FIVE BEDROOMS WITH INTERNATIONAL APPEAL!

I am so intrigued by these bedrooms created by celebrity interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard. So many layers to explore and enjoy. Fun and daring but tasteful and elegant at the same time. All with a certain international appeal from all over the globe; strong influences from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and more. Bullard shows a complete lack of fear, in fact bravery, when mixing genres, fabrics, colors, textures and even cultures...it seems that the world was his design palette allowing him to dream up these beautiful boudoirs.

The beds play the starring role in all of these rooms...from a Chinoiserie inspired toile drape and crown, to a mahogany turned wood traditional four poster, to a lovely little daybed with canopy...all of these beds make big decor statements.

Can't decide which is my favorite...so many choices...although the blue room below was what first caught my eye.






Thank you Martyn for sharing these gorgeous rooms (and to Victoria who actually sent me these photos from Martyn's portfolio). Also, a huge congratulations to Martyn on being announced as the Andrew Martin Interior Designer of the Year Award winner. Well deserved!

I think I would like Martyn to come add some texture, color, life and international allure to my bedroom in my tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills...it certainly could use it.

Have a great Tuesday and happy last day of August! Must go get ready for work!

xo
Coco

P.S. Sorry...said I was going to get ready for work...not quite true...still typing. For those of you who are star watchers...as an fyi...Martyn's client list includes Hollywood heavy hitters like Cher, Sir Elton John and David Furnish, Christina Aguilera, Eva Mendes, Ellen Pompeo, Kid Rock, Sharon and Ozzie Osbourne. Just realized after typing this list...might be hard to get him to make a detour to my smidge of a house considering his schedule and clients... :-)!

P.P.S. Going to get ready for work now. Hmmm...what should I wear? Might just throw on something with sparkles in my hair or around my neck just to confuse people in my office..."why is she wearing a tiara to work?" they might wonder or say. I've got to keep them guessing at all times...hee hee...

Photos courtesy of Martyn Lawrence Bullard

PIPING AND PLAID!

Lauren Moffat - Cadet Cape - $385 (Military inspired cape is made of 100% Navy Wool. Trimmed with red piping)(above)
When in NY a few weeks ago, my very fashionable friend Amie Robinson mentioned that she had gone to the showroom of a cool new designer - she was raving about this designer's clothes and showroom. Amie has great fashion instincts so when I got home, I immediately popped onto my computer and had to look up clothing designer Lauren Moffat. Amie was of course right...Lauren's fall collection is indeed awesome.

In particular, I love Lauren's outerwear which includes a cool plaid bomber jacket and 2 great navy capes with colorful trim. These coats inspired today's post...piping and plaid in fashion and in home decor and furnishings too!


Photo: House&Home
White piping on black upholstered dining chairs. (above)


Lauren Moffatt - The Family Tartan Bomber Jacket - $390 (100% Plaid Melton Wool. Tab at waist, front flap and snap pockets, gold buttons, knit cuff, slightly cropped sleeve. Green, navy and red)(above)


Photo by Coco of Cococozy
Plaid wingback chair at a designer showcase home. (above)


Photo by Coco of Cococozy
Crate and Barrel - Plaid Plate - $8.95 (Green, brown, blue and white plaid stoneware accent plate. 8.5" diameter) (above)


Ralph Lauren Home - Wyland Chair - $4,125 (Plaid upholstered armchair. Regency mahogany finish turned wood legs with casters) (above)


The Scottish Weaver - MacKenzie - $99.95 (Woven in pure new wool and lambswool) (above)


Photo: Lauren Moffatt


Photo by Coco of Cococozy
Chocolate contrast piping trims my white living room sofa (above)


Crate and Barrel - Trace Chair - $999 (Available in 18 colours, ivory contrast piping) (above)


Photo: CasaSugar


William Sonoma Home - Brookside Sleeper Sofa - from $2850 (Six cushion sleeper sofa with subtle contrast piping. Comes in a variety of fabric grades and colors)(above)
Had a small group over my house this weekend...even though it was just wine and cheese, I had to have the plaid plates for my table. I bought 12! They are a good price too and great for outdoor or indoor entertaining.

