a nice person finishing first.  Woohooo...! My former roommate SL was also at the shower and it was fantastic seeing her after so long.   By Sunday (last night), after a good dinner in Madison Park with AG, her hubby RS, AM's younger brother JM and his wife MM, we were back at the airport...me on my way back to Los Angeles...AM headed back to NY and the weekend was over.  I think that is the definition of a whirlwind.  I think.

The weekend was fantastic.  Very warm and comforting even though it was FREEZING in Seattle.  Think it was so lovely because I saw so many old friends from college and law school.  It was nice reconnecting.  AM also made me leave my computer in Los Angeles and said no blogging or work on Nbaynadamas textiles...the implication was that if she could travel across country for a few days without her husband and kids, I could travel for a day and a half without a computer.  Gave me total anxiety at first...started to have slight palpitations at first...then I got over it (kind of)...no computer...arghhhhhh...but then it was actually kind of nice.

We stayed in the pool house of AM's brother's lovely estate.  The grounds and exterior of this traditional brick home were just gorgeous.  We didn't stay at the house much because we were running around so much.  We got to Seattle at about 1p on Saturday but didn't get to the house until about 10:30p or 11:30p on Saturday night.  Then we had to run out the door the baby shower at 9:30a on Sunday.  We only popped back for 15 minutes to grab our bags on Sunday night.  Oh how I wish I could have stayed at this house longer.  A lake view.  Beautiful grounds.  Fall in Seattle couldn't have looked better from this view.

Oh Seattle....Seattle in the fall...is it possible for one city to be so rainy and cold yet so warm?

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  One of AG's Seattle friends we met at the shower told AG that she thought AM and I were "entertaining".  Hmmmm...."entertaining"?  Hmmm...  I  would hope to be described as "smart", "nice", "pretty", "chic" or maybe even "stylish".  But "entertaining" is an interesting first impression descriptor...and the fact that she found both me and AM "entertaining" makes me feel like AM and I have turned into traveling side show best friends!  At this point beggars can't be chosers so I'll embrace it!  "Entertaining" I am. LOL!

P.P.S.  Thank you GM and SM for letting me (us) stay at your beautiful home!


Photos by Coco of Nbaynadamas

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AN brick exterior, estate, garden, garden view, grass, grounds, house exterior, lake front home, private beach, seattle, traditional home, waterfront, yard