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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!

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!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

September 24, 2019

Beyond the Verge of Great Style

Everything about this Plan One home design at Verge is smart, crisp, and chic. Marketed to the young single professional or student, Verge is one of seven distinctive home collections by William Lyon Homes in the master-planned community of Novel Park in Irvine, CA. A harmonious balance of playfulness and restraint, the overall design is a true multi-color palette against soothing neutral backgrounds within a mid-century aesthetic.

The three-story, single-bedroom floorplan feels open and generous, with soft accent paint highlighting and accentuating the architectural windows in the main living space and the multiple sculptural sputnik chandeliers hung from the third-floor ceiling. The foyer’s whimsical orange wallpapered accent wall and bold blue console table create a sense of arrival before the stairs leading up to the second-floor living areas. Gray serves as the perfect neutral for both flooring and sofas, a solid foundation upon which to layer colors and prints throughout. The wood coffee and dining tables add warmth and beautifully complement the bright wall paint and white kitchen cabinetry. The eye is treated to mid-century furnishings, vibrant pops of color and geometric patterns throughout the home, creating a memorable impression on the neighborhood’s target market. In fact, this home design created such a positive stir that all four homes released sold out in only a month! Verge is the ideal Orange County launch pad for the young and young at heart.

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

September 24, 2019

We’re Heading to the 2019 SoCal Awards!

We are so EXCITED to announce that we have ten finalists in six different categories at this year’s SoCal Awards! To work with such incredible clients in the homebuilding industry is an absolute dream, and to be recognized for doing what we love is just icing on top of the cake. We’ve had such a wonderful and fulfilling year working and collaborating with various builders on the design of their model homes and sales centers, and we’re so proud to give these projects and everyone who was involved the spotlight they deserve!

We look forward to celebrating with our fellow peers and nominees at the award ceremony on September 28th! Take a look at our nominated projects below:

Best Interior Merchandising of an Attached Home Priced $750,000 & Over: Modo at Novel Park Plan 3

Builder: William Lyon Homes

Marketing Director: Tracey Long

Design: Chameleon Design

Modo Plan 3

Best Interior Merchandising of an Attached Home Priced Under $750,000: Verge at Novel Park Plan 3

Builder: William Lyon Homes

Marketing Director: Tracey Long

Design: Chameleon Design

Verge Plan 3

Best Sales or Leasing Office: Novel Park Sales at Great Park Neighborhoods

Builder: William Lyon Homes

Marketing Director: Tracey Long

Design: Chameleon Design

Novel Park ‘Pathfinder’ Sales Office

Best Interior Merchandising of a Detached Home Priced $900,001 to $1.5 million: Echo at Novel Park Plan

Builder: William Lyon Homes

Marketing Director: Tracey Long

Design: Chameleon Design

Echo Plan 4

Best Interior Merchandising of an Attached Home Priced Under $750,000: The QUE Plan 1

Builder: Woodbridge Pacific Group

Marketing Director: Karen Spargo

Design: Chameleon Design

The QUE Plan 1

Best Interior Merchandising of a Detached Home Priced $600,000 to $900,000s: The QUE Plan 3

Builder: Woodbridge Pacific Group

Marketing Director: Karen Spargo

Design: Chameleon Design

The QUE Plan 3

Best Interior Merchandising of an Attached Home Priced Under $750,000: Centerhouse Plan 2

Builder: Trumark Homes

Marketing Director: Carola Cherief & Meagan Gomez

Design: Chameleon Design

Centerhouse Plan 2

Best Sales or Leasing Office: Emerald Park Sales Office

Builder: Brookfield Residential

Marketing Director: Lauren Stuart

Design: Chameleon Design

Emerald Park ‘Welcome House’ Sales Office

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

Builder: Melia Homes

Marketing Director: Amber Whaler

Design: Chameleon Design

Chateau Estates Plan 2

Best Website – Associate

Marketing Director: Eve Lowey

Design: Taylor Digital

Chameleon Design Website

August 29, 2019

Making the Most of The Bonus

They’re as American as Levi’s. The universal multipurpose room, the secondary family room, not to mention the game, music or hobby room. And who could forget the home theater?

We got the chance to feature a very nontraditional version of a bonus room – the garage! Decked out with all the moto accoutrements for tinkering and a sofa/tv set up for watching the game, this hideaway is the definition of a man cave. The possibilities are open and virtually endless when it comes to personalizing a bonus room or an extra space in the home.

Built-ins give a room so much opportunity. Picture a built-in kitchenette for cocktails or storage. Add a mini fridge for drinks and snacks (especially for those third-floor bonus rooms.) A cut out for a chair makes a great homework space for the kids, or a built-in seat with a cushion against a window can create a cozy reading nook. No matter how you style it, the bonus room or loft is the perfect opportunity to try something new.

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

August 27, 2019

Meet the Spacious, Stylish Echo Plan 3

William Lyon Homes hits it out of the park with Echo plan 3: One of seven collections in the Novel Park master planned community. Nestled in the dynamic and active Great Park Neighborhoods in Irvine, this model is a modern three-story single-family home with the perks of a traditional-home layout. The kitchen, living and dining rooms are on the first floor, all 4 bedrooms are on the second and a large bonus and covered deck occupy the third floor. The contemporary furnishings are a mix of Spanish style with touches of rustic elements. Light backgrounds and soft linen walls are adorned with pops of fuchsia, tangerine and camel. Unique wall décor like woven baskets in the living room, oversized metal florals in a girl’s room and family photo collage in the hallway add dramatic accents in key areas. The drama continues with the design challenge displayed in the master bedroom with off-set windows and an odd pop out in the corner of the room. This was overcome by stacking stunning drapery off to one side and adding macramé hanging planters in the pop out above the nightstand. The Echo plan 3 is the ideal balance of conventional, practical space and trend-worthy style in Irvine’s newest and most interesting neighborhoods.