2009 ANNUAL KIPS BAY DECORATOR SHOW HOUSE SNEAK PEEK!

"Anne Pyne for McMillen - A Gothic-Inspired Dining Room -The proportions of this room made it an ideal setting for dining and nothing else. Although its vaulted ceiling and dark gothic wood moldings made it seem baronial, Pyne avoided a period feel by integrating modern furniture such as two custom dining tables with tree trunk bases, made in New York City, along with Aesthetic movement features inspired by John Ruskin and author Lewis Carroll such as whimsical wall paper, a giant looking glass mirror and photographs featuring characters from Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland." (above)

Taking place in a 21,000 square foot limestone 1922 mansion that is currently on the market for $75 million, the spectacular 37th Annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House is going on in New York City right now.

I couldn't make it to the city in time...so I asked the city to come to me by requesting photos and information! If you ask, it will come...(thanks to Stuart Cohen of publicity firm HWPR).

Set in the upper east side residence, this year's event brings some of the country's best interior designers, decorators and style mavens together under one roof (including renowned interior designers Charlotte Moss and Bunny Williams)...each of whom designed a room or area in the house to help raise money for this charitable event.

Here's a little about this show house from the press release:

"Over thirty top interior designers and decorative artists will participate in the 37th Annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House to benefit the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club. The show house opens to the public on Friday, April 17th 2009 and runs through Sunday, May 17th. Tickets are $30.

Designed by the renowned architect C.P.H. Gilbert who created homes for the leading families of New York, this exceptional 45’ wide townhouse built in 1922 for Julius Forstmann is one of the largest and most important private residences in New York. It was most recently used as the Salander O’Reilly art gallery. The present owner, Mr. Aby Rosen, has generously donated the use of this stately mansion for the Kips Bay show house."

"Kathy Abbott Interiors – Jewel Box Sitting Room - Working with the 100-year-old custom wallpaper firm Gracie, Abbott designed elegant, hand-painted Chinese scenic wallpaper for the walls and a gold tea leaf to create a warm glow on the ceiling. The room, highlighted by a stunning Helen Frankenthaler painting, also features a custom-designed bookcase, an antique writing table and two 18th century chairs covered in leather. The window treatment juxtaposes a woven wood shade with silk curtains highlighted by a Pagoda valance furthering the subtle Chinese theme. Antique Chinese Scholars objects and antiquities commingle with period English antiques." (above)


"St. Charles Kitchens - Rhapsody in Blue - by Karen Williams and Robert Schwartz, Principals of the boutique kitchen design firm, St. Charles of New York, is a contemporary tribute to the romance of the Jazz era. The stunning garden level kitchen, played up in cool notes of smoky blues, features a fluid, multi-functional floor plan equipped for both the professional chef and home cook. Highlights include a grand marble-top kitchen island with concealed seating area and induction cook top, a self-contained breakfast area, a sleek in-kitchen wine cellar and a wall of professional series Electrolux ICON® appliances. Sicis iridescent mosaic glass floor tiles, ornate lighting, a spectacular mahogany baby grand player piano and an antique fireplace offer the final grace notes." (above)

So if you are in New York between now and May 17th, I would say go...send me any pictures too!

Here are the details:

2009 Kips Bay Decorator Show House

When:now through Sunday, May 17th

Location: 22 East 71st Street, New York

Hours: Monday through Saturday: 11am - 5pm Tuesday and Thursday evenings until 8pm. Sunday: noon - 5pm

Admission: $30, which includes the Journal and Source Book. General admission tickets may be purchased at the door, upon arrival. No entry 1/2 hour before closing.

P.S. Children under 6 (including infants) and pets are not admitted.

P.P.S. Sotheby's International Realty is selling the mansion in the event you have an extra $75million you want to spend!

A MAGNIFICENT MARBLE AND METAL BATHROOM!

All photos in this post by Coco of Cococozy

A cast iron stand alone tub with a polished metal exterior is the centerpiece of high end bathroom. Waterworks - Candide Cast Iron Freestanding Oval Tub - $10,255-14,325 stock either burnished or primed. (above)

Okay...I LOVE this bathtub. I saw it a few months ago at Waterworks on Melrose Ave. here in Los Angeles. I didn't dare to ask the price while I was perusing the posh bath, tile and fixture store. For this post, I actually went online to find out the price...well, you can see above, good design doesn't necessarily come cheap. Oh well.

