A Time For Thanks

It's officially November, which means it's almost time for my favorite holiday. I know its going to sound like a Ms. America speech, but there is nothing better to me than Thanksgiving ~ a time to enjoy good food with family and friends while we give thanks for the things that REALLY matter in life. This year it seems even more important to me than usual, so I've decided to replace my usual Christmas cards with Thanksgiving cards this year. It's a little unexpected, and a bit more from the heart.



These cards from Dauphine Press were the ones I chose. I loved the deep red and chartreuse green (a bit Christmas-ish, but not obviously so), and I loved the classic design.

If you're interested in doing the same thing (even if its just for a few closest friends) here are some of my other favorite 'thank you' cards I found along the way...



From left to right: ilee birds thank you (a favorite of mine, this gal is from Seattle and her desk calendars are my favorite), also from Dauphine a pretty little pattern. Spell it out for them with a definition from Sapling Press. A sweet modern piece from Michelle Brusegaard, and what might be the best boxed deal, a set of assorted birdie thank yous from turtle papers.

Another favorite for sending a little love anytime...



from EnfinLaViola.

I Just Fell In Love With...

This home I found via All Things Bright and Beautiful (a gorgeous little blog!). The open spaces with deep dark flooring, the pink backsplash in the kitchen, the simple aesthetic... I'm ready to move in!











Want it?? You'll have to move to Australia... check out the listing for it here.

Happy Halloween!

Ok, I have to admit, I'm not a HUGE fan of Halloween. The pressure of a costume, and the fact that the weekend it's celebrated usually falls on my birthday, has always made it a bit dreaded in my mind. However... if you're gonna do it, you might as well do it right! If I had to pick a costume this year, this would be it, hands down!



Most of you know how obsessed I've been with peacocks and their patterns this fall, so really, what better ensemble to wear? This of course is Allison Sarofim at her infamous Halloween bash. Love the costume, hate the anorexic body. Eat something darling. The runner up?



So perfect for a home decor addict ;)

Anyone come up with a costume they LOVED this year? I'm pretty sure my all-time favorite is when I dressed up as Cyndi Lauper in the 3rd grade...

Portrait Perfect

There's something about a portrait that is so intriguing to me. You have to wonder... who was this girl? And what's her story? I've been lusting over this very simple (yet ridiculously priced) portrait from the Woodson and Rummerfield showroom since seeing it a few months ago...



I just think she's so cute... and of course I'm partial to brunettes, being one myself. Not to mention the 1950's style. *sigh* So, I thought I'd peruse ebay to see if I could find anything even slightly similar, and came up with a few interesting pieces.



Starting bid? Only $9.95, and I love that the painting is a little worn out and damaged. You can bid on her here



There's nothing cute and glamorous about this piece, but I still thought she was interesting... bids start at $49



This little girlie makes me giggle! Definitely more along the lines of what I was looking for, but not my style (or hair color), or price range. She starts at $275.

Cool Colors From Iittala

I'm not usually a fan of colored glasses or stemware for the table - I like to keep it simple. But, I am loving the shapes and hues of these glasses from iittala.



Especially this smoky brown...



Hmmm... I wonder if they could double as votives too?

The coco+kelley Birthday Wishlist!

Well, m'dears. I have been a very very bad blogger this week. Blame it on the fact that I was in Seattle 'til Tuesday, then came home to fires, lots of work, Red Sox World Series games, and complete exhaustion! BUT, I will not let the week go by without one more post! And seeing as today is my birthday, here are the top things I want RIGHT NOW! In no particular order...



Every girl should feel like a princess on her birthday, this crown is sure to do the trick. I found this one at Lucca in Seattle when I was there for a visit. I love the combination of colors in this throw and pillow from Missoni at auto. They would be perfect for my bedroom! The Jaipur collection from Albert Pinto is almost as gorgeous as my favorite Hermes china pattern, but the yellow puts it over the top! I cannot get enough of the Foley and Corinna bags at shopbop, and the natural leather is my fave.



This chandelier by artist Justin Guinta is another piece from auto that would be gorgeous in my bedroom... not to mention each one is an original. One of my favorite dresses from fashion week by Charles Nolan, I love the colors! Any piece from Caleb Siemon would be gorgeous, but this vase matches my decor the best.



