DESIGNER ROOM RECREATE: A PINK AND BROWN STUDY!

Photo courtesy Christina Murphy Interiors

I love so many of the spaces imagined by fab interior designer Christina Murphy! In the last month or two, I've returned to her site again and again for inspiration and ideas to bring to you.

Here is another. A cute study in a NYC apartment. Love this small space. It looks comfy, functional and stylish. The color combination of pink brown and white works really well too. A design trifecta!

Anyhooo, so now that I've admired and obsessed over Christina's work...now it is time to imitate it (highest form of flattery right?). That brings us to today's DESIGNER ROOM RECREATE!

Crate and Barrel - Trace Sofa - $1,499 (A boxy chocolate brown sofa with white contrast piping) (above)


Elson & Company - Oscar de la Renta Dhurrie Collection $80-$100 per square foot (Indian flat weave dhurries are hand-made from New Zealand wool)(above)


West Elm - Parsons Cube Side Table - $149 (Sqare white lacquer table. Wood construction. 18" x 18"x18") (above)


Pieces Inc. - Floral Pillow - $350 (Linen. Chocolate and natural linen colored pillow)(above)


Structube - Console table A-TRAIN - $299 (Small trestle style desk. Oak veneer and tempered glass construction) (above)


Tiffany & Co - Rectangular Frame - $355 (Classic sterling silver picture frame. 4" x 6") (above)


Jonathan Adler - Meurice Square Table Lamp - $325 (Polished nickel, linen shade, full range dimmer) (above)


William Sonoma Home - Carter Club Chair - $1350-$2450 (Price depends on grade of fabric. Armchair with slim arms, tapered legs, solid maple legs stained ebony, nailhead trim in either polished nickel or antique brass)(above)



Madeline Weinrib Atelier - Zig Zag Brown (available in 20" x 28", 24" x 24", 36" x 36") (above)


Urban Home - Shiraz Natural Silk Down Pillow - $39 (Silk removable pillow cover, filled with Goose down) (above)


Pottery Barn - Ribbon Border Roman Shade - on sale $87; regular $109 (for 36"x64". Several sizes available. Window shade has wide grosgrain ribbon trim)(above)
Hope you have a great weekend. Will be back here on Sunday with more!

xo
Coco

P.S. Once again, thank you to COCOCOZY intern Spardha T. for some fabulous research! Loving my summer interns (who I hope become my winter interns...hint...hint).

DESIGN IDEA: WHEN IN DOUBT, JUST TILE THE WALL!

Photo: Lincoln Barbour
Marble subway tiles cover the walls in a remodeled kitchen. (above)

Every been trying to decide between the right wall paint color, tile color, countertop color combination in a kitchen or bath? Well here is a solution...eliminate one of the surface color choices by just using tile for the whole wall. To keep a kitchen or bath design simple but stylish, try tiling all the way to the ceiling. A tiled wall makes a luxe design statement...so why not give it a try?


Photo: Style at Home
A cute kitchen with Ikea cabinets and a green yellow and grey square glass tile backplash creating a colorful feature wall!(above)

Photo: Jessica Helgerson
An elegant bathroom sink area features elegant floor to ceiling white subway tiles.(above)

Photo: Mabley Handler
Grey glass subway tiles wallpaper the walls and compliment the shiny metal stand alone tub in this chic master bath. (above)
Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Check out the COCOCOZY FACEBOOK PAGE today...a reader needs more of your help deciding on her kitchen backsplash. If you are not a fan of COCOCOZY on Facebook, then please "Like" the page and then you can weigh in with your opinion on her kitchen remodel!

DESIGN ON SALE DAILY: A DHURRIE POUF!

West Elm - Dhurrie Pouf - on sale $159.99; regular $199 (Dhurrie, hand loomed cotton cover. 24"sq x 13"h. Beanbag filling)(above)
Very cute and on sale! Love that combination. I like this dhurrie rug upholstered beanbag ottoman. I can imagine it in my tiny little t.v. room - two of them really. I nice place to rest my feet after a long day of sitting at the office...hmmmm....need a job where I stand all day so I can definitely use these poufs. Well if not a place to rest my feet, it can double as a low coffee table or some extra floor seating.

Cute...right?

xo
Coco

LA CUISINE MERVEILLEUSE - A FANTASTIC KITCHEN IN A FRENCH CHATEAU!

Period copper pots and pans, an impressive La Cornue range and terra-cotta tiles produced in Les Rairies in western France make this 19th century kitchen a modern day delight. (above)

Located in France's Auvergene region, this kitchen delightful kitchen is in Château du Sailhant - a French castle that looms over 100-foot perpendicular cliffs. Architect Joseph Pell Lombardi, a preservation specialist spent the last 40 years restoring the 12,500-square-foot château fort, which had not been modified for 100 years and whose earliest construction dates to the 10th century.

