Blog

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

February 17, 2015

Home Design Trends // Painterly Prints

As Spring approaches, the weather will be brightening along with our color palettes. A trend that looks set to make an impact is ‘painterly’ homewares, which means anything with a watercolor or brush stroke style effect. From art prints through to rugs, cushions, tableware and even glass, you can spot painterly effects everywhere. Here is a selection of products to help you bring the look into your own home.

Pillow: Eskayal

Dinnerware Collection: Diane Von Furstenberg

Dreamscape Mural: Anthropologie

Rug: Kelly Wearstler

February 17, 2015

Chameleon Design Featured Project: Crossing at Turnleaf, Plan 2 // Jurupa Valley, CA

The Crossing at TurnLeaf are new one and two-story homes with 3-5 bedrooms, perfectly sized for outdoor living and entertaining.

Plan 2 is designed with a “Reclaimed Farmhouse” look that includes white cabinets, hand scrapped warm wood floors and soft maize walls. It was designed with a mid-sized family in mind, as it has 3 bedrooms (with an optional 4th) and 2.5 baths. The kitchen and family room open out to a large indoor/outdoor patio- perfect for California living! The plan also includes a bonus room.

Front View

Entry

Family Room

Kitchen

Loft

Master Bedroom

Bedroom Suite

3rd Bedroom

4th Bedroom

February 17, 2015

Create the Ideal Master Bedroom

We all live hectic and busy lives and at the end of the day, you deserve to retreat to a place where you can relax and unwind in comfort. Your master bedroom should be beautiful, luxurious and highly functional and here are some ideas to ensure you’re able to turn your bedroom into your very own sanctuary.

Ample Seating
Turn your master bedroom into a master suite with a comfortable sitting area. Adding a couple of comfortable chairs and a small accent table for books or magazines creates a space where you can enjoy time away from the main social areas in your home. If you love to read, you can even create your own bedroom reading nook. A custom window seat is the perfect place to lose yourself in a great novel after a busy day.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Focused Lighting
After the sun goes down, it’s helpful to have a variety of light sources to create the perfect ambiance. Installing a dimmer switch allows you to enjoy bright light or romantic dim light from the same light source. Lamps flanking either side of the bed will create drama and interest, while serving a practical purpose.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Luxurious Linens
The bed is arguably the most important piece in the room and a one that you will not regret investing a bit of money in. Not only is it the focal point in the space, but a plush and layered bed will create a sense of ultimate luxury. White linens are always a good way to go, as they give you that luxe five-star hotel feel with their simple elegance. Cozy throws and soft blankets are wonderful additions to your bed and essential for cozying up with a good book.

Photo: Pinterest

Key Accessories
Make your bedroom truly your own by adding pieces that have personal meaning and reflect your style, interests and personality. Hang your favorite piece of art over the bed, add a collection of black-and-white photos to the sitting area or choose an accent wall with a bold color. Your favorite scented candles are also a nice touch and can create a romantic or relaxing setting, depending on your mood!

Photo: Pinterest

Plenty of Storage
Nothing makes your master bedroom feel smaller than clutter! If you find that clothes, accessories and other items are scattered across your bedroom, you likely need more storage space. Work to create space-friendly storage options that exceed your expectations.

January 27, 2015

Essential Must-Haves For a Stylish Home

Certain home décor items have stood the test of time and deserve a place in any well-designed interior. No matter where your personal interior aesthetic lies, there are certain pieces of furniture and decorative accents that fit into any home or design and make for a stylish home. Here are some of them:

An Organized Bookshelf
Bookshelves are about so much more than books. Collections and other keepsakes can be stored there, and you can style them in different ways as the years pass.

Photo: Pinterest

Art That You Love
Art stays with you for a lifetime, and each piece marks a place and a memory. Start collecting when you’re young— it doesn’t have to cost a fortune, it just has to speak to you.

Photo: Pinterest

A Leather Piece
Add a sense of character and age to your home by incorporating at least one leather piece. A worn lounge chair introduces an aged, collected element while a vintage-inspired barstool is a masculine touch in a bright kitchen.

Photo: Lonny Magazine

A Statement Mirror
A space enhancer and piece of artwork in one, a statement mirror is a smart addition to any stylish space. Oversized in an entry, intricately carved for a bedroom, or beautifully faceted for a master bath, a bold mirror adds character and interest to a home.

Photo: Chameleon Design

A Luxurious Throw
A good throw is an investment that adds a finishing touch to your sofa, chair or even the end of your bed.

Photo: Pinterest

An Ottoman
We recommend an ottoman for every home because of its versatility. It can be used as extra seating, a place to prop your feet up, a place for storage and even a makeshift coffee table if it’s large enough.

Photo: Chameleon Design

A Brass Accent
A glamorous and classic addition to any room, a brass accent, whether in the form of a sconce, decorative accessory, finish on a doorknob, or mirror frame, is a gender-neutral way to incorporate metal into a room of any style.

