COLOR WATCH: EXACTLY 1/2 WAY BETWEEN RED AND YELLOW!

Photo: Jean Randazzo

Orange...orange orange...the kind of orange that looks like an orange...not peach, saffron, rust, tangerine, burnt orange...just orange...bright, cheerful, exciting even!

I love a true bright orange. Just adds a bit of electricity to a space or to an outfit!

On the color spectrum, true orange is found exactly half way between yellow and red. Did you know until about the 1500s, in the English speaking world orange was called ġeolurēad (yellow-red)?  Then someone in Henry the VIII's court had the bright idea to name the color after the bright citrus fruit.  Smart thinking.

Here's a bit of orange for you for your home, house, cottage, wardrobe and more.

Costello Tagliapietra, Fall 2011 (photo: Style.com) (above and below)



The Conran Shop - Pantone Orange Notebook - $11 (above)



Room & Board - Wegner Wishbone Chair - $855 (above)



West Elm - Rectangular Biscuit Tins - $9-$16 (above)

I'm loving the orange tins. I could use those...functional and cute.

Are you coveting anything orange orange lately? Do you even like orange?

Happy Thursday!

xo
Coco 

WHITE ON WHITE DECORATING!

Got a nice surprise email the other day from San Francisco based interior designer Kriste Michelini.

In her email, Kriste said she was buying a COCOCOZY throw to giveaway on her own blog. This posh designer actually liked my throws so much and likes her readers even more that she was buying a COCOCOZY throw to give away? Wow! You can go to the Kriste Michelini blog and enter to win.

To be clear, this is not my own giveaway...this is someone else's giveay...Kriste a designer and COCOCOZY reader is sponsoring this giveaway on her own. She's buying a throw and giving it away to one of you!

Kriste also has a wonderful aesthetic by the way - she designed these two white on white spaces.  Loving the kitchen with the white Italian glass backsplash!  I know there are many of you who have criticized my love for white rooms....I know...I'm sorry if it offends...but I do still love a stark white room...crisp and fresh I think.

What do you think about this white on white decor?  Do tell.

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

DRESSING IT UP!

Pretty little dressing area. Love this. Need this in my home! So cool the way the mirrored doors reflect the floral curtains facing this cute little dressing nook. If only my tiny little cottage weren't the same size as this nook...if only...:-)


Happy Tuesday!

xo Coco

Photo: Madeline Stuart

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THIS KITCHEN!

The large butler's pantry or dish room in a Alabama home features open shelving illuminated from the back!(above)

I don't know what it is about this kitchen from Tracery Interiors. This kitchen is a new addition to a 1920's Spanish revival home in Homewood, Alabama. There is something so intriguing about this space so interesting...I don't really know where to start...let's see...I'll try...

First...who has a dish room or maybe modern butler's pantry that is bigger than some houses? The dish room may be the size of the living room in my tiny tiny tiny tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills! The dish room alone is a place where I could hang out.

Second...I love the wood used for the cabinets...a dark stained rough look. I like it.

Third...the skylight...a kitchen with a skylight...perfect...

Fourth...the interesting almost Moorish cut out shape for the range hood. The stove is hand built from France! Whoa.

Fifth...the massive wood topped island.

Sixth...the Saltillo tile floors...something very rustic about these.

Seventh...the pantry...!

I think I would call this style Modern Moor!








Nice job Tracery Interiors! They have offices it seems in Rosemary Beach, Florida and in Alabama.

What do you think of this kitchen? Do you find it as interesting as I do?

Happy Monday everyone! Hope you have a fantastic day!

xo
Coco

READER SUBMISSION: A COCOCOZY GATE THROW MAKES A STATEMENT ON LEATHER!

What a nice surprise I got yesterday when I received this photo from COCOCOZY reader Lee. Another COCOCOZY throw in a someone's home! Love it.

Lee has a COCOCOZY Gate throw in tan in her living room. The throw perfectly compliments her rich dark chocolate brown leather sofa and the collage of paintings on the wall.

Thank you Lee for sending in this photo. It is so fun to see how people are using COCOCOZY textiles and accessories in their own homes! You made my day!

xo
Coco

WEEKEND PHOTO!