Thanks Amie for turning me onto Lauren...I think I must have the bomber jacket for fall!

Readers, anything here strike your fancy? Or any other trend you like for fall in home decor or fashion?

Hope you have a great Monday!



xo
Coco

WEEKEND PHOTO: COVETED COURTYARD IN THE ENGLISH COUNTRY!

A charming English country house courtyard!
Love this courtyard from an English hotel. The Lime Wood Hotel renovated this country house into a relaxing and beautiful retreat right in the middle of a national forest! The Regency style architecture, the mosaic floor, the comfy seating groups, the arched windows all work for me. I would love to plan a weekend getaway there! If only I lived in London...if only I had the free time!!

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

THE GREAT OUTDOORS IN STYLE!

Love this outdoor living space. Looks like this patio is plopped down right in the middle of a forest! The black furniture, the huge modern grey stone fireplace with the metal chimney, and the garden stool with their pops of orange and green...all work. What a great patio. I could easily stretch out on one of these sofas...with a great book...lounge and sleep....ahhhh...

Happy Thursday!

xo
Coco


Photo: Roger Davies

DESIGN ON SALE DAILY: CUTE LITTLE TABLE LAMPS!

ylighting - Miss K Table Lamp - on sale $169; regular $325 (Philippe Starck for FLOS. Polycarbonate)(above)
Comes in blue or yellow. So cute. Right? Can add a transparent punch of color to a room through the light source. They call it polycarbonate...I call it plastic. Never thought a plastic lamp could be so adorable!

xo
Coco

A HOTEL AND MOVIE INSPIRE A BEACH CHIC HOME BY HUNTER-BARNES!

A graceful arch leads to the stately dining room in a tastefully designed home in the Pacific Palisades. (above)

Long story short...I feel very lucky. Okay...I take that back. Long story short...I feel very lucky right this minute about this post. Can't make big statements about feeling lucky as my daily life seems filled with unexpected twists and turns that definitely cannot be equated with luck. An example of lack of luck: Last week I got home after a long week at my real job and literally thought to myself as I was walking up to my house, "Well at least everything at the house is okay."; no less than 1/2 hour later, my neighbor is screaming my name and yelling "Coco there is water pouring down your hillside...water is gushing down from your house! Coco! Coco! Where are you?"; turns out my water main had just decided to break; yup...that's my kind of luck.

Anyhoooo...back to why I feel lucky about this post. Out of the blue and by luck, I got an email from nice Megan the other day...she works for Hunter-Barnes, a fantastic interior design outfit based here in Los Angeles owned by talented designers Adam Hunter and Spencer Barnes.

Okay...here goes the part where I end up making the long story long as opposed to what I had promised about making a long story short.

So, I had met Adam and Spencer of Hunter-Barnes awhile back (again not sure if that was yesterday, last year or five years ago...see yesterday's post about my inability to track time as of late) at a party for a friend of mine. They were very charming. We exchanged information and I said I would feature them on COCOCOZY. Well then life got in the way and months and years passed and no COCOCOZY post. I'm sure Adam and Spencer were thinking that I was a sham but I just forgot, I mean I just never got around to it, I had put it to the side and it was on my to do list, I mean I had a million things to do and the dog ate my homework...excuses...excuses...hee hee.

So it was lucky for me that on Monday I received a nice email about something or another about Hunter-Barnes which immediately prompted me to return to their website (which is quite nice I must say), which then in turn led me to immediately email nice Megan about this house! And so here we are. There! The shortest long story I've ever told (or the longest short story...you pick)!

Soooooooo...this is the stunning 11,000 square foot house that Spencer Barnes and Adam Hunter designed for a client who lives in the Pacific Palisades (a posh enclave in the Los Angeles area). It has 5 bedrooms, 7 baths, a media room, a state of the art gym, infinity pool and much more! A lovely beach chic house inspired by a famous movie and a swank hotel.

Hunter-Barnes tells me that their client loves the Hamptons home featured in the movie "Something's Gotta Give" (that movie with Diane Keaton and Jack what's his name and something to do about them in the Hamptons and this gorgeous house where she is writing stuff and they fall in love or something...but I don't remember). Spencer and Adam's design challenge was bringing the Hamptons feel to Southern California. So Hunter-Barnes decided to find new inspiration right here on this coast in the posh Santa Monica hotel, Shutters. They call the style they created for this home "Shutters Chic"! Love it!

After telling the longest short story ever...I think I will let the gorgeous pictures tell the rest...by luck, I bring you an elegant beach chic home with wonderful designer touches!


A glass front door illuminates the foyer and welcomes visitors into this home. (above)


Unconventional dark textured Holly Hunt walls, a soft blue sofa from Nancy Corzine, oyster herringbone linen drapes, a custom settee covered in Bennison Belgian Linen "Songbird" make for a dashing living room...Adam and Spencer's favorite room. (above)


Pale blue/grey walls, bright white wainscotting, an arrangement of framed coral, coffered ceilings, a large dark wood round table, beautiful dining chairs upholstered in a light blue fabric, a gleaming metal chandelier make for a serenely luxurious dining room. (above)


A red bamboo chair and built-in banquet seating give us a tease as to what the kitchen looks like. Hunter-Barnes promises more kitchen photos will come soon! Can't wait! (above)


Dark wood walls and a chocolate brown and white houndstooth rug set just the right tone in the home's library. (above)


The bar! A perfect place to serve up a champagne cocktail! (above)


A row of built-in bookshelves and cabinets lines the walls of the second floor landing...stylish form and great function at its best. (above)


The owner has three sons...one of which it seems is lucky enough to have this very dapper boys room.(above)




I'm ready to move in! I always judge a house by whether or not I would live there. I would live in this house in a minute. In a second. I could make myself quite comfortable indeed!

A huge thank you Adam and Spencer of Hunter-Barnes for designing such an amazing home and for allowing me to share it with my readers! (Oh and thank you Megan H. for sending photos!)

Readers...what do you think of this Pacific Palisades home? Would love to hear your take on it! Please comment below.

Happy Wednesday all!

xo
Coco

Photos courtesy Hunter-Barnes

COLOR WATCH: STAIRS WITH FLAIR - SPIRALING OUT WITH HOT PINK!

A minimalist kitchen/dining area with white Panton swoosh chairs, a Saarinen tulip table a leather love seat and a hot pink spiral staircase!(above)

Need I say more. Don't know if I could live with it but I love this bright pink spiral staircase. Way to make a design statement...keep everything else simple and then infuse powerful saturated color in one part of a room! Great stairs!

What do you think?

Happy Tuesday!

xo

Photo: Bruno Suet

ASK TOM: ARCHITECT ADVISES ON KITCHEN PAINT!

Gourmet kitchen in a Cheviot Hills home....this is the photo that inspired today's post! (above)

I thought I would try out a new segment here on COCOCOZY. It is inspired by all of the emails one architect has received from being featured here on COCOCOZY.

The architect's name is Tom Newman of Newman & Wolen here in Los Angeles.

Almost two years ago, I did my first post on Tom's work and since then and several fab posts later, Tom has received dozens and dozens of emails from COCOCOZY readers asking design and architecture questions.

Tom suggested that I post some of the emails between him and my readers...I thought, "that's a good idea". So, this is a trial run of this new COCOCOZY franchise called ASK TOM.

In the first ASK TOM, a reader from Canada happened upon a post I did on a grand home that Tom remodeled. She had lots and lots of question about kitchen paint. :-)

Here is the email chain between architect Tom and COCOCOZY reader Sandra B. from Canada:

***Hi Tom,

I recently saw beautiful pictures of a project you worked on in Cheviot Hills in LA. It was a Spanish villa of sorts. I loved the kitchen and I know you chose Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain for the cabinetry but wondered what paint color you chose for the walls. The color combination is stunning.

I am preparing to move in a couple of months and was starting the process of choosing colours etc. Thanks so much for your help,

Sandra Bauly
Toronto, Ontario

***Dear Sandra,

I found out it was the old standard, “Swiss Coffee”, probably from Benj. Moore or Dunn Edwards. This color is a good neutral because it is not sharp like pure white, not too yellow, and goes with almost everything.

