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Chameleon Design Featured Project: Brighton Oaks, Plan 4 // Morgan Hill, CA

Plan 4 is a 2,200 square foot townhome with 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths. We had a lot of fun designing this model and really mixed things up with the style. The decor is a combination of modern and mid century designs, which we punched up with painted Indonesian accents in tan and white with teal and citron accents. The accent paint is a rich chocolate brown that looks incredible with the plank flooring. The patio has a good amount of space and is ready to entertain with a BBQ and large dining table.

Exterior

Exterior

Kitchen

Kitchen

Living Room

Living Room

Dining Room

Dining Room

Master Bedroom

Master Bedroom

Patio

Patio

Chameleon Design Featured Project: Brighton Oaks, Plan 3 // Morgan Hill, CA

Plan 3 is the largest model offered at Brighton Oaks, at 2,440 square feet. It’s a center townhouse, so there are no windows in the sides, only in the front and back. There are 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms and this model was designed with an “updated cottage farmhouse” feel. The color palette has shades of white, fun pops of cobalt blue and canary yellow and linen and raffia textures. Tongue and groove paneling and cabinetry in white nicely compliment the pine and reclaimed wood furniture, creating a crisp, updated look. The deep seating on the outdoor patio is a great bonus to this plan.

 

Exterior

Exterior

Living Room

Living Room

Kitchen

Kitchen

Office

Office

Master

Master

Patio

Patio

Home Design Trends // Tin Ceiling Tiles

The lovely textured ceiling tiles found in Art Deco jazz clubs and landmark drugstores are inspiring designers to put an old-world spin on modern spaces. They can be used in any room in the house to add a classic and timeless appeal and can be purchased anywhere from Armstrong to a flea market if you’re looking for a vintage option.

Photo: NY.Curbed.com

 

Photo: Harry Braswell

Photo: Foundterior

Photo: Corbis Images

Design Essentials for Every Home

Every home should be different and reflect the personality of its owners, but there are definite style rules that every designer lives by. These are things that every home should have and we come back to them again and again because they just work. Our essentials to build the foundation of a beautifully designed home add up to more than a few, but here is a basic checklist that’s simple enough to get anyone started on their way!

A Well-Organized Bookshelf
Look at your bookshelf as a wall of endless decorative possibilities. It’s the perfect place to store your favorite books, but it can also be a great way to display a personal collection, a bold black accent piece, and even family photos, all of which can be tweaked over the years as your preferences change.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Black Accents

Just as with clothing, the same rules apply to using the color black in home decor- it never goes out of style and goes with anything! Black pieces will accent the other colors in the space, while adding definition and sophistication. Remember that you don’t need a lot to make this work, one or two pieces is all you need.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Mixed Textures
Materials are easy to mix and will add lots of depth to your spaces. Whether a room is bold and colorful or subdued and neutral, a truly designed look involves a mix of textures. From fabrics like linens, silks and sheers to materials such as wood, metal and glass, a mix is always the way to go.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Photo: Chameleon Design

Living Plants
A space doesn’t feel truly finished unless it includes some greenery to give it a sense of life. If you don’t have a green thumb there are plenty of options that aren’t high maintenance and will flourish indoors.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Personal Touches
Every space should have at least once piece that speaks to a sense of history with some personal meaning. These types of items will assure that nothing looks too perfect in a room, which is something to watch for. Furniture and accessories are one way to go, but simple vintage details like moldings or sconces will also give your home a great look.

Photo: Chameleon Design

A Mid-century Piece
Trends come and go but mid-century will always feel current and timeless. We’ve talked before about how you never want your decor to be to matchy-matchy and by adding a punch of modern style you won’t run into that problem. An easy way to add modern pieces is through seating- chairs or tables will look stylish and keep the room from feeling too formal.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Photo: Chameleon Design

 

 

Art You Love
Art stays with you for a lifetime, and each piece marks a place and a memory. Start collecting pieces one by one and grow your collection over the years. The pieces don’t have to cost a fortune, they just have to speak to you.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Photo: Chameleon Design

 

Chameleon Design Featured Project: Brighton Oaks, Plan 2.2 // Morgan Hill, CA

Brighton Oaks offers buyers an impressive selection of three-story attached homes in a tech-industry friendly neighborhood in Northern California. The style was inspired by the historic row town architecture in Boston, with a contemporary edge.

Plan 2.2 offers almost 2,000 square feet of space with 3 bedrooms/3.5 baths and a den. Our look for this plan was a “natural rustic” design using heavy textures nicely juxtaposed with modern pieces with clean lines. Paint and fabrics were done in neutral greys and oatmeal with black accents. A focal wall of textured wallpaper in the kitchen grounds the living and dining areas that are all connected. In addition, we love the way the painted wood stair railing turned out, as it really elevated the look of the entire home. And last but not least, there is a bonus room on the first floor that we turned into a cool man den, complete with a masculine brick wall hung with sports jerseys. We know our husbands would never want to leave!

Exterior

Exterior

Living Room

Living Room

Kitchen

Kitchen

Dining Room

Dining Room

Den

Den

Bedroom

Bedroom

Home Design Trends // Black Kitchen Accessories

On the heels of our last trend piece that featured Black Hardware, we’re expanding on the black accent trend and highlighting kitchen accessories. Black accessories add a moody accent to the kitchen and like the hardware, look great in an all-white kitchen, as they provide an edgy contrast.

