Banks, Boots & Brass

banks boots brass psdThree things I can't seem to get enough of lately: 1.  Banks:  LA musician Julia Rose Banks' hypnotic and sensual sound is practically all I listen to at home and in the car.  If you haven't heard her music yet, here's one of my favorites.

2.  Boots:  The boot season is upon us and I'm trying desperately to refrain from buying these babies.  (Who am I kidding?!?)

3.  Brass:  The warm tone and classic appeal of anything brassy has officially become an obsession.  Can't wait to reveal our newest arrival from Australia:  a brass plated dinning table.

What are YOU obsessing over lately?

 

 

Life Happens

Every now and then I get sucked into looking at family photos.  Last night, as I scrolled through the years the experience truly felt like time travel.  I'm not sure whether it was my recently celebrated 44th birthday, or just the pace of time itself that sparked this reflective journey into the past.  It was amazing to see how much our children changed; while some of their infant features remained, others have clearly matured.  It was joyous and also a bit sad to notice the changes both in them and in me.  Life happens quickly and sometimes we need to be reminded to slow it all down and savor the moments.

 

Vinyl & Brass

Lately, there’s been a whole lotta of noise around the house and not just due to our kitchen renovation.  With our twin boys practicing their brass instruments and the vinyl records spinning on their turntable, our home has become a symphony of sounds (not all necessarily in tune).  We love music in our home, we always have.  When the boys were infants, listening and dancing to our favorite music was definitely an outlet for the big lifestyle adjustment upon us.  Max and Ben grew accustomed to the tunes of Led Zeppelin, Neko Case, Joao Gilberto, Al Green and Jill Scott from the time they were 6 months old (or maybe younger).  Somewhere along the years they've become intrigued with jazz, and currently, it’s not uncommon to hear the faint sounds of Stan Getz or John Coltrane streaming from the turntable in their room.

Music appreciation at any age can lift one's spirits and deepen one's self awareness of space and time.   I’m really proud of Max and Ben for wanting to learn to play an instrument on their own terms.  I tried for many years to play the guitar.  It may not have worked for me, but nevertheless, I never lost my passion for a good sound.

Have a great weekend!  What will YOU be listening to?

I would like to take this opportunity to send a HUGE thank you to everyone that has nominated Cocoon Home as a favorite Home Design/Inspirational Blog on Apartment Therapy's "The Homie's Awards".  TODAY is the last day to vote for the final nominees.  If you haven’t voted yet and like Cocoon Home Blog please show your support by registering here and voting here.  Spread the word and thanks again!

The Project Room: A Few New Things

One of the favorite rooms in our home is the Project Room (labelled so in the original 1953 architectural drawings we're fortunate to own).  It's the room we play games in, read, nap and watch TV.  To my surprise, I actually kept the built-in cabinetry in its original color:  Cherokee Red.   I'm enjoying the energy the color provides and all the fun accessorizing it allows.  Recently, I added a few things to the space:  an Asian print that fits perfectly in a little nook, a Peruvian throw, a bold patterned pillow and two floor lamps that flank each end of  our lived-in sofa.  

On another note,  I am quite overwhelmed by the amazing support that Cocoon Home Blog is receiving on Apartment Therapy's The Homies Awards.  Thank you so much for all your votes, and please keep  that positive energy flow going my way.

If you like my blog but haven't voted yet, please register here and then click here to cast your very appreciated vote! 

Mellow Moments

This past weekend we stayed around the house.  We played games, read, cooked a lot  and just plain mellowed out.  We all needed some time to regroup and settle back into a quieter post holiday routine.  During our first year in California we ventured out almost every weekend to show our children all our favorite sights.  Now l feel we can relax knowing that we ARE here to stay.   Here's to many more mellow moments in between fun new discoveries...