Love this bathroom too. It is bright, fresh and airy. With lots of rich white marble and shiny polished metal...this bath oozes delightful decadence. Many of us could use a little delight during these times...right?


White Carrara marble vanity with double undermount sinks, polished chrome fixtures, faucets, sconces and mirrors. (above)

All photos in this post by Coco of Cococozy

DESIGN ON SALE DAILY - MY PINEAPPLE PILLOW!

William Sonoma Home - Pineapple Zardozi Pillow - on sale $39.99; regular $98 (White/ivory linen pillow with pineapple hand stitched in silver-wrapped threads, called zardozi) (above)

I have two of these pillows but I didn't buy them on sale! (seems to be a repeat theme in all my stories regarding any of my purchases of late)

Love the shimmering embroidered pineapple motif, a welcoming symbol of hospitality. I put them on a chocolate brown chenille sofa in my tiny little den. Love the contrast of the ivory linen against the dark brown sofa upholstery...and the silver pineapple adds a bit of bling to the classic design.

Whenever guests come over, I put out my pineapple pillows...simply to say "welcome"! Now you could too...but at over 50% off of the price that I paid. I must remember in the future...wait for the sale...wait for the sale...wait for the sale...!

DESIGN DOWN UNDER - A GLIMPSE OF AUSTRALIA'S DESIGNEX 2009!

A Louis style white lacquered accent chair with hot pink embossed leather seat and flocked velvet upholstery. (above)
Bree Oliver of A Paddington Perspective blog sent me these photos from designEX 2009, a well attend design expo in Melbourne, Australia.

Here's what Bree wrote about what she saw at this Australian interior design, architecture and decorator convention:

"Coco,

Here are some images taken from Designex 2009 in Australia. There were two main trends 'organic chic" and "over the top glamour".

Cheers, Bree"

A display featuring metallic fabrics and textiles. (above)



Thank you Bree for submitting these photos! Next year I'll have to try to make it to Melbourne to visit designEX in person!

LOS ANGELES ARCHITECTS GO BEACH MODERN IN SECOND HALF OF SPRING HOME TOUR!

Painted Light Studio Exterior - Dynamic Hyperbolic Paraboloid - Jennifer Wen Architecture (photo by Henry Cabala)

This house (above) is just one of four homes open for touring tomorrow in the Santa Monica/Venice Beach area. I am definitely going!

The American Institute of Architects Los Angeles (AIA/LA) is holding the second half of the Spring Home Tour. The self guided tour will take visitors inside modern residences of the tony beach community of Santa Monica. The AIA says: "From a hyberbolic parabloid that draws from its surroundings to a fabulous prefab that experiments with spatial dimension and construction, each of the homes featured on this tour are living examples dynamic architecture on the leading edge of the 20th century."

Here are the tour details:
AIA/LA Spring Home Tour Part 2
Sunday, May 3
11a-4p
Tickets: $75
Tickets can be purchased online at www.aialosangeles.org.

Hope to see you there!!!

HELLO YELLOW - SUNNY MUST HAVE FURNITURE REMINDS ME OF A CHEERY FASHION FIND THAT REQUIRES A DECISION!

Dining room scene with a bright yellow tufted chair designed by Nina Petronzio of Plush Home. (above)
So I woke up this morning and it is CLOUDY here in Los Angeles today! This does not work for me for two reasons. 1. Ruins plan for outfit...was going to wear a cute and flirty Diane von Furstenberg dress to work that would take me from day to night...necessary because I have an early evening birthday party to attend...now I will have to wear frumpy pants and cobble together some substandard outfit for a chilly night out...this weather not cooperating is unacceptable in my book!; and, 2. Because I was planning on doing this post on sunny yellow things on a sunny day....boo hoo.

I will have to get over the wrench the weather has thrown into my planned wardrobe and writing mood and move on! C'est la vie...right? 2009!!!

Onto the task at hand.

