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bright living room with a brown leather club chair, abstract art, and colorful throw pillows

Leather: A Classic Textile

Leather is a classic, timeless textile that continues to build in popularity in 2022, and for good reason. Homebuyers are focusing on natural materials that provide comfort in their ideal homes, and leather accomplishes this goal in a variety of ways. Our designers will often add just one leather element in a space, and its unique, textural contrast makes it truly stand out among the other pieces in the room. Incorporating leather seating at a dining table, or via a barstool, club chair, or ottoman, adds a flair of desirable sophistication and drama that draws in the eye and creates a showstopping effect. This textile, with its variety of textures and colors, can easily be incorporated into a modern, contemporary, or vintage aesthetic. From the typical warm brown tones, to stark black, or even brightly colored hues, there’s a shade of leather to fit every home.

Chameleon Design team raising a glass to 30 years

Raising Our Glass to 30 Years

We’re breaking out the bubbly because team Chameleon is celebrating the firm’s 30-year anniversary! We’ve been on cloud nine this year, as it was on April 2, 1992, that our fearless Founder, Eve Lowey, opened Chameleon Design’s doors with the goal to create an exceptional design firm that catered to homebuilders and residential developers. Since then, it has been our privilege to serve hundreds of clients to help them create bespoke model homes, sales offices, and amenities across the country.

“Thirty years, there’s so much to be thankful for,” says Eve. “Our fantastic clients and amazing team are the best in the business. Chameleon Design wouldn’t be where it is today without them!”

From the beginning, our leadership team sought to create a safe and welcoming culture for experienced and emerging designers, inviting unique perspectives and creativity. We’re constantly inspired by our clients and the beauty of the world around us. It’s from this wellspring that our team raises the bar higher and higher each day and why we’ve been recognized with more than 170 prestigious industry awards and glowing client accolades.

“The Chameleon team is second to none and I could not imagine working with anyone else for our design needs. Their eye for design speaks for itself, and the level of service they provide is outstanding. They push us to take risks, are flexible when we throw them curveballs, and are never satisfied with good-enough. They are one of the most important pieces of the Woodbridge Pacific team and it is a privilege to work with them.”

Bradley Davis,
Marketing Director
Woodbridge Pacific Group

“I’ve worked with the Chameleon team for many, many years and considered them a part of our team. They have an eye for detail, are able to go with the latest trends and have good knowledge of attainable finishes…They really are a force and [I] was grateful to work with them over the years as well as call them my friends”

Tracey Long,
Marketing Manager
Taylor Morrison

“Congratulations on 30 years, Chameleon! We truly value our sales office and model collaborations over the years and thank you for your passion, innovative design and continued friendship. Cheers to your continued success and wonderful designs!”

Caitlyn Lai-Valenti,
VP Sales and Marketing
Brookfield Residential

Chameleon Design has gone on to become an industry design leader in understanding the evolving needs of the modern homebuyer, and a trusted builder partner integral to new home marketing. The last 30 years have been incredible with growth, innovation, and new opportunities. We’re excited to continue expanding and creating spaces that highlight quality and imagination. Cheers to the next 30 years!

Chameleon Design team raising a glass to 30 years

white lips 3D wall art, white bedding with yellow, orange, and blue pillows, wood and white painted bedside table, yellow table lamp, potted plant in bedroom, The QUE

Go Sculptural with Dimensional Art

For many, wall décor is viewed as somewhat of a design afterthought. Here at Chameleon, we flip that idea on its head and turn the wall art into the star of the show. That’s the intention of 3D wall decor– it immediately catches the eye and creates a memorable impression. Dimensional art makes a wall come alive with texture and movement, and adds an element of playfulness and charm. It’s unexpected and super fun to integrate into our clients’ model homes and sales offices. We like getting creative with it to tie together a room’s theme, era, or color palette. A playful lip-shaped art piece, a succulent wall, and an assortment of sun hats are only a few of the delightful objects we’ve used to make walls pop-pop-pop. One caveat we keep in mind when utilizing this design feature- keep nearby elements simple to avoid an overcrowded look. When done right, dimensional wall decor offers endless possibilities to liven up any room. It’s the perfect excuse to really let creativity shine and stray away from the expected!

