Blog

May 4, 2020

Spruce up Your Outdoor Space

Enjoy the great outdoors safely, responsibly, and from the comfort of your home. Today’s prime real estate? Your own backyard or outdoor space! As we all stay home to help flatten the curve, getting some sunshine, fresh air, and vitamin D is crucial to our health and wellbeing. It’s time to create your staycation oasis to namaste (or rosé) the afternoon away. Not much space? No problem. Whether your home includes a yard, deck, patio, or balcony, you can trick out your space to make the most of what you’ve got. Comfy seating, a table, outdoor rug, water feature, fire pit, candles, and your favorite playlists are just a few ideas for creating an outdoor retreat. Take advantage of the spring season as much as possible. Take your next Zoom meeting on the patio. Break out the Kindle and a cocktail. Go ahead, set up that hammock. And don’t forget the front of the home. Get out there and do some yard work or gardening, and wave to the neighbors and passersby to maintain community connection. We’re all in this together!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

May 4, 2020

Working Together at Home

Without a doubt, we are all spending a tremendous amount of time at home during this period of social distancing. With work, kids’ distance learning, leisure activities, and normal day-to-day routines, our homes’ spaces must multitask like never before. That’s why, for those of us fortunate enough to be able to work remotely from home, creating a designated office space is so important. Establishing a separation between work and home life helps maintain focus, efficiency, and productivity.

If you already have a home office setup with a door that closes to the rest of the house, all the better, but it’s not required. A few simple yet key design features can help elevate a space, increase its functionality, and create a work-friendly environment during this extended time at home. Carve out a spot for your setup, whether it’s a desk, shared table, or some other area. Do what you can to keep your work surface clear and clutter-free, with stylish and functional shelving and adequate storage for documents and supplies. Make sure there’s plenty of light overhead (natural light, if possible!) and don’t hesitate to add a floor or desk lamp for more illumination. Speaking of the bright side, there are some real positives to working remotely, like a better commute, a flexible schedule, and making your own dress code!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

April 8, 2020

Celebrating 28 Years of Chameleon Design

This month, we are celebrating 28 years of Chameleon Design. Eve, our President and CEO, started Chameleon Design on April 2, 1992. Here’s a note from Eve as we toast to this milestone!

“I thought I’d seen everything but here we are in uncharted waters. I’m really proud of how quickly we have adjusted to working remotely and continue to work for our clients who are considered an essential business. We love this building industry and have accomplished so much in the last 28 years in the niche we call interior merchandising. Cheers to my amazing staff, customers, vendors and the next 28!” – Eve

April 2, 2020

Styling the Face of Your Place: the Entryway

We love a good entryway because it presents an opportunity to make a first impression and create a sense of arrival. Big, small, or somewhere in between, the entry introduces the style and character of the rest of the home. Hang a statement-making chandelier or a modern wire pendant in a grand entryway with lots of volume, or play up a more intimate space with bold wallpaper or paint for visual appeal. And it’s a great space to take a bit of a design risk with a creative vignette, a larger-than-life wall covering, eclectic art, statement pieces, or a ceiling treatment.

An entryway can also be functional and serve as your family’s drop zone to stow personal items as you head in or out for the day. Thoughtful, well-considered storage and organization are crucial to maintain a stylish and clutter-free space. Place a decorative basket beneath the entry table for recycled mail, add a tray for keys and sunglasses, install a bench with storage for shoes and bags as space allows, and include a coordinating canister for wet umbrellas. And don’t forget a mirror for last-minute touch-ups before heading out the door!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

April 2, 2020

Design at Great Heights

Sometimes, we forget that dressing up a wall space is just as important as picking out the right area rug for the living room, the right sofas, or the perfect backsplash for the kitchen. Even if a home is lacking in horizontal floor space, experimenting with vertical wall design can give us the extra room we need to add touches of self-expression.

It’s important to think outside the two-dimensional box: moving the eye up and down instead of side to side allows more options for depth and dimension (see below). Think about your favorite hobbies, experiences, and travel destinations and let them be your guide as you curate unique and eclectic wall embellishments.

Surfboards, baskets, fishing poles, guitars, collected objects, clusters of art, and oversized flatware for the kitchen or dining area – each, like lighting, creates a backdrop of layering and adds interesting composition and visual impact. Floating shelves, wall planters, and hanging storage are functional while infusing visual interest and a sense of whimsy. It’s a transition from a phase of minimalism to a time of creative maximalism, offering an avenue of self-expression that’s unexpected and full of fun.