Even though this is a Medieval home, the kitchen seems to be the heart of this chateau as with any modern day home. The 19th century kitchen is a gorgeous long space with high barrel vaulted ceilings, tall leaded glass paned windows and a floor that is paved with six-inch-thick volcanic stone.

Had to post this one for my mother who loves everything French (she is in Paris right now) and any cooking appliance made by La Cornue...here's a nice one for her!


Exterior of Château du Sailhant. (above)

xo
Coco

Photos: Architectural Digest

COLOR WATCH: PALM BEACH PINK!

Photo: Scott Frances

I promised a summer photo after talking about fall yesterday...so here is a sunny summer photo.

Don't know where the photo above was taken but for some reason I imagine Palm Beach. Love the pink outdoor table and chairs, the vast green lawn and the rich blue ocean and vibrant sky. Picture perfect. Palm Beach Pink I'm dubbing this...it is delicate, flirty and soft. Might be a perfect pink for me.

Like yesterday's post...I found that this pale pink is in fashion too!


Oscar de la Renta via Style.com

Dsquared via Style.com
Love that dress with the ruffle btw.

What would you name this pink? What do you think of pink?

Happy Thursday!

xo
Coco

COLOR WATCH: THE PRE-FALL BUZZ - YELLOW & BLACK IS BACK!

Photo: Style at Home
Master bedroom in black, white and yellow with a wall "mounted" headboard made out of floral wallpaper and left over crown moldings.(above)
Huh...who would have thought that the color combination of yellow and black could actually be really elegant and highly stylish? I didn't before now. Usually, when I think of combining these colors I immediately think of an insect...in particular..a bee. Not anymore!

Fashion and interior design ...on the same page it seems when it comes to these two colors. These rooms and these Oscar de la Renta looks with great skirts, jackets, tops and scarves have convinced me that yellow and black is back and "a la mode"!


Photo: Style.com
Oscar de la Renta Pre-Fall Collection 2010 (above)


Photo: Caldwell Flake
Touches of yellow add a bright color lift to a master bedroom with black and white harlequin patterned (diamond) upholstered bed. (above)

Do you like yellow and black together...? Do you think it works in these rooms or for these clothes? What is your favorite color combination?

Lots of questions for you!

Hope you have a fab Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Can't believe I am starting to write about fall already. Time flies!!!! Will have to do something fresh and summer related tomorrow to try to stop time!

BOOKING SMART IN A NEW YORK CITY LIVING ROOM!

While watching the Bachelorette Men Tell All special last night, I actually felt like I lost brain cells. There they go. Everytime I sat through a commercial break to see the next act, I could feel the brain cells just giving up on me. So to encourage brain cells to stick around, lately, every time I watch a vapid reality show, I try to pick up a book and read for just a bit. Mind numbing television leads to brain improving books (although I won't tell you what book I just read for fear that you will judge...).

That being said, I like that books play a prominent role in the design of this living room. The built-in bookshelves provide great function (storing of books) and good design. I love the fact that the back of the shelves have been cleverly lined with a luxe looking herringbone suiting like fabric. Did I say "smart" already?






Where are the books in your house?

Hope you have a fab Tuesday.

xo

Coco

P.S. Please go to the COCOCOZY FACEBOOK PAGE and sign up to follow me there. On Facebook, I post fun reader submissions and extra design photos. Take a look today and you'll see a design find I posted late last night that is just under $13. It would make a great gift too!

Photos courtesy of Christina Murphy Interiors

AN ENCHANTING SOFA!

I like this sofa. Love seeing one of my favorite patterns all over a stylish and comfy looking couch. I know...I know...it is expensive. I can't help it. I dream in multiple zeros.


Pal + Smith - Madison Sofa - $7630 (Custom sofa with tapered legs. Upholstered in "Chant" chocolate and brown trellis pattern fabric)


Lulu DK - Chant Reverse and Chant Fabric (Linen/cotton blend. Hand printed. Shown in white an chocolate brown)(above and below)


I have two pillows in this Chant fabric (the red print) that I bought years ago from Lulu de Kwiatkowski herself when she was first getting started with her pillow line (she had a pillow party one Sunday in the winter probably almost 10 years ago...it was at her posh Upper Eastside apartment in New York...I somehow was invited by her then boyfriend (now husband) and with nothing better to do at a pillow party, I bought pillows). My colors have changed so I have my Chant pillows tucked away but am holding onto them because I love them so much.

xo
Coco

BEFORE & AFTER: TURQUOISE TAKES OVER IN A SMALL KITCHEN MAKEOVER!

An uber small kitchen gets a makeover with a coat of turquoise blue paint and a bar area for cozy dining! (above)

Love this tiny kitchen makeover. So cute. Makes you realize that you don't need much space to make things work in a home!

