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Highlights. Trends. Insights. We’ve got the scoop on everything you need to know about interior design right here in one tidy space!

Style Secret Weapon: the Pouf or Stool

Perhaps named after the magic they help create in a room, the aptly coined pouf – along with its sturdier counterpart the stool – are design trends here to stay. These multitasking furnishings are often overlooked perhaps because of their functionality, but serve as intentional and stylish supporting actors that offer depth to a living space without blocking sightlines. They create additional seating in tight spaces, can be placed anywhere and moved around, and work with every design theme or aesthetic. Pull up a stool to a bedside desk and use it as a chair, or into a nursery to prop your feet up and rock a little one to sleep. Store a couple of fun poufs under a console table for extra seating at a cocktail party or game night, or use one as a whimsical accent piece to round out a sofa and table combo. Place a stool next to a bathtub as a place to hold your soap and towel next to the tub, or scatter several around the home as plant stands. If you’re looking for a finishing touch for a space, consider a pouf or stool — big design can come in small packages!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

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Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

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Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

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Farmhouse Chic at Tracy Hills

Great family living grows throughout the Tracy Hills master-planned community in Tracy, CA. Our team set out to enhance the natural warmth and inviting feel throughout the Welcome Center, multipurpose room, neighborhood market, pool, and shared outdoor spaces surrounding the areas. 

A study in balanced contrast, the modern farmhouse-style Welcome Center features exposed beams and board and batten to scale down the dramatic volume of the soaring ceilings, establishing an intimate and cozy mood. Pops of vibrant color, reclaimed wood flooring, and wall details add dimension to the charming rustic design, and an expansive mountainscape mural pays homage to the surrounding natural beauty of the scenic hills. Agrarian farmhouse meets high-tech through warm wood tones and bright whites, and a nine-screen TV wall that showcases the future development plans for this lovely community.

Large distressed sliding barn doors that open to the outdoors are the highlights of the community multipurpose room, offering residents convenient opportunities to socialize indoors by the cozy stacked stone fireplace or under the sun and stars. The resort-style pool area features eye-catching citron and navy Adirondack chairs, an appealing combination of traditional and modern, a nuanced representation of the overall appeal of this Northern California community.

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

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Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Designing Community Experiences

Today’s reality of siloed modern life – work, commute, etc. – coupled with head-down device distractions, means people are craving in-person community like never before. Residential developers that are in tune with these evolving homebuyer priorities are answering the call by creating new communities with well-designed shared spaces to encourage residents to connect, offering living experiences that are social and increasingly more sustainable.

Having a dedicated space for neighbors and community members to enjoy facetime (the old-fashioned kind, no iPhone required!) is a real perk for families in the market for a new home. Think of these spaces like a destination-style resort, complete with many opportunities for relaxation and recreation. Our installations like The Lodge at Riverstone in Madera, CA, and Belcourt at Seven Oaks in Bakersfield, CA, include fitness clubs with group classes, recreation centers equipped with games for kids and grown-ups alike, and kitchens and bars for socializing. Other resident-forward amenities include vegetable and herb gardens with neighborhood harvesting and farm-to-table events, splash pools for tots and larger-scale outdoor venues for events like farmers markets, concerts, and neighborhood campouts. High-rise home developments are also getting in on the community amenity action, offering residents communal rooftop terraces constructed with lounge seating, grills, and cabanas to enjoy the outdoors and incredible views. 

And a communal space doesn’t have to be large to encourage community socializing: use the space you have and incorporate well-scaled pieces, vibrant colors, and greenery to create an energetic yet cozy feel. Maximize indoor-outdoor living areas with intention to inspire residents to create connections and make memorable community experiences.

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

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Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Up, Close, and Personal: Impact Lighting

As with real estate, so it is with lighting: location, location, location! Placement not only impacts functional purposes but the overall design and feel of the home. When thoughtfully incorporated as a key design element of a space, lighting can create a mood, sense of place, and make a statement. Hang pendants or sconces above bedroom nightstands for a dramatic look and that lovely ‘established’ feeling: a bonus when you no longer have to worry about knocking a lamp over when scrambling for the snooze button in the morning! Group a couple of pendants in the corner of the kids’ room or over a chair or sofa to create a cozy niche for hanging out. Pendants affixed to a mirror or hanging pendants transform a master bath into a warm and inviting retreat.  

Lighting choice, like a wall treatment, is a base for your styling and helps anchor a room while adding a wonderful layer of depth to complete or contrast the overall look. Use lighting as art and make it part of a vertical wall space, or, high-impact pendants that become a sculptural element! Material choice is important when considering a room’s look and feel. Using natural materials like macrame and rattan soften a room and create a relaxed and welcoming vibe, while mixed metals can add a modern and sculptural look. Great lighting achieves the ideal balance of form and function, and is what we continually strive for in the spaces we create for our clients!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

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Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Casual Elegance at Trend’s Plan One

We may be in the heart of winter, but spring has sprung in Plan One at Trend at Novel Park by William Lyon Homes. The floorplan does not feature a distinctive entryway, so a larger-than-life paperweave floral wallpaper provides a dramatic sense of arrival. An entry mirror placed on the opposing wall opens up the space and provides a fun way to snap a selfie in the model home. In the kitchen, we specified an upper cabinet option to the ceiling to expand limited space and take advantage of all the natural light flooding in from the sink’s three-window view, and a matte black patio set and chairs invite easy and stylish indoor-outdoor living off the family room.