Photo: Pinterest

January 27, 2015

Home Design Trends // Black Trim

We’ve been seeing black trim as a focal point featured a lot lately in magazines and design blogs. This decorating tool has been used for years by designers to create clean lines and a crisp classic look, no matter what style your home or decor. This trick has the potential to energize your space, highlight a view or hide a few visual imperfections. Check out these examples to determine if this trend is right for you.

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Emily Henderson

Photo: Pinterest

January 27, 2015

Chameleon Design Featured Project: Crossing at Turnleaf, Plan 1 // Jurupa Valley, CA

The Crossing at TurnLeaf are new one and two-story homes with 3-5 bedrooms, great rooms and outdoor rooms. They are perfectly sized for outdoor living and entertaining. Authentic Spanish, Santa Barbara, Tuscan and Monterey architecture grace the exteriors. Plan 1 is a “Dwell Modern” theme with smooth pecan cabinets, wood plank flooring and light stone walls. It was designed for a small family in mind, with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, as well as den or home office.

Entry

Kitchen

Great Room

Den

Master Bedroom

Powder Room

Kids Bath

Front View

January 13, 2015

The Modern Playroom

With the modern trend of minimalism and clean and well defined design lines taking over, playrooms are quickly following the same path. Marrying beautiful themes with smart storage solutions, the perfect playroom is a space that both adults and kids appreciate. Designing the right children’s playroom can be a tricky but there are a couple ingredients to keep in mind to make sure you get it right:

Maximize Storage and Shelf Space
If you aren’t careful about providing ample space to tuck away the mountains of toys when your little ones are done with them, you’ll likely regret it. Add shelving to the playroom with plenty of space- modern bookshelves are great in this regard. Fill them with colorful containers or cool woven baskets that are both elegant and efficient. Benches with hidden storage and sleek storage ladders tucked away in the corner also do the trick.

Photo: Pinterest

1303-09_PL2A_Bonus-detaill_AVO-Chameleon

Photo: Chameleon Design

Photo: Pinterest

Combinations of Spaces and Zones
Planning for the playroom should ideally start with its placement. Open playroom designs and floor plans are becoming far more popular as they are both safe and easy to incorporate. Multicolored rugs, carpet tiles and a special ceiling will differentiate the space and make it feel far more special than the reminder of the house.

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Chameleon Design

The most essential component of it all though is the input offered by your kids. Talk to them before you get started with the playroom. Incorporate colors, themes and activities that they want the most while adding your own safety and storage solutions to them. At the end of the day, the playroom is their space!

1228-18d-PL2-ChalkBoard-D_Lexington_Chameleon_Lennar

Photo: Chameleon Design

January 13, 2015

Chameleon Design Featured Project: Tower on 19th Street // Costa Mesa, CA

For this project we were tasked with bringing an old building back to life and creating a beautiful and hip home for seniors. Once the construction was complete, we came in and created an updated mid-century modern look inspired by the Rat Pack days. Out went the floral carpet and chairs and in came the clean white tile flooring, stacked stone, dark paneling and large colorful art. We kept the white grand piano and gave that space a collection of art, an orange banquette, turquoise swivel chairs and stone tables. The media room, two computer rooms, library/card room and kitchen all turned out even better than planned and made for plenty of very happy seniors.

Lobby Before

Lobby After

Lobby Before

Lobby After

Media Room Before

Media Room After

Office

Piano Room

Exterior Before

Exterior After

January 13, 2015

Home Design Trends // Pantone’s Color of the Year: Marsala

Reviews for Pantone’s latest color pick have been mixed, but we like it as an accent color for the home and its rich and earthy tone could be easily used as an updated neutral in any room- as long as it’s done sparingly. The shade would work nicely in the kitchen or dining room, as red shades stimulate the appetite. It would also work well in a powder room, as you can go for stronger, more daring choices in rooms that you don’t spend a lot of time in. The color is deep so just make sure your space has some white and/or natural light so that it doesn’t come off too dark and moody.

Style-wise, Marsala lends well to the bohemian look that is so popular right now. I can see us using it in a beautiful Moroccan rug, accent pillows or upholstery. It’s a beautiful shade and if used correctly, will lend an heir of sophistication to your home.

Mid-Century Sofa, West Elm

Wool Rug, Bloomingdale’s

Powder Room, House Beautiful

Pendant Lamp, Matter

December 9, 2014

Home Design Trends // Blush Accents

Everything’s coming up roses in home decor items at the moment. If you’re looking to add a touch of softness and elegance to a room there’s no better color than blush pink. A barely there hue that can almost be considered a neutral, a few pops of soft pink in your home can look beautiful and modern, without being too feminine if done properly. Here are some items we’re loving right now: