Studio Chameleon

Home Decor How-To: Combining Traditional and Modern

2012-03-01T10:06:00.000-08:00

By mixing traditional and modern decor you can create an individualized, multilayered living space that's very appealing. Furnishing your home should be more about developing your own personal style rather than adhering to any single style. That being considered, combining modern furniture and accessories with traditional ones can result in a huge miss if you don't put some planning and thought into it. Here are some helpful tips and suggestions on mixing modern and traditional styles:

Unbalancing act
Interior design is all about creating balance and harmony, but that doesn't mean achieving a 50/50 ratio for both design styles. Representing both styles equally will simply result in an interior that looks confused and poorly designed. Pick one as the dominant style and incorporate the second style with smaller furniture pieces or decorative accessories. It can be a modern space with antique accents or a traditional space with contemporary accents. Letting one style dominate is crucial, because you don’t want to create a space where everything is fighting for equal attention.

Traditional room with modern accents: Barcelona chairs & Eames lounge

Photo: Desire to Inspire

Modern Lines
Photo: Elle Decor

Keep it simple
Nothing turns a room from chic to cheap quicker than clutter, so take it easy on the accessories. If you want your antique table lamp to pop on your sleek modern end table, don't clutter up the surface with other accessories like decorative vases or picture frames. Grouping too many accessories of opposing design styles together can leave your living room looking like a yard sale. A good rule of thumb in transitional spaces is to count each design style as its own item in a grouping, then find a decorative accessory that ties together elements from each.

Photo: Metropolitan Home

Photo: Pinterest

Harmony or Contrast?
It's important to determine what kind of a look you're going for before you begin. If you want to create harmony and a relaxing look, select furniture pieces that are more alike, or just a few degrees apart. For instance, for a harmonized look you may want to pair Hans Wegner chairs with a more traditional wood table. Although these chairs have a very modern sensibility, they are made of wood, which can harmonize with the table. To create contrast and excitement, juxtapose colors and textures, such as Eames molded plywood chairs in different colorful stains, or the Tolix chaise in steel or colored metal with your traditional table.

Colorful Tolix Chairs

Photo: Pinterest

Panton Chairs

Photo: Pinterest

Unexpected color & bold upholstery
The simplest way to incorporate a traditional vintage piece into a modern décor is by updating it. But don't simply refurbish antique furniture to its original condition. That fresh coat of paint and brand-new upholstery need to give the piece a contemporary feel. Give old-fashioned accessories a modern look with bright, unconventional colors and funky patterned fabric. On the fabric note, many are made more modern simply by a change of scale. A traditional pattern, scaled larger and bolder, becomes new and modern.

Bold Fabric

Photo: Elle Decor

Bold Color

Photo: Elle Decor

Open House Prep: Insider Secrets

2012-02-21T10:35:00.000-08:00

With all of the model home projects Chameleon Design works on, we've come to know a thing or two about selling a home! You’ve probably heard the same old tips for getting your place ready for an open house a million times: repair, spruce up, stage, clean, etc. And all with good reason because they work! But beyond the bare minimum, here are some less obvious things you should consider doing if you are aiming to pull off an Open House that showcases your home at its very best.

Visit other open houses in your neighborhood

Get a feel for how the competition is putting its best foot forward to prospective buyers - or not, as the case may be. This exercise of seeing how clean and pristine, well-decorated and neutralized (in odor and decor) some listings are, and seeing how basically clean, but well-lived in properties, appear to be down at the heels by comparison, will help you see your own place through new eyes: the eyes of prospective buyers who will be making those same comparisons with your house.

Move

Do a pre-move packing session. Literally, pretend you’re moving (if things go well, you will be) and pack up almost everything you don't need to use on a daily basis. Toiletries, nick-knacks, family photos on the fridge -- none of this stuff should be visible to Open House hunters. And remember - perspective buyers open closets, drawers, cupboards and garages. Consider renting a storage space if you need to.

Invite the neighbors

Yes, your neighbors are probably nosy and would love to get a glimpse into how you live. But there’s a good chance they are also aware of other people who want to live in their neighborhood and vested in getting good neighbors. So, invite them! A neighbor attending an open house may lead to them letting a house hunting friend know that they must go take a look.