I'm in desperate need of a couch, and I adore this retro classic style with tufting in a warm brown from Mitchell+Williams. Yummy fragrances from Jo Malone to mix and match throughout the seasons ~ my favorite combo is Tuberose and Grapefruit. Flowers! Duh! This black and white bouquet is especially gorgeous with subtle pinks. The vintage horseshoe ring I found via Design*Sponge last month... I'm SO in love with it! Plus, opal is my birthstone. I might have to have one made. The Chanel porcelain watch. Have you put this piece on your wrist? It's amazing. Absolutely AMAZING.



My lamps from Shine that I blogged about last week. I really need an ipod shuffle for the gym. And I REALLY need it in gold ;) I have a little obsession with rings because they're the only jewelry i switch out everyday and will actually wear on a regular basis. The Dior oui ring says it all. And c'mon, who couldn't use some Veuve on the go?

Ok, so really, all these things are wonderful, but what I want more than anything is these damn fires all over California to go away (they're slowly dying out), for my boyfriend to visit me next weekend (we're going wine tasting in Temecula!), to celebrate with my closest friends (done and done), for the Red Sox to win the World Series (two games up, and I think the chances are good!), and for 27 to be a great year... is that too much to ask? I didn't think so! Here's hoping you all have a wonderful weekend, and if you need an excuse to pop some champagne, just blame it on me ;) Cheers!!

Wednesdays on Washington

What are you doing tonight?? If you live in the Los Angeles area, you should be heading to Empiric's Culver City store where we continue to host Happy Hour every Wednesday in October from 5pm - 7pm!



We always have a heck of a good time, and it's a great chance to get a head start on holiday shopping ;) See you there!

Florence Broadhurst and Iomoi?

Has anyone else noticed that some of the new patterns at iomoi are SO completely Florence Broadhurst knockoffs? Not that I'm complaining, because they're beautiful buuut...



I mean, it's hard to not want to take her designs and recreate them... even some of the older ones they have carried for a while reflect the Broadhurst style.



But seriously people ~ at least give the lady some credit and name a paperweight after her! ;)

One More Thing...

Before I jet off to rainy/windy/hailing/sunny Seattle (yes, they've had all four today), I wanted to let you all know that I've updated my Etsy shop with some goodies! My favorites are this adorable figurine...



Yeah, she's got attitude!

And this brightly colored English tin. I can't get over how fun the floral pattern is on this, and it is the perfect size for an ice bucket (just make sure to line it first!)

If You're In San Fran...

My oldest friend Sara (as in we've known each other since we were 4!) has a hot little boutique on Chestnut street in San Francisco called Dylan, and this Saturday they are toasting to fall with champagne and chocolates as well as 15% off their gorgeous clothing lines (for the ladies AND their men!). If you're in the city, go see visit her and her adorable puppy, Lily!!

Seattle, Here I Come!

I'm heading home to Seattle for a few days with the girls as we celebrate my birthday ... which is really next week, but I do enjoy making it last all month! While I'm there I plan to visit my favorite shops so look for a little tour of Seattle when I return on Wednesday!

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!

Room of the Week 10.19

I love love love how such a small room makes such a big impact with this design. The use of mirrored furniture and a large mirror on the wall creates the illusion of a larger room, sheer curtains provide a beautiful light and keep the room feeling open. The dramatic shape of the bed creates more than enough personality with the gorgeous contrast of white with the lush green velvet, but is also perfect for this room with its rounded shape so you're not running into sharp corners in such small quarters. Also notice that the lighting in this room is all glass - another way to keep the room feeling open! (Although, wouldn't you love to see a gilded chandelier to match the chair?) A simple color palette with one pattern carried throughout makes it feel uncluttered, and lets your eyes focus on the gorgeous simplicity of the room!

Fall Floral

I was just browsing and found this gorgeous bouquet from housemartin, and had to post it. One of my best friends is getting married next May, and yellow is her color so I'm instantly being drawn to anything with this cheery color in it to pass on to her. This one's for you Lynds!



By the way, Housemartin had a wonderful tip - if you are a bride looking for ideas for your wedding, check out her blog during the month you're getting married for ideas that will be in season for that time!

Guess Who!?

I just got my November issue of Elle Decor, and guess who made the cover? None other than my Room of the Week from 9.6 by Frank Roop - which also happens to be the inspiration for my bedroom decor. Love it!!



You can read more about the designer here.

Missoni for the Floor?

