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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!

January 7, 2020

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

January 7, 2020

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

January 7, 2020

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

November 19, 2019

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

November 19, 2019

When in Doubt, Bunk it Out

In today’s world, there’s a movement toward smaller home designs, while family sizes are staying about the same. Several generations living under the same roof is becoming the new normal: college kids moving back home, an older parent requiring care, and extended family stays mean more bodies in less square footage. A fun design challenge to be sure!

We’re seeing more siblings or twins sharing bedrooms these days, and it’s possible to bunk in style. The placement of two twin beds in a room is a fantastic opportunity to play with a symmetrical design that looks polished and put together. Easily transform the vibe of the room through bedding, pillows, lamps, and rugs. Go playful and fun for younger children and more classic, sophisticated, or modern bohemian for teens or older children.

And if spreading out isn’t an option, go up! Bunk beds are a great way to take the design vertical to help keep floor space open and reduce clutter. Plus, it’s no secret kids love them. A design win-win all around!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

November 19, 2019

Modern Minimalist Vibes in Modo Plan 3 at Novel Park

Cool minimalism is the name of the game in the Modo Plan 3 model that’s open, welcoming, and a breath of fresh air in the master-planned community of Novel Park by William Lyon Homes in Irvine, CA. Minimalistic furnishings and décor draw attention to the spacious first-floor layout, highlighting the open feel with ample room for hosting family gatherings and entertaining. A calming blue is heavily featured throughout the navy, graphite, black, and white color palette, complementing the overall masculine design and styling that speak to an elevated, luxury lifestyle.

A convenient drop zone off the garage with a painted pegboard provides families with a place for keys, mail, bags, and kids’ gear without creating unnecessary clutter in the main living areas. Board and batten-style paneling and an upholstered headboard in the master bedroom add touches of comfort and balance to the more modern furnishings. Taking advantage of the SoCal sunshine is seamless on the third-floor covered deck with lounge seating, dining for eight, and a built-in kitchenette. And while the parents are away (downstairs), the kids will play. . . in their very own third-floor bonus room with a craft and display wall as well as an oversized chalkboard!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

October 29, 2019

Bring the Great Outdoors. . . In

In our hyperkinetic, fast-paced world, it’s tough to dedicate the time to get out and experience the outdoors on the regular. Embracing the natural elements in design is becoming necessary to maintain our connection to the serenity and beauty of what’s outside, especially in our age of seemingly endless screen time and number of indoor dwellers (Americans spend 93% of their time indoors! – Environmental Protection Agency study).

If our jobs, schedules, and habits don’t allow us to embrace our planet’s natural beauty, then let’s all bring the outside in. Let nature literally be your guide and choose pieces that make you feel calm and tranquil or invigorated and curious – whichever side being outdoors brings out in you. Think back to some of your best memories spent outside, from family camping trips to beach bonfires – and draw on those experiences to select materials and pieces that speak to you.

Wood is, hands down, one of the most accessible touches to feature in design – flooring, wall treatments, tables, nightstands, the list goes on. Wood also adds a lovely warmth to a space and works equally well to complement white, neutral, and vibrant color palettes. Whether finished and glossy or rough and reclaimed – the finish, type and application are up to you depending on the mood and style you’re going for. Reclaimed wood pieces are having a well-earned moment and are a fantastic and sustainable alternative to using virgin wood from first-generation forests. Do good, look good. If you truly want to embrace all-natural elements, incorporating floor-to-ceiling organic-based materials is possible. Think wool and jute rugs, tree rootball and live-edge tables, rattan dining chairs, and hanging macrame planters. The earth and sky are the limit to gorgeous design.

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

October 29, 2019

And Our 2019 SoCal Winners Are…

The team here at Chameleon Design is thrilled to have won several coveted awards at the 2019 SoCal Awards held in Anaheim, CA, a few weeks ago! We are excited to announce that we took home eight silver awards and two gold awards! If you’re unfamiliar, the SoCal Awards honors the best in new home sales, marketing, and design throughout Southern California. We’re so proud of our amazing team and are grateful to our wonderful clients who give us the opportunity to design their model homes, sales offices, clubhouses, and more. Read on as we take a closer look at two of our gold award-winning projects.

Best Interior Merchandising of a Detached Home priced $600,000 – $900,000: The QUE Plan 3 for Woodbridge Pacific Group

This stunning three-bedroom, three-bath courtyard-style home by Woodbridge Pacific Group in Palm Springs effortlessly combines desert modern and Hollywood glamour.

