Blog

August 4, 2020

Bathed in Blue

When Pantone released its color of the year for 2020 back in December, we couldn’t say we were surprised. Classic blue is a perennial people pleaser and is a harbinger of serenity, security, and stability.

“Instilling calm, confidence, and connection, this enduring blue hue highlights our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era.”

Little did the team at Pantone know what lay ahead of our global community in 2020 and just how much we all could benefit from a world that’s more peaceful and predictable during these challenging months. Our team is seeing more blue hues crop up in interior design this year. With connotations of calmness and creativity, blue tones are universally well-liked and oscillate from light to dark and warm to cool. In color psychology, common associations around blue are reliability, trust, and security (that’s why so many banking and financial institutions incorporate blue in their branding!). Noted for its versatility, blue can be bright and bold or soft and understated, traversing the design spectrum from statement making to accent, depending on the tone and how it’s used. And because it has evolved into a neutral, it pairs well with many color palettes and can be seamlessly incorporated throughout a space. With all of these benefits, who wouldn’t want more blue in their home!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

August 4, 2020

Designing Happiness

Can design make us happier? That’s one of the central questions in the field of neuroaesthetics, a relatively new experimental science that studies how beauty stimulates aesthetic experiences in the brain, may help answer.

In architectural and interior design, pattern recognition and symmetry are both visually appealing and can trigger similar brain activity that occurs during meditation or other forms of deep relaxation. On the other side, a disruption of symmetry can create an unexpected imbalance that’s also pleasing to the eye.

Personality-based residential design aims to create a home’s look, feel, and flow to complement temperament and lifestyle preferences. Introverts and extroverts want different things in a floorplan, especially the use of shared and private spaces, and accommodating them in design can create a home that’s balanced and harmonious. While introverts may tend to favor distinct spaces with doors for quiet and privacy, it’s an extrovert’s world in contemporary home design, with open-concept floorplans that encourage interaction.

It has also been well documented that art can trigger the brain’s release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that evokes feelings of pleasure and motivation. Being mindful of color theory and common color associations may also contribute to feelings of contentment and happiness, depending on the desired mood and purpose of a space. A good design team will seamlessly balance a client’s personality or brand with timeless design forms and emerging research to create beautifully functional spaces.

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

August 4, 2020

Chameleon Design Takes Home Three Gold Nugget Merit Awards

We couldn’t be more proud of team Chameleon for taking home three Gold Nugget Merit Awards during the virtual awards presentation on Friday, July 24! Judged by a panel of top industry experts and professionals, the Gold Nugget Awards represents some of the best in residential architecture, design, planning, development, and building in projects across the United States and internationally.

Merit Award | Architecture Category | Best Renovated or Restored Single Home

We transformed a Newport Beach, CA, Beacon Bay three-bedroom home into a five-bedroom modern seaside cottage for a mature family. Paying homage to the mid-century cottage style indigenous to the area, our team reimagined this lovely property for the 21st century to blend seamlessly in an established custom-home neighborhood. By successfully integrating three separate structures with different floor elevations and ceiling heights, we created seamless flow throughout with the addition of a great room large enough to accommodate family and friends, two additional bedrooms, a full bathroom and bonus room, and two built-in desk/work spaces, all while adding only 744 square feet. The result is a family home that’s modern, sophisticated, and full of casual luxuries ideally suited for distinctive bayside living.

Photo Credit: Beacon Bay | Chameleon Design

Merit Award | Interior Design Category | Best Interior Design of a Custom or One-of-a-Kind Home

Our interior design is the second accolade for this custom Beacon Bay home. We brought a refreshed modern beach house aesthetic and incorporated striking mid-century elements indigenous to the style of this enclave of Newport Beach. A tonal color palette creates balance and harmony with opportunities to surprise and delight with pops of color and character pieces for a one-of-a-kind feel. Organic elements like the natural ash feature wall in the family room and 9’ teak console are statement making and inviting, offering a warm counterpoint to crisp whites and dark bronze hues throughout. The kitchen was renovated from top to bottom to increase the footprint for multiple cooks and connect the family and dining rooms with a bar area for easy mingling. And with easy access to the outdoor living space through bifold glass doors, the home is truly an entertainer’s dream. Bottoms up!

