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Chameleon Design Featured Project: Villages Plan 3 // Pittsburg, CA

The Villages are single family, detached homes are available in 3 floor plans. The plans range in size with 3 to 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths and they all boast large, open living spaces where the kitchen and great room flow into each other. Plan 3 is a home that will appeal to the more contemporary buyer.  The color palette is yellow and grey, which lends to a bright and modern feel. The Great Room is the heart of the home and features a clean-lined cocktail table and geometric striped area rug.

Great Room

Master Bedroom

Nursery

Home Design Trends // Marbled Patterns

Marble is definitely having a moment. With the rise of kitchens, bathrooms and furniture made of Carrara marble in recent years, it’s patterns are now popping up everywhere from wallpapers to textiles and home accessories. Below are some of our favorite examples of this lovely trend:

Marble Tile Wallpaper, West Elm

Pillows, Ferm Living

Latte Mug, Leif

Mirror, Mr. Brown

Boost Your Curb Appeal

We have a tendency to focus on the interiors of our home, but the truest first impression our friends and guests have is what they see from the curb. With a few exterior updates, your house will be the biggest supermodel on the block. Even if you are not planning to sell your home anytime soon, a fresh and welcoming exterior is a wonderful thing to come home to each day. From front doors, house numbers and porch furnishings to color schemes, landscaping and basic repairs, this smorgasbord of ideas will hopefully inspire a few changes around your own home.

Front Door
A new front door instantly enhances your home’s appearance, and what’s more, it can greatly increase resale value.

Photo: Pinterest

Frame Your Doorway
Bring a little life to your doorstep by framing it with a pair of topiaries, citrus trees, or potted plants. A little greenery can go a long way, not only adding color, but also bringing a sculptural element to your home.

Upgrade Your Hardware
Get new house numbers, a new mailbox, and a door latch with the same finish to give your exterior a cohesive, stylish look.

Lighting
If your guests and neighbors can’t even see your house, it will have literally no curb appeal whatsoever. So install outdoor lighting to light the way and offer safety and security. Be sure to illuminate your walking paths and any entrance areas. Properly planned and installed outdoor lighting can add safety, drama, and interest to your home. Path lighting should also be an integral part of your outdoor lighting plan.

Photo: Houzz

Paint Your Trim
Painting your home’s entire exterior is a surefire way to update its look, but of course, it’s costly. Plan B is to simply paint your shutters and/or trim. You’ll surprised what a fresh coat can do.

Exterior

Photo: Chameleon Design

Decorating Habits to Break

For those of us who aren’t interior designers, a lack of awareness can result in telltale rookie design mistakes. We’ve listed some of those we see the most below, plus tips on how to break those habits for good!

Entryway Neglect
Make a good first impression by finding another spot to pile shoes, mail and keys. Your foyer is the first thing people see when they come to your home, so use the space to display an important piece of art or to hang an unusual light fixture.

Photo: Pinterest

Unnecessary Cabinets
But thinking differently about kitchen design—like swapping bulky storage cabinets for windows and using a center island to hide your dishes, pots and pans—can really open up your space. Floating shelving, our trend this week, is also a great tip!

Photo: Pinterest

Too Formal Dining
More and more these days, homes are about your personal comfort and use, not about entertaining twice a year. Reject the notion that your dining space needs to be formal and intimidating and decorate in a style that is more in line with your other living spaces. After all, why waste the space on a room you only use occasionally when you could be hosting family meals at the table every night?

Photo: Chameleon Design

Don’t Put your Sofa Against the Wall
Rather than automatically pushing your couch back against the wall, consider placing it into the room instead. Doing so will create a more polished and conversation-friendly area. Add a console table behind the couch with a couple of lamps to complete the look.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Don’t Follow Fads
If you don’t like Mid-Century Modern or Danish Minimalism, don’t decorate in those styles. When the same style or pieces are popping up in your favorite design mags or blogs, you may be temped to cave to their aesthetic sensibilities even though you don’t really…like them. Stick to your guns and be true to your own look. After all, it’s your home, it should reflect your taste.