My roommate and I have been searching for a couch... on Craigslist. IMPOSSIBLE! I was going to put up photos of some of the most hideous pieces I have ever seen with asking prices of $200 (!) but I don't want to ruin my blog or your appetite with them. Instead, here's what I've decided...

In our extremely small living room I want to cover the floor with these pieces from Missoni(found at auto)!



A few beanbags in the 'Dahlia' print...



And some floor cushions in various sizes covered in the 'Alice' pattern!

Throw in a few affordable floor pillows from Urban Outfitters in solid colors, and we're all set!



*sigh* ... ok, maaaaybe the Missoni is a little out of my league. Back to craigslist!

Lay off the Bottle

Water, people. I'm talking water.



I was a bit blown away last week when I saw this post on Blue Orchid because I am SO guilty of contributing to this mess. This photo depicts two million plastic bottles - the amount used every FIVE MINUTES in America alone! Although I try to reuse my plastic bottles for a while, I've been horrible lately about purchasing bottled water. I used to be better with my hippy nalgene bottle from REI, but left it back in the Northwest when I moved to LA...

So here's your new option:



Super cute and hip thermal water canteens from Shinzi Katoh available on Figments Design. I am officially adding the ladybug one to my wish list, and in the meantime when I head home to Seattle this weekend, I promise to bring my hippy yet earth-saving nalgene bottle back with me.

Mirror Mirror...

Right now I am loving mirrored furniture. Besides opening up a room and providing interest, mirrors go a long way in the glamour department. And the way they reflect candlelight? Forgetaboutit.



Love this mirrored bar cabinet from Hickory Chair. See how it enlarges the living space? And check out how much it holds on the inside!



Mercury Glass looks especially gorgeous when reflecting candlelight, and I love that the mirror has such great texture to it. One of my favorite pieces is this table from Ochre in that classic midcentury shape.



This yellow nightstand from Pieces shows off how perfectly placed mirrors can add depth to detail.



Then of course there is mirror furniture where the entire piece is covered in glass. A style that is best used sparingly, but I did find this coffee table from Mecox Gardens to be a nice simple example of how to do it well.

Gilt for the Table

Like I said yesterday, I have holidays on the mind, and nothing makes me happier than setting a gorgeous holiday table! If your family is anything like mine, you probably have a set of plain china that looks something like this...



(Lenox dinnerware at Macy's)

Why not add a modern twist and layer your traditional pieces with something like this!



The "Designers Gilt" collection from notNeutral offers four gorgeous graphic patterns in 22k gold, and are perfect for bringing a bit of pattern to the table.

Felted Flyers

Ok, yes, apparently all of us have lost our minds because I know I'm not the only one who has posted lately about the fact that I'm already thinking about the holidays. Don't worry - I'm putting together a great little gift guide that should be ready by the end of the month (when most sane people actually start doing their shopping).

In the meantime... how cute and crafty are these felted birds from Figments?



I think they would be an adorable theme for a Christmas tree, or as a part of any fall or winter decor, displayed in the window.

TGIF!

I'd love to spend the weekend lounging in my pj's just like this...



It probably won't happen, but a girl can dream right? If I'm lucky I'll get a lazy Sunday morning... Have yourself a lovely lazy weekend!

Room of the Week 10.11

If I had a room in my home dedicated as the "study", THIS is what it would look like. A modern twist on an old classic. Instead of dark wood paneling, high gloss macassar ebony panels between the windows! Instead of Tiffany lamps, retro modern lighting. Not to mention a dark comfy couch offset by a light rug with a great pattern, and white chairs (ps - these look almost exactly like a pair we have at Empiric right now that I adore!) Plus, the study is always the space where you can get away with a little animal print - cowhide or otherwise. A very cool room from Haynes-Roberts.

Shine On!

So, a few weeks ago I was in Plantation - yet another overpriced LA store that I can't get enough of - and saw these lamps that I fell in LOOOOVE with...



Of course, I didn't dare ask who their resource was for these, but I've been keeping my eyes open for them, and low and behold I found Audrey (that's the name of the lamp) and a few of her friends at Cottage & Bungalow where they have practically the whole line of lamps from the California-based company called Shine. You can bet your ass I'm going to get my hands on their catalog ASAP! Here are some more of my favorites...

Meet Jasper...



and Ingrid...



and Diamond (those tassels have got to go though).