A HOME WHERE THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!

An ultra modern family home with a 3.5 ton retractable wall - creating the ultimate indoor outdoor experience! (above)

I'm not a ultra modern girl but something about this super duper modern house with retractable walls and ceilings appeals to me.  Maybe it is the whole concept of really bringing the outdoors inside.

This Long Island, NY 6,000 square foot home was designed by New York architect West Chin for a family.  He tore down the existing small structure, raised this house onto pylons and then created a huge garage door style retractable wall that rolls up and offers those in the living room a spectacular view of the ocean.

I like.  Some thing fresh about this whole idea of of the simplicity of it all ... plus blue sky and ocean views aren't too shabby either - 21st century indoor outdoor living!

Here's a look at the living room with the retractable glass wall closed. (above)

The exterior - the house is raised so that the view is of the ocean and not just sand dunes...on the bottom level there is a pool and patio. (above)

This pebble wall bath is actually inside the master bedroom but it has a retractable glass ceiling. (above)

What do you think?  Too modern?  Or just right?  Could you ever see yourself living in a high tech modern house like this?  What if someone gave it to you?  Would you say yay or nay?

I'm on the fence about living in it day to day...but I do think it is AMAZING and I certainly would love to visit for a few months every year! :-)

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Thank you to Cassandra over at Coco + Kelley blog for featuring a COCOCOZY Gate Throw in navy yesterday as one of her sick day must haves - a stylish cotton throw to wrap up in even when you are feeling a little under the weather! Hope you feel better Cass.

P.P.S. Best of friend AM and JE are still in town staying at my house...was at work yesterday until about 9:30p though so just saw them for a bit last night.  They are so cute.  It is fun coming home to my best of friend an her family. The kiddies are so darling.  Anyhooo...when I got home, AM told me all about how she and her family had just visited a friend of hers who lives here in Los Angeles. Said friend of AM apparently has a fabulous several thousand square foot house in the Pacific Palisades. While Anne giving me a home tour recap of this magnificent house she had just been to, I think I heard her husband say, "Yah and their master suite is as big as Coco's entire house"!  Hmmm....

P.P.P.S.  Thanks Emily Ruddo for her guest post yesterday.  I went to her party with AM's husband JE on Saturday.  Her birthday buffet table was GORGEOUS.


Photos: New York Magazine

GUEST POST: COLORFUL ENTERTAINING WITH DESIGNER EMILY RUDDO!

Hi everyone! This is Emily Ruddo of Armonia Decors guest posting for Coco today. The photo above is a little sneak peak at my buffet table from my birthday party over the weekend. Thanks to Coco for stopping by to celebrate with me. Below are some tips to keep in mind when throwing a colorful summertime bash. Enjoy!

Entertaining Tips:

1. Select a colorful theme and carry it from the invitation to the flowers and all the way to the bar.

2. Skip the white candles and go for colorful ones. Add votives everywhere, including the bar.

3. Layer tabletops and bar with colorful trays that give glassware, nuts or olives a landscape.

4. Place an intensely hued outdoor fabric table runner over your white bar tablecloth to prevent stains.

5. Create a vibrant signature drink and add clear glass bowels of lemons and limes for the bar.

For more colorful summertime entertaining inspirations, head on over to my blog and pinterest page. Thanks again to Coco for letting me share on her blog!

xo,

Emily Ruddo

Photo Source: Emily Ruddo of Armonia Decors

DESIGN IDEA: A KITCHEN LOUNGE!

Of course you've heard of a breakfast nook...but what have you ever considered a kitchen lounge area?  What about a little area right off the kitchen with comfy sofas where you can enjoy morning coffee and the news of the day, a little afternoon tea with a friend, a light lunch on the run or most importantly a casual glass of champagne with a dinner guest?

See this lounge area off of a galley kitchen in Norway. Two modern sofas and small coffee table.

What do you think?  Good design idea or bad design idea?

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Interior designer and friend Kristi Bender, a partner at Wendy Schwartz Design wrote me the other day to say she is so excited to have some new furnishings from their Cuff Home line featured on sale on One Kings Lane today!  Make sure to check out their sale...it starts at 6pm! So excited to see what goodies they are offering!

P.P.S.  Had a great weekend.  Best of friend AM and her hubby JE are here.  I am so happy to have my friends in town and staying with me. Have been running hither and thither with them.  The highlight of the weekend was brunch at the Soho House with AM, JE, their kids, good friend and  interior designer Alison Blumenfeld and my best of guy friend Jim Deutch, Alison's mom Barbara and Jim and Alison's adorable son.  I ran into chic Harbinger showroom owner Joe Lucas there too.  And of all things fashion designer Rachel Zoe stopped by our table to say hi to Jim who is a successful television producer!  Gotta love Los Angeles!

P.P.P.S.  Yesterday spent a bit of time with my dear mom.  I've been putting her to work on the weekends helping me with the COCOCOZY business back office organization.  I call her "the worker".  My mother is a college professor and Ph.D. but on the weekends she is the COCOCOZY COO (Chief Organizing Officer)...my mom is so sweet! Thanks mom!  xo


Photos: Interior Magasinet

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY & MY NEW GARDEN GATE!

All photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY.

Gorgeous fuschia bouganvillea in my garden! (above)

These photos were taken this morning...early...on this Memorial Day 2012.  A bouganvillea plant with bright pinkish flowers climbing up my new garden fence.

Best of friend AM is in town with her hubby JE and their two kiddies.  They left the comforts of their large New York City apartment to come visit Los Angeles and stay with me in my tiny tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills. We have been having a wonderful time.  Yesterday we spent the day hiking, at brunch, at the beach and then out to dinner.  Needless to say we are tired but happy!  The kids are adorable and it is alwasy great to spend time with dear friends.  This has been a fantastic holiday weekend so far.  I'll share more later in the week.

As an aside, in order to prep the kids on how small my house is, I strangely for some reason felt the need to tell them I lived in a "doll house".  Yesterday at brunch, the AM's cute kiddies told the very posh people we were dining  with, "Did you know she lives in a doll house?  It is sooooo small.  It is the tiniest house you've ever seen.  Really"...the people looked at me in wonder as if to say "Whoa...kind of weird...that grown lady lives in a doll house?  Bizarre."  Hmmm...

Anyhoooo...over the last few weeks I've been doing some construction on the garden and the side of the house because there were some major issues that were actually causing some water damage inside the house.  One of the things that was torn down was my old fence and gate that had gotten soaked by the sprinklers and were starting to rot.  In their places, I designed a new fence and gate  with white trim on top (similar to what I've designed for the rest of the house).  I am so pleased with my new white fence...my own take on white picket!

My garden this morning...we also added a hardscape flagstone stone path that leads to the side of the house. (above)

From my little cottage in the Hollywood Hills - California living :-)!

Would like to take a moment to remember why we get today off from work (and I get to spend time with friends and family).  Today is meant to honor those service people who have given their lives to protect the country.  Whenever I start to complain or think that my life is challenging, I do immediately and always consider the sacrifices and real hardships that others have undergone...and I recognize that instead of whining I should be thinking good thoughts for those who really need the help or who have really been courageous.   Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

All photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY.

EXPOSING THE DETAILS IN A LONDON APARTMENT! (AND A GLIMPSE OF COCOCOZY IN NANTUCKET)

Exposed brick in the kitchen of a London loft apartment! (above)

So the long holiday weekend is about to begin!  Happy Memorial Day weekend! I am so excited for a little time off. Best of friend AM and her hubby JE are going to be in Los Angeles for a week staying with me...they are bringing their adorable kiddies.  A family in my little tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills.  We'll all be very very cozy! It should be a fun long weekend and a great week too. I have been sprucing up things around the house and on the outdoor living spaces in anticipation of their arrival. Major construction things that only I will notice have changed...but the house looks tidier with a new fence, new gates, new paved side walkway, new side deck, newly painted main deck, a dry walled sky light in the bedroom and a reupholstered den sofa! Phew. Still a lot more to do but am on my way with making the house perfect for summer parties.

Anyhooo...enough about me...and onto this very cute London loft apartment. I like it because of the white washed exposed brick throughout. The brick wall adds so much character, texture and visual interest to the space. I like.

Take a look!

An open plan living room dining room area gets a boost of character with white washed exposed brick walls.  Love the long white dining table and the French metal cafe chairs. (above)

More of the kitchen...with the round edge stainless steel island countertops, great metal swivel stools and a mirror over the kitchen sink! (above)

Perfection - a dark wood canopy bed with a trunk at its foot with a brick wall providing the backdrop. (above)

Do you like this apartment? If so what stands out to you? If someone said you could put brick walls in your house or apartment and it would somehow work...would you want an exposed brick interior wall? I would and I would paint it white or white wash it! Please do tell.

Also, I definitely want to know what you are doing this Memorial Day weekend. Any fun plans?



P.S. Got an email this morning that made my day. It came from Jillian Fraker. Jillian is the daughter of Debbie Fraker who owns and runs a chic home furnishings shop in Nantucket named The Lions Paw. Debbie and Jillian were some of the first customers to buy a lot of COCOCOZY textiles to feature in their store last year. Well they sold out in the summer of 2011 and made a very nice order in 2012. We sent their huge shipment off a week or two ago and they just received the shipment (takes a bit for things to get to the tiny island of Nantucket). Jillian sent me an email they liked all of their new COCOCOZY pillows! The email was titled "Crazy for Coco at The Lions Paw - Nantucket" and there were several photos attached of their beautiful store. Here's a look at COCOCOZY in Nantucket.

COCOCOZY Quatrefoil and Circle Chevron pillows on display near a white dresser at the Lions Paw in Nantucket! (above)

COCOCOZY Vent  and Fence pillows mix in wonderfully with a bed display at the Lions Paw. (above)

An arrangement of COCOCOZY pillows in light blue and sage stand out in a beautiful color coordinated display. (above)

The Lions Paw in Nantucket with COCOCOZY pillows featured throughout! (above)

P.P.S.  Thank you Jillian for sending in those photos.  They made my day!  Glad we made it to you in time for the long weekend.

P.P.P.S.  Readers, I want to hear what you have planned for the long weekend...are you traveling or staying home?  Are you relaxing or getting projects done?  Do share!

Photos: 1st Option; The Lions Paw (Jillian Fraker)

WORK SPACE STORAGE - GLASS DOOR CABINETS!

I've been thinking a lot lately about work space storage...and then I came across this picture of a home craft and sewing room. I like these glass door cabinets - not that expensive and they keep things on shelves looking well contained.

Alera - Assembled Metal Storage Cabinet - $461 (powder coat finish) (above)




Ikea - Hemnes Glass Door Cabinet - $260 (above)

Do you have any good ideas for home office or work space storage?  How do you keep things looking neat in your home?

Happy Thursday!

xo
Coco


Photo: Hus o Hem

SEE THIS HOUSE: AN ALL AMERICAN $8.5 MILLION HAMPTONS HOME!

The official start of summer is drawing near. Am on the late freight as I try to think about summer plans. I know I have to be in Atlanta and New York for trade shows to present the COCOCOZY textiles collection again in July and August; and I plan on going to for a quick 2 day trip to Nantucket (I hope) and am noodling with the idea of going to Marrakesh in June with my sis DS and my mother (although highly unlikely due to my work schedule and my COCOCOZY schedule). All this to say...for the 2nd summer in a row, I'll probably most likely be dreaming of a proper vacation - a week off or more off to relax and kick back with friends and family in some fantatic place.

So since I know I'll be in dream mode...I think I'll continue my summer dreaming in the Hamptons! Here's another Hamptons multi million dollar home that could possibly suffice as my hypothetical beach vacation home!

The home is listed by Sotheby's International Realty, this traditional shingle style home has 8,000 square feet, 7 bedrooms, 7.5 baths on 1.6 acres of land right near the desired Parsonage Pond.  Cathedral beamed ceilings in the living room.  Heated pool and pool house.

Please decide if this is the type of place of beach house you'd like to go to in the summer.  Notice the patriotic 4th of July themed living room!  Check out today's SEE THIS HOUSE!

This house may not be my first choice...but if someone chose to give me this house...I would snap it up before they could blink. What do you think? Do you like this summer home or do you dislike?  What do you think of the red, white and blue Americana patriotic decor?  Would this be the type of place where you'd spend a week in the summer or would you much rather go someplace else (or stay home)? Please, I want to hear about your dream summer week off!

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco

KIDS' ROOMS - BED OPTIONS!

A traditional wood sleigh bed with pink bedding in a cute little girl's room. A good classic bed selection because can easily transition this bed into this little girl's teens with just a change of bedding. (above)

Kids need cute bedrooms too!  Love a well dressed room for a boy or girl and the centerpiece of that room is the bed!  So what to do when picking out a bed for a child's room?  Here are some bed ideas!