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

April 2, 2020

Natural Sophistication at Enliven Plan Two

The Plan Two model at Enliven at The Resort in Rancho Cucamonga is a lesson in understated sophistication that’s open, welcoming, and family friendly: a breath of fresh air for the wonderfully diverse group of buyers who come to make a home here.

The fresh and modern three-story townhome by Van Daele Homes is highlighted by a rich color scheme of tans, charcoals, black, cream, and pops of mustard to evoke a vibe that’s cozy, yet lively. We loved using area rugs in the great room to subliminally create a distinction of space in this open-concept floorplan, and to also round out a walk-through living space with some poufs for added seating. The home features a unique niche off the eat-in kitchen that makes for a perfect at-home office. By incorporating floating shelves for display, built-in storage, a desk, and a bassinet to watch the little one, the work-at-home photographer can wear multiple hats as a rockstar parent and #BestBossEver.

A striking Calacatta quartz island with a waterfall edge adds a sleek touch to the ebony kitchen, and honey-toned wood-look flooring complements and warms up the space. The master suite is full of earth tones and tactile texture, and we used a crisp white shutter on the bed wall window to add elevated sophistication while camouflaging into the board and batten wall treatment. The children’s bedrooms are whimsical and playful, with a geometric paint treatment and alphabet rug in the nursery, and a Batman-themed space for a budding superhero ready to save the day!

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

March 3, 2020

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: CB2

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: CB2

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: CB2

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: CB2

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: CB2

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: CB2

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

Photo Credit: Target

March 3, 2020

Farmhouse Chic at Tracy Hills

Great family living grows throughout the Tracy Hills master-planned community in Tracy, CA. Our team set out to enhance the natural warmth and inviting feel throughout the Welcome Center, multipurpose room, neighborhood market, pool, and shared outdoor spaces surrounding the areas.

A study in balanced contrast, the modern farmhouse-style Welcome Center features exposed beams and board and batten to scale down the dramatic volume of the soaring ceilings, establishing an intimate and cozy mood. Pops of vibrant color, reclaimed wood flooring, and wall details add dimension to the charming rustic design, and an expansive mountainscape mural pays homage to the surrounding natural beauty of the scenic hills. Agrarian farmhouse meets high-tech through warm wood tones and bright whites, and a nine-screen TV wall that showcases the future development plans for this lovely community.

Large distressed sliding barn doors that open to the outdoors are the highlights of the community multipurpose room, offering residents convenient opportunities to socialize indoors by the cozy stacked stone fireplace or under the sun and stars. The resort-style pool area features eye-catching citron and navy Adirondack chairs, an appealing combination of traditional and modern, a nuanced representation of the overall appeal of this Northern California community.

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

March 3, 2020

Designing Community Experiences

Today’s reality of siloed modern life – work, commute, etc. – coupled with head-down device distractions, means people are craving in-person community like never before. Residential developers that are in tune with these evolving homebuyer priorities are answering the call by creating new communities with well-designed shared spaces to encourage residents to connect, offering living experiences that are social and increasingly more sustainable.

Having a dedicated space for neighbors and community members to enjoy facetime (the old-fashioned kind, no iPhone required!) is a real perk for families in the market for a new home. Think of these spaces like a destination-style resort, complete with many opportunities for relaxation and recreation. Our installations like The Lodge at Riverstone in Madera, CA, and Belcourt at Seven Oaks in Bakersfield, CA, include fitness clubs with group classes, recreation centers equipped with games for kids and grown-ups alike, and kitchens and bars for socializing. Other resident-forward amenities include vegetable and herb gardens with neighborhood harvesting and farm-to-table events, splash pools for tots and larger-scale outdoor venues for events like farmers markets, concerts, and neighborhood campouts. High-rise home developments are also getting in on the community amenity action, offering residents communal rooftop terraces constructed with lounge seating, grills, and cabanas to enjoy the outdoors and incredible views.

And a communal space doesn’t have to be large to encourage community socializing: use the space you have and incorporate well-scaled pieces, vibrant colors, and greenery to create an energetic yet cozy feel. Maximize indoor-outdoor living areas with intention to inspire residents to create connections and make memorable community experiences.

Photo Credit: Chameleon Design

February 5, 2020

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!