tonal gray hexagonal wallpaper, wood desk, matte black bookcase, cream and black area rug in home office Allevare

Bold and Beautiful: Wallpaper Accent Wall

When someone says “accent wall,” does your mind instantly gravitate towards paint? If so, you’re not alone, because most people would say the same. And understandably so – paint is a great low-commitment way to transform a room. However, there’s another great way to create a high-impact accent wall. We’re all about choices here at team Chameleon, and we’re looking at you, wallpaper. We’ve been singing wallpaper’s praises for years, so you know we love incorporating it in our clients’ model homes (they love it, too!). The right wallpaper has the design superpower of creating a bold focal point and setting the tone for the rest of the room’s design. It acts as a foundational base for other layers like color, texture, wall decor, and even greenery.

Wallpaper as an accent is about captivation and drawing the eye into a room in an unexpected way. It can add an upscale feel to model homes and unify a room’s theme. A wallpaper accent works especially well in kids’ spaces, acting as a narrative design element that tells a story, like the adorable woodland and insect-themed rooms our team created below. When incorporating an accent wall into a space, we’re always intentional and strategic about which wall gets the full wallpaper treatment, and which elements work best alongside it. It’s a delicate balancing act, and our clients and their home buyers love the results.

cream sofa with yellow and cerulean blue pillows in living room Indigo

Pillow Talk

Never underestimate the power of a throw pillow to pack a serious design punch in your model homes. We’re all about creating BIG moments in rooms using small accents that add personality. Throw pillows accomplish this in spades because they deliver comfort, texture, and color in equal measure. They can take any living room, bedroom, or even a hallway to the next level. Pillows can elevate an otherwise neutral sofa – we especially enjoy layering several for intrigue (plus, who doesn’t like that cozy feeling of lounging in pillows!). For our clients’ projects, we love mixing pillow patterns, textures, and sizes while threading in the room’s theme or palette to unify the design. Don’t forget your patio or deck area — throw pillows in UV and water-resistant fabrics will help create the outdoor living vibe that’s so popular right now. An especially playful way to “speak” to homebuyers is by incorporating pillows with fun words, phrases, and graphics. It’s all about creating opportunities for buyers to see themselves in the homes and adding those special touches that stick with them even after they walk out the door.

living room with blue rug and fiddle fig Townes at Magnolia Plan 2 Melia Homes

Townes at Magnolia Reinvents SoCal Style

The perfect southern California experience awaits at Townes at Magnolia, a collection of 3-story contemporary townhomes in Anaheim, California. With bountiful amenities such as fire pit gathering areas, BBQ grills, recreation areas and more, residents can always make the most of the blissful California sunshine. In a central location near Disneyland and Angel Stadium, and with the beach just a short drive away, adventure and fun are a weekend staple for residents, both in and out of this Melia Homes community.

Despite the OC locale and enticing proximity to the beach cities, buyers desiring their own coastal haven can find it in Townes at Magnolia Plan 2. This 3-bedroom model home offers much in soothing chic aesthetic and unique accents. Upon walking into the home, potential buyers will be delighted to find a memorable painted barn door leading into the guest bedroom. Serene blue paneling and beach-themed artwork make this space a calming paradise. The serenity continues throughout the home on the upper levels, with azure blues and beiges throughout the living areas and trendy furnishings with plenty of natural materials. Each room has something to catch the eye, whether it’s a paneled accent wall, blue, textural tiling, or a pop of colorful paint. The result is a casual and breezy atmosphere that leaves a buyer dreaming of taking a vacation right in their very own Anaheim home.

glass dining table and rattan chairs with large-format pastel abstract artwork Chateau Estates

Easy Spring Style — Pretty Pastels

Spring is here, and it brings with it a desire for fresh and clean interiors. We’re saying hello to pretty pastels, a collection of subtle colors that can create a calming, sophisticated, or whimsical look depending on the application. And while pastels for spring aren’t exactly groundbreaking, hear us out. Once reserved for nurseries or kids’ rooms, these cheerful hues have made their way into every room in the home. And their appeal, uplifting feel, and versatility make them a great choice any time of year. A softer palette is a lovely way to invigorate a model home — we like pairing pastels with florals for something playful, or with wood and metallic accents for a modern touch. Millennial pink in particular has had a moment, with soft green, powder blue, and pale peach cropping up in living rooms, bedrooms, and even home offices. Pastels also play well with each other, allowing us to create unique and custom looks for our clients, though we prefer sticking to a maximum of three for a clean look (and to prevent a room from resembling an Easter basket). From cool and crisp or warm and cozy, there’s a pastel shade to suit almost any preference, the pale blue sky’s the limit.

primary bedroom with black wall paneling Rancho Palma Rioja

Bask in Black

People are saying black is back, but in our view, it never went away! The chic sophistication of black accents never goes out of style. Some shy away from adding black to the home because they mistakenly think it makes a room appear dark and less spacious. In fact, a bit of black can add dimension to a room and create focal points that camouflage a small space. Pretty cool if we say so ourselves.

We love black’s visual impact and are thrilled to see its resurgence in the home. It’s always great to use black to accentuate a room’s features, but if you’re obsessed with this shade as much as we are, you may want to use it as a main focal point in a room’s design. Be brave and use black from floor to ceiling on an accent wall or opt for an eye-catching contrast with black-and-white striped paint. Go architectural with black interior window panels to frame and separate spaces while maintaining sightlines. In a room layered with whites and neutrals, a pop of black is an edgy counterpoint that helps ground and balance the space’s ethereal quality. Like a metallic accent, a little black goes a long way — even a small pop of black hardware or trim will bring out the colors that surround it. It’s a fail-safe way to add depth and intrigue, no matter your palette or style preference!

great room at Plan 1 Dover at Compass Bay in Newark, California

It’s Easy Being Green at Dover at Compass Bay’s Plan 1

If a breath of fresh air came with a design style and color palette, the Plan 1 model home at Dover at Compass Bay by Trumark Homes would be it. This dreamy home’s Newark, CA, locale is perched along the San Francisco Bay with nearby access to the area’s waterfront and wildlife refuge. Bright and breezy are hallmarks of our approach to this four-bedroom home that appeals to growing families. Our infusion of soothing neutrals with youthful bursts of lime and lemon refresh and uplift each room. Wall paneling, organic materials and textures add dimension, and high-contrast black light fixtures, tiling, and accents anchor and round out the home’s modern and inviting design. Here, everyone in the family has their own space to work and relax — the well-appointed home office features plenty of built-ins and natural light, and a playful kids’ loft is the perfect spot to do homework or watch TV. We especially love how the various shades of green create a sense of energy and vitality. Even the laundry room got a colorful wall treatment because a home’s corners and alcoves should look and feel special!
workstation with white desks and orange accents Terracina

Creating Cozy Corners

Play up your home’s nooks and crannies because before you know it, you just might create your new go-to comfort spot. Corners in a home tend to get neglected because people are afraid of creating a cluttered look or don’t know how to style them. When done right, a corner can become a room’s focal point, a productivity spot, or even a mini retreat. To enjoy a quiet moment, all you need is a corner near a window, task lighting, an upholstered chair, and an ottoman to kick up your feet. Transform a small niche into a mini library or workstation with a built-in cabinet and shelves. In the bedroom, create a charming refuge with just a chaise lounge and side table. Sometimes a corner is all you’ve got for a laundry room — make the most of it with a stackable washer and dryer, shelving system and plenty of storage baskets. Don’t forget to make the open-air corners a little cozier too! Tuck a little hideaway in your outdoor space. Even the smallest of patios can accommodate a compact table, chairs, and potted plants to create a little slice of al fresco heaven. It’s your home, so make every inch of space count.