A lime green upholstered headboard is the perfect accent in this sporty boy's room. (above)

Bunk beds in white...love the drawers. (above)

An all in one option twin bed with drawers and a bookshelf attached! (above)

These girs have it lucky...full size pink and green upholstered beds in a shared bedroom. (above)

Which of these rooms do you like most for a child (a question for moms and future moms).  I like the idea of shared rooms...so the bunks or the pink and green bedroom work for me (until I was about 9, I shared a room with my sis DS and it was so much fun).  Do you like or do you think a kids room should be more basic (considering they may grow out of it)?  Do tell.

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Was in Puerto Vallarta this weekend for the wedding of TG and AG.  AG is my good good friend and I wouldn't have missed her wedding for anything.  It was absolutely lovely.  It was so sweet to see my good friend walk down the aisle and marry the man she loves!  Very romantic.  She got married on a bluff right on the water right at sunset.  It was so amazingly wonderful.  Congrats to AG and her new hubby TG!

A floral pom pom attached to a fabric wrapped arch at AG'S (formerly AZ) amazing Puerto Vallarta wedding. (above)

P.P.S.  At the wedding weekend,  I also got to catch up with all my girl friends from around the country including HW, CJ, KD, AL, WH, AS and more.  The weather was gorgeous.  Spent a lot of time at the pool.  No computer with me by the way...it was a nice vacation!

P.P.P.S.  Oh forgot to mention...on the rehearsal dinner night, the bride and groom decided that everyone should do karaoke.  So I had the bright idea that we should perform...so I convinced good friend CJ and the groom's sister who I've known for years to do a rendition of Queen's Boheman Rhapsody...first of all wrong song choice completely...we sounded like three cats in a bag. Out of tune...singing the wrong lyrics...stopping during the middle of the performance and just standing there looking out over the crowd of about 100. During the musical interlude...we broke out into our own impromptu song about the bride and groom...then we would go back to our massacre of the song.    That song is extremely long by the way...so close to 6 minutes after first popping onto the stage...the 3 of us took a bow and ran off.  Our performance was described as "unique" and "interesting" and one woman's husband said nicely, "there was a lot of room for improvement"...another woman said, "Well at least you girls looked cute." Yup. Oh did I mention the groom taped the whole debacle on his iPhone!  Ay yi yi!  Must track down the groom when he gets back and delete that immediately!


Photos: The Glow; David Scott; Sherrill Canet; Agus Interiors; Erinn V Designs

WEEKEND PHOTO!

An outdoor dining area for breakfast, lunch or dinner...right in the middle of a lush garden. I like.

Can't wait until summer to do a little entertaining outdoors. Getting everything in shape in my own garden and yard to make things sparkle for summer dinner parties.

Hmmm...thinking...getting some ideas!

Where do you like to entertain and have meals during the summer...at home, outside, at a restaurant :-)? Do tell. Any tricks to doing an outdoor dinner right that you might want to share? Would love to hear.

Happy Saturday!

xo
Coco

Photo: Tammy Connor Interior Design

GUEST POST: STYLE A BOOKCASE RIGHT - TIPS FROM INTERIOR DESIGNER EMILY RUDDO!

Hi everyone! This is Emily Ruddo of Armonia Decors guest posting for Coco today.

I am grateful to be back on Coco's inspiring blog sharing bookcase styling tips with you today. Styling using details that you love is one way to ensure your personality shines through in your space so today we are breaking down how to style a bookcase.  Sometimes you just need to shop your own home to pull together an eye catching bookcase or shelf.  Once you have a theme, fill it in with new items if necessary. Whatever you passionately collect, bookcases or shelves are a dedicated and organized display space for showcasing your items.  Below are a few guidelines I use when styling bookcases to create a warm and personal space.

This built in bookcase showcases the growing coral collection of this coastal homeowner but also incorporates photos of the family and her favorite inspirational books. In order to take advantage to the western sunlight and create depth, we installed a mirror to the back of the bookcase. When using a mirrored back, less objects are necessary due to the reflections.

Styling Tips:

1. Choose your favorite things to display that show your guests who you are and edit out the rest.

2. Consolidate items that are scattered throughout the home. Your collection will have more impact and look organized if grouped.

