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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!

Home Design Trends // Moroccan Rugs

Moroccan rugs have become hot tickets in home decor, the trendiest of this style being the Beni Ourain. Traditionally hand-woven by the indigenous people of Morocco since the Paleolithic Era, they have a high-pile wool design with a neutral ivory background and a contrasting geometric pattern, usually in black or brown. The design world caught on a decade or so ago and now mainstream stores such as West Elm and Restoration Hardware are producing less expensive versions, though the vintage items are still available if you’re willing to pay more.

Photo: Target

Photo: Restoration Hardware

Photo: Vintage Rug, Madeline Weinrib

Photo: West Elm

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Photo: Chameleon Design

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Photo: Chameleon Design

Hotel-Inspired Design Ideas

No matter where we go on vacation, the hotel is admittedly the destination we look forward to most. But all of that four-star luxuriating might be the reason why we often feel less than enthusiastic about returning to the daily grind. So why not bring the hotel experience home? Here are a few ways to do it:

Start at the Door
The entry to a nice guest room is the place where you may find a small table or shelf to place keys and other items, and a small lighting fixture. Take a look at your entryway at home and consider if you’ve got those special touches that will make it count.

Photo: Pinterest

Make the Bed
No single item makes the hotel experience more than the bed. To achieve those incredible layers of pillowy goodness, skip the pillow-top mattress and buy a featherbed instead. A featherbed is much more economical and serves just as well for making you feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud. The same goes for super-high thread count sheets. The maximum you need is 300 to 400 thread count, though going higher is up to you.

Photo: Pinterest

Use Mirrors to Open Up the Space
There’s actually a reason for that mirror many designers like to hang right above the writing desk. Strategically placed mirrors can make a small space look more expansive.  Utilize this tip in your own home and see what a difference it can make.

Photo: Pinterest

Splurge On Details
It may be a fogless mirror in the bathroom or a set of super-luxe oversized bath towels. Think about those little luxuries that you enjoy most during your hotel stay and bring them into your home!

Photo: Pinterest

Keep It Fresh With Flowers
You’ll almost always find a bouquet of fresh flowers in the lobby of a nice hotel. If you don’t mind spending an extra $10 a week at the grocery store for a simple bouquet, you can bring that same freshness into your kitchen, bathroom or bedside table.

Photo: Pinterest

Chameleon Design Featured Project: El Sol, Plan 1 // Brentwood, CA

El Sol in Brentwood is a collection of detached homes with smart, stylish floor plans. They offer beautiful interiors with two or three levels of comfortable living space and rooms to connect, entertain and relax. Plan 1 is a three-bedroom home that we merchandised with an office and guest room. The design is mid-century modern with natural accents. The color palette included citron green, grays, taupe’s and a crisp white. The tile has a concrete look and carpeting is a loop in warm grey for an all-over cozy feel. The merchandising speaks well to the buyer profile of a young professional couple.

Living Room

Kitchen

Master Bedroom

2nd Bedroom

Office

Exterior

Rethinking the Coffee Table

One could argue the coffee table is the most important piece of furniture in your home: You can eat dinner on it, work from it, store your latest reads on it, the list goes on and on. So why not show some creativity with this furniture staple?  Large traditional coffee tables may not fit your space, or the look you want in a living room or family room. For this reason, designers often look at alternatives that can be used as a coffee table as well. These smaller tables allow you to place a drink or snack down on top, yet are more compact, and can be moved around when needed.

Moroccan Tray
Besides being eclectically glamorous, a Moroccan tray table is multifunctional. Take the top tray to the kitchen to fill up with teatime essentials and then carry it right back to its stand.  You won’t miss your stationary coffee table for a second.

Photo: Pottery Barn

Ottoman
If you’re prone to kicking your feet up on the coffee table, why not make the ritual more comfortable by replacing your coffee table with an ottoman? A tray placed on top of the ottoman will provide a place to corral your essentials, while keeping your drinks steady.

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Pinterest

Poufs
If you have kids who constantly need more play area, poufs may be your solution. Easy to move and undeniably chic, poufs give coffee tables a run for their money.

Photo: Pinterest

Side Tables
When the look of a behemoth coffee table is too heavy, consider grouping side tables together instead. The collection will make for a lighter coffee table solution. Another plus- they can easily be moved to open up the space when it’s time to entertain.

Photo: Pinterest

Garden Stools
Ceramic garden stools are colorful, versatile and will add a bit of whimsy when decorating a room. They’re great as side tables, but just the right size to hold a book and a cup of coffee, a single garden stool may be all the coffee table you need. Or if you need more space, group a few together.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Trunk
Not only does a trunk add structure and style to your living room, but it will also increase your storage options. If just one trunk isn’t enough to store all of your blankets and children’s toys, try placing two next to one another.

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Restoration Hardware

Home Design Trends // Reclaimed Wood

Reclaimed wood pieces make beautiful home decorations, bringing a popular eco trend into modern interiors. Reclaimed wood pieces from old barns and fences, old wooden ships and rustic pallets, pieces of old furniture and decor accessories are now used for modern home decor, adding a unique texture, rustic flavor and rich colors of old wood to modern interiors.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Restoration Hardware

Create a Beautiful Dining Space

Dining rooms can be a difficult to decorate due to limited furniture pieces and limited styling opportunities. However, if you combine certain elements to create high-impact designs, you can easily achieve a beautiful space that your guests will enjoy. Here are some easy elements to incorporate, then when combined will create a space that impresses every dinner guest:

Install Overhead & Accent Lighting
Cast a flattering glow on your dining companions and create a strong focal point in the room by placing a statement fixture directly above the dining table. If you can go a step further and layer your lighting sources by adding wall sconces and table lamps on a sideboard or console you’ll really be in business! And don’t forget the importance of putting lighting on dimmer switches to control the room’s brightness.

Photo: Pinterest


Hang Engaging Artwork

Since furniture in dining areas is usually placed in the center of the room, these areas offer the perfect place in the home to display oversized, interesting artwork. Go with a gallery wall or salon-style arrangement, or place one incredible piece on the main wall to anchor the room.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Create Seating Variety
Whether you opt to use a bench that coordinates with your side chairs on one side of your table or a different, larger-scale pair of chairs at the heads of a rectangular table, switching up your seating styles is a nice way to add interest to your dining room decor.

Photo: Pinterest

Mix Your Materials
Since furniture pieces in dining rooms tend to be limited, keep your room fresh and intriguing by incorporating a mix of materials and textures into your design. A table with a top that coordinates but contrasts with its base, along with chairs that introduce another texture, will add depth to your design.

Give Yourself a Serving Surface
Keep yourself from having to run back and forth to the kitchen by adding a surface where you can serve food and drinks. A console or buffet will do the trick and prevent disruption during dinner parties. As an added bonus, a piece such as this will add valuable storage space.

Photo: Chameleon Design 

Chameleon Design Featured Project: Cielo, Plan 4 // Brentwood, CA

The 4th and final plan at Brentwood’s Cielo is a 5 bedroom home built for a young family.  There are enough bedrooms for 3 smaller children, as well as a guest room or extra bedroom for Grandma. We went with a mid-century modern theme for this plan, with a cobalt blue, orange, charcoal and cream color palette. Accents are warm and smooth, such as maple wood cabinets, porcelain grey “wood look” plank flooring and smoky grey cut pile carpeting with loop accents.

Kitchen

Living Room

Master Bedroom

Second Bedroom

Patio

Home Design Trends // Marble

We featured marbled patterns as a trend earlier this year and we love a marble kitchen and bath, but we’re also excited about the emerging popularity of marble furniture which is one of today’s hottest materials. What was once thought of as a palatial supply is now the epitome of sleek modern design, thanks to simple forms that allow the veining of the material to take center stage. Rather than being ornate, today’s marble furniture is clean-lined and will add a beautiful touch to any room.

Saarinen Dining Table, DWR

Wall Clock, Dwell

Bathroom Accessories, H&M

Arco Floor Lamp, Room & Board

Fruit Bowl, When Objects Work

Chameleon Design Featured Project: Cielo, Plan 3 // Brentwood, CA

Cielo at Palmilla Plan 3 is a large five bedroom home built with a growing family of five in mind. There’s a master bedroom, bedroom for each child and  a hangout room on the first level for all three kids to use. The home has a contemporary Napa Mission style using golden maize, taupey brown and crisp white colors throughout.  The main flooring has a traditional look with medium tone wood planks and we used a warm cut pile with linear pattern for the carpeting.  Kitchen cabinets are a clean, white wood.

Kitchen

Living Room

Master Bedroom

Loft

Patio

Transition Your Decor From Summer to Fall

Though temperatures have been hot, hot, hot, we can’t forget that Fall is just around the corner! The transition from summer to fall provides the perfect excuse to update your home with fresh accessories and hues inspired by the season. Dress your home for cool autumn weather with these simple interior and exterior decorating ideas below:

Balance Your Textures and Fabrics

Gauzy cottons and light linens feel decidedly summer while soft cashmere, warm wool, and textural burlap have a distinctly autumnal vibe. This time of year, feel free to use all of these luxe textures in your home, but incorporate them in colors that may be more appropriate for the time of year.

Photo: Pinterest

Update Your Throw Pillows
As the weather gets cooler, the family will start spending more and more time indoors. Cozy up your living room sofas and chairs with plush throw pillows in different shapes, sizes and patterns. Comfy accessories add visual interest to your living room, plus they’ll emit a warm, inviting tone perfect for the season.

Photo: Pinterest

Style With the Plants of the Moment
We love the color and vibe a few decorative palm fronds bring to our summer setups, but they will look misplaced come fall. Switch out your summer florals and plants for more transitional items like branches and hydrangeas in deep, purpley hues.

Photo: Pinterest

Cozy Up the Patio
Don’t forget about your favorite outdoor spot when the seasons change. As summer transitions into fall, the weather becomes perfect for comfortable evenings outside. Decks and patios are often neglected as the weather cools down, but the lack of heat and humidity makes your outdoor space even more usable and enjoyable. Now there’s no reason to not enjoy the patio January through December.

Photo: Pinterest