Good luck!

Tom

***Thank you very much Tom. Living in Canada my challenge will now be how to track it down. I've never heard of Dunn Edwards. I think I will need your luck!

Sandra

***Most paint companies have a version of Swiss Coffee. Can you get Benjamin Moore paint? If so, you’re fine.

Tom

***Yes we can definitely get Benj. Moore. If I have to, I'll use their equivalent. I'm sure it will be very close.

I hope you don't mind answering one more question for me. What paint finish do you recommend for kitchen cabinets - semi gloss?

Sandra

***Hi Sandra,

Yes. Semi-gloss, so it can be wiped clean. The wall would probably be “eggshell” for the same reason. “Flat” stains and can’t really be cleaned without taking off paint.

Tom

***I am so sorry but I have one final question - I promise.

My spray painter "guy" just told me I needed to provide him with melamine paint for the cupboards.

Do you recommend melamine paint or just regular semi-gloss paint?

Sandra

***Hi Sandra,

I’m not quite sure what that means. As far as my familiarity with these terms, melamine is a veneer put over wood or MDF (fiber board), sort of like Formica. If you are repainting old cabinets that have a melamine veneer, then you need a special paint that will adhere to it. This is a new product (within the last year or so) that did not used to exist; it used to be that you just could not paint melamine. I’ve never worked with the new paint, but I’m told it works. As for the sheen of that special paint, you can probably get it in a semi-gloss or the equivalent.

When you are done with your project, be sure to send photos to Coco for her to post on the blog. Everyone loves before and after shots.

Have fun!

Tom
***

If you have a question you'd like to ask architect Tom Newman of Newman & Wolen, please email him at tom@newmanandwolen.com and maybe your correspondence will be chosen for the next ASK TOM!


Tom Newman, Newman & Wolen (above)
Thank you Tom and Sandra for sharing your email chain with me!

xo
Coco

Photos courtesy of Newman & Wolen

DESIGN ON SALE DAILY: AN INDUSTRIAL METAL BOOK SHELF!

Urban Outfitters - Industrial Metal Shelf - on sale $79.99; regular $128 (Folding book shelf in green powder coated steel)(above)
Who couldn't use a cute green metal shelf that can fold away or stand proudly wherever you need? I think that is a rhetorical question!

Love this cute shelf. I could use it for so many things. I might use indoors...but I also could use something like this outdoors too. Hmmm....maybe I should get...hmmm...

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco

SEE THIS HOUSE: ECLECTIC CHIC AT ITS BEST IN A NICKEY KEHOE DESIGNED HOME!

So, years ago, I think it was years ago...although it could have been last year...not sure...time is not clear to me anymore...so tired....don't know yesterday from today...was it last year or three years ago....oh no I am digressing again...my mind wandering and the day has barely begun...quelle jour!

Anyhooooo, so some time ago (circa within the last few years), I came across the work of fab interior designers Todd Nickey and Amy Kehoe who are proprietors of their eponymous design firm and shop Nickey Kehoe.

Years ago (or maybe last year, not sure...okay, I'll stop with the time references since I have no idea when anything happened in the past...), I had the pleasure of going to the opening of their fabulous store here in Los Angeles on Highland Avenue...it was a fun party but a very difficult night for me because there were so many wonderful furniture finds in their shop that I had a very hard time balancing being social and gawking at furnishings.

I would describe (and I don't know if they would agree) the Nickey Kehoe decor style as vintage, rock and roll, classic, retro, modern, eclectic chic. That's a lot to describe a style for decorating...but that's what I see and that's what I LOVE about the Nickey Kehoe "look".

All this to say, I was perusing (stalking) through their site the other day and I came across this home they designed in the posh Brentwood area of Los Angeles.

I love this home. I love the architecture...notice the porthole window next to the fireplace in the living room and the coffered ceilings in the library.

Even more so, I love the design. There is something that feels familiar in every single piece of furniture selected...feels like home...a stylish home...that you could immediately make yourself comfortable in and/or could easily throw a very chic party in too.