Photo Credit: Beacon Bay | Chameleon Design

Merit Award | Interior Design Category | Best Interior Merchandising of a Model Home Priced 1 Million and Over

Modern farmhouse style gets a coastal contemporary update in this Plan 7 home at Loden at Olivenhain. Our team combined the most stylish elements in upscale beach and town-and-country design to complement the home’s historic Encinitas address. The neutral scheme of sand, black, taupe, and off white creates subdued sophistication. A warm wood and black metal stair rail is the focal point of the downstairs living areas and draws the eye to the volume ceiling. Kitchen is white and bright, with patterned cement-look deco tile and metal pendants and counter stools. Luxury vinyl plank flooring beautifully transitions to a porcelain wood-look tile to create a seamless connection to the outdoor living space that is elemental to the North County lifestyle.

Photo Credit: Loden at Olivenhain | Chameleon Design

July 6, 2020

Built-In Style

We’re singing the praises of bold, beautiful built-ins! Built-ins add character and distinction to any space and open up more ways to style and add personal touches. Best of all, built-ins are as functional as they are beautiful, and can be customized to accommodate how you want to use a space. A built-in bench at the entryway can double as storage for shoes, bags, and personal items. Create a media cabinet to keep cords, DVDs, and Xbox out of sight. Uncork a bottle of chardonnay at the perfect temperature every time with a luxe built-in wet bar (and invite us over)! An unusual or non-standard wall cut-out in a bedroom or bonus room is an ideal spot to build in a study desk for the kids or a work-from-home situation. A combination of open shelving with cupboards with drawers is a fantastic option for displaying treasured and collected pieces with the ability to stow other items when not in use. Built-in versatility, function, and style is a designer’s dream trifecta!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

July 6, 2020

Wild at Heart

We’re all about bringing more of the outdoors in during these lovely warmer months. If florals and botanicals aren’t your cup of tea, opting for the fauna side of nature is a great choice! An animal theme or accent is both on trend and timeless, ideally suited for grown ups and children alike. Simple yet chic pieces of animal artwork, wall decor, or accessories add a feeling of playfulness and whimsy throughout a home. Dog themed pillows, dimensional flocks of birds mid-flight, cowhide rugs, and paper mache rhino wall decor are some quick and easy ways to embellish living and dining rooms and bedrooms. Really play up the motif for the kiddos with dinosaurs, equestrian style, zoo animals, or mix-and-match themes that pair well like bears and camping. Sweet and soft animal decor is a natural fit for a nursery, and vinyl wall decals, artwork, and bedding can be easily swapped out from infancy to toddlerhood and beyond. Our best advice for incorporating the animal kingdom into your space is to embrace the wild and have fun!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

July 6, 2020

An Encinitas Coastal Farmhouse Is Laid-Back Luxury Defined

Town and country meets coastal contemporary in this lovely Plan 7 modern farmhouse at Loden at Olivenhain. A luxe-yet-casual balance of both styles accentuates this Woodbridge Pacific Group neighborhood’s prime location nestled in Encinitas horse country only a few miles from pristine North County coastline. This six-bedroom, six-and-a-half bath home is full of livable spaces for everyone, including a home office, media room, and loft. A neutral palette paired with off whites and matte black sets the tone with a refined, organic feel along with textured layers, botanical prints, and greenery.

Wood furnishings offer richness and depth, and bring out the warm tones from the stair rail and plank flooring. Kids’ rooms designed with surfing and equestrian themes complement the relaxed, outdoor-oriented lifestyle of this intimate 16-home neighborhood. And with two outdoor living spaces, it was crucial to find a porcelain wood-look tile for the exterior that blended with the luxury vinyl plank of the interior to create that seamless inside-to-outside transition. Plan 7 is a luxury, one-of-a-kind home that’s sophisticated and approachable, and lives beautifully for today’s families!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

June 8, 2020

Tile Style to a T

Never underestimate the big impact of a little tile. One of our many style secrets is thoughtful and strategic use of this versatile material. Whether it’s for a statement-making accent wall or simple kitchen backsplash, tile creates a foundation on which to layer and build to support a room’s style. Use bold-patterned or brightly colored tile as the star of the show, or select a muted neutral hue to serve as a supporting actor to subtly round out a space. Subway or herringbone are on trend yet timeless and Insta-worthy. A thoughtfully selected motif on floor tile creates a dramatic sense of arrival. From sophisticated and classic to modern and whimsical, tile options are practically limitless.

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

June 8, 2020

Design for the Spring Vibes

Spring is in full swing and summer’s fast approaching. And while we may not be able to experience firsthand the incredible bounty, bloom, and color as much as we’d like, it’s still possible to bring the beauty of the season into our homes. In fact, maintaining a connection to nature is as important as ever as we spend more time indoors, so open those windows, let the fresh air flood in, and adorn your space with spring-inspired touches that bring a smile to your face! Incorporate botanical artwork, vinyl decals, pillows, wallpaper, and bedding for easy, low-commitment seasonal updates. Blooms are synonymous with spring, but these aren’t your nanna’s florals. Think dramatic, larger-than-life watercolor murals that make an accent wall Insta-worthy, or a gallery of sleek black-and-white botanical prints for a luxurious touch. Flowers, fronds, leaves, trees, petals, or cactus – go as vibrant or as muted as you wish or your current decor allows. Design must go on, so bring the sweet spring feelings inside!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

June 8, 2020

An Eclectic Mix That’s Refreshingly Modern at Indigo Plan 1

When creating interiors, every design detail is important, but it’s especially so in smaller spaces. Our team maximized every inch of this two-bedroom townhome of Indigo at Canvas Park by Brookfield Residential to help prospective buyers envision living large in a smaller footprint. It’s all about scale here, the careful curation of appropriately sized pieces to achieve a stylish balance between form and function. A slim console table and embellishments create a defined entryway and establish a sense of arrival. Cool tones and fresh neutrals complement natural elements like the wood dining table, cocktail table, and three-dimensional block wall decor that play up the organic themes. The white floating shelf creates a chic and layered gallery wall so art and photos can be easily swapped out when it’s time for a change. The interplay of crisp white wall decor against a green wall is unexpected and adds dimension in the master. With its smaller sectional, media, and kids’ craft table, the narrow loft is a reimagined multi-purpose space that’s fun for the kids and stylish enough for the grown-ups to enjoy!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

May 4, 2020

Natural Modern at Solstice Plan 3

This Plan 3 townhome at Solstice by Brookfield Residential lives large with a warm, masculine feel that’s on point and timeless. Thoughtful use of patterns, materials, and color softens the clean-lined vibe. A palette of creamy white, graphite, and mustard hues are cool and transitional, complementing the natural light pouring in from large great room windows. Potted greenery adds a pop of color, grounds the main living areas, and draws the eye to furnishings with a nod to nature and the outdoors. The low-slung, mid-century sofa is simple and stylish, and allows the eye to easily move across the room to give the illusion of more space. Everyone has a spot at the comfy rustic table with bench seating to maximize a narrow dining room, and industrial counter stools connect it to the open and functional kitchen, complete with an upcycled fringe rug and iron lantern pendant. Original artwork in both dining and master bedrooms offers an elevated touch, and bunk beds in secondary bedrooms take the design vertical to create more livable space. (Check out our shared room design post for more inspiration.) This chic haven offers lovely family living in Ontario!