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Trends

Style Secret Weapon: the Pouf or Stool

Perhaps named after the magic they help create in a room, the aptly coined pouf – along with its sturdier counterpart the stool – are design trends here to stay. These multitasking furnishings are often overlooked perhaps because of their functionality, but serve as intentional and stylish supporting actors that offer depth to a living space without blocking sightlines. They create additional seating in tight spaces, can be placed anywhere and moved around, and work with every design theme or aesthetic. Pull up a stool to a bedside desk and use it as a chair, or into a nursery to prop your feet up and rock a little one to sleep. Store a couple of fun poufs under a console table for extra seating at a cocktail party or game night, or use one as a whimsical accent piece to round out a sofa and table combo. Place a stool next to a bathtub as a place to hold your soap and towel next to the tub, or scatter several around the home as plant stands. If you’re looking for a finishing touch for a space, consider a pouf or stool — big design can come in small packages!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

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Up, Close, and Personal: Impact Lighting

As with real estate, so it is with lighting: location, location, location! Placement not only impacts functional purposes but the overall design and feel of the home. When thoughtfully incorporated as a key design element of a space, lighting can create a mood, sense of place, and make a statement. Hang pendants or sconces above bedroom nightstands for a dramatic look and that lovely ‘established’ feeling: a bonus when you no longer have to worry about knocking a lamp over when scrambling for the snooze button in the morning! Group a couple of pendants in the corner of the kids’ room or over a chair or sofa to create a cozy niche for hanging out. Pendants affixed to a mirror or hanging pendants transform a master bath into a warm and inviting retreat.  

Lighting choice, like a wall treatment, is a base for your styling and helps anchor a room while adding a wonderful layer of depth to complete or contrast the overall look. Use lighting as art and make it part of a vertical wall space, or, high-impact pendants that become a sculptural element! Material choice is important when considering a room’s look and feel. Using natural materials like macrame and rattan soften a room and create a relaxed and welcoming vibe, while mixed metals can add a modern and sculptural look. Great lighting achieves the ideal balance of form and function, and is what we continually strive for in the spaces we create for our clients!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

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Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Get Lit

Bold, modern lighting is having a moment and we can’t get enough. Broad ornate shapes and simple spheres are architectural, dramatic, and set the tone and personality of a room. Think geometric, clean lines for a more minimalist and sculptural look to the reimagined vintage vibe of exposed bulbs. Good lighting has been obsessed over by photographers and artists for millenia and for good reason! When used well, it’s transformational. 

Create that wow factor in a room with sculptural light fixtures, from funky sputnik chandeliers that shoot out every which way to sleek nesting multi-tier pendants. Or clusters of Edison bulbs for an updated vintage style to playful flush-mounts reminiscent of abstract art. Emphasize expansive volume ceilings or create a playful coziness in a family room or bedroom. Make a statement over a kitchen island or cultivate a bit of drama in the master bath. There’s no denying modern lighting’s eye-catching appeal and its ability to put the finishing design touch on a space. And exposing a bulb or two. . . or 12 has become desirable with this type of lighting, so let’s see those filaments!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

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Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Let’s Go Vinyl

Ready to take a design leap and try something new? Do it with decals! We are obsessed with vinyl decals right now for all their versatility. This choice gives you endless options – cover an entire wall with a simple graphic for a complete wallpaper look, create a themed landscape in a kids’ room, or display a sweet saying in a nursery. The selection of colors, motifs, and designs is limitless and provides an updated and whimsical way of addressing wall décor while remaining affordable and flexible. 

Not your typical approach to artwork or a wall covering, a vinyl decal has the added benefit of being flush to a wall so it doesn’t take up valuable depth. Place them over paint and next to mirrors and framed pieces for a layered look, or go mural style for maximum impact. Best of all, decals are the ultimate low-commitment design embellishment. They’re a fantastic choice for renters and for those looking for an easy, lower-cost alternative to traditional wall coverings. Simply remove and replace when a child grows or design preferences change!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

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Black & White and Style All Over

There’s a rule in decorating that says every room can use a touch of black. At first glance, you may think this is a strange approach, especially if you have a room full of pastels or jewel tones. But let’s think on this for a bit. Yes, black can be full of wonderful drama (and has the capacity to overpower visually), and, when used well, helps ground the space and provide interesting depth. One of our favorite blogs these days is The Spruce, and they say, ‘Using the color black adds a focal point that grounds, anchors, and adds a sophisticated look to a room.’ We couldn’t agree more! A black and white color combination is clean, timeless, elegant, and never goes out of style. The truest yin and yang. 