3. Items you refer to regularly should be on reachable shelves for organization efficiency.

4. Add something living to one of the shelves like fresh flowers or a small plant.

5. Repeat similar shapes and colors on each shelf for consistency if you have a theme.

6. Colorful objects offer visual interest to a white back or mirrored back bookcase

I hope these tips and photos offer some bookcase inspiration to you.  For the rest of the tip list, head over to my blog. Thanks again to Coco for letting me share today :).  You can also visit my Pinterest page for more bookcase visual inspiration.

xo
Emily
Armonia Decors


Photo Source: Designed by Emily Ruddo of Armonia Decors, Photographed by Meghan Beierle-O'Brien

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

SEE THIS HOUSE: A CANADIAN HOME WITH A BIT OF FRENCH STYLE!

I like this Vancouver home. It is the home of Canadian interior designer Effie Genovese according to the feature in Style at Home magazine.

Effie apparently lived in Paris for 10 years before moving to Vancouver. So her home is a hint of Paris, a hint of modern and a hint of traditional all rolled into one.

Take a look at it in today's SEE THIS HOUSE!

Love this entry with the glossy black front door and the marble mosaic tiles.  Paris is known for its fabulous doors...this one would fit right in! (above)

Love the idea of a desk in the kitchen...cook, work, eat...cook, work, eat...repeat! (above)

The bedroom has a soothing vibe with gray walls and french inspired armchair and bench. (above)

Dream bathroom! (above)

Of all of the places in the house the garden with the crushed gravel reminds me most of Paris...the Luxembourg gardens perhaps! (above)

what do you think of this home? Like or dislike? Any room you would transport to your home as is? I like the foyer...love marble mosaic tiles! Let me know what you like.

Happpy Tuesday!

xo
Coco

P.S. I promised you a story and photos about the party at Jasper, uber interior designer Michael Smith's grand showroom...but I just looked at my photos and they are all really dark AND blurry - oy va voy! I was able to salvage one photo below. Anyhooo...attended the festive event with friend JH who was visiting from South Carolina. It was fun bopping around the party and being in such a chic showroom. We had a very nice chat with Michael Smith and his lovely partner James Costos. Since JH had just attended the Obama/Clooney event and as it turns out Michael had decorated George Clooney's Los Angeles area home, JH and Michael had a lot to talk about. We also saw Joe Lucas owner of the fantastic Harbinger showroom there...he is friends with Michael because he once worked with Michael Smith Inc as a designer years ago. Joe was so nice...he helped JH after a person named Angela from Veranda magazine accidentally dropped a glass on the ground and a tiny tiny tiny chard flew into JH's leg. Joe came to the rescue - our hero! Angela from Veranda was so sorry for dropping the glass...she was so sweet and escorted us to the ladies room to help JH. JH is 100% fine...just a small small nick but it was kind of amusing that of all people, JH was the center of a little mishap at the posh Michael Smith showroom! Here's a look at the party:

Inside the Michael Smith showroom, Jasper, last Friday evening. (above)

P.P.S. Saw all of the usual L.A. designers at the party but also ran into Brooke & Steve Giannetti. Brooke has a store here in Brentwood, she is an interior designer, she just wrote a book and has a great blog named Velvet & Linen. I pop over to her blog from time to time for inspiration. I recognized her and introduced myself...that was fun meeting her in person.

P.P.P.S. Had a bizarre day on Sunday. Was supposed to meet my mom for Mother's Day but then my dog, Mr. Boo, got sick (I thought he ate gopher repellent that the gardener put in the garden) so I had to rush him to the emergency room. On the way down Nichols Canyon with a sick Mr. Boo, a lady was walking a black pig (I kid you not). I waited for 3 hours at the vet emergency room and a lady in a yellow Hummer drives up and rushes in with a possum who just ate rat poison...she demanded vitamin K which is the antidote for rat poison (who knew), she was refused service because she had a wild animal...she stormed out. Then a young boy and mother walked in...they were clutching a cat that I thought was sick, turns out they found the cat and were getting it scanned for a chip, the receptionist scanned the cat, found the owner, the owner came, the little boy cried because he didn't want to let the cat go, the owner gave the little boy $20. Turns out Mr. Boo is fine...he didn't eat anything bad he was just acting funny and then at 3:30pm I finally met my mom for Mother's Day. Hmmm...strange...right?

Photos: Style at Home; Coco of COCOCOZY