Nicole Pier hasn’t looked back since opening Coco Concepts interior design studio on Cleveland’s West Side in 2018. Her portfolio consists of more than 20 projects that blend texture with coastal coziness. “I’m really influenced by the water,” Pier says. “I want to feel like I’m on a vacation; in my home I want to feel relaxed and comfortable.” In this Lakewood home, the Zen is eminent. While dark wood and an airy atmosphere set the stage for the neutral palette, Pier honored the family’s love of nature by pairing textures. For example, the round, earthen clay-like side table, procured from Wild Iris Home in Avon, complements the stone hearth, while fluffy tassels soften straight lines within the space and bespeckled pillows add dimension to a cream gray couch.
Betting on Beach
This bedroom floats out of the cream crest of a rolling, lazy wave. The print on the bedding is reminiscent of tiny bubbles, an invitation to be pulled into the surf. Pier designed this Westlake retreat with her clients — a Connecticuter and Massachusettsan — in mind. It's a place to keep calm and peruse morning reading, while also recreating East Coast energy. “I always ask the client where they like to spend time. If it’s the beach, if it’s the mountains, a city ... just incorporating that into your house is really fun,” Pier says. The headboard is woven seagrass, a perfect match to the driftwood-colored hardwood floor Pier hopes to install soon. “Having these subtle details and elements keeps it interesting and unique.”
Florals and Whorls
An “elevated casual experience” awaits at the dining room table in this Bay Village home also designed by Pier with variety in mind. The centerpiece itself is a crisp and lively ode to topiary, reinforced by numerous floral patterns within the space — from the backs of the chairs to the ceramic candleholders with pleated, flower-petal edges. “[My clients] love flowers,” Pier says. “Incorporating florals is a big part of their home.” And the blooms don't stop in the dining room. The kitchen was also freshened up with the garden-like spirals. Seamstress Pam Novak of Avon Lake handstitched the table runner for Pier using Shiraz in Citrus by Clarke & Clarke, the same fabric used on pillow covers and upholstery throughout the home. In design, Pier explains, texture repetition works to create a beautiful, cohesive look. “If there’s a nice fabric that we can use, like as a runner, that’s a part of another space in that room, I like to tie that all in together."
Tranquil Funk
Sunlight bounces off the glass tabletop while a vase sprouts playful flowers and ceramic jars reflect and ground the luminosity. This west-facing room in Avon Lake is where Pier’s clients perform their coffee ritual, and Pier wanted its textures to help them ease into the day. Starting with a patterned mint green chair, Pier then toned the space down with neutrals. She keeps the rhythm interesting with characters like the rattan center table. Its texture is enhanced by the invading light for an overall softening effect. “There’s loops and more depth to it than just something completely solid,” Pier says. The hammered metal table and stand are a shining example of balancing the space. “Whenever I’m going through fabric books, I catch myself always touching every single fabric. I think that’s such an important sense."
