Cocoon Me

My motto this summer has been:  Work hard, play harder.  I have been having an awfully good time.  I have to say though that the traveling, studying for my life coach program, and the ongoing projects I have been working on have kind of kept me behind the 8 ball.  The thing that suffered has been the blog.  I have not had time to do it all, but it won't always be that way.  Hang in there with me!

While in the Hamptons last weekend I learned about Chris Burch's new project.  Chris Burch (of Tory Burch's ex and the defunct C. Wonder stores) has a new project, and this one I can get behind!

Cocoon 9  is an upscale, sustainable, modern approach to living in a prefabricated, flexible structure with a high design aesthetic.  Whether using it as a pool house, guest house, artist or yoga studio, mountain side home (ME,ME,ME) or oceanside bungalow, it has a plethora of possibilities!  Built by custom home builder Edwin Mahoney, it allows for some customization, but is full of well thought out details and plenty of storage.

Mecox Gardens in Southampton assembled one on their grounds for tours.  It is impressive.

The cabins are made of steel and can be configured or stacked in several ways.  They are environmentally friendly, can withstand 150 mph winds, can be adapted for solar power, have insulated walls and incorporate LED lighting.  They are 12 by 40 feet and average $250,000.00.  There is a "lite" model as well which is a little smaller and therefore a little less costly.  The floors are kept light and a lot of white lacquer is employed along with floor to ceiling windows, all in an effort to reflect light and connect to the outdoors so you get the feel of a more expansive space.  Kitchenettes, bathrooms and murphy beds are included, but there are MANY clever ways to upgrade your petite prefab.  Carrera marble and bamboo anyone?

HC & G  hosted a girl's get-together at Chris Burch's Cocoon 9 pool house on his Southampton property.

I may get that mountain house after all !!!

Once I find the perfect piece of property near Aspen ~ I am ready to rock and roll.  The lead time is 16 weeks.  Hell, I've waited longer for a table!

phs: HC & G via Eric Striffler, Cocoon 9

The Devil's in the Details

I recently visited the Hampton's Designer Showhouse, sponsored by Traditional Home.  Every show house is an education.  There's always a take away; it's like the best way to continue an education.  This fabulous house is no exception.  It was built in 6 months (I heard):unheard of!!  "Paramount Custom Homes mission is to build superior quality homes with the finest materials incorporating the newest technology."  Its innovative approach and keen attention to detail really showed!  It caught my eye.

The home was rich with beautifully layered trim; simply sublime.  It was so grand in size and scope, you didn't need too much decor ~ but it is a show house after all.

Reinfret Group via Dan's Papers ph:Cully/EEFAS

My friend Jonathan gives you a good idea just how generous the moldings and trim are.  Together with the 11 foot ceilings they really made the space feel expansive.

We went crazy for the seamless doors.  When closed, the doors melt into the walls without the disruption of door trim and such. That's so 2013.

Ciuffo Cabinetry dressed the kitchen to impress.  I remember last year I talked about the use of mixed materials and several different finishes to create a modern highly functional kitchen.  This year is the kitchen was a show stopper for the very same reason.
I love the raw wood trim in the doorway.  It delineates the space and adds "a dash of quiet drama." Simple detail, big impact.

It is repeated across the room surrounding the custom hood.  Nice touch ~

High gloss cabinets co exist with cerused wood, calcutta marble, tile and glass.  Polished nickel trim and pulls round out the gorgeousness.

When striving for perfection, you must look inward, as IN the cabinets and drawers. There's a home for everything and the interior details made from walnut and veneers was most appreciated.

Selection of breakfast trays anyone?

Built in coffee makers are becoming as standard as microwaves ~ I'm desperate for one.  Suddenly my Krups isn't good enough.  The goal is streamlined and seamless.

The magnificent cabinetry didn't stop at the kitchen.  Why should a laundry room suffer from drab drawers within a non descript room?  The flat panel cabinets had the same nickel hardware trim: Bellissimo!

Ciuffo Cabinetry made an impression on me again downstairs in the lounge, bar, entertainment area with their retro, modern custom mill work.  The built-ins; wrapped around the walls were stunning!  They incorporated sleek, contemporary materials such as the silver leaf cabinet fronts and macassar wood along with Zicana stone that could take your breath away.

I guess I got distracted by the bar ~ It was approaching noon after all.

How decadent to be able to get up during a meal and choose a bottle of wine from your 350 bottle chill(ed) wine cellar, not relegated to the basement, but built front and center in the dining room.  This mill work marvel by Paramount Builders along with Mecox Gardens became the pièce de résistance of the dining room.  The wine room has its own design element and the clever use of shower doors proves a little creativity and ingenuity go a long way.

Hello Lover...

There's much more to see.  I only covered what resonated MOST with me.  Each show house speaks to me differently.  I immediately keyed in on the mill work and delicious use of oversized and abundant trim as well as the clever cabinetry.  You may find something very different speaks to you; that's why every showhouse offers an opportunity to come away more inspired than when you walked in.
Open thru September 1st.

SHOPPING: The Hampton's

English Country Antiques
26  Snake Hollow Road.  Bridgehampton, NY   (631) 577~0606

If you can't find it here, it doesn't exist.  Chris Mead began shipping antiques from England 20 years ago and hasn't slowed down.  Like a kid in a candy store, I spent hours, literally, studying the new and old; from bedding to a huge assortment of decorative lighting, boxes, and everything in between.  A venerable treasure trove for homeowners and designers alike.

Mecox Gardens made my heart skip a beat as we pulled up to the flagship Southhampton emporium.  With 8 stores around the country selling antiques, reproductions, and repurposed treasures from near and far, you'd be hard pressed to not fall in love!  Their mission is to seamlessly blend the inside and outside, and they do it well.

above & below via Between the Boxwoods

via So Haute

Mont XIII
40 Madison St. Sag Harbor, NY (631) 808~3333

Natasha Esch, an interior designer from Los Angeles, and prior to that head of Wilhelmina models, knows a thing or two about style.  The newest home store in Sag Harbor offers beautifully curated spaces with both new and reproduction furniture and accessories.  I especially loved the leather wrapped everything!

above & Below via Mont XIII

Ruby Beets
25 Washington St.  PO Box 1174.  Sag Harbor, NY   (631) 899~3275

Old and new co-exist in this little jewel of a store.  Sharone Einhorne and Honey Wolters have the perfect selection of unusual finishing touches, as well as contemporary murano glass, furniture, and art.  They are always included in everyone's list of favorite "to dos" in the Hamptons

via Habitually Chic

JED 
27 Washington St.  Sag Harbor, NY    ( 631) 725~6411                  

Jack Deamer, the owner (not Jed like you would assume), had a beautiful high end selection of antiques and objects'd art.  I was rooting thru a box of framed intaglios that were to die for but a little rich for my blood.  It does warrant another trip though, they all do!

via JED facebook page

Ya'll come back and see how I used what I bought on my shopping trip in a client's home ~ next time

I also checked out ~

Donna Parker Habitat Ltd.
Water Mill, NY

Gustavo Olivieri Antiques
East Hampton, NY

John Salibello
East Hampton, NY


and you should too.  Many of these great stores are on 1st Dibs as well.


ph:CLI unless otherwise noted.