In Case of Rain

I need this coat.

It's by Corpus from one of my favorite Pac NW shops, Frances May. PS, they're having a sale!

Fashionable Pads

If I'm going to have shoes for everyone room in my house, I might as well have an ensemble to go with them.

looks via garance dore, maciek kobielski and jason wu

rooms viaroland bello, unknown and the style files

I continue to be on a kick for color, but I like it in subtle ways - both in fashion and in decor. The summer seems to bring out my affinity for oranges, blues and pops of greens that general fade back to my neutral palette come fall. I better enjoy it while it lasts!

Crazy for Quatrefoils

I have always loved the shape of quatrefoils - probably because I'm an architecture nerd at heart, and this shape has a lot of history behind it, used throughout the ages on gorgeous old churches and facades.

While my love of this shape in jewelry was inspired by Van Cleef years ago, many other jewelry designers have some gorgeous offerings, including these fab etsy artists...

*clockwise: cj adornments, siren jewels, petra collection, kiska style

I just may have to pick a few of these pieces up!

Style Tips: The Summer Bar

I'm spending my days around the house styling things up and getting settled into my new digs, so what better time to do a post on how to get things lookin' good, coco+kelley style?

Pop over to kelly+olive where I'm guesting today, and see how I take my little bar from lame to DANG* in a few easy steps (which are easily applied to styling up your coffee table, entryway, vanity... you get the idea).
*yes, I just said DANG. new favorite throwback word alert!

The VIVRE Giveaway Winner!

Well, my dears, selecting a winner for this giveaway was NOT easy!! We took a good look at the top entries and put it to a vote... While Mogambo had tons of votes (well done Jenn!) we really loved the whimsical nature of Tea in Wonderland, so congratulations to Lana! You're the big winner!!
And, Jenn... we've got a little prize for you as well. Since you raked in a ridiculous amount of votes for your board, I'm sending you off a little surprise as well! I hope you'll enjoy it!
A big thanks to all who entered!! Some of my favorite boards got into the Top 10, which made it especially hard to choose a winner! Thanks to Nycia and Anne too for your entries and posts!

PS - if you're up for a second challenge, VIVRE is hosting another giveaway over at AphroChic! So, pop on over and enter your board there for a second chance at some good winnings (woo hoo! a contest I can enter!)

A Whisper of A Ruffle

These sweet curtains from Bella Notte have me swooning! I can just picture the sun streaming softly through them ...
The texture of barely there wrinkled linen... yummy! And yes, they offer bedding too... What a dreamy room the pair would make!

Feeling the Love

Feeding the wedding photo addiction and I came across an amazing engagement session at Green Wedding Shoes (one of my absolute faves).

photo by simply bloom

It was just too lovely not to share. I will do my best to keep the obession to a minimum though (yeah right!) You can see more gorgeous work here.

Color Inspiration: Coral + Black

The combination of these colors creates such a glamorous intensity, don't you think? Not quite as harsh as black and red, a touch of coral with rich wood tones and black seems like a fabulous summer combo to me...
*images via house beautiful, unkown, saipua

Lazy (Summer) Daisy

The lazy days of summer are creeping into my head... not wanting to fully wake up this morning...
A little bit dreamy, and quite unable to snap out of my relaxed state left over from a weekend of sunshine. Wishing it hadn't gone so fast.
This recent W editorial is capturing the mood perfectly. I'm loving the layers of patterns upon patterns, and I'm coveting every little piece of flowery fabric used to create a summer garden mood indoors.
Remember when all you did all summer was wake up late and lay around with friends, waiting for the sun to set so you could do it all over again?
I'm so feelin' these.

*photography by claudia knoepfel and stefan indlekofer

Monday Work Wear

Some sartorial inspiration for a Monday morning from my two favorite cities in the world.

Florence

And Seattle!

I may be the last one to the party, but I just discovered Le 21eme Arrondissement, the street style site capturing people in Seattle with actual style. Who knew!

Big Ornament Ring Wedding of Celeb

Big ornament ring wedding of celeb

Beautiful Ring Wedding Celeb

Beautiful ring wedding celeb

Happy Weekend (Don't Forget the Contest!)

Hello m'dears! I'm off to enjoy some sunshine, friends in town, and a much deserved little relaxation after this week of posts. Whew! I hope you all got a good dose of inspiration from it! (And a few recipes to try as well!)
Just a little reminder - you have until Sunday at noon to enter the VIVRE contest for the chance to win $100 to spend at their gorgeous online shop as well as a set of fabulous glasses (of your choice!) by New Arcadia to set your own pretty little tabletop. Vote for your favorites, and we'll be choosing from the top 10!

See you Monday darlings!! Don't forget to stop and smell the flowers... ;)

xo,
cassandra

*photography by phil poynter

Style (E)scapes: Living Al Fresco With Heather Taylor

Every once in a while you meet people with such a fantastic personal style that you just want to BE them. Heather Taylor is one of those people. Her effortless taste in everything from decorating her home to her fantastic closet, combined with a passion for dining, make her an irresistible combo, and if you've never read her blog (especially if you're an LA guy or gal!) then hop on over immediately for droolworthy delights. I'm so excited to have her sharing the final patio of the style (e)scapes series with us!

My name is Heather Taylor and I'm thrilled to be guest blogging here on coco+kelley. In addition to owning an art gallery called Taylor De Cordoba, I also write about the charms of Los Angeles on my blog L.A. in Bloom. This regularly takes me outdoors as I love gardening, cultivating my exterior space and entertaining al fresco. Behold a tour of our deck along with pictures and recipes from our first outdoor meal of the summer...
Below is my favorite part of the deck. Accessible from our bedroom though french doors, this really functions as our outdoor living room. The Moroccan-style couch came with the house and this interesting carved headboard was sitting behind the garage when we moved in. My friend and landscape designer Tory Polone suggested we hang it above the couch to create a cozy little nook.
My ever growing collection of succulents and vintage pots decorate the space. I love how the environment is always changing as the succulents evolve and grow. The bottom left is my new favorite - a vintage Italian pot from The Melrose Trading Post and a succulent that looks like lace.
I'm also obsessed with this little elephant, found at a swap meet.
All summer long we eat outside in the "dining room" portion of our deck. I love decorating the table with Provencal linens from Lavender Blue, a beautiful linen boutique run out of the home of Catherine Giraud here in L.A.
One of my cooking gurus is Ina Garten and I look to her Barefoot Contessa cookbooks for much of my summer cooking. Last night we kicked off my favorite season with a summery menu -

No meal is complete without a pretty dessert so I turned to Bon Appetit for a little Chocolate Cake with Ganache and Praline. Pair it all with delicious vino and a table full of pink peonies and I'm ready for a delicious summer outdoors.

Anyone else want to steal that Moroccan-style couch? Me too! Not to mention the adorable elephant and collection of succulents. And with that, my dears, I do believe it's time for us to all head out and enjoy whatever patch of green we can, preferably with friends and wine by our side. Cheers, and happy happy weekend!

Happy {Play-Time} Weekend

I'm off to have fun with family and friends and take a mini-road trip with my bf this weekend.

photo of swing in the subway via design dust

I hope you get to play too!

*E

Style (E)scapes: Top Ten Essentials from CreateGirl!

Julieann Covino over at CreateGirl is one of my most favorite people... and I've never even met her! It must be our love of Red Sox baseball and interiors that unites us. Either way, I've been wanting to have her over to c+k for a while now, and I was so happy when she sent over this fabulous list of her Top 10 Picks for summer patio styling! (And, if you happen to live in the Boston area, check out her company, Jace Interiors, for a little interior design assistance!)

Thanks to the amazing Cassandra for asking me to guest post on one of my favorite topics, escaping to the patio!! Here are some affordable patio pieces to make your summer even more comfortable!

CreateGirl's Top 10 Essentials for Patio Living Big or Small Decks, Patios, Backyards or Small Pieces of Asphalt (whatever you have to call your outdoor space - make the most of it!)

A few simple pieces can create a comfortable summertime room! Here are my Top 10.
• As you are taking that lazy afternoon nap you will need a pillow so opt for a bold fun print like these from Williams Sonoma Home. Coral and Turquoise are so trendy and the combination of 22" and outdoor use these are perfect!

• While I nap on my chaise lounge I will be dreaming of dining on this amazing statement table from Nan Quinn. The benches and chairs she creates are also just so sweet and would have all guests talking long after they are gone!

• What patio would be complete without the ever fancy cooler? Napa Style offers this cooler/table, I know a little extravagant but it's a piece you will keep forever! After all, you want to keep the drinks cold while the temperature rises.

• Just because you are outside doesn't mean you should forget your design rules. Pull together and brighten up your space with an outdoor rug. I love the bold prints over at Rugs Direct. The options are endless and you can use in the basement or a mudroom in the cooler months
• Even in the city we have our share of pesky bugs. Keep them at bay with these Sur La Table fun colored citronella candles. They are too cute wrapped in bamboo!

• On my deck Twinkle lights are a MUST have especially for those romantic dinners you are sure to plan. The star bursts from Solutions are battery powered so there is no need to scour the house for an ugly extension cord.
• If you are anything like me there will always be friends and family dropping in so make sure you have extra seating. These "Sunny" chairs fromCB2 stack so you can leave them in the corner when not in use.

• My readers know I am a girl who can get a weee bit chilly so this is really for me. Why end the party just because the temps drop? This will keep me and guests happy until the early morning hours! Restoration Hardware's Table Top Heat Lamp is perfect! Patio parties in October? With this YES!
• A Side table is essential for both a bench and a place to stack magazines. This is a great option from Home Infatuation. With an extra shelf it's a good place to keep the blackberry out of the sun and if you must store the laptop!

• Outdoor dining does not mean paper plates are required. Dress the BBQ up with these melamine Thomas Paul plates I found over at Grand. I promise the burgers will taste even better!

I hope you enjoyed my essential pieces for the perfect patio. Make it a decorated room you will love to spend time in!

Thank you so much Julieann! I am SO going to have to get one of those mini heaters myself!! This California girl doesn't like the chill factor either! And those are definitely some of the best-looking citronella candles I've seen yet. I love your selections for how fun yet practical they are!! Even thinking about a spot for the laptop - that's the sign of a true blogger.

Style (E)scapes: The coco+kelley Patio!

Usually, the first place to redecorate when moving into a new home is not your patio, but I suppose I never really do anything according to the rules, and this space was no exception!

While I'm still waiting to move my entire wardrobe and office into the boy's place (or "our" place as he keeps reminding me) I decided that the little deck needed a major makeover in honor of this style (e)scapes week! Since we live in Seattle, and won't be using it year-round, I need to do a quick makeover on a tiny budget. And yes, it was completely empty when I started... but as of yesterday?
Done and done! As I mentioned earlier, it's important to think about how you're going to be using a space before creating it. For us, it's Sunday morning coffee and late afternoon drinks on the patio. We won't be doing tons of entertaining, and the space isn't really large enough to accommodate that many people anyway, so I didn't want to crowd it with unnecessary pieces. I created a little 'seating area' by throwing down one of those cheap-o beach mats (instead of splurging on an outdoor rug) and think it makes a huge difference in completing the space!
The palette actually came from the plants I chose (backwards again!) We hit Lowe's to load up on plants, and I went for a palette of dark leafy beauties with bright flowers and a few splashes of intense bright green. I found the wicker chairs on sale at Cost Plus, and the cushions there just happened to be perfect! The pale grey pots are all Ikea, while the aqua I found at Ross. I decided to protect the stools a bit by putting down bright dishes from Urban Outfitters for an extra splash of color under the pots.
The red side table was a piece I already had. A hand-me-down bamboo style that I lacquered up in bright red! The ice bucket is one I've also had forever, and will hopefully soon be filled with ice cold beers, wine and champagne! As for the stools - I wanted to purchase a few small ceramic ones to prop those plants up on, but couldn't find any in my budget that I loved. I found these stools at Target for $15, and love that we could actually use them for seating if we want to! Now, I can't wait to sit back enjoy the results!

Style (E)csapes: Garden Glam + Granitas!

Whats this? A glam garden, you say? Yes. Because being a coco+kelley gal means effortless glamour. And, today I'm feeling like this:

*resources: vintage bench at gardenhouse, table at cottage&bungalow, watering can and pots at jayson home&garden, throw pillows from target, monogram melamine dishes from snootie patootie

Fresh, and fabulous. A little unexpected. And very ready to entertain. A garden inspired by another yummy summer recipe that I'll be dying to try this weekend as the temperatures begin to rise.

The other day we had refreshing summer drink recipe to pair with a bohemian patio, so when I asked the lovely Kelly of Design Crush to share a favorite recipe (as she does so well on her blog), I decided to style a patio up to match. The perfect place to sip these summer Honey Berry Granitas. Take it away girl...

Summer evenings are my favorite time to entertain. The sun is (hopefully!) done scorching for the day and you can sit back and relax around a fire pit or lounge around someone’s pool. The most important thing to me is to be able to do all of the prep work before anyone ever shows up. I want to enjoy my party as much as my guests! Aside from that I like to always have one recipe that people are sure to be asking for when they leave. Enter Honey Berry Granita!
Granitas are the best possible answer to snowcones for adults. Intensely flavored. Extremely versatile. And best of all really, really easy to make. (Although you’ll look like a rockstar for serving them!) This recipe for Honey Berry Granita uses strawberries and blackberries as well as honey for the sweetness factor. Follow the recipe, then serve them up in some pretty sundae glasses or silver mint julep cups. Add a spoon and you’re ready to go!

• 4 C berries (any kind you have on hand)
• 1 C water
• ¼ C honey
• 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
Fill your food processor or blender with berries (hulled if necessary). Heat your water and then dissolve the honey in it. Run the processor and slowly add honey water, keeping an eye on consistency (don’t let it get too watery). Taste intermittently to get the amount of sweetness you’d like. Add the lemon juice and swirl one last time. Adjust taste by adding more fruit, honey water or lemon juice. Pour mixture into a large metal pan and place it in the freezer. Check in about 20 minutes and start scraping the formed ice crystals on the edges into the center of the pan with a fork. Repeat every 20 minutes until the pan is full of fluffy ice crystals. (When ready it will no longer appear wet.) Use your fork to loosen and de-clump all the crystals. Pour into a well-sealed container and store in the freezer until it’s ready to enjoy!

*recipe and photo via sass & veracity

Light It Up

Summer is in full force and it has everyone thinking about dining al fresco. It's amazing how adding a string or two of twinkle lights turns a picnic into a a celebration.

photos by tec petaja, unknown and our labor of love

Have you ever noticed how food just seems to taste better when you eat it outside?

Style (E)scpes: A Patio Makeover from MadeByGirl!

I feel almost ridiculous introducing Jen from MadeByGirl, because I'm sure most of you are very familiar with her fantastic blog and super fun cards and prints! Well, as a woman of many talents, Jen also happens to be amazing at a little makeover as she's proven time and time again on her own blog. And, it just so happens that she's done a little revamping of her patio to share with us! Thanks Jen!

Hello this is Jennifer Ramos from MadeByGirl blog. My patio used to be pretty plain & boring...
After finding an amazing image in Sunset Magazine where corrugated steel was used as fencing, I had to try it! The first thing I did was plan everything out on my computer, then shortly afterward, I headed to Home Depot to get a few pots, paint & plants.
I decided to stay within 3-4 colors - lime green for the bistro set, turquoise blue for the corrugated steel, white for the hanging lanterns and gold spray paint for most of the pots. My biggest friend during the entire project was spray paint & of course the outdoor paint I bought for the steel. I had it mixed to my specifications, so it doesn't have an exact name.
As for the plants, I bought some bamboo, Australian tea tree, spiny agave, red agave, texas sage and more. I picked out a few succulents to place into tiny pots on the bistro table, which makes for a great accent!

Isn't it amazing what a little color can do to transform a space? I love the texture of the corrugated steel in the aqua! And all the little additional details give it such a nice finished touch (need those lanterns!). Planning the space out completely is smart - a move I forget to make sometimes, so it usually takes a few trips to the hardware store. Thank you so much Jen for sharing your space and inspiration with us!