The cool thing is that Todd and Amy are also having a Summer Sale this week at their NK Shop (Nickey Kehoe Shop) right here in Los Angeles. Got an email about that just as I was planning my post. Everything that they've collected in their fabulous shop is 25% off through August 28th!

You can see items that are for sale online (take 25% off items in their 1st Dibs shop) but if you are in Los Angeles, here is the information on the store if you want to stop by for the Summer Sale:
Nickey Kehoe - NK Shop
730 North Highland Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90038
323.957.0370

What do yo think about this Brentwood home btw? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Monday.

xoxo
Coco

P.S. Interns Nicole C., Maria K. and Spardha T., thank you for all as usual!

P.P.S. Now I must go face the week and go to work (my real job)!

P.P.P.S. One last thing, please follow me on Facebook too. Go to the COCOCOZY FACEBOOK PAGE and hit "like"! Reminder...once we reach 2000 "likes" on that page, I'll do a special giveaway just for Facebook Fans! Suggest to friends too so we can hit 2000 faster!

DESIGN ON SALE DAILY - A MODERN BAROQUE DINING TABLE!

Design Within Reach - Timavo Table - on sale $2,475; regular $4,950 ( Designed by Giorgio Maria Borgato, solid oak, seats 10, made in Italy) (above)

I like this dining table...it combines the clean lines of modern furniture with the curves and flourishes found in baroque design (the curved cabriole legs). The best of today and yesterday brought together in a table.

What do you think about this table?

xo
Coco

WEEKEND PHOTO: DESIGNING A RELAXING DAY!

Photo by Coco of Cococozy


I spend a lot of time it seems looking up. Last weekend's WEEKEND PHOTO and this week's seem to indicate that! This time I looked up and I saw blue skies, a wavy canopy, a few market umbrellas and most importantly three palm trees waving in the distance.

A nice weekend afternoon at the Beverly Hills Hotel pool restaurant. Couldn't ask for a better way to relax.

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend and enjoy this photo as much as I enjoyed taking it!

xo
Coco

BEACH CHIC - POSH POOLSIDE, DECK, GARDEN AND BEACH CHAIRS!

As summer is starting to wind down and I've decided not to go the Hamptons this weekend, I thought I should at least try to sneak a little summer into my world here. I am terribly bummed about not jet setting to the Hamptons for one night but this week got the best of me. See description of my day yesterday on the COCOCOZY FACEBOOK PAGE...that was a good day compared to the rest of the week... :-)

Love these beach and deck chairs by Gallant & Jones. The chairs are cheerful and playful...perfect for a proper beach lounging session after some outdoor frolicking!

So cute...cheers me up...reminds me, Hamptons or not, I can still make it to the beach right here in Los Angeles or Malibu. Food and furniture for thought!




Have a fab Friday!

xo
Coco

SEE THIS HOUSE: A $5.5 MILLION MINI MANSION WITH ALL THE RIGHT FINISHES!

I love looking through real estate listings. Don't know why. I am working with a realtor right now to find a new house. I feel badly though...I have not at all been focused. He sends me a listing for this or that and nothing has made me say I have to buy right now.

Normally I like a house with a bit of history and some interesting back story. This house, which is NOT in my price range at all, doesn't have any history just some nouveau flourish.. as it is a brand new home.

For 5.5 million, you could get 5 bedrooms and 9 baths in the tony Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles...on a street just off of Sunset Blvd. Almost 9,000 square feet includes fine finishes, large rooms, home theater, game room and gorgeous pool. Hmmmm...who could ask for more? I shouldn't ask that question...because somehow I always find myself asking for more.

This new construction house fuses multiple styles the way do here in Southern California so often...the listing says it is a "stately European manor with regency and deco touches". There are some things I don't love about this house...like the total absence of color in the staging and the marble floors in the living room...but other things I do really like, for example, the pool, the built in book shelves in the library and all of the space!

Enjoy today's SEE THIS HOUSE!
























What do you think of this home...? Money aside...would you ever buy it? If money was "aside" in my life, I think I would buy this home and several others. :-)

Happy Thursday!

xo
Coco

Photos : Sotheby's