A color palette of plum, blush, cream, taupe, and black is feminine yet casually refined. Styling is a balanced combination of modern sophistication and playful elegance, with clean furnishings, a blend of wood and metal finishes, and touches of youthful whimsy throughout the wall treatments and artwork. Coming home is an exercise of effortless style at Trend in Irvine’s Great Park Neighborhoods! 

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

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Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Teen Scene – Bedrooms and Hangouts that Make Staying Home Cool

Designing a teenager’s room can be a tricky business, because you’re creating a space that meets the teen’s needs and desires, while passing the parent test. All while crafting a stylish masterpiece that’s comfortable and in sync with the rest of the home. It’s a design tight-rope-walking tango, a balancing act of priorities that are sometimes at odds. 

Start by giving teens the space to express their identity by creating a focal point around a favorite hobby or interest. Display sporting equipment, a piece of art, concert poster, or school or team memorabilia to ground the overall vibe of the room, then layer and add elements around it. Don’t be afraid to go bold with color, pattern, and texture- a wallpaper print, area rug, accent wall, and bold bedding or throws add touches of whimsy or drama to the room. Add some floating shelves so they can swap out photos, art, and mementos, and keep the clutter controlled with multi-functional storage pieces, like a foot-of-the-bed bench, storage cubes that double as extra seating for friends, and a small dresser for a bedside table. 

If the home’s floorplan can accommodate, create a hangout space outside of the bedroom for homework, movies, gaming, and lounging with friends. Give them a space that feels like their own without having to retreat to their bedroom. Make it cool, cozy, and comfortable, with lounge-style seating, a laptop nook for studying, a docking station for music, and some family-friendly games (hello, mini fridge!). Who knows, maybe with such a welcoming design, they’ll even share it with the rest of the family! #daretodream

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

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Modern and Masculine: Plan One at Origin

It’s all modern ease in this single-story Plan One home at Origin by Trumark Homes, located in the age-qualified master-planned community at The Collective in Manteca, CA. Masculine styling pays homage to the cultured world traveler, whisky lover, and art collector, offering an upscale and relaxed respite from the everyday. 

Revel in a bit of Indiana Jones-meets-007 for the 21st century that’s casual yet refined, adventurous yet calm, cool, and collected. Soft gray flooring complements the unique angled entry hall and grounds the eye while exposed beams and crisp paneling accentuate the sleek design. A home office off the entry offers privacy and a quiet place to focus, with built-in shelving perfect for displaying found objects, artwork, and collected pieces. Cool angled planks throughout the rest of the home add a modernistic touch, including the master bedroom where they make the wheat wallpapered accent wall come alive and highlight the mid-century furnishings. The kitchen is understated and sophisticated, with calming neutrals counterbalanced by the modern warm leather counter stools, while a sculptural light fixture draws the eye upward. A backyard perfect for entertaining includes features the whole family will enjoy, like the built-in kitchenette with beer tap, built-in barbecue, gas fireplace, and plenty of comfortable seating. This impressive home is full of unique touches and surprises – like a sweet Harley in the garage/workshop – ideal for adventurers and bon vivants alike!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

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Get Lit

Bold, modern lighting is having a moment and we can’t get enough. Broad ornate shapes and simple spheres are architectural, dramatic, and set the tone and personality of a room. Think geometric, clean lines for a more minimalist and sculptural look to the reimagined vintage vibe of exposed bulbs. Good lighting has been obsessed over by photographers and artists for millenia and for good reason! When used well, it’s transformational. 

Create that wow factor in a room with sculptural light fixtures, from funky sputnik chandeliers that shoot out every which way to sleek nesting multi-tier pendants. Or clusters of Edison bulbs for an updated vintage style to playful flush-mounts reminiscent of abstract art. Emphasize expansive volume ceilings or create a playful coziness in a family room or bedroom. Make a statement over a kitchen island or cultivate a bit of drama in the master bath. There’s no denying modern lighting’s eye-catching appeal and its ability to put the finishing design touch on a space. And exposing a bulb or two. . . or 12 has become desirable with this type of lighting, so let’s see those filaments!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

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Bathtub Bliss

When you get the opportunity to use a freestanding bathtub in a master bathroom, you take it! 

Is there anything more luxurious? It’s upscale, considered, and adds a relaxing focal point to the room. A large soaking tub signifies retreat and relaxation in equal measure, a place to get away from it all after a long day. A freestanding tub also opens up the area around it for functional and thoughtful decor, like additional storage space or stools for soaps, shampoos, and candles. Add a rustic ladder for towels or floating shelf for books for a cohesive look. 

A versatile piece, the freestanding tub comes in a number of designs from clawfoot to slipper to seamlessly work with most any style. The perfect marriage of form and function that’s also good for the soul, because there’s nothing a hot bath can’t cure. Say hello to your new spa staycation!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

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Let’s Go Vinyl

Ready to take a design leap and try something new? Do it with decals! We are obsessed with vinyl decals right now for all their versatility. This choice gives you endless options – cover an entire wall with a simple graphic for a complete wallpaper look, create a themed landscape in a kids’ room, or display a sweet saying in a nursery. The selection of colors, motifs, and designs is limitless and provides an updated and whimsical way of addressing wall décor while remaining affordable and flexible. 

Not your typical approach to artwork or a wall covering, a vinyl decal has the added benefit of being flush to a wall so it doesn’t take up valuable depth. Place them over paint and next to mirrors and framed pieces for a layered look, or go mural style for maximum impact. Best of all, decals are the ultimate low-commitment design embellishment. They’re a fantastic choice for renters and for those looking for an easy, lower-cost alternative to traditional wall coverings. Simply remove and replace when a child grows or design preferences change!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

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Photo Credit: Chameleon Design