COCOCOZY DESIGN GUIDE: A WALKING DECOR TOUR OF PARIS (aka AN AUDIO VIDEO POST WITH SOME VERY RANDOM STUFF)!

A flea market on the banks of the Seine, a hotel with crystals embedded into the walls, a sneak peek inside the chic restaurant and store of Ralph Lauren and many many many random things that caught my eye along the streets in Paris.

This is today's DESIGN GUIDE!

Now before you watch, three warnings:
1. Video skills at end of the post leave much to be desired. Some of the videos are so shaky you might get motion sick...and it is hard to hear my voice. I know...same question will come up...why post this then? I know.  May I say amateur?  Amateur might best describe the whole compiliation.  Not an audio/video master piece...but hopefully slightly amusing?!?!@#

2. I am not a decorator or designer, so this is the lay persons design tour of Paris.  Have to reiterate and caveat this point for the design pros who might watch this DESIGN GUIDE and be like "What in the world?...This is all that COCOCOZY girl found to talk about when she was in Paris...OMG...!"

3. Long...I know this too.  This is a long audio/video post.  Hopefully entertaining...or at least entertaining in a perplexing kind of way like, "Why would anyone do this?" type of way or "Why would this girl put all of these photos and videos together and post on Youtube...and then talk endlessly about them? Interesting...must watch to understand this creature."   I tried to make it short...but I can't seem to be brief. A problem. I know. I got it.  Need to practice not talking, or rambling, or chit chatting or even murmuring for a bit.  Sometimes I can tell my friends on the other end of the telephone line are stupefied by my ability to chit chat...in particular my guy friends who are at the other end of the spectrum of not chatting at all!

Okay.  So........

I hope you enjoy (or at least get through it)!

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco


All photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

COCOCOZY DESIGN FIND: DWELLING ON A NEW CHEVRON RUG!

The cool thing when you show at the New York International Gift Fair is your neighbors.  So many cool people behind the brands to get to know including my friends from Brahms Mount (fab cotton and wool blankets), Pom Pom at Home (gorgeous bed linens - one of my favorites), Home Source (wonderful bamboo sheets), Zicci Bea (stylish one stop bedding), Graced with Lace and Marigot (lovely pajamas and lounge wear) just to name a few. 

The other cool thing at the New York International Gift Fair is that sometimes your neighbors will allow you to order what buyers get to order.

I was lucky that happened in this case...with Dwell Studio.  Dwell Studio was on my same row at the fair and every day I had to pass by this cute rug.  Finally on the last day...just a half hour before the fair closed I ran up to the Dwell lady, panting..."I want that rug...I want that rug...!"  I now have that rug.  Waiting for it to be delivered in October.  Woohoo!  From what I understand...this rug is brand new to their collection.

A multicolored chevron rug - love a good zig zag rug.  It is a wool flat weave I believe and I bought it in a 5'x8'.  Though I have no idea where it will go in my tiny little cottage in the Hollywood Hills (and need to keep it out of reach of my rug shoe anything on the floor eating 15lb Chin Poo (Japanese Chin Poodle Mix) named Mr. Boo)...I thought the brown, blue and taupe color might go somewhere in my house.  I'll figure it out I'm sure.

So cute!

What do you think of this rug?  Would you have taken it or left it?  If you take is your answer, where might it work in your own home?

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco

Photos by Coco of COCOCOZY

THIS OR THAT: WHITE VS. WOOD IN TWO STYLISH KITCHENS!



Kitchen #1 - Dark wood is the order of the day in this chic modern kitchen with cabinetry flush to the ceiling. (above)

Was absolutely delighted a few weeks ago to meet Kevin Walsh of Bear Hill Interiors and his sister when they stopped by the COCOCOZY booth at the NY International Gift Fair.  I have featured Bear Hill's work time and time again.  Love their style so I was truly thrilled to meet Kevin ...who was just as nice as can be!

After seeing Kevin, I got to browsing around the Bear Hill website and came upon this kitchen.   A rich modern open kitchen with dark wood cabinetry with the grain of the wood peeking through, luxurious brown wood floors, marble island counters, a mosaic tile backsplash and some hints of lavender here and there.  Over the last week or so, I keep coming back to this kitchen.  It is not my normal white kitchen but I was really liking the simplicity and elegance of it.   That's kitchen #1 in today's THIS OR THAT.

Then there is kitchen #2.  All white.  Totally different in feel with checkered stone floors, white cabinetry, bead board ceilings and an arched window above the sink.  Just the opposite tone...more classic and traditional.