The modern glam aesthetic works harmoniously throughout, giving the home a masculine feel with luxe embellishments and details. Oversized specialty lighting over the living area is open and sculptural, capitalizing on the volume ceiling. A Kate Moss photo collage adds playfulness and visual interest to the space, while the color palette of neutrals with grays and pops of teal give it a cool desert vibe. The living area design utilizes a modern sectional with the ottoman oriented toward both the TV and sparkling pool to integrate indoor/outdoor living.

Best Interior Merchandising of a Detached Home Priced $900,001 – $1.5 Million: Chateau Estates Plan 2

Nestled in an infill gated community in Garden Grove, this four-bedroom home by Melia Homes was designed for sophisticated and functional family living.

Subtle and natural design features are suffused throughout this two-story home. A neutral color palette of white, crème, charcoal, dark linen, with soothing accents of apricot. The home design allotted a separate space for a music alcove that is spacious enough to showcase a baby grand piano.

Upstairs, the teen loft offers a versatile multi-use space that includes built-in desks, a television, a large seating area, and a unique lounge chair with fun matching stripe paint detail on two walls, giving growing families a place to study, entertain, and connect. A winning combination of natural elements and subtle bohemian touches!

You can see our Silver SoCal Awards winners HERE.

The QUE Plan 3 | Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Chateau Estates Plan 2 | Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Chateau Estates Plan 2 | Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Chateau Estates Plan 2 | Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

October 29, 2019

Black & White and Style All Over

There’s a rule in decorating that says every room can use a touch of black. At first glance, you may think this is a strange approach, especially if you have a room full of pastels or jewel tones. But let’s think on this for a bit. Yes, black can be full of wonderful drama (and has the capacity to overpower visually), and, when used well, helps ground the space and provide interesting depth. One of our favorite blogs these days is The Spruce, and they say, ‘Using the color black adds a focal point that grounds, anchors, and adds a sophisticated look to a room.’ We couldn’t agree more! A black and white color combination is clean, timeless, elegant, and never goes out of style. The truest yin and yang.

Our best piece of advice is, don’t fear an inky wall. In the past, we’ve all been advised to stay away from painting walls a dark hue because it was thought to make a space look smaller. Black paint has the opposite effect, however, because it creates an optical illusion of not knowing where the wall ends; it tricks your eye into expanding the space, and who doesn’t like the illusion of more space? Conversely, a crisp white has the same expanding effect, which is why it’s been blowing up design blogs and hashtags on Instagram year after year.

Whether you’re bold enough to go monochromatic in your home (like we did in the Verge Plan 6 model), or you’re working your way into the style by switching out your dinnerware, placemats, or throw pillows, it’s time to embrace fearless design and the beautiful drama of abundant black and white. Want to dive into monochrome for a wallcovering? Give it a go on a smaller space like a powder room. Do you prefer to try something that requires less commitment? A gallery wall of black and white photography can be a welcome reprieve from busy, colorful artwork. Have fun creating the lovely and timeless contrast of black and white in your home.

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: CB2

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Crate & Barrel

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Crate & Barrel

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: West Elm

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: West Elm

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: CB2

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Crate & Barrel

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: West Elm

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

September 24, 2019

What’s Your Paint Personality?

There’s nothing like a fresh coat of paint to brighten a room, and then there’s paint as the focal point and design element of a space. Let’s dive into the latter here, because it’s no secret we love using paint to create a mood, a room’s character, and a home’s personality. Let your paint flag fly! Accent paint is the designer’s not-so-secret weapon and, when done right, sets the tone of the space, from soothing palette choices to accentuate the zen vibes, to a bold black-and-white-stripe detail in a hallway for added appeal on an otherwise overlooked space.

Don’t be afraid to go big: solids, stripes, ceiling – adding a pop of color through accent paint never goes out of style and will continue to bring an added oomph to any space. Layered over architectural detailing like board and batten or tongue and groove wall treatments add a lovely layer of depth to a usually white wall (and are Instagram darlings of residential design). Want to create some volume and an illusion of a larger floorplan? Painting a staircase wall or stair risers highlights the eye’s movement up to the ceiling from one story to the next, and creating a statement on the ‘bed wall’ creates a stylish focal point and emphasizes where you want the most attention in the room. Paint accents are magical, and we use them all the time to create memorable interiors for all of our clients!