Design Insight

Enchanting Entryways

We’ve crossed the threshold into the new year. While there’s lots of chatter about the colors of the year, we thought we’d dive into the importance of setting the tone for a home’s style in 2022. January is the first month of the year and, like an entryway, a kind of first impression that sets the expectation of what’s to come. A well-styled entryway should make people curious about what other design delights they’ll find moving into the rest of the home. And because it’s an area of the home that sees a lot of use, incorporating practical elements is key. We like to think of an entryway as a functional space with flair, as a place to hang the proverbial hat (and coats) and to keep shoes stowed — all while showing off the unique character of the home and its owners. Entryways are typically smaller than the average room, so every design feature is important due to the limited footprint. Maximize the space by adding bench seating with storage, and of course, some wall hooks and a few baskets for personal items. Style a console table with greenery, a candle or two and a display bowl for keys. Let the walls do the talking with painted paneling, shiplap, or bold wallpaper. Mirrors also work wonders because they reflect light and provide a quick pit stop to check hair and makeup on the way out the door. To make a dramatic impression, opt for gallery white walls layered with a piece of large-scale art. As the saying goes, you only have one chance to make a first impression, and a smart model home entryway will always entice home buyers to want to see more.

Lovely layers

Much like we add layers of clothing to stay warm during fall and winter (and add a touch of the unexpected), layering in the home brings rooms to life. Just like you would throw on a scarf, wrap, or earrings to style an outfit, layering in interiors is an expression of character and personality. Without them, a room can look dull and flat, so it’s time to say goodbye to rooms that don’t inspire! Layering sounds more complicated than it really is, but the idea is simple. Think of a room’s major visual elements — flooring, walls, furniture, and artwork are some examples of layers that should all work together. It’s about thoughtfully selecting individual pieces that make a statement on their own while forming a cohesive look. For instance, color can be its own impactful layer and a jumping-off point for other elements that complement or contrast. Layering prints work well when the same color scheme is used in various scales. Adding in artwork infuses a space with dimension and personality. A gallery wall of abstract pieces or large-scale photography is a great way to achieve this. To further catch the eye, group décor pieces of varying heights and sizes together. Or simply throw a textural area rug on the floor for a pop of color or contrast. Layering is a cornerstone of well-styled interiors, and we love using this technique to create unique and distinctive spaces for our clients!

Off the Wall Paint

It may seem like we’re getting down to design basics when talking about paint, but hear us out. It’s no secret that paint’s a low-cost way to enliven and freshen up a space, but it also has the power to be truly transformative. When you think about it, our homes’ walls are a kind of a blank canvas on which to express our style and personality through color. So much potential! Think beyond accent walls and wallpaper (though both are wonderful, too) and use paint to create shape, pattern, and texture. Paint techniques like stenciling, adding geometric shapes, creating stripes, and rag rolling (it’s a thing!) let your walls do some of the design talking and tell a story. Combining paint color and technique creates a one-of-kind space that’s uniquely yours. And don’t let the walls have all the fun. Nearly any architectural feature in your home is a candidate for some paint color. Imagine colorful doorways, railings, archways, and mantles. Painted stairs are having a moment and add some unexpected intrigue — definitely a ‘step’ in the right direction when experimenting with playful paint.

Photo credit: Chameleon Design

Photo credit: Chameleon Design

Photo credit: Chameleon Design

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Photo credit: Chameleon Design

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Photo credit: Chameleon Design

Photo credit: Chameleon Design

Photo credit: Chameleon Design

Photo credit: Chameleon Design

Photo credit: Chameleon Design

Natural Wonder: Biophilic Design

If you’ve ever felt reinvigorated after a walk in the woods or a stroll through a park, you’re not alone. It’s well known that spending time in or being near nature is linked to health benefits and an increase in overall wellbeing. It’s no wonder we’re drawn to biophilic design—the integration of nature in the built environment.

Biophilic design is more than adding a few houseplants, though greenery is an important element. It’s about leveraging architecture and interior design to create healthier spaces that make us feel as we do when immersed in nature: connected, safe, curious, and refreshed.