Over Matching
Buying sets suck the personality out of a room. Mix and match styles to keep your home from looking like a catalogue. Purchase your big-ticket item—like a sofa or bed—first, then pick smaller pieces from other collections or, better yet, a completely different store.

Not Letting Go
Get rid of that worn-out, outdated piece of furniture or rug, even if you spent a ton of money on it seven years ago.  Sometimes, you just have to let pieces go if they no longer work in your space.

Home Design Trends // Open Shelving

Open shelving is a great and inexpensive trend that will give your kitchen a nice and airy feel. It also allows you to put your favorite kitchen items on display which, if done neatly, will give your kitchen a homey, lived-in look. And if you have some items you’d rather hide away, consider a mix of both open shelves and cabinets. This is a great option if you already have cabinets and are not looking to remodel.

Photo: Pinterest

Photo:  Pinterest

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Pinterest

Chameleon Design Featured Project: Villages Plan 2 // Pittsburg, CA

The Villages are single family, detached homes are available in 3 floor plans. The plans range in size with 3 to 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths and they all boast large, open living spaces where the kitchen and great room flow into each other. Plan 2 feels like a cottage near the seashore. Shades of Coral, aqua and sand are repeated throughout the home and pieces like the woven cocktail table lend to that casual, cozy feel.

Living Room/Great Room

Master Bedroom

Chamelon Design Featured Project: The Villages, Plan 1 // Pittsburg, CA

Located in a highly desirable Pittsburg location with easy access to Highway 4 as well as the BART, living at Villages ensures an commute easy for working professionals, especially those whose work takes them to San Francisco.

Villages will offer 3 floorplans ranging from 1,538 to 1,945 square feet with 3 to 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Each plan has a two-car garage. These single family, detached homes boast large open living spaces where kitchens and great rooms flow into each other and large kitchen islands provide ample food prep space. Some plans even have an optional loft space. The master bedrooms in each plan have huge walk-in closets.

Located in a highly desirable Pittsburg location with easy access to Highway 4 as well as the BART, living at Villages ensures an commute easy for working professionals, especially those whose work takes them to San Francisco.

Villages will offer 3 floorplans ranging from 1,538 to 1,945 square feet with 3 to 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Each plan has a two-car garage. These single family, detached homes boast large open living spaces where kitchens and great rooms flow into each other and large kitchen islands provide ample food prep space. Some plans even have an optional loft space. The master bedrooms in each plan have huge walk-in closets.

– See more at: http://lyonhomes.com/blog/2013/09/05/Coming-Soon-The-Villages-at-Vista-del-Mar#sthash.hyzBoGqF.dpuf

Located in a highly desirable Pittsburg location with easy access to Highway 4 as well as the BART, living at Villages ensures an commute easy for working professionals, especially those whose work takes them to San Francisco.

Villages will offer 3 floorplans ranging from 1,538 to 1,945 square feet with 3 to 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Each plan has a two-car garage. These single family, detached homes boast large open living spaces where kitchens and great rooms flow into each other and large kitchen islands provide ample food prep space. Some plans even have an optional loft space. The master bedrooms in each plan have huge walk-in closets.

– See more at: http://lyonhomes.com/blog/2013/09/05/Coming-Soon-The-Villages-at-Vista-del-Mar#sthash.hyzBoGqF.dpuf

Located in Pittsburg, CA, just outside of San Francisco, the Villages are perfect for working professionals and first time home buyers. The single family, detached homes are available in three floor plans ranging in size with 3 to 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths.  They all boast large, open living spaces where the kitchen and great room flow into each other and two of the plans have a great loft space that can act as an extra bedroom or office.

Plan 1 is done with neutral, taupe walls and chocolate cabinets which give it nice, warm feel. Pops of color come from the blue sofas and accents of green and grey.  The crisp, white pieces and drapery add a contemporary look to the overall style.

Great Room

Living Room

Master

Why We Love Midcentury Modern Design

Midcentury modern is everywhere and Chameleon Design has been using this style in many of our newer models. Its emphasis on pared-down forms, contemporary patterns, natural materials and a seamless flow between indoors and out create a medley of functional comfort and chic style that has a very wide appeal. Here our some of our favorite things about this look and how to get them:

Indoor-Outdoor Flow
It may sound like the norm now, but back in the ’50s, the idea of indoor-outdoor living was revolutionary for the average American. Midcentury modern homes took advantage of the new passion for bringing the indoors out and vice versa: wide windows, sliding doors, patios.

Photo: House Beautiful

Iconic Furnishings
Midcentury style is unique in that it’s largely driven by innovative mass-produced furniture and accents. Perhaps no other period produced the same volume of household-name artists and designers as this era: George Nelson, Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen and dozens more. Their singular furnishings and accents drive and define the look, and though they come at a price, you can find knockoffs and reinterpretations that will give you the look. Or invest in one authentic signature piece to anchor the space, then layer it with others that complement the look but aren’t necessarily true to the period.

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Pinterest

Statement Lighting
Sputnik chandeliers, Bubble lights, Arco floor lamps: classic midcentury lighting pumps up a room’s drama. Although its forms are sculptural enough to double as art, function remains paramount.

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Architectural Digest

Neutrals Paired With Brights
Warm and earthy colors, largely through the natural woods that predominate, are central to the midcentury palette. Yet it wouldn’t do for this look to come across as too quiet, and a few strokes of rich, saturated color give it strength and presence. The best thing about midcentury colors is that here aren’t a lot of rules. Want to pair persimmon and plum? Go for it. Or bring in rich teal, avocado, oxblood red, gold or all of the above — unexpected color combos suit this style.

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Pinterest

Home Design Trends // Nailhead Trim

Not just for furniture, nailhead trim is also appearing on accessories. But it’s an ideal trend to embrace for larger investment pieces, such as upholstered chairs and sofas, because it’s timeless. The studded feature is prominent now, but even after the current obsession wanes, you won’t be stuck with something that looks dated.

Nailhead Dresser, West Elm

Nailhead Door, Pinterest

Nailhead Console, Pinterest

Nailhead Dining Chairs, Elle Decor

Is It Time for a Redesign or a Refresh?

Spring is certainly in the air and our thoughts turn to our own personal spring cleaning and editing, as well as to our clients who want to refresh their interiors. Here are a few of my “rules of thumb” and ideas for updating designs for those who aren’t really ready for a full new look:

Spruce up a room with a new rug
Perhaps you have a traditional oriental rug, why not try replacing it with a fun striped rug that will bring summer brightness to your room. Or a sisal blend rug can instantly freshen up a room.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Add some new color and patterns with pillows
Fresh, new pillows can make a great deal of difference when you want to spruce up a bit. There are lots of great sources that can provide a quick colorful update, at a range of prices. Choose pillows that do not match the upholstery fabric in order to add a different color and texture.

Photo: Chameleon Design

A fresh coat of paint
New paint is an inexpensive way to decorate for spring and can add a lot of color to your design. And don’t just think in terms of walls…what about a fresh new color on a dated piece of furniture. Re-upholstering a key item will give you a like-new piece for a smaller price tag.

Organize your library and arrange your books in a new order
Nothing is lovelier than a beautiful, neat library or bookshelf. Adding accessories to a bookcase updates the look, as does painting the back of the shelves in an accent color or using wallpaper along the back.

Photo: Pinterest

Consider a crisp new duvet cover and sheets
This gives us such a feeling of elegance and what a great way to pamper yourself! One of my favorite places to look for well-priced sheets is Bed, Bath & Beyond and the Bloomingdale’s Home Store.

Photo: Pinterest

Spruce up your guest room for summer guests
Update the linens, add some fresh flowers and consider a new reading chair or beautiful lamp on the bedside table.

Update your tabletops and china
New tabletop items, such as china, glassware, or linens can give an entirely new look to your breakfast or dining room for a reasonable cost.

Photo: Heath Ceramics

Editing is also a great way to update interiors
Sometimes it can be difficult to part with or put things away temporarily, but this effort can be very helpful in giving

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interiors a new look. I tell clients to go room by room and take out one or two things that they are tired of. And if you feel it looks empty replace it with something new, vintage, or antique…depending on your concept and willingness to mix.

Now that spring is here and your home has a fresh look, fill it with beautiful flowers from your garden or the local flower market and enjoy!