The polka dot roman shade hanging over the nice window, the open shelving and the bright blue paint all work so well together!


Before, the kitchen was outdated, had no counter space and there was little room to move about. (above)


After, the open shelving allows for more storage space and for color coordinated kitchen accessories to lend to the overall decor. (above and below)





A nice way to start off Monday...don't you think?

xo
Coco

Photos: Wunderweib

DESIGNER ROOM RECREATE: A ROMANTIC BEDROOM REALIZED!

Photo courtesy Miles Redd
Although not my typical style, I really love this romantic bedroom. I think I like the canopy bed, the zig zag rug and the pops of blue here and there the most. Something soooo very wonderful about a iron canopy bed. Love the fact that all of the necessary style elements were perfectly worked into what seems to be a very tiny space!

So with all that said...here's today's DESIGNER ROOM RECREATE...with everything you would need to create this look in your own home!

BED:
Anthropologie - Italian Campaign Canopy Bed- $1,250 (Wrought-iron frame) (above)

Pottery Barn - Antonia Canopy Bed - $1,299 (Classic iron frame) (above)
RUG:
West Elm -ZigZag Rug - $649 (Black and white reversible, hand loomed rug. 80%Wool, 20% Cotton. Traditional chevron pattern)(above)
ELTE- Kathmandu Rug - Price upon request (100% New Zealand wool. Swiss dyes. Hand knotted in Nepal)(above)
Ballard Designs - Maderia Rug - $1,149 (Blue and white hand loomed cotton rug. ) (above)
SIDE TABLE:
Clayton Gray Home- Harlow Tea Table - $390(Square shiny blue side table. Bungalow 5 collection. High gloss lacquer finish) (above)

LAMP:
Belvedere Inc. - Aurora Double Gourd Lamp - $1,990(Christopher Spitzmiller Collection. Prussian blue glaze, 23k gold water gilt base)(above)


Horchow - Pacifica Table Lamp - $395 (soft celadon hue with crackle accents curved double gourd shape. Ceramic with a clear acrylic base. White fabric drum-shaped shade)(above)
BEDDING:
Williams Sonoma Home - Percale Border Bedding - $388(Blue and white duvet and pillow shams. 100% long-staple Egyptian Cotton. 300 thread count. French flap closures, shell buttons) (above)
FLORAL ACCENT:
Pottery Barn - Spring Sparrow Pillow Cover - $35(Drawn from 19th Century Ornithology books. Cotton-linen)(above)
What do you think of this room? What do you think are design essentials for a romantic bedroom?

Hope you have a nice Sunday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Huge thank you to Cococozy intern Spardha T. for all of the wonderful research for this post! A fab job on her first assigment. Thanks Spardha!

COCOCOZY STYLE BOARDS!

My friends have repeatedly asked me, "What is your style?".

Each time this allegedly "friendly" question comes up about my style, I go blank...totally blank...and then I feel like I'm metaphorically being pushed into a small corner with no room to move or breath...claustrophobia sets in and my mind begins to whirl (I may even lose consciousness for a bit when this question of my style comes up).

"My style?", I think to myself and way too often say out loud, "Well...uhhhmmm...I like pretty things. You know? What do you mean my style? My style...hmmm....it's a stylish style. Kind of. You know uhhm it is just uh like those things I like...you know you've seen what I like. Right? I like white but I like pops of color too. I like things with straight lines? I like things with curvy lines? I like some modern things...oh I mean furniture not things...right? I like traditional things...oops furniture. You know? Just cute things. You know. You know????"

The response to my panicked style rambling from these friends is usually the same, "No, actually, I don't know". Grrrrr......

When I'm feeling a bit more calm "my style" definition doesn't come out much better. Here's the calm and supposedly collected explanation of my style: "It is a new mix of several different styles. I call it a "timeless modern blend" - classic yet fun and fresh at the same time." This definition is usually met with a look of utter confusion, someone changing the subject or with total awkward silence.

Okay...got it...I'll hone my description at some point but until then I'll just post these style boards. These are all images that I've posted over the years and some photos I've taken...when put all together they all encapsulate everything I love - my COCOCOZY STYLE!

Yellow:


Blue:


Green:


White:


Is it starting to make sense now? Your answer can be "no" btw...that will force me to go back to the drawing board on the written/verbal description of what I like...! :-)

Anyhooo...hope you enjoy these images...hope it helps with a little bit of a visual definition of COCOCOZY STYLE.

See anything you like...or how about you try to define my style? Tell me what your style is too!

xo
Coco

P.S. I swear, the DESIGNER ROOM RECREATE is coming...tomorrow...I promise. It is. I just got sidetracked with this "what is your style" thing because a friend asked me at least 4 times just last night...!