DESIGN ON SALE DAILY: A MODERN METAL HEADBOARD!

West Elm - Low Metal Headboard (Cal King only) - on sale $99.99; regular $349 (brushed stainless steel headboard) (above)

Cool, simple, clean lines in the bedroom...this open frame headboard is the ultimate in modern. Only available in California King size at this point...it is a modern day bed bargain!

FOLLOWING THE CROWD ON FLOWERING OTTOMANS!

Modern Dose - Lana Wool Ottoman - $395 (Round pouf ottoman or stool covered in hundreds of wool laser cut flowers. 22" diam. Shades of tan) (above)

So way way earlier this year, I was browsing through design websites and happened upon a blog called AphroChic which was featuring these ADORABLE poufs. The ottomans came from ModernDose. I was so tempted to feature them...but decided, in my effort to be original, I would let AphroChic keep the glory on these really cute finds.

Well, so much for not being a copycat. This month, now Metropolitan Home is featuring the Lana Ottoman above as one of its top 100 design picks. ANNOYING...by letting this story go earlier this year, I have been scooped (in a very round about way) by a top design magazine!

Anyhoooooooo...here are two ottomans that are just darling...love the laser cut flowers...again piece of accent furniture that combine whimsy, a feminine touch and modern style all in one. Love them!!!


Modern Dose - Flora Pouf _ $549 (22"L x 22"W x 18"H. Color: Ivory) (above)

COCOCOZY FIND: A POLISHED NICKEL COFFEE TABLE!

William Sonoma Home - Cosmopolitan Coffee Table - $950 (polished nickel plate frame and tempered glass top coffee table) (above)

Cool and chic coffee table. Design is inspired by the Regency Revival style of 1930s Paris. Love the skinny tapered legs, the shiny polished metal plate frame and the overall slender silhouette. Perfect piece to decorate and accent a living room or a sitting area in a sophisticated city house or apartment.

Very cosmopolitan!

TRUNK SHOW ALERT: BOBETTE'S CLEVER MODERN TAKE ON CHIC VINTAGE FASHION!

All photos in this post courtesy Bobette Cohn


Another interior design non-sequitur on fashion. It is worth it.

This time a story about a trunk show that is happening today in New York City...one I am so sorry I have to miss because I am here in Los Angeles!

Got an email the other day from friend Bobette Cohn. I have known Bobette for years...met her through friend JD at a dinner here in L.A. up in Beverly Glen if I remember correctly.

Then, Bobette was in town for some high end shoot with one of her celebrity clients. Bobette is a highly sought after fashion stylist - styling for magazines as Vogue and Italian Vogue and dressing actors of the likes of Tilda Swinton and Ralph Fiennes.

Haven't seen Bobette in a year or so...and then I got an email about a trunk show she was having! It turns out, Bobette has turned her knack and love for style into her own very posh designer collection.

Bobette has turned her love for vintage fashion into a very new style concept. She finds vintage silhouettes and pieces and uses those as the templates for her line. The result is a collection with a classic feel but with a very modern sensibility. I could actually see our first lady Michelle Obama wearing a Bobette creation and/or one of the girls from the MTV hit The Hills (I know many of you might think the Hills girls should not be mentioned in an article about high fashion but I only mention to speak about how this collection is versatile, young, hip and elegant all at the same time...:-)). The collection includes vintage like fabrics including brocades and quilted fabrics...and many pieces with intricate beading and detail. Love it all...the dresses, the skirts, jackets, sweaters and blouses all exude elegance, charm and fantastic style.

Anyhooo, Bobette's line runs from $700-1500. Right now, pieces are available directly through her at bobettecohn@hotmail.com or via phone at 212-644-9172.

Most importantly, if you are in New York today...go to her trunk show (see invite below).

If you go, please send me pictures of anything you buy and I will do a post! Have fun shopping! I will be jealous and happy for you at the same time (the two emotions can coexist).

Here are some additional samples from Bobette's fab collection below!