Received an email the other day from Steven, owner of Plush Home here in Los Angeles. Steven sent me a picture of the prototype of a brand new chair he is introducing at his chic furniture shop. It is the Gatsby chair. Love the lines and the design of this chair...classically elegant but modern enough to fit into most any home. Perfect as a dining chair in a lovely fresh dining room, a desk chair for a simple clean line white trestle desk or even as a great accent chair in a bedroom, living room or den. Really spot on for any room in a home!

Immediately, the picture of the chair reminded me of a bright yellow 3.1 Phillip Lim Scooter Skirt (or really skort...half shorts and half skirt) that I bought a few weeks back when AT was in town. Yellow chair...yellow skort...simple minds make simple connections. Anyhooo, I still have the skort in the Barneys bag, tags still on, never worn. I think maybe I am not sure I "need" to add a skort to my summer wardrobe. Feels very 1990s (I had a skort I wore to death in graduate school...that was then...this is now...eeek!). My hesitation on the skort (no hesitation on the chair) is probably based on the fact that while I was trying it on and ooohhhhing and ahhhing at how cute it looked at me, AT gave me a once over and said "I could NEVER wear something like that." Hmmmm....

Well here is the chair - a clear must have item; and below it the skort - a must decide whether a grown woman should be wearing a skort item. Help!!!


Plush Home - Gatsby Chair - $2,489 (Bright yellow tufted upholstered accent chair. Choose fabric and nailhead trim options to personalize. Wood legs with lacquer finish. Environmentally hand-crafted in Los Angeles, using American made materials. Designed by Nina Petronzio) (above)


My newly purchased 3.1 Phillip Lim bright yellow Scooter Skirt (Skort) that I bought last week - $350, Barneys. (above)
Photo by Coco of Cococozy

The bottom line is this fantastic Gatsby chair is a piece of furniture I would definitely keep for my home! Love it.

The skort is still in question though. Need your thoughts (desperately). What would you do? Skip the skort or keep it? Its fate rests in your hands!

Please help me decide on the skort! Comment below.

TILE FILE: LINKING IN ON AN OPULENT MOSAIC TILE WALL!

All photos in this post by Coco of Cococozy

A breakfast nook in a kitchen features a brown and white Bisazza mosaic tile wall in a chain link pattern. A vintage inspired round glass chandelier hangs over a wood round table and four white Series 7 Fritz Hansen dining chairs. (above)
Was on the AIA Spring home tour a few weeks ago and came across this amazing dining area in a Los Angeles house.

This home's casual dining room or breakfast nook features a vintage inspired round glass chandelier, modern furniture (simple dining table and chairs), and an over-the-top very chic, very posh tile wall. The wall sets the stage for this open eating area. The mosaic is a simple link pattern that is reminiscent of Moorish or Moroccan design. The tiles are Italian made and designed.

Love the fact that the wall is a form of art and gives the otherwise simple room an elegant infusion of texture and design.

Love this. Clearly an interior designer's fab decorating touch. Wouldn't mind sharing a meal in this space!



Bisazza- Liasons Marrone Mosaic Tile - $1,163.47 for box of 8.934 square feet (Tesserae of white gold mosaic are interlaced in this decoration of brown and white, designed by Carlo Dal Bianco. Comes in white, grey and blue colors) (above)

DREAMS OF MORE SLEEP IN A BEACH INSPIRED GUEST BEDROOM!

Photos in this post by Coco of Cococozy


Last night, went to the Lakers game (not a basketball fan at all but seem to be a magnet lately for tickets to sporting events...not my milieu but why not? Right? Mixing it up I guess!). Lots of fun at the game and after at a cool hotel in downtown Los Angeles called the Figueroa Hotel (a Moroccan themed retro hotel).

Am exhausted this morning. Have to get to work asap!

Only thing I can think of is need more sleep. Love this beachy bedroom. The arched seagrass headboard (I think I saw something like this at Pottery Barn), rattan roman shades, a blue and white paisley duvet and white washed wood floors!

Sigh....wish I could go back to sleep...here, there, anywhere!!!


Photos in this post by Coco of Cococozy

ROOM OF THE DAY - MUSTARD YELLOW ACCENTS A TAUPE & GREY MODERN BEDROOM!

Photo courtesy Jeff Andrews Design

Guess I must be thinking a lot about resting and sleep lately. Seem to be drawn towards photos of fab bedrooms. This one features grey paint on walls with white trim (baseboards and windows), taupe drapes, a simple modern platform bed with white bedding and a striped throw, my favorite rug from The Rug Company called Ushak Morocco, wood nightstands and accent chair...and to top everything off...a few well blended mustard yellow accents.

Grey goes bright cheery and airy in this well designed space...who knew grey could be so great???

SUNDAY AT THE BEACH!

All photos in this post by Coco of Cococozy


Nice day in Manhattan Beach. Met up with HW, CS, MS, ES and OS. Really fun day at MS & ES's adorable beach house and at the Manhattan Beach pier.

Great way to end the weekend.

Here are few photos!







Photos by Coco of Cococozy

CHEAP TO CHIC: ON THE EDGE WITH A CLASSIC DINNERWARE PATTERN!

William Sonoma Home - Knightsbridge Dinnerware - on sale $8.99-14.99 (Made in Portugal. White porcelain, rimmed in color and edged by hand in polished gold or platinum. Dinner plate, charger, soup bowl, salad/dessert plate, cup and saucer available) (above)

A band of classic color, a metallic rim and classic glossy white porcelain, bone china, earthenware or stoneware. This is the combination that makes up one of the most timeless dinnerware patterns around.

Whether dining casually or more formally, it seems this pattern works. I love the idea of sitting around a kitchen table or breakfast area and enjoying a light morning meal on these plates. Oh wait, maybe even better an informal garden lunch or a traditional afternoon tea with finger sandwiches, petit fours and other light snacks. Lastly, can definitely imagine this dishware adding classic style to a table set for a very formal dinner in a grand dining room.

Also think about mixing and matching these with other dishes you might have in your china cabinet...could make for a great tabletop medley!

Love the simplicity. Also, love these prices!!


Crate & Barrel - Stockton Dinnerware - on sale $29.95 for 4 piece place setting (Dinner plate, salad plate, cup and saucer. Red clay stoneware in white with dove grey rim) (above)



Horchow - Ashford Dinnerware Set of 20 - on sale $89.90 (Made in Indonesia. Blue banded dinnerware comes in 20 piece set.) (above)


Z Gallerie - Delfina Dinnerware in Sky Blue - $51.80 for four dinner plates (Porcelain with band applied appliqué in a Tiffany sky blue with a deep brown band, outlined in platinum. Set of 4 salad plates and soup bowls also available) (above)

COCOCOZY FIND - A VERY LONG 19TH CENTURY FARMHOUSE TABLE!

All photos in this post by Coco of Cococozy

Was a beautiful day here a few weeks ago when I decided to drive out to Santa Monica and Venice Beach to see the water...that was my intent...drive over to the beach...inhale some fresh beach air...put my feet in the sand...watch some waves and enjoy the super bright blue skies. None of that happened (of course). As I drove down Pico, I did catch a glimpse of the sparkling water just beyond Shutters hotel...it was blue and sparkling! Somehow though my car inexplicably took a turn down Main Street in Santa Monica and then another turn onto Abbot Kinney Road in Venice Beach and there I was in the midst of several furniture shops...no beach in sight.

Well I sauntered into Bountiful on Abbot Kinney in Venice Beach and one of the first things I noticed was this twelve foot long white farmhouse table...front and center of the store. I was amazed by the length of the table...I had never seen anything soooooooooooooooo long (sorry...couldn't help myself with the "so"). It was rustic yet modern looking at the same time; simple and elegant...and definitely would NOT fit into my house which is about 12' wide total it feels like!

Anyhoooooo...when I inquired...I found that this farmhouse wood table is in fact a 19th century American made piece of furniture (circa 1870's).

Love it!! Great dining table...wonderful for a large eat-in kitchen or would make a huge impact in a formal dining room. More food for thought!


White washed 12' long farmhouse style table; 19th century American made, $6200. Bountiful, 310-450-3620.

Farmhouse dining table top made of three very long pieces of wood. (above)

Detail of the simple carved turned leg of the farmhouse style table (p.s. love the classic black and white mosaic hexagon porcelain tiled floor too with the little flower (floral) detail) (above)

A BLAST OF ORANGE AND YELLOW - SUNNY SUMMER COLORS BRIGHTEN UP A CLASSIC SEATING ARRANGEMENT!

All photos in this post by Coco of Cococozy


Inside the Mecox Gardens store here in Los Angeles, I saw this seating group. The neutral tweed tufted armchairs with nailhead trim (Poindexter Tufted Chairs, $1650 each) and the antique mirror top nesting tables with gold metal base (Jonathan Nesting Tables, $2050) are what initially caught my eye. I like these staple pieces of furniture. Neutral...basics...that could go in any room, in almost any style home, at any time of year....the ultimate in versatility.

Now to the bright bursts of orange and yellow - a reminder that summer is coming. The colorful accent pillows, the bright orange gourd light with a mahogany base (Christopher Spitzmiller Aurora Double Gourd Table Lamp, $1690) and the cheery yellow ceramic lattice side table or accent table (Yellow Crackle Ceramic Garden Stool, $355). Love all of this.

Why not add a bit of these vibrant sunny summer colors now...summer is almost here?!

Set of three square antique mirror top nesting side tables with gold base. (above)

All photos in this post by Coco of Cococozy

CHEAP TO CHIC: HAMMERING HOME THE NAILHEAD TRIM UPHOLSTERED BEDS I LIKE!

Photo from Z Gallerie

Love a bed with a little bling. In this case nailhead trim bling. Metal studs or nails in gold, brass, pewter, nickel, chrome, copper or any finish you like. Lots of friends of mine are on the fence about the use of nail or studded trim on upholstered furniture...I'm not. I like it!

In particular, I am very partial to the Crate & Barrel bed shown below...for some reason! :-) I have been on the verge of purchasing it for my bedroom for some time. Don't know what it is about this Crate & Barrel bed I love...?? Hmmm...??? Do you?? (P.S. If you do know, shhhhhhhh....please!)


Z Gallerie - Concerto Bed - $799 for queen size (White lacquer wood bed with white velvet upholstered headboard with nickel nail head trim detail. All lumber is from re-growth forestry and is fully renewable and sustainable) (above)



Jayson Home & Garden - Regis Queen Bed - on sale $1596; regular $1995 (Queen upholstered bed. Upholstered in journey-aqua faux silk, legs in java wood finish and features gold nailhead double border trim) (above and below)

Crate & Barrel - Colette Bed - $1599(Shown in alabaster linen with brushed pewter nailhead trim. Camel back headboard and flared dark stain wood legs. Certified sustainable kiln-dried hardwood frame. Soy-based foam cushioning) (above and below)

William Sonoma Home - York Bed - $2450 for queen in grade A fabric (Solid-maple frame, thick padding with tapered block feet with an Ebony finish. Built-in box spring. Made using sustainably harvested wood. Trimmed either polished nickel or antiqued-brass nail heads.) (above and below)

SPRING HOME TOUR PREVIEW: INSIDE A TALENTED ARCHITECT'S TRADITIONAL LOS ANGELES HOME AND MORE!

All photos in this post courtesy of Newman & Wolen Design, LLC.


I can't wait until this Sunday! I'm going on tour...well, errr, I'm going on a tour of homes I should say...a fantastic tour of traditional homes in Los Angeles' Hancock Park area.

First house on my stop will be this recently remodeled Mediterranean house that was perfectly redone by the talented architecture firm of Newman & Wolen Design.

I have been to this house...invited by the owner and architect himself, Tom Newman (...she brags about having "been" as she pretends to be just reporting the facts)! Love it and can't wait to see it again.

So the scoop is...this Sunday, April 19th, from 11a-4pm, the Los Angeles chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) will host the first leg of its Spring Home Tour. The focus on this day of the self-guided home tour is the traditional Hancock Park home that has been updated and remodeled. Four homes to see on Sunday. For wonderful remodels.

Am only showing you a few photos from this spectacular Newman & Wolen Design remodeled house right now...I will do a full feature with before and after photos on this home a little later and include many details.

Tom, the architect and owner. also did an exclusive Cococozy Q&A with me about the home and the well executed remodel (...she brags again...just to brag...for bragging sake. Stop. She knows what you are thinking...is this something to "brag" about or just gladly comment on? She answers: who wouldn't brag over an exclusive Q&A with a prestigious architect ("she" is bragging again btw in case you didn't notice) and before and after photos? No need to answer...once again, "she" is always fearful of what readers might respond to rhetorical questions...) (Aside note: Hope "she" is not struck down by lightning for throwing all graces and etiquette aside by clandestinely mentioning things but really bragging in her mind...hmmmm...after awhile people do catch on to this sort of thing...hmmmm(again)).

Anyhooo, this post is simply a preview of what I'm going to see and you could too this Sunday if you are in Los Angeles.


Television room of Newman & Wolen designed home features a cleverly constructed wall of built-in book shelves painted in a bright classic red. (above)

To purchase tickets for the April 19th home tour, click here to order online...

or click here to print a form and fax it in.

If you have any questions about the tour or ticket purchasing, please contact:
AIA/Los Angeles - Home Tours
Tel: 213.639.0777

Hope to see you there!

P.S. If you can't make this leg of AIA Los Angeles' Spring Home Tour, the event continues on May 3rd with a self-guided tour of contemporary homes in Santa Monica and Venice Beach California.

All photos in this post courtesy of Newman & Wolen Design, LLC.

ROOM OF THE DAY: MODERN WAY OF SLEEPING!

Photo © Eric Roth. Courtesy of Eric Roth Photography.


Love this serene modern bedroom. After my long holiday weekend of running around...could use a few extra hours of sleep in a room like this! Also love the touch of the Kelly Wearstler Imperial Trellis pillow.

HAPPY EASTER!

All photos in this post by Coco of Cococozy

Yellow daisies in my garden in Los Angeles. Photo taken this morning. (above)

It is a beautiful Easter morning here in Los Angeles. Blue skies, crisp air and flowers in bloom.

This is a wonderful daisy bush in my garden. Love the bright yellow daisies...they say "Happy Easter" to me! Thought I would share with you.

I am off to visit with family.

Hope you have a wonderful day!



All photos in this post by Coco of Cococozy

SEE THIS HOUSE: OVERARCHING CHIC DESIGN IN A FAB NEW YORK CITY APARTMENT!

Photos courtesy of Digs by Katie, Katie Leede & Co.

Balcony of a New York City apartment with a spectacular view overlooking Central Park. (above)

Architectural arches and curves are the order of the day in this NYC two story apartment. From arched doorways, to barrel vaulted ceilings, to arched French doors and windows, this city abode is filled with curves and soft lines that make a stunning statement.

Then comes the decor, courtesy of Los Angeles based interior design maven Katie Leede of her eponymous Digs by Katie. When it came to decorating, it seems that Katie chose to mirror the subtle soft lines of the architecture by using soft colors, soft fabrics, and furniture with curves and round edges. Beautifully done.

I would happily live in this apartment...

Wouldn't you?


An arched doorway leads into the apartment's living room. A traditional living space decorated with light teal tufted velvet upholstered armchairs, off white and blue floral seating, striped drapes and a city view outside the corner windows. (above)


A succession of arches flows from the living room through a sitting area, to the entry way and then sinto the dining room. Arches are embellished with bright white painted molding and paneling which make them stand out even more against the subtle pale wall colors.(above)



Dentil crown moulding and a bold arch form a frame of the picture perfect sitting area with striped upholstered classic armchairs and a blue velvet sofa. (above)


Framed by yet another archway, pale green walls, a white console table with curved legs, an ornate gold mirror and stone tile floors create a stylish scene right outside of the home's dining room. (above)


Arches are subtly incorporated into the walls of a wood paneled traditional dining room. A crystal ship chandelier floats above a classic oval dining table with rust colored velvet chairs. (above)


Another archway leads to a curved staircase. (above)



A barrel vaulted ceiling in a bathroom makes a striking statement and creates a nook or niche for the stand alone tub. Marble floor tiles in a herringbone pattern and a curved Moroccan style fireplace mantel also add to the well designed architecture in this bath.(above)


Arched windows brighten up the second floor master bedroom. (above)


Leather paneled padded walls with nailhead trim detail add pattern and texture to the second floor landing. (above)

Photos courtesy of Digs by Katie, Katie Leede & Co.