Our best piece of advice is, don’t fear an inky wall. In the past, we’ve all been advised to stay away from painting walls a dark hue because it was thought to make a space look smaller. Black paint has the opposite effect, however, because it creates an optical illusion of not knowing where the wall ends; it tricks your eye into expanding the space, and who doesn’t like the illusion of more space? Conversely, a crisp white has the same expanding effect, which is why it’s been blowing up design blogs and hashtags on Instagram year after year. 

Whether you’re bold enough to go monochromatic in your home (like we did in the Verge Plan 6 model), or you’re working your way into the style by switching out your dinnerware, placemats, or throw pillows, it’s time to embrace fearless design and the beautiful drama of abundant black and white. Want to dive into monochrome for a wallcovering? Give it a go on a smaller space like a powder room. Do you prefer to try something that requires less commitment? A gallery wall of black and white photography can be a welcome reprieve from busy, colorful artwork. Have fun creating the lovely and timeless contrast of black and white in your home.

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

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What’s Your Paint Personality?

There’s nothing like a fresh coat of paint to brighten a room, and then there’s paint as the focal point and design element of a space. Let’s dive into the latter here, because it’s no secret we love using paint to create a mood, a room’s character, and a home’s personality. Let your paint flag fly! Accent paint is the designer’s not-so-secret weapon and, when done right, sets the tone of the space, from soothing palette choices to accentuate the zen vibes, to a bold black-and-white-stripe detail in a hallway for added appeal on an otherwise overlooked space. 

Don’t be afraid to go big: solids, stripes, ceiling – adding a pop of color through accent paint never goes out of style and will continue to bring an added oomph to any space. Layered over architectural detailing like board and batten or tongue and groove wall treatments add a lovely layer of depth to a usually white wall (and are Instagram darlings of residential design). Want to create some volume and an illusion of a larger floorplan? Painting a staircase wall or stair risers highlights the eye’s movement up to the ceiling from one story to the next, and creating a statement on the ‘bed wall’ creates a stylish focal point and emphasizes where you want the most attention in the room. Paint accents are magical, and we use them all the time to create memorable interiors for all of our clients!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

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Surprise and Delight: White with Color Pops

Although Maximalism is ruling design these days, it’s tough to ignore the simple beauty of streamlined layers of color, pattern and texture. Here, a crisp white foundation is the centerpiece, and bright pops of color set the whole look off. White is the perfect base to build upon – yet it can be completely changed to connect with seasons and trends. The challenge lies in making a space feel like home without feeling stark and cold. But that’s where the color comes in. Choose a statement piece to ground the room and your color scheme, such as a favorite piece of furniture or a series of artwork. Mix things up, experiment and soon, the balance will be struck. There’s nothing like the comfort of clean whites!

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Blush and Gold Never Gets Old

Blush, in all its pink boutique-inspired vintage glory, has been the choice neutral tone for some time now. Many people find that it pairs well with other colors…so much so that it’s dethroning classic greys and beiges to claim the top spot as an accent color. But combining blush with gold? Now the look is not only soft and soothing but also strong and vivacious. These magical hues can be applied to the smallest details, like a gold metallic frame surrounding a blush-rich painting, a candle holder, or a throw pillow. Also claiming centerstage – these hues can be infused through retro-style furniture or a full room design complete with lamps and a coffee table. It’s the perfect time in our society and culture to showcase this traditional feminine color duo as the new power neutrals!

 

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Gen Z Yellow Adds Happiness to Any Room

Gen Z Yellow (named for the generation born in the 2000s) has been a favorite shade among younger homebuyers lately—taking over the former reigning color of Millennial Pink. This color is pure sunshine, emitting feelings of energy, youth and optimism. Its fun and energetic tone can be incorporated in the smallest of details or it can own an entire space with its cheery, attention-getting hue. Yet even in muted tones from buttercream to golden maize, this trend is remarkably adaptable and appealing; perfect for the warmer color schemes surfacing over the last year. Whether paired with crisp, clean white for pep and pop, or used to brighten up a wall, Gen Z Yellow has boldly made its way into the modern home.

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The Value of Words

The Value of Words

Many of us use motivational or inspiring quotes at work or at the gym, but what about in our homes? Go for it! Whether they’re clever or sweet notes, bold or inspiring phrases, or soothing passages, signage should spark the desired reaction. The “oomph” to power through the day, be humble, or stay positive. Attitude adjustment is a great reason to add signage, but it can also serve as unique and eclectic artwork throughout the home. Choose wall décor to add dimension, or have your favorite words embroidered in an accent pillow. Whether they make a statement as stencils on a wall, created in chalk on a board, or painted by hand on wood or metal, there is power in words.

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design, Etsy

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

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