Kitchen #2 - All white with checkered marble floors and an arched kitchen window is more traditional in feel. (above and below)

Tough one in today's THIS OR THAT...clean modern with dark wood grain cabinetry vs. white traditional with a stone floor?  Hmmm...I'm having a tough time here with this one.  Would it be cheating to say that I would take a little from both kitchens...the clean lines and wood floors from #1 and the color (or lack there of) from kitchen #2?  I know...I'm supposed to pick...but I can't help it!

Which is your favorite kitchen if you had to chose?  Which might work in your own home?  #1 or #2?  No wishy washy answers like mine please!

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Check out COCOCOZY Facebook to read about a funny tiny incident that happened to me just yesterday and weigh in...has to do with my weekend outfit choice!  So funny to read all of the comments!

Photos: Bear Hill Interiors; Domenech Photography

COLOR WATCH: COCOCOZY SUMMER STYLE BOARDS!

Simple lines, clean and fresh...teal and blue shades...summer inspired decorating! (above)

I love summer.  Flowers, sky, water, grass, trees all inspire my summer decor style.   Here are my inspiration boards for Summer 2011.

BLUE

Sounds cliche but blue skies do in inspire! (above)

GREEN

Flowers, green grass, trees...use outdoor colors and shapes inside your home. (above)

GREY

Soothing cool gray for those hot summer days! (above)

WHITE

Crisp white in the summer is just sublime. (above)

What inspires your summer decor?  What do you think about my inspiration boards?  Love 'em or leave 'em?  What might you add or subtract?

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

SEE THIS HOUSE: $25 MILLION NYC PARK AVENUE PENTHOUSE!

After spending a week in NYC for the New York International Gift Fair showing the COCOCOZY collection to press and buyers, I've decided I could definitely live in New York...my problem is that I think I could definitely live in New York leading a very glitzy life.

During the week after being on our feet all day, we had dinners at Locanda Verde, drinks at the Carlyle Hotel's Bemelman Bar, dinner at Balthzar and were whisked around in a gorgeous Mercedes AMG 65 by my sister's driver KL (for some reason on the fourth day we were there and when my sister arrived to town, KL the driver, switched from driving us around in a normal Toyota van to this oh so fancy car (he says there are only 7 of them in the city))!  It was quite a nice...we were so exhausted after working all day...it was a much needed treat to be spoiled just a bit.

So all of this whisking made me think...I could live in New York if I lived "a certain way".  Hence this post...with a $25 million dollar Park Avenue penthouse apartment.

Not quite clear how big this apartment is all I know is that it is listed by Sotheby's International Realty for $25 million!  25 MILLION DOLLARS???  Oh my my my.

5 bedrooms, 5 baths in a prewar Park Avenue building with views of Manhattan from all sides.  Here's how Sotheby's describes this listing:

"A dramatic marble gallery leads to a large living room with fireplace, a dining room with bar/butler's pantry, a fully equipped media room, full bath & office/guestroom. Access the large entertaining/dining terrace from every room. Large solarium style gourmet eat-in kitchen with staffroom/bath and laundry rooms. Family room leads to a master suite with luxurious bath, fireplace, and private terrace. Bedroom wing also include 3 large bedrooms with terraces and two baths. Creston system for automated climate control, humidification, shades, lighting and audio visual equipment, three private elevator landings, custom Euro-windows/doors and skylights, wide plank white oak floors, Venetian plaster walls, large closets and 10 foot ceilings"

Hmmm....I think this would work for me...I think...

Black lacquer den with red velvet upholstered sofa and club chairs - very New York!(above)

Love the graphic rug in this room that appears to be a study or home office of some sort. (above)

An oval window and a fireplace in the master bedroom! (above)

Would of course do some tweaking with the decor and put my own stamp on the place...but if someone wanted to give me this apartment...I certainly would not refuse it!

What do you think?  Would you take it or leave it?  Yes to penthouse living in New York or would you stay where you are?

I would say though...I just got home last night from two weeks of traveling.  To my surprise, I was actually thrilled to see my little tiny humble cottage in the Hollywood Hills...if you can believe it was just as lovely to me as this apartment.  I am always complaining about the size of my house but after two weeks away, I was very happy to be home...home sweet home as they say.

Happy Thursday!

xo
Coco

GRAY & STRIPES IN A SEASIDE COTTAGE!

Am heading back to the states today...leaving splendid Paris behind.  So I thought I would add in a post of an all American home today!

This design glimpse is from a brand new seasside cottage in Fairfield, CT. The interior spaces were wonderfully designed by Lynn Morgan and beautifully shot by photographer Jeff McNamara.

This "cottage" is 4 bedrooms in 5000 square feet of house...I only wish my tiny little cottage in the Hollywood Hills was a fraction of the size. Just goes to show you there are cottages and then there are "cottages". I would like the kind of cottage that goes in quotation marks...btw...