So what exactly is biophilic design, and how can you incorporate it in your home? Some key elements include:

Natural light. This could involve a home’s orientation, window placement and size, and any design that helps blend the boundary between inside and outside.

Biomorphic design. There’s an emphasis on furnishings that imitate objects and forms found in nature, like curves, rounded shapes, waves, leaves, and rock. The use of natural materials – wood, rattan, stone, leather – reinforces the outdoor connection.

Color palette. Think shades of green and lots of plants as well as other hues that are commonly found in nature, like browns, creams, grays, and warm terracotta shades.

This design style is proven to make us happier, more productive, and even healthier, with its focus on better air quality and light to improve sleep-wake cycles. It soothes, calms, and revitalizes, and who couldn’t use more of that in their life!

Well Rounded Design: Curved Elements

It’s no surprise we want our living spaces to be a calming oasis and soothing retreat from the outside world. We want our homes to wrap us up in a cozy blanket. Shape has a profound effect on how we experience our environment, and rounded edges in particular can create an alluring softness. Curved furnishings are everywhere right now because they create a feeling of serenity while adding drama and sophistication. When used in interiors, they relax, calm, and soothe, and offer a nice balance with more angular pieces. Like a wave or meandering stream, curves suggest movement and flow. They’re a wonderful choice for smaller spaces because they open them up while encouraging the eye to move around the room. A curved sofa makes a dramatic statement, but you don’t have to make a big investment to achieve the look. Curves and waves can be subtle, like a circular coffee table, barrel accent chair, or rounded dining chairs. Think beyond furniture and have fun with accents like wall art, rugs, and lighting. Don’t be afraid to play around with texture to create dimension—use fabric, wood, stone, and metals to accentuate the curved design and enhance the sensory experience.

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

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Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Wonder Walls – Picture Perfect Paneling

Looking for a way to quickly add character to your home (and make it instantly Instagrammable)? Just add wall paneling! You can’t scroll through Instagram or Pinterest without seeing paneling showcased amongst all the home design hashtags and influencers. Interior trends come and go, but this one’s here for the long haul. It’s easy to see why, it’s a no-fail way to turn a wall from blah to awe. We’re not talking about the laminate wood paneling in your grandparents’ house circa the 1960s or 70s. Today’s iteration is the real deal with genuine wood and modern spins that look amazing with many popular home styles. Paneling accentuates the shape of a room while adding interest, a foundation for layering, and even insulation. Go traditional and charming with board and batten, shiplap, or picture frame paneling. For a modern vibe, opt for v-grooved, reclaimed wood planks, or colorful painted slats that elevate an accent wall. Light and bright paneling opens up a space and makes it look larger, while darker tones create depth and moodier texture. With wall paneling, you’re only limited by your imagination, and we love adding to our clients’ projects to appeal to today’s design-obsessed homebuyers!

Photo credit: Chameleon Design

Photo credit: Chameleon Design

Photo credit: Chameleon Design

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Photo credit: Chameleon Design

Kitchens That Pass the Stress Test

Can we stop a moment and give our hardworking kitchens their due? These multi-functional warriors have been the home design heroes these past fifteen months. From meal prep and snack time to remote working and schooling, they’ve taken on more tasks than a Swiss Army knife. They’ve become the de facto family hangout spot throughout the day and even a makeshift Zoom room for some. Is there a method to this madness, and can it be done with style? Of course! But it will take some intentional planning, which is why we can’t stress enough the importance of an experienced designer to synergize function and style in the kitchen. To help in your planning, designate activity zones in the kitchen and design around them. Center islands make great multi-taskers, and the bigger the better to accommodate more than one person and task. Built-in desks keep you close to the action (and snacks), as do pocket offices off the kitchen. Keep surfaces clear by making the most of your cabinet real estate with pull-out drawers, lazy susans, and out-of-sight device charging stations. Maximize pantries with good storage and organization. Larders and butler’s pantries are also coming back in both new homes and remodels. And don’t forget some original art in the kitchen for an unexpected pop of personality—it makes a great Zoom background too!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

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Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

4 Pandemic Design Insights Here to Stay

The pandemic has inspired us to think differently about our homes. For more than a year, homes have assumed many different functions, often all at the same time. We’re in the middle of a collective reimagining of what home is and what it could be as we continue adapting and prioritizing our lives. Throughout this shift, we’ve been sharing trends and insights that are evolving from this cultural pivot. And now, as the country’s vaccination efforts continue and state restrictions ease, there are several pandemic-inspired home design trends we predict are here to stay.

With many employers making remote work long-term or even permanent, families are opting to relocate from urban areas to the suburbs for larger homes and backyards. Outdoor living spaces are getting a luxe refresh with pools, kitchens, gardens, and kids’ play areas, offering safer spaces for friends and family to gather and socialize. There’s a rising interest in unifying indoor and outdoor spaces to create even more functional living areas. Functionality is a top priority, and people are seeking out homes that offer a good balance of shared and private areas that help achieve work-life balance. Rooms that only serve a single function are out, and multi-purpose spaces are in. As such, expect even more interest in built-ins and stylish storage pieces that control clutter.

The pull for authentic and natural materials offers breathing space from our hyperconnected and technological lives. Expect more non-porous and organic surfaces and furnishings that limit the spread of germs and are easy to clean. Color has also come back in a major way to create a mood or vibe. There’s a real ‘go for it’ feeling as people desire to channel their personalities through color. Palettes are bolder, brighter, and saturated. There’s also a movement toward more distinctive design styles like retro, maximalism, grand millennial, and cottage core styling. As designers, we’re thrilled to see more people loving on their homes and creating spaces that authentically reflect their personalities!

Outdoor Living – Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Outdoor Living – Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Outdoor Living – Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Multi-functional Design – Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Multi-functional Design – Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Multi-functional Design – Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Authentic Materials – Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Authentic Materials – Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Authentic Materials – Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Playful Color Palettes – Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Playful Color Palettes – Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Playful Color Palettes – Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

How to Accessorize Your Home With Intention

“The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize.”
– Clairee, Steel Magnolias

Accessories provide the finishing touches for a home and give it soul and character. They allow your personality shine through and round out furnishings through color, size, texture, and placement. Whether you go bold and vibrant to add fun focal points or warm and neutral for layered sophistication, the important thing is to be intentional about quantity and placement on tables, open shelves, counters, and bookcases (we LOVE a well-styled bookcase). Go for a curated look to avoid creating clutter and to give your eye freedom to move around the room. White space (aka negative space) is your friend and necessary to establish cohesion. It’s especially important in model home interiors—a good designer will balance the decor theme with negative space to help buyers imagine living in the home.

If all this feels overwhelming, follow a few simple guidelines to artfully accessorize your home. Play with size, scale, and shape and mix contrasting colors, textures, and materials. Break up large surface areas with layers and incorporate natural materials. Running out of decor ideas? Repetition of objects looks wonderful, too, especially if it ties into the theme of a room. Accessories are a fun and low-commitment way to make your interiors come alive; simply move them around or swap them out for a different look!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

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Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Big on Style Multi-Functional Spaces

It’s been a year since we’ve been mostly home-bound, and if you haven’t gone out and purchased a larger one, chances are you’ve looked for ways to maximize the space you have. Our needs have changed and expectations of our homes have evolved, and sometimes there isn’t room to expand. Multi-functional spaces are a trend that isn’t going away any time soon, but it can be a real challenge keeping these areas looking great when they have to accommodate various purposes. But there’s nothing a little necessity and creativity can’t solve! Approach these spaces with intention and an air of ingenuity so they blend with the home’s existing decor. Think about matching functions, like adding a school/study area to a playroom, or game tables to the garage for some family recreation. We’ve even seen some creative (and brave!) parents add their workspace to the playroom. In 2021 layouts are more informal, and main living areas are now offices and makeshift home gyms, so adding storage furniture for laptops, other office items, and workout equipment will keep clutter down. Set your Zoom ‘stage’ in the room with the best light and background (great wallpaper or artwork is a plus!). Create a transitional space from indoors to outdoors to expand your living area. Make the most of your patio or deck with comfortable seating for working in the afternoon and dinner al fresco with the family. Thoughtful execution is key to stylish spaces that work for everyone. See how we’ve created multi-functional rooms for our clients for some inspiration!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

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Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design