Love this feminine pink cocktail dress with the sash waistband! (above)





For you interior decorating and design purists....will get back to design, decorating and all that (blah blah blah) in the next post. These pieces were too amazing...had to talk about them. Plus, you never know...a little fashion may inspire in home decor!

A FRENCH INSPIRED WALL MOUNTED HEADBOARD!

Wisteria - French Country Headboard in White Wood - $599 for twin; $1099 for king (above)

I like this idea for a headboard. Simple white wood planks mounted on the wall behind a twin bed. Put two together and that makes a king headboard. Would tone down the country look by making sure all accessories and other furniture were modern classics. I think the blue painted wall in this photo above works...so with these wall headboards, color is the order of the day behind them...a subtle shade of green or a neutral linen wall paint would look awesome too.

Only question I have is what do you do if you have a queen bed????

OPRAH'S FAVORITE INTERIOR DECORATOR NATE BERKUS HAS A PIG IN HIS BATHROOM!

Just last week, Esther Chen of People.com emailed me to alert me that People.com is featuring video of Nate Berkus, Oprah's interior designer, giving a house tour of his Chicago apartment.

Wasn't all that interested in this...but I watched the video anyway. The video runs a few minutes so I knew I could focus for at least that amount of time...good or bad. Good news was that this short video blip wasn't bad at all.

The highlight of Nate's home tour for me was his posh bathroom which features a stand alone tub (looks like a Waterworks tub), white subway tiled walls, a marble mosaic tiled floors (looks like a hexagon Cararra marble mosaic) .... drum roll please...and what looks like a leather pig. Love the bathroom...love the pig even more for some reason. Is that weird that I like this pig more then I like Nate?

Turns out home furnishing store Jonathan Adler has a similar pig in stock (no pun intended) and it is almost $800! Gotta be hog wild over pigs as home accessories in order to buy this one! I like pigs...but wonder if I like them enough to buy this...why buy a pig when I could buy a gorgeous pair of Manolo Blahniks?

Jonathan Adler - Pig in Leather Animals - $795 (handcrafted in full grain leather. 29” Long, 17” High, 13” Wide)

Would you put a pig in your bath? Or is Nate taking pig love too far?

SEE THIS HOUSE: BEACH HOUSE CHIC!

All photos in this post courtesy Windsor Smith Home.


Outside deck and patio at a California beach house (above)
Went out to the beach today for brunch. Was in Santa Monica. Seeing all the people on bikes (beach cruisers), skateboards and carrying around their yoga mats as if they were carrying around a badge of honor of sorts, made me start thinking...maybe I should move to the beach? Should I? Huh?

Anyhooooo, got home and decided to post pictures from this gorgeous Windsor Smith designed ocean front home. Love her design and decor sensibility.



The very fresh and bright beach house living room features red Chippendale armchairs, a classic white sofa, a stunning armoire with mirrored doors all set against a pristine white backdrop.(above)



A turquoise high gloss painted wood floor is the highlight of the beach kitchen and eat in dining area or breakfast nook. Two surfboards serve as decoration in the dining area featuring an striped yellow and white upholstered banquet and a round table. (above)




A blue and white striped sofa or settee, a classic white chandelier and twin beds with pink tufted accent pillows make the bedroom a soft, peaceful and inviting space (above)

COCOCOZY GOES LATE NIGHT DINING IN LOS ANGELES!

All photos in this post by Coco of Cococozy




Here are some photos from inside Pizzeria Mozza here in Los Angeles on Highland (this L.A. hot spot is owned by renowned chefs Nancy Silverton, Mario Batali and Joseph Bastianich). Great warm inviting dining room featuring red walls and simple furnishings.

Went to dinner late on this Saturday night. We got there at 10p and the restaurant was packed. We were lucky, it seemed, to even get a seat at the eat in bar. I enjoyed a very cold glass of prosecco, a decadent asparagus appetizer (yes asparagus can be decadent), a delicious pizza and some sort of butterscotch dessert. Please pay close attention to first photo above and you will see what was left of the butterscotch dessert...hmmmm....

Good food, good conversation and good night! Nothing to do with decor really...but who cares...right?

AN ORANGE WINGBACK CHAIR!

Jayson Home & Garden - Colin Chair - $1395 (Wingback upholstered armchair. Shown in persimmon velvet)

Great classic wing back chair. Easy to add into almost any space. The burnt orange velvet fabric could add chic to a living room , den, bedroom or probably best in a home library.

If my den or t.v. room were bigger I would add one of these in...would go well with my chocolate brown chenille sofa.

COLOR WATCH: WHITE WORKS WONDERS IN A CITY APARTMENT!

All photos in this post courtesy of Kelly G Design


Love these all white rooms by New York interior designer Kelly Giesen. Shabby chic that is far more chic than anything that has become commonly known as Shabby Chic (ala Rachel Ashwell)(does this sentence make sense?). Kelly does this style in a way that feels modern and elegant...not cookie cutter, country and cute (too much alliteration?)

The all white living room (above) features a rolled arm slipcovered sofa, a shag rug, a cane back chair, a classic wing back chair, a clear lucite table, and mid century vintage looking barrel armchair all in white. Painted all white, the room features classic architecture including a fluted structural column at the center of the space. Love the fact that the fireplace mantel act as a frame for a flat screen LCD television which sits right inside the fireplace. White on white on white on white...who knew?



Then comes this all white small kitchen. This eat in kitchen features white marble countertops, mirrored paned kitchen cabinets in white, a classic dining table and chairs...in white of course...all off set by luxurious pale blue drapes.



This all white bedroom rocks! I love it. Bright, cheery and clean...a tufted headboard and white patterned wall paper make a huge statement in this small room.

Kelly Giesen has a blog too...ooohhhh...right now, the lead story is about a feather ball chandelier she loves ...in white of course!

SHINY COLORFUL ENAMEL HOME ACCESSORIES!

Enamel Napkin Ring, $18 ea
Deb Willis from Jonathan Adler sent me these photos of the home furnishing house's new enamel accessories line. Just a perfect bit of color and gloss for your tabletop, table, vanity or display cabinet, console or shelves.

How is it these pieces feel both retro and up-to-date all at the same time?

In olive green, dusty blue and burnt orange...Jonathan Adler has once again fashioned a collection that is colorful yet sophisticated.

Love them! The napkin rings and the teardrop shaped petal bowls are my favorites!


Enamel Petal Bowl, $68 ea



Enamel Serving Set, $78


Enamel Frame, $68 ea
Enamel Hex Box, $68 ea

DESIGN ON SALE DAILY: SHEDDING THE LIGHT ON YELLOW BAMBOO!

Pieces - Yellow Faux Bamboo Lamp - on sale $671 ; regular $895 (Vintage. Vertical bamboo detail on base. Hexagon shape base. Newly wired with three way switch. 150 watt max. New custom very dark brown gloss drum shade) (above)

Yellow bamboo??? Doesn't exist in nature...but it exists in home decor and furnishings!

Lots of yellow on Cococozy lately...here is cute vintage yellow faux bamboo lamp on sale! I like this lighting in the right room...a splash of summer color in a fresh white living room; or a dash of brightness in a cozy neutral color bedroom.

Send me your yellow finds!

DESIGN ON SALE DAILY: A LACQUER BENCH!

Pottery Barn - Chase Bench - on sale $149.99; regular $199 (Frame and legs of solid birch with top and apron of wood birch veneer. Hand applied high gloss finish that is burnished at the edges for a subtle patina. Lacquer sealant on all sides. Comes in blue, grey or white) (above)

Cute bench...right?

I like this high gloss bench because of its look and versatility. The notched and scalloped apron and the glossy lacquer paint finish are reminiscent of Chinese Chippendale design. Can be used as a bench, coffee table, accent table or however you would like. I think a white one would be great at the foot of a bed...or the blue could add a subtle pop of color into a living room as a coffee table.

A bench to consider...!

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.