Anyhoooo...the hoe is a gray shingle style home with a gray and white theme. Lynn used lots of stripes, bleached and pale furniture and white lacquer beadboard throughout to create a serene elegantly casual family home.

Love the use of grey here and the bold stripes.  These spaces work for me.  Preppy, beachy, traditional with a tiny tiny hint of modern thrown in.  Nicely designed indeed!

What do you think of this little glimpse of this seaside "cottage"?  Any room you must have?  I rather like the scene with the painting and table...reminds me that good design can be rooted in calm simplicity. What do you think of the gray and stripes?  Do tell!

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

Photos: Jeff McNamara for Lynn Morgan Design

COCOCOZY FLEA MARKET FINDS: RANDOM THINGS TO LOVE! (PART 2)

All photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

There was so much to see at the Marche aux Puces at the Porte de Clignancourt in Paris.  I always get confused at flea markets.  My style changes from booth to booth stand to stand.  I found so many lovely antiques...I just started snapping photos of anything that I thought was cute.  No rhyme or reason really...just things that caught my eye.  Would be curious to see if any of these lovelies appeal to you.

Antique bombay chest with stunning trellis wood inlay work...price $2300.  I don't know where I'd put something like this...maybe in an uncluttered entry against a neutral plain wall...would let the piece speak for itself. (above)

Ideas for arranging art on walls perhaps? Love this booth filled with pictureless frames! (above and below)

Chrome! Very mid century table and chair set (above)

A subtle Japanese print on cloth or textured paper set on a worn easel (above)

Frosted crystal glass bowl shaped chandeliers. Very art deco...maybe Lalique. I like these particularly the one in blue... (above and below)

One of the mysterious little walking streets in the Paris flea market. (above)

An antique tapestry to hang in a library or study!  (above)

A flea market shop filled with interesting furniture and objects.  I like the blue and white ginger jar and porcelain teacups! (above and below)

Once again I ask you, anything here you would have snapped up and shipped home?  Treasures or not?

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco


All photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

COCOCOZY PARIS FLEA MARKET FINDS: THREE CHAIRS! (PART 1)

All photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

Still in Paris!  So phenomenal!  Really. It is!

Went to the Marches aux Puces at the Porte de Clignancourt yesterday - an unbelievable Paris flea market filled with antique and vintage furniture finds. I love Los Angeles but I must say this flea market puts our flea markets to shame. Here there are so many fantastic treasures to find - amazing antiques and collectible pieces! Amazing.

So we were going to try to be adventuresome and take the metro but opted for a nice air conditioned cab instead. The Marches aux Puces is not at all in the center of Paris...it is on the outskirts so it is a bit of ride...and of course we had no idea how we'd get back to the center of town for our 4pm people watching at the famed cafe Les Deux Magots...but we ventured out anyway.

I had my camera out and ready to take photos but when we first arrived, a vintage dress vendor looked at me and waved her finger and then said "Pop, pop, pop"...which was her very French way of saying no photos.  I was then a little timid as I walked through the marches snapping photos...but of course my design determination got me over any shyness and I just asked if I could take photos and most vendors said yes.

Anyhoooooo...saw so many great things...these chairs below are just a few.  Please review and let me know...do you think these are flea market finds or flea market flops?

CHAIR 1

I found this first set of chairs buried behind mounds of furniture in a little shop when we first arrived.  Loved these caned back Louis style chairs in grey and white with a criss cross trellis pattern painted on the caning on the chair back and seat.  The shop owner was not there but his neighbor called him and he quoted us a price of $2300 for the four chairs.  Trops cher (too expensive for me) but I loved them none the less.  Cute idea though...paint caning on a chair and then add a pattern detail on top of that....hmmm...note to self...

The narrow but intriguing pathways throughout this endless Paris flea market! (above)

CHAIR 2

This second pair of chairs was more affordable - around $650 for the pair -  and quite stylish (add about $1100 for shipping of these two chairs and the table).  They were these petite barrel side chairs upholstered in a mustard yellow leather like material.  I contemplated these chairs for quite a bit.  They don't really go with anything I have...but I loved them.  The owner of this shop said that they were 17th century antique chairs.  Oh dear...should I go back?  They are cute.  Oh no.  Help.

CHAIR 3

Lastly, a set of 8 cane seat French dining chairs with carved details on the legs.  I liked the blue grey paint on these chairs.  Didn't find out the price but thought they were quite lovely.

So the question is...would you have shipped any of these chairs home?  Do you see potential in any of them?  If so, where might you use them in your home?  Would be very curious to know.

More flea market finds coming up tomorrow...including an amazing bombay chest!

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Thank you all for watching my quick video DESIGN GUIDE from yesterday.  I'll try to do a few more of these video posts while here!

All photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY