Bamboo Mural: Before And After

We've been fortunate to have had interesting, kind people for neighbors in every place we've lived.   In the past, some kept bees, others made cheese, one was a sommelier, and now, our closest neighbor is an artist and fellow garden enthusiast.  When I casually mentioned my plans to wallpaper our children’s bathroom in a bamboo print to replicate the view from its window, she immediately offered to paint a mural instead.  AND did she ever!   Take a look at her amazing brush strokes:

Thank you AM for lending us your friendship and insight, as well as your talent.  We love your work!

A big shout out to all our past and present neighbors for the jars of honey, the bottles of wine and the many spontaneous visits that make our friendships memorable and lasting.

Before And After: Painted Ceiling

For a recent Cocoon Home Design project we painted the ceiling and walls in Benjamin Moore's Dove White.   We decided to leave the beams stained dark to ground the space and blend it with the stone fireplace.  Painting is the first phase for this home's transformation.  Area rugs, lighting, botanicals and carefully selected accessories will complete our clients' desired aesthetic.   Take a look the ceiling 'before and after' and the Pinboard that inspired it all.

Moving Mode: Here And There

It's been nearly 8 months since our  move and things are gradually falling into place.  Items that once fit so nicely in our  Cambridge house have found a perfect placement in our California home.  Take a look at how it looked there and how it now looks here:

I think that a favorite part about decorating a space, whether it's for clients or for myself is utilizing what already exists and making it feel new again.

Last year, Cocoon Home Design was among Apartment Therapy's  top 20 design blogs!  Let's make it to the top 10 this year!

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Quick Fix: Guest Bathroom Facelift

With gray cabinets, antiquated sinks, outdated tile and bland hardware our guest bathroom was in need of a quick fix.  After whitewashing the green bathroom walls and grey cabinetry, I found inspiration in this colorful runner .  It prompted me to do something a bit different and fun with the hardware.  I decided not to coordinate the knobs but rather to replace them with different colors and patterns.   Thanks to Anthropologie's amazing collection of hardware  (and our helpful twins) the 18+ drawers and cabinets now sport a brand new look.  The bathroom has gone from drab and outdated to bright and somewhat "current".

My parents arrive this Thursday for a visit.  It will be the first time they'll see our new home, and our welcoming and updated guest bath.  I think I'm becoming a convert to more colorful spaces...

Moving Mode: Exterior Paint Reveal

The exterior painting of our home is finally completed, including the entrance gate that became a dilemma.   After a little deliberation I decided to forgo an accent shade altogether and paint the entire house in the same color.  In the future I may try to go bold again, but for now keeping it simple is best.  Take a look at a few before and after (in our home's new color) photos:

Many thanks to those who offered their opinion of my accent color dilemma.  I particularly liked MT's comment on Cocoon's Facebook page.