Nice little bedroom I think. I like the wall of drapes behind the bed acting almost as a headboard of sorts. Because I get absolutely no sleep during the week and just a little more than no sleep on the weekends, I often muse or should I say dream about comfy beds and sleeping!!! Note to self: make time for sleep.

So far it has been a good weekend. Yesterday I ran around all day and got nothing done...good times. Then I went to my friend CJ's birthday party last night at Stark Bar wearing the same clothes I was running around all day in. Party was fun. I kept ducking from being photographed though. CJ has a huge Nikon camera that she was allowing all of her friends to use to take photos of the event. I have this great fear of being tagged in photos on Facebook so I spent the whole night dodging and darting out of photos. It was quite ridiculous on my part. Between the hiding and ducking, I did catch up up with some friends I hadn't seen in awhile...like dearest of friend AZ!

Also wanted to thank Jen Ramos of uber blog Made by Girl for the nice post she did about a COCOCOZY throw. Jen also has a fantastic Made by Girl shop site where she sells fantastic prints, stationery and more. I emailed Jen about 9 months ago asking her who did her website because I needed some help with revamping my blog and building a shop site for me. She emailed me back almost immediately and told me that her "guy" (husband) did it (I point out her kindness in emailing me back because I had inquired to other fellow bloggers for recommendations and was met with a bit of a wall of silence). So I called Jen's guy (husband) in a desperate panic (after a majorly failed attempt with another web designer) and he easily came to the rescue! Jen's guy redesigned my blog beautifully and built my lovely COCOCOZY shop site. So as a thank you for her help in making the connection, I sent Jen a thank you present and she in turn put up a nice post just this last Friday (by the way Jen is one powerful blogger...if you could have seen how many more readers came to my site after she said a nice word or two...you would be amazed). Anyway, all of this to say...thank you twice over Jen! Thank you for the help 9 months ago and thank you for the nice thank you post!

Well today is design day for me...starting to think about new designs for the collection. Wish me luck.

Happy Sunday! Hope you have a wonderful day.


xo
Coco

P.S. Happy Birthday best of friend AM! Today is her birthday! She's the reason I started the blog 3 years ago btw. Hope you have a great day AM!

Photo: Jean Allsopp

SEE THIS HOUSE: A $26 MILLION PACIFIC PALISADES ESTATE!

Got to thinking about the Pacific Palisades yesterday...after that French guy at that WESTWEEK party invited me to his Pacific Palisades "place" after only talking to me for oh about two minutes. For those of you who did not read yesterday's post, I graciously and unequivocally declined the French guy's invitation. :-)

I do like the Palisades though...and then I came upon this beauty of a multi million dollar real estate listing there.

A $26 million, 11,606 square foot, 6 bedrooms, 6 bath estate with a pool, tennis court, library, home movie theater and more...listed by Sotheby's International Realty.

East Coast charm right on the West Coast. The best of both world's maybe. A little New England right here in Southern California.

Sometimes I waffle about whether or not I would take a certain multimillion dollar house or not...in this case, no waffling...I would take it. I'd make some tweaks on the decor...not major...but some definitely (like that rug in the entry hall and some of the furniture in the living room) but otherwise I'd take it...thank you.

Take a look.

















So would you take this home or leave it? How might you change the decor to suit your needs? What do you think dear readers...do tell...I want to know!

Happy Friday (TGIF)!

xo
Coco

Photos: Sotheby's International Realty

DESIGNER DASH AT WESTWEEK!

A Windsor Smith decorated gorgeous paneled dining room with a white ceiling - so elegant! (above)

To make a long story long...

So went to the WestWeek events last night. Los Angeles is buzzing with the design community...all here for a conference I think. Meanwhile, I really don't even know what WestWeek is but I was invited to a bunch of events so I just went after work.

Started off at a Brown & Jordan and Elle Decor invitation only cocktail party at the Pacific Design Center - the hub of WestWeek. I was invited to this party and actually printed out my invitation...but when I got there no one seemed to care and I walked right in (significant because of what happens at another showroom later). Right when I walked in, I ran into good friend Candice (she was one of my friends who came along to the NYIGF to help in my booth) - was fun to see a familiar friendly face.

While at that first little cocktail event, I also ran into FANTASTIC designer Windsor Smith. Should I wax on about how nice Windsor is? Every time I've chatted with her, she is just so friendly, warm, nice and charming. I adore her work and she is quite lovely too. She talked a bit about a showhouse she is organizing in Mandeville Canyon and shared with me some of her design philosophies. She is too cool really. She also introduced me to some nice people from the venerable textiles house Schumacher (I met the VP of Integrated Marketing and the lead designer)...ooohhh one day I would love for Schumacher to make COCOCOZY fabrics! I dream.

Anyhoo...back to reality...then I popped into the James Perse furniture showroom party (couldn't tell if it was just outdoor furniture or if it was indoor...it looked nice though).

For my last Pacific Design Center stop, I went over to Janus et Cie where I was supposed to try to run into Candice and her friend again at another cocktail party. When I arrived at that door, I was immediately told I couldn't go into this reception in their front showroom. They said it was an invitation only reception and shooed me away. Another guy in a suit walked up to me after I was summarily rejected from the door and furtively said that if I wanted to go over to the back way I might get in there. It was at that moment I felt like a design interloper, design stalker...part of me was like "Ok, I'll just leave then"...the other part of me was like "Oh no...I'm getting into this soiree thingy!". So with Chanel purse slung across my chest like a messenger bag, I straightened my Prada coat (must brand name drop at this point...because at least if nothing else, I was dressed) and I marched in my Louboutin platform heels to the back door of the Janus et Cie party. I was let right in at the back door mind you. I guess I am a back door type of girl??? Bizarre...about 100 feet away they just said I could not get into the exclusive front showroom party, but when I went to the other door I could? Oh confusing. Dashed around looking for Candice and her friend...couldn't find them and left.

To confuse things even more, there was a second Janus et Cie space down the hall where there was another party so I went to go look for Candice and her friend there. When I trotted over to the second showroom...I was stopped at that door too (oh geez not again)...but this time I just said, "I'm Coco with COCOCOZY...you know...the COCOCOZY blog...a blog...oh but I have fabrics...but no I have a blog". I think they were so confused by my explanation that they just let me in. I was inches a way from begging and losing all of my dignity.

Once "in", some French man who makes furniture asked me for my number and then asked me if I wanted to come to his house in the Pacific Palisades. I said no to both. And then I ran into and introduced myself to the FABULOUS Ron Woodson of the amazing design team of Woodson & Rummerfeld. Oh Ron is just darling, quite dashing with a pocket square and all. He talked about a project he and his partner Jamie worked on for the Ritz Carlton downtown. Can't wait to see. In the distance while talking to Ron, I also waved to chic designer Oliver M. Furth who I know through friends. After my chat with Ron, I went off to get a drink (wine...I don't drink wine...but that is all they had at the Janus et Cie party that almost didn't let me in...grrrrr.....)...got my drink, found out via text that Candice had left the Pacific Design Center already to go to dinner, and then immediately left to head across town.


Woodson & Rummerfeld - Chasens Entertainment Center - $9800 (Designed by aforementioned Ron Woodson and Jamie Rummerfeld. Black lacquer cabinet with white trim and brass fixtures)(above)


Dwell Studio - Circles Persimmon Duvet - $150 (above)

So off to Sunset Blvd and Bar Marmont I went. I had been invited by the inspiring Dwell Studio to the party they were throwing with the delightful Rue Magazine. Party was in honor of the launch of Dwell founder Christine Lemieux's new book UNDECORATE and for the launch of Rue Magazine's 4th issue which is quite stunning I might add. So while at that little party, I had the pleasure of chatting with Christine Lemieux and her team who all gave me some great advice about where my booth should be at the New York Gift Fair in August. Then I said my hellos to the adorable Rue founders Crystal Gentillo and Ann Sage. Oh and they had champagne at this party (unlike the Janus et Cie thing...hee hee).


From the pages of Rue Magazine's latest issue. Crystal and Anne mentioned above are on the top row. (above)

So that was my night. It was fun. Tonight there are more events...will keep you posted!

I think I made a long story even longer than it had to be...uh huh...that's the way I do it. (Note to self: In order to keep readers interested and engaged, cut out the babbling and cut to the chase in future posts...LOL!)

Happy Thursday y'all (I had two COCOCOZY collection related conferences calls this morning at 6:30am and 7:30 am...both calls with people who had the loveliest of the Southern drawls and who live in the South...so now I want a Southern drawl...hence the y'all y'all...impressionable I am!)

Happy happy Thursday!

xo
Coco

STRIPE HYPE FOR SPRING!

Photo: Elle Decor

Coming to realize as of late that I need a good stripe...I don't have any strong stripes in my life right now. Last fall I bought a bunch of striped clothing and returned it, I started a post on horizontal striped walls and never finished it, I thought about designing a striped throw for the COCOCOZY collection but never got around to it...oh...I do have some striped pillows for my outdoor living room...but that is it on the stripes...I NEED MORE STRIPES IN MY LIFE!

Love the striped chairs in the photo above...they are the perfect accent to the bright little window seat area...the stripes liven up this alcove most definitely.

Stripes are cheery, springy, happy and all other good things ending in y. Stripes here I come.

Do you like stripes? Why or why not?


Kate Spade - Candy Shop Jeannette - $395 (Classic shirtdress that buttons to waist; comes with patent belt. Pink, yellow, white, green, purple stripes)(above)


Unica Home - Humbert Throw & Cushion by Missoni Home - $430 throw; $160 cushion (87% wool & 13% polyamide throw and cushion with the classic Missoni zig zag multicolored stripe pattern. Pillow, 16"x16". Throw, 51"x75")(above)



Crate & Barrel - Meridian Stripe Umbrella - $389 (Striped outdoor umbrella with bronze frame. Sunbrella fabric)


Fox Glass Works - Glass Top Table - $1000-$5000 depending on size (Fused glass table top on metal base. Bullseye glass. Seven custom colors. Over one hundred glass strips)(above)


Anthropologie - Paraiso Dress - $148
Would you incorporate any of these multicolored stripes into your life? Do tell. I'm thinking that Kate Spade dress is awfully cute!

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

LUSTWORTHY LIGHTING - A MIRRORED FLOWER CHANDELIER!

Made Goods - Fiona Chandelier (Flower shaped mirrored chandelier. 7 lights)(above)

I like this delicate chandelier by Made Goods. So wonderfully light and refined. The mirrored tiles add just a little reflective bling - the right amount of shine and sparkle in fact. Hmmm...maybe I would put this in the hallway of my tiny tiny tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills. Would it fit? Time to measure I guess! Ooooh or better yet...maybe I should see if I can carry this in the Random Stuff section of the COCOCOZY shop...love love love.

In the meantime, I see that this beauty is priced at $2695 at Plantation here in Los Angeles. Oh the temptation. Hmmm...the temptation! Lustworthy indeed.

What do you think? Where might you hang this light?

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco

DESIGN DILEMMA: DARK WOOD FLOORS v. WHITE WOOD FLOORS!

Bright white wood floors in a island home. (above)

So, my dear friend JLF has a dilemma. She is redoing the wood floors in her darling West Hollywood home and she cannot decide on floor color. Right now her wood floors are that medium honey color...after a few years of living in her house, she is now ready to make the floors her own.

JLF called me the other day asking whether she should paint her wood floors white or go with a dark dark dark wood floor.

What do you think...white wood vs. dark wood that is the question? Take a look at these examples and you decide!


Wide plank white wood floors brighten up a NYC home. (above)

The dark wood floors add a richness to this living space (above)

The wood floors in this kitchen make for a sleek and contemporary look (above)
So what do you think dear readers? What should JLF do? White wood vs. dark wood that is the question.

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

Photos: Hibiscus Hill, Melanie Acevedo, The Brooklyn Home Company

DOOR DETAIL - HOW AN L.A. ARTIST DECORATES A DOORWAY!

April's House Beautiful features a fab dining room in its makeover segment. A jewel of a room with wonderful bamboo hand painted details.

Well it turns out my good friend Jean Horihata, an amazing Los Angeles decorative painter, is responsible for the painting details around that room. I asked Jean to send me some images of the painting detail in the room and it is just marvelous...particularly how a lovely Chinoiserie inspired stencilled and hand painted trompe l'oeil design transformed a regular interior door into a lovely entrance.

The red bamboo, the decorative dragons, the multifaceted lanterns and the tassels around the crown of the room all have an amazing three dimensional feel to them. Subtly whimsical, impeccably executed and amusingly lovely! Nice work Jean!

Food for design thought...why not dress up a room with a little wall mural?




Really beautiful work I think! Love!

What do you think of murals or wall paintings like these? What room might you consider this for in your own home?

In case you wondered, here's Jean's contact information
Jean Horihata, Decorative Painter
tel: 323 850 3246
e-mail: jhorihata@yahoo.com

Thank you Jean for the fab photos!

Happy Friday everyone!

xo
Coco

P.S. Please go to COCOCOZY Twitter to see a bad photo of the cute giftable item I am adding to the COCOCOZY collection next! Will share good photos at a later date! Take a look, follow me on Twitter and let me know what you think of these new bits...

ILLUMINATING VINTAGE VOGUE!

p.s. - Courreges Knit Sailor Dress - $750 (1960's blue and white sleeveless shift dress)(above)

Hmmm...a little 1950's and 60's vintage flair in fashion and lighting. Loving these dresses and loving these lamps. Shedding a little light on fashion and style from the past that might influence a little home decorating in the present.

Could imagine wearing the striped knit dress this summer in the Hamptons when visiting friend AM or Nantucket with FF (I of course am presuming that I will be invited...hint hint...). The maxi dress is perfect for a spring cocktail party with some fab gold bangles and some strappy metallic shoes and simple diamond earrings. Finally, the little suit is so coquette...I could wear that to a serious business meeting...the dress underneath is sleeveless...I like the look because it is versatile...either lady who lunches at the country club style or feminine business. Love all.

The lamps are pretty cool too. Take a look...


Assemblage - Pair Blue, Black & White Striped Glaze Pottery Lamps -$1750 (USA. Circa 1960. Table lamps have hand thrown pottery bodies, blue and black glazed horizontal stripes on a white ground. Shades not included)(above)


Regeneration - 1960's Rudi Gernreich Maxi Dress - $1295(1960s full length dress. tan white polk dots)(above)


Belvedere - Metallic Drip Lamp - $1400 (USA. c.1950's. Gourd shaped ceramic vessel base. Hand applied pale gold metallic glaze over cream ground. Irregular pattern of drips and dots. Original bronze base tops newly added acrylic)(above)


Vintage Fashion - Norman Norell 1960s Dress Suit - $1400 (Two piece dress suit with double breasted short jacket. Navy blue)(above)


Pamela Lerner - Pair of Bristol Potter's Studio Lamps - $1800 (England. 1960s. Hand thrown and hand brushed studio crafted ceramic lamps in cobalt blue)(above)

My faves are the maxi dress and the metallic lamp. Love these. Anything you fancy in this mix of vintage vogue?

Happy Thursday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Happy St. Patrick's Day btw!

Photos: 1st Dibs

OH WHERE OH WHERE SHOULD KYLE'S COCOCOZY LOGO THROW GO?!

Amazing blogger Kyle Knight is now the owner of a fab cotton knit reversible COCOCOZY Logo Throw in grey!

I was thrilled to head over to Kyle's blog Knight Moves to see the cute story she's done on her new COCOCOZY home accessory.

Over the last few days, Kyle has been deciding where her grey COCOCOZY Logo Throw will look best in her house. In yesterday's Knight Moves post, Kyle showed pictures of the throw all over her house on chairs, sofas, benches etc...kind of cool because we get a great house tour of her lovely home! And in today's Knight Moves post, Kyle has tried the knit throw on a bed in the guest room of her stylish Dallas abode.

Here are just a few of the photos from Kyle's post...just a few of the places she is considering throwing a COCOCOZY throw!










Oh where oh where do you think Kyle's COCOCOZY Logo Throw should go? If you could throw a COCOCOZY throw somewhere in your house...where might that be?

Thank you Kyle for the great pictures, the amazing posts on Knight Moves and for inspiring me to move a few throws around at my house! AMAZING! It is so exciting to see one of my creations at work installed in someone else's house. This is a first for me. Am totally thrilled!

Happy Wednesday all!

xo
Coco