Matte Black Flatware, Canvas Home

 

Serving Platter, Heath Ceramics

 

Striped Napkin Set, Small Gunns

 

Soap Pump, CB2

 

Why You Should Add a Statement Piece to Your Home

The purpose of a statement piece is fairly self-explanatory: it makes a statement. The right pieces can make a big impact and dramatically change the look of a room, with just one new addition. How great is that? Do you have a room in your home that is fine but could use a little pizazz? Whether it’s the living room or the guest room, a simple addition like a statement chair or piece of artwork hung on the wall can give you just the boost you need. Here are some things to help you decide if you should add a statement piece of your own:

You Have Too Much of the Same
This can happen when you furnish a room in your home with multiple pieces from the same store or have a minimalist look. The space may look sleek and fluid but you’ll likely get bored with it really fast. A statement piece of home décor can easily solve this problem, helping an otherwise bland interior while also reflecting your personality and style.

Photo: Martha Mulholland

You’re Lacking Color or Pattern
If your statement making piece has a pattern on it, it may be just what your room full of neutrals needs. This will help to create balance, while adding color and interest to your space.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Photo: Chameleon Design

You Need a Focal Point

There are certain pieces that are more secondary such as an end table, mirror, or nightstand and those become more of a supporting element. If you’re looking for your statement piece to really up the wow factor make sure it’s a main part of the room, you need to go for something larger such as a bed or console.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Photo: Chameleon Design

You Want More Character

Without a doubt a statement piece adds character and a wow factor. It draws your eye in when you enter the room and stands as a conversation starter when guests come over. It can be bold, unique, eclectic and anything from a distinctive piece of furniture or a bold painting to an incredible vintage rug to anchor the room.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Photo: Chameleon Design

Best Furniture Pieces for Small Scale Spaces

In a smaller room, you want to maximize your space as much as possible and how you decorate is everything. A few of the wrong pieces can overtake the room and throw the balance off entirely making the space feel small and cramped. However, that same room can feel open and larger if you select the right pieces of furniture, including some that do double duty eliminate the need for extra pieces. Below are our top picks for making your smaller rooms feel comfortable:

Bench
A backless bench is a highly versatile piece that can easily be moved from room to room. In the dining room it can be used for seating and tucked under the table when not being used. It can also be pulled into the living room or family room when guests are over and you find yourself without enough chairs, or even used in the bathroom against a wall to stack extra towels.

Chameleon Design Bathroom

Photo: Chameleon Design

Settee
A small settee, or love seat as it’s also known, is perfect for areas that aren’t large enough for a full-size sofa or two bulky chairs. And just like the bench, it can also be pulled up to a dining table for added seating.

Photo: West Elm

Photo: West Elm

Nesting Tables
When you have guests over, tabletop real estate to place drinks or food on is hard to come by. But a set of nesting tables or pedestal table will solve the problem in a snap. When they aren’t in use, they stack together or can be tucked neatly into a corner.

Photo: decoist.com

Large Mirror
It’s not news that a mirror is one of the easiest tricks to make a small space appear larger. Don’t forget this simple and affordable addition to make your room appear bigger and brighter. Bonus points if you can hang it across from a window to boost the natural light.

Photo: Domaine

Desk
You might not use a desk for working daily, but a smaller Parsons desk or floating desk are both great for smaller rooms. Both can double as extra table space and a floating desk has a table portion that flips down, opening up space when not in use.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Pouf/Ottoman
Poufs and ottomans come in a wide variety of sizes and colors and are also typically very affordable. They can be use as footrests, extra seats or side tables so they are great to have around.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Photo: Chameleon Design

 

Chameleon Design Featured Project: Celadon at 9th & Broadway // San Diego, CA

Chameleon Design is proud to announce that a new project- Celadon in San Diego- just won a special SoCal Award for Community Space! We are so excited to be recognized for “Best Community Amenity Feature” for this building that’s also a model of sustainable design.

Located in a redeveloping urban area on a former parking lot, Celadon at 9th and Broadway from BRIDGE Housing features an eco-roof garden with drought tolerant planting, sustainable landscaping and open spaces, a solar photovoltaic system built as a vertical façade on the south side of the building, and a solar hot water system above the roof. The indoor lounge spaces in the multi-purpose rooms on the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th & 15th floors offer various types of seating groupings with TV viewing, dining and game tables. The outdoor lounge areas offer a variety of comfort seating with views of downtown, PetCo Park and the Coronado Bridge.

Of the 250 apartment units in this 17-story building, 25 will be reserved for youth aging out of foster care and adults under the MHSA program and 63 apartments will serve frail seniors under the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).

Exterior

Lobby

Lounge

Cafeteria

Classroom

Patio

Home Design Trends // Black Hardware

Move over brass and copper, there’s a new metal shade taking the wheel. Black hardware with a matte finish is having its moment. From sink faucets to sconces to cabinet pulls, black hardware feels unique and special and looks incredible against white such as marble. Take a look at the inspiration images below with your own home in mind.

Photo: Stylelingual

Photo: Hecker Guthrie

Photo: Ace Hotel, Los Angeles

Cabinet Pull, Lowes Hardware

Wall Sconce, Currey & Company

Wall Sconce, Currey & Company