Enlist the neighbors

Even if your neighbors don’t personally know someone who is in the market for a place in your neck of the woods, they want your home to sell at top dollar, as your home’s sale will form the basis for their home’s value! So while you're inviting the neighbors to attend, be aware of whether there's anything they can do to make your Open House run smoothly - and ask! Things like moving their cars to free up street parking and not having their kid practice his trombone in the backyard during that particular three hour window on Sunday afternoon are favors almost any good neighbor will be happy to do.

Mow your neighbor’s lawn

This one’s not for everyone, and you’ll have to exercise good judgment to decide how far to go with it, but if you happen to live next door to the blighted house on the block- it might make sense to reach out and offer some help to your struggling neighbor. (Even if your home is amazing, some buyers will just not live next to a place like that). Be sensitive to the idea that you might be insulting the way they live, but more likely than not, they are just elderly, down-on-their-luck, ill, or otherwise overwhelmed people who would welcome some help. If you have reason to think that your neighbors fall into this last group, take some cookies or their newspaper over and see if you can help them - and help yourself in the process.

Get over yourself

The goal in preparing your home for an Open House is to neutralize the decor, so that the broadest possible number of people will crave to live there. So, instead of insisting on using this moment in time to express your unique design leanings, let your agent (or a pro stager) help you decide what should stay and what should go.

The Perfect Setting- Table Setting Tips

2012-02-14T15:24:00.000-08:00

Setting a table should be an expression of your personal style. But even the most creative stylists need structure to achieve the best results. After deciding on the time, place and guest list, consider the following steps to setting the perfect table.

Table settings can make your kitchen table look beautiful, turning a dinner, buffet or breakfast into something really special. Here’s how to get it right, whatever the occasion:

Bend the table-setting rules
There are lots of traditions around table settings, but you don’t have to stick to them. The aim is to create a beautiful table where your guests can relax and enjoy themselves, as well as presenting your meal in a way that does justice to your hard work in the kitchen. If a formal setting works for you – great. If not, or if space is limited – improvise!

Think about what you want to include
Table settings include china, glassware, cutlery and napkins. You may also want to include condiment sets, candles and napkin rings. Before you start, think about the ambiance you want to create. Whatever the occasion, I prefer to go with plain white china. Leaving the patterns behind will make your table look clean and fresh. And for serving bowls and salad bowls, try clear glass! This will show off your food and make it the star of the table. Target carries a nice selection, that are of course very affordable.

Choose your centerpiece
A lovely centerpiece is the heart of your table setting. Candles and fresh flowers are a popular choice – again, just make sure to keep it clean and simple. Alternatively, why not try succulents, a lantern, or candles in hurricane vases filled with pebbles or sand. You can find them at Home Goods or Crate & Barrel. Make sure your centerpiece isn’t too high for your guests to see over.

Arrange the cutlery
For cutlery, put the knives on the right, the forks on the left. The rule is to work from the outside in, so the cutlery that’s going to be used first goes on the outside. Knife blades should face the plate. Dessert spoons and forks go at the top. The napkin goes on the left, or in the center of the plate. If you have a left-handed guest, be polite by putting their cutlery on the right sides to give them extra elbow room and avoid upsetting the balance of your table setting. Seat them at the end of the table if possible.

Put your glasses in order
Glasses go above the knives, in the order they’re going to be used. For formal dinners, the water glass goes first, followed by the white wine glass and red wine glass. For informal meals, it’s water glass, glass for wine or juice, and if there’s room, coffee or tea cup and saucer.

Get your china in position
Again, don’t be bound by strict etiquette – adapt the rules to suit you. Traditionally, the side plate goes on the left of the forks with the knife laid across it. A base plate or service plate goes on the mat in the middle of the setting, with the soup bowl on top of it if you are serving soup.

Chameleon Design Featured Project: Woodbridge, Ivy Gate Plan 2- Rancho Bernardo

2012-01-31T11:32:00.000-08:00

Decorating With Kids in Mind

2012-01-31T11:31:00.000-08:00

When you have kids, your home and decorating style definitely change a bit. You need to take them into consideration when making decorating choices, otherwise, you may live to regret your purchases they don't hold up well to the wear and tear of kids. And, you probably don't want to increase your cleaning chores or spend even more time keeping your kids away from or off of certain items! I don't believe you have to become a minimalist...don't take every item off the coffee table, tear the curtains down, and pack away all of the nick-knacks yet. It's fun to incorporate their toys and activities into your decorating theme! Try to compromise with whatever element you feel is delightful and attractive to your children, but never go whole hog into a kid theme. Bridge the aesthetic gap between child and adult. Just because you have children doesn’t mean you have to give up sophisticated design.

Flooring:
Flooring may be on your decorating list. Kids and carpet are often not a good combination. Ceramic tiles or laminated floors may be a more practical choice. If you have your heart set on carpet, consider using carpet tiles. These can be replaced easily if one becomes stained or torn.

Photo: Flor.com

Window & Wall Coverings:
Your choice of window coverings is extremely important because those with cords are hazards for little children. Be sure to choose cordless varieties. And think twice before buying long curtains that pool on the floor. They won't look as nice after your child has stepped on them hundreds of times or even climbed them. Valances are good since your children won't be able to reach them.

Wall coverings come in several kid-friendly varieties. Some paint manufacturers market paints specifically for households with children. Good semi gloss paint also works well since it can be wiped clean. Flat paints can't be wiped without leaving a mark, but they can be touched up easily. Decide whether you prefer wielding a damp cloth or a paintbrush to get marks off of your walls. Some wallpapers are developed with kids in mind. At least get wallpaper that is scrubbable so you can wipe off marks with a damp cloth.

Photo: ConvoyTumblr.com

Another fun tip: instead of artwork, try using wall decals in kids' rooms. They are safe and removable, and indestructible. And when the kids are older, the decals will peel right off without damaging the paint job.

RompBklyn.com

Photo: WhatisBlik.com

Shared Areas:
Choose textiles for couches and chairs that can be easy cleaned or those that don’t show marks. create a family room that is perfect setting for entertaining guests and equally fitting for popcorn and movies with the whole family.

Photo: LonnyMag.com

Family time around the dinner table is an important part of family life. Look for a dining table that works for both kids and adults.

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: DucDucnyc.com

Bedroom & Nursery:
When designing for children, it's important to consult the child within ourselves. Consider buying grown-up pieces that have whimsy and personality, and will grow with the room as your child grows—and stay away from themes. It’s also nice to involve your child in the decision-making process. Not only is it a great opportunity to teach them about the power of editing and compromise, but they will respect and appreciate their room all the more because it will really feel like their own.

We sometimes find that trying to decorate in a "kid" style feels constrained and forced. Consider using proper furniture in kids' bedrooms- things that inspire and interest them. Think great art, cool furniture, and interesting shapes and textures that are enlivening and inspiring.

Photo: ElleDecor.com

Photo: Houzz.com

Photo: DesignSponge.com

If you want your baby's room to look neat, get the bones right. Two pieces of furniture that match, like a crib and changing table, will get you going in the right direction. Invest in a good wool carpet- you can always clean it. And one good-looking lamp does wonders in a kid's room. No matter how messy it gets are how many toys stack up in there, you will have an elegant and coherent room underneath it all, and that will always shine through.

Photo: ShelfLife.com

You don't want to have to close the doors to the kids rooms. Storage is key for hiding some of the plastic stuff you hate to look at—because even if you swear it will never cross the threshold of your house, it will. The secret is to let it go and embrace your child’s presence in the home.

Photo: ElleDecor.com

Photo: OhDeeDoh.com

Photo: Pinterest.com

By decorating your home with your kids in mind, you can have a beautiful, low-maintenance home while reducing the time you have to spend policing your kids.

Collecting Lust

2012-01-17T14:07:00.000-08:00

Less isn’t always more. Rooms are often made all the more alluring with the help of coveted collections. Arranged on a fireplace mantel, hung on the wall, or displayed on a console, collections of objects and art can bring a living room to life by injecting it with a homeowner’s personality. Adding collections to a home’s interior design scheme not only communicates individual passions and pursuits, but also creates a distinctive decorative statement that visitors won’t see anywhere else. An eclectic collection, from paintings to seashells to globes, can dramatically inject your home with heaps of style.

My personal collections include: art glass paperweights, mid-century modern bottles and other glass art from that period, white pottery caves starting from the 1940's, and globes.

A collection of globes placed on a table or shelf lends to a room's playfulness, while also adding color. Viewed individually, any one of the pieces might not be so dramatic, but when clustered tightly together, the whole arrangement makes an especially striking statement.

In this living room a collection of photographs are united by simple black frames. As a collection, the many pieces are made more impressive by being displayed at different levels—on the wall, against a picture rail, and scattered across the floor.

Objects such as hats and weather vanes become wall art when grouped in a collection.

Chameleon Design Featured Project: The Wine Cellar, 2011 Philharmonic Design House- Newport Coast

2012-01-17T13:53:00.000-08:00

The Philharmonic Society of Orange County has been presenting design houses since 1993. It's their largest fundraiser and benefits their free Youth Music Education Programs which provides musical experiences and education for over 200,000 students in Orange County. Maison de la Mer was last year's House of Design and is a beautiful French inspired home with wonderful indoor/outdoor elements that are perfect for entertaining. Chameleon Design had the honor of designing the wine cellar.

We began with that point of view that wine is more than just a bottle to be enjoyed- it’s about an entire experience. This wine cellar and sampling room was inspired by the rustic elements of the wine country, yet we incorporated a modern edge through clean lines and natural elements. Throughout the space you can see components from the wine making process from barrels that aged the wine, to the wooden crates that shipped the bottles. You will also see organic items that, like a fine wine, have been given their beauty through age.

Relax and enjoy conversation with friends and family around the reclaimed live-edge acacia table. It's made of reclaimed wood and displays a leaf organically carved and made of onyx, with a sea urchin on top of it. Adding to the relaxed feeling of the space, Joan élan Davis’ painting, Tranquility, is an an interplay of closely valued colors and varied textures in a painterly woven format. Layers of an earthy brown upon a russet upon burgundy in one palette to deep, rich greens in another lend a sense of movement to the surface.

At one end of the room is a striped buffet. A sustainable, organic and contemporary piece, the buffet is made of reclaimed teak and the stripes are formed from scrap wood in a variety of hues. Above this hangs a custom art piece commissioned for the room. The Untitled piece is made of recycled wine crates and was done by Alex Adamonis of Woodworking LA. Iron sconces flank the art, allowing you to see the depth and variety of the piece.

Just like the rolling hills of California wine country in the spring months, the colors chosen reflect golden yellows, vineyard greens, cabernet reds and the grey of morning fog. The walls are textured with a Venetian-like plaster, and painted French Grey in the tasting room and Mahogany in the cellar.

Chameleon Design Featured Project: Harmony at Colony Park, Anaheim

2012-01-10T21:28:00.001-08:00

Chameleon Design won a Mame Award for this hip and playful Sales Office we designed at Colony Park in Anaheim. Our idea was to use a vintage, chic design to lure in the younger buyers, as well as the "move-down" buyers looking to re-live their more youthful years.

The environment was very non-traditional for a sales office with its coffee house/lounge feel.

Multi-colored fabrics and patterns layered together give it that "collected" vibe.

Soulful tunes playing in the background and a guitar leaning in the corner may encourage someone to sit back a while and ponder a place where life is good!

Wallpaper Works

2012-01-10T21:28:00.000-08:00

From traditional and classic to bold and graphic, wallpaper is back in a big way. Some people may be scared off by wallpaper, with with ideas of tacky floral patterns and primary-colored stripes, but some of the freshest trends in wall coverings can be a great component to decorating your home. We all remember the wallpaper growing up that we learned to hate, but now there are a lot of patterns that do enhance an interior.

We love wallpaper for its room-transforming, style-defining powers. Wallpaper goes way beyond what can be done with paint. Painted finishes, although great in some spaces, don't equate to the luxury and opulence a few rolls of wallpaper can provide. People are often looking for ways to achieve that "wow" factor without having to add more costly items, such as tiles, stone or expensive textile fabrics, and wallpaper does a great job of it. Here are just a few examples of the room-transforming abilities of wallpaper:

Create Coziness
Wallpaper has an amazing way of warming up a room and creating rich, layered sophistication. It can be used in any room to create a more intimate feel.

Photo: Pinterest

Little Gems

A busy, whimsical or interesting print can transform a small room into your home's "jewel box." Powder rooms are the perfect place to use wallpaper. You can go big and bold without fear of committing to too much.

Photo: Lonny Mag

Make a Statement
Wallpapers can make almost any type of design statement. Soft, organic lines lend a soothing touch to a room, whereas bold geometrics can really add vibrancy and energy to a dull space.

Photo: House Beautiful

Photo: Mackenziehoran.com

Focalize It

Sometimes people like the idea of wallpaper but are nervous to commit to a whole room. By putting it on just one accent wall, say behind the bed in a bedroom or to create a focal point behind a sofa in a living room, you can get the upside without overdoing it.

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Elle Decor

Photo: Apartmenttherapy.com

Create Art

Everyone wants a great piece of art on the wall. Can’t nail down that perfect picture? Why not choose decadent wallpaper?

Photo: Capstonedwellings.com

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Ohdeedoh.com

Design with Texture

Wallpaper makes a space more luxurious by adding another layer of depth to a room. Even the most subtle texture or pattern can add depth and warmth that paint cannot.

Photo: Ohhappyday.com

Photo: Abigail Edwards

Get a Jump Start on Your New Year's Resolutions:

2011-12-14T10:22:00.000-08:00

We're all in holiday-mode, but the New Year is right around the corner. If you're like me, my resolutions always include some form of home organization. It's great to start a new year by doing an inventory of everything you have in storage, stacked on closet shelves, tucked away in the garage, etc. If even a couple years go by without going through your items, there's a good chance that there are things you don't need or no longer want. Get a head start on your annual organization resolutions and filter through your holiday decorations this month!

This year, I took out everything I loved, set it up for my family and guests to enjoy, and got rid of all the rest. I gave my sister, who has a more modern home now, some great pieces that I knew she'd use, and sent the rest to a donation center. Some of it was brand new and had never even been opened! Now all that is left to do is box up what I actually used after the first of the year. I'll make things easier on myself for next year, and I got a head start on my annual organization New Year's resolution...which I have every year!

While getting out those season specific decorations to deck your halls, filter through them while you're setting them up. Most people say to themselves- I'll do that when I put them away after the holidays- but it's actually much easier to do it once everything is already out. Why add an extra step when you don't have to?

Anything you don't use this season, and likely won't use next season, can probably be parted with. Send them to a donation center or a charity who helps needy families. If you're not getting use out of the items, it's a nice thought that another family will.

Good luck getting organized. You'll thank me later!

Chameleon Design Featured Project: Lakeview Village, Lake Elsinore

2011-12-14T10:21:00.000-08:00

Lakeview Village is an affordable apartment community located in Lake Elsinore. Chameleon Design was brought in to design the clubhouse space that is open to all residents.

Holiday Hostess Gift Ideas

2011-12-07T22:23:00.001-08:00

We're heading into the second weekend of December and holiday parties are well underway! We don't have to tell you that it's always nice to give (and of course receive) a thoughtful hostess gift. And during the holidays there are so many fun options out there. Instead of flowers, I like to pick up a poinsettia from the market, which tend to have the nicest ones for a hostess gift, And of course wine is always nice. Maybe find a clever way of decorating the wine bottles you give? I also love to give and receive candles, some of my favorites are below.

Remember that you don't have to spend a lot of money to give something memorable. Another thing to keep in mind is that you want to try to avoid bringing your host or hostess a decorative item for the home. Unless you know their taste well, you don't want them to feel as though they need to display it, as it may not go with the rest of the decor. Flowers are also lovely to receive, but unless it's a potted plant such as an orchid, we do not suggest them for hostess gifts. The host is typically busy and you don't want to bring something that requires their immediate attention such as flowers that will need a vase and water.

Here are some of Chameleon Design's favorite hostess gifts this holiday season that are sure to bring a smile to the face any party hostess in town. Call us and let us know what you'd like to swing by and pick up!

Minerals on Crystal Blocks

Quartz cluster ($35), Pyrite and Aragonite Stars ($5)
Glass Blocks ($26.50-37.50)

Tea Light Glass Logs

By Roost ($16)

Jardin de Rochelle Porcelain Diffusers

Rose, Peony and Narcissus fragrances ($54 each)

Candles

Cabinet de Curiosites Candle ($35 )

Chameleon Design Featured Project: The Plaza at Sierra, Fontana

2011-12-07T22:23:00.000-08:00

The Plaza at Sierra is the 4th of a series that the city of Fontana asked our builder to create for their affordable senior housing needs. The property has two 3-story buildings, a pool, putting green, pool room, two media lounges and several other great spaces for the seniors to hang out and feel at home.

Building One, Media Lounge

Exterior

Entry

Multi-Purpose Room

Putting Green

Pool

Gym

Chameleon Design Featured Project: The Highlands at Eagle Ridge, Gilroy

2011-12-01T12:13:00.000-08:00

The Highlands at Eagle Ridge are single family detached homes on a golf course in Gilroy, California.

Family Room

A View of the Family Room from the Dining Room

Kitchen

Dining Room

Master Bedroom

Flowers for the Home

2011-12-01T12:08:00.000-08:00

With a little basic knowledge of the elements of floral design and a bit of creativity, you can create beautiful floral arrangements for your home and decorate with confidence for a party or special occasion. Whether it's an arrangement on the dining room table or a simple bouquet in the bathroom, flowers add life to your home and make it welcoming all year round. When working with flowers, don't be afraid to to experiment with different styles. Flowers have their own inherent beauty, so you really can't go wrong.

Selecting a Container
Selecting the container is an important step in designing an arrangement. Choose a container that will complement the flowers you're using and fit within with the surrounding décor. Glass vases are a good choice for a more formal room, while ceramic pitchers are perfect for a casual kitchen table or counter. A mason jar or mint julep cup are good choices for a bathroom or other small nooks around the home.

Source: Pinterest

Source: CupcakesandCashmere.com

Design
Floral design is based on a combination of elements: form or shape, proportion and scale, texture, balance and contrast. From the first step of placing flowers in the container, think about the overall shape you want your arrangement to have and place the flowers according to that basic idea. Most designs use larger flowers as a focal point, and build around that. Hydrangeas, peonies and of course roses are all easy to work with and always look amazing. Sometimes it's as easy as placing a few stems into a great vase.

Source: Floral Art LA

Source: ApartmentTherapy.com

Source: Elle Decor

Color
Create contrast by using texture and color. Combine cool colors with warm ones, or light with dark. If your design uses a monochromatic color scheme, add interest with a variety of textures. Let your own personal taste be your guide in selecting the flowers. Greens form the foundation of most arrangements. Using two or three different kinds will provide a lush backdrop for your flowers. Be sure to use enough greens to anchor the flowers in place. Though remember that greens aren't a must, and a smaller arrangement or a few stems in a bud vase, don't need anything extra.

Source: Floral Art LA

Final Touches
This is where you can get really creative. Accent your arrangement with a branch or two of birch or curly willow to tower gracefully above the flowers. Or place some seeded eucalyptus where it will drape over the edge of the container. Fruits and vegetables, river rocks, seashells and glass stones are just a few of the items you can use to accent your design. Just remember to let the flowers have center stage.

Chameleon Design Featured Project: Marblehead Information Center, San Clemente

2011-11-22T12:16:00.000-08:00

For this project, Chameleon Design was asked to work with an unbranded developer to help sell the last stretch of undeveloped coastline designated for high-end custom homes. The catch was that the only structures in place were two trailers! Not to mention, neither had a view, and that was a main selling point.

We tackled this project successfully by simply bringing the outdoors in. There were two distinct buildings, the first being the Sales Office. In this space we showcased a uniquely expansive topographic map with drawers that house small scale maps, giving the buyer a more detailed look of their prospective lot. Above the map was a dramatic aerial photograph on a tackable surface, with space for photographs of work in progress. We went with a color palette of sky and sand, with accessories of stone and a waterfall impact logo overlayed on the window.

The stone façade seamlessly linked interior and exterior spaces, and made it impossible to believe the bones of the sales office were a prefabricated mobile home.

Outdoor living rooms and modern arbors, expanded the sense of spaciousness. Everything was designed to launch a new aesthetic away from the Mediterranean and toward the modern, and to capture the rugged California coast with a sense of elegance and modernity.

The second building, the Meeting Center, provided resources for both architects, clients, and builders alike to work or show clients a video of the development.

Back By Popular Demand: Eve's 10 Tips to Get Your Home Holiday Ready

2011-11-22T12:15:00.000-08:00

There are so many things that can make the holidays overwhelming, especially when entertaining company. Eve has put together some tips to help make hostessing easier.

Tip #1: Prep so you can have fun!
The holiday season is a time for family and friends. We open up our homes for visiting relatives and festive parties. Did I say complicated? No it can be easy. Remember that the host or hostess having fun is mandatory for the guests to have fun. Prep ahead of time so that you have fun too! I mean it; if you aren't having fun your party wont be fun.

Tip #2: Make it easier on yourself and call in a professional:
In many cases holiday entertaining means making room for additional guests and that 10' Christmas tree. Think about having a professional designer come over and do a quick rearrange and editing of your rooms that are accommodating Christmas decorations and guests. Most designers only charge a $100 per hour (give or take) and it is well worth it to get some sound advice! Once the designer has seen the space you can call on them for advice lickety split!

Tip #3: Clean (even though you don't want to):
Ok, I know you don't want to hear it but I have to advise to clean, clean, clean! Moving furniture and bringing in extra chairs for parties uncovers dust bunnies and cleaning up thoroughly makes you feel GOOD and ready for guests.

Tip #4: It should also smell like the holidays:
Wash your home with a fresh scent, not something overwhelming. My favorite are Maura Peters candles. They are soy-based candles in tiny tins for only $10. I love the "Twigs and Berry" scent for the holidays.

Tip# 5: Divide and rotate your ornaments each year:
You are under no obligation to put every single ornament you have out every year. This will not just lead to a second tree, but also a third and fourth. As a mother, I have lots of kid ornaments like Sponge Bob and Disney characters. As an interior designer, I have some very glamorous and elegant pieces. These do not always mesh well together. So I divided up the ornaments with one set of fun and whimsical items and another that is more sophisticated. I rotate these groupings each year and it adds a lot of variety within the existing items you have.

Tip #6: Light Up the Night:
One of the neglected areas of holiday parties, or parties of any kind, is the lighting. Use votives and tea lights to light stairs, dining tables tops, consoles, bookcases, guestrooms, bathrooms, anywhere! Don't forget to use candles outside at the entry on the stairs or at the front door. It makes the guest know you are thinking about them before they even hit the door.

Tip #7: Just-In-Case Gifts:
Don't forget to have a few extra gifts around for unexpected guests or a last minute party invitation. These gifts should be fun for kids and adults alike. Pick things that are unique so they look less like an after thought.

Tip #8: Guest Gifts:
Everyone loves gifts and playful party favors are great as table settings. Wrap a small gift like a box of chocolate truffles or a fun Christmas ornament. What a great conversation piece at the table. Don't forget the guest room—even folded towels with a ribbon tying them can feel like a gift.

Tip #9: Personalize photos for guests:
Have framed photos in a drawer so that you can pull them out and display them specific to whoever is coming over. Nothing makes a person feel more welcome than a photo of them in your home. Having photos of every single family member out can be too much, so keep them stored for special occasions and then roll them out when you know they are coming! I am telling you, this really works! Chameleon Design offers custom framing to make your photos even more special.

Tip #10: Top it off with a few flowers:
If you have a garden, cut a few flowers or just pick up a bunch at the grocery store when you are getting snacks for your guests. I would suggest two small arrangements, one on the kitchen island or breakfast nook and one in the restroom that most people will be using. Add crystal holly berry sprays ($8) or sparkly garland sticks ($8) that we sell to give a holiday touch.

Chameleon Design Featured Project: Belvedere Plan B1- Central Park West, Irvine

2011-11-17T10:40:00.000-08:00

With this project, Studio Chameleon had the exciting challenge of making the interior of this 2nd story flat surrounded by four levels of flats, feel light, bright and desirable.

Our solution was to use a lot of white! White paint, white flooring and a stacked stone wall that was painted glossy white, along with pops of turquoise and red was just what the cave-like space needed to open up and feel fresh.

Family Room

Kitchen

We livened up the Master Bedroom with an upholstered bed, crystal light fixture and warmer paint color.

Teenager's Bedroom

Holiday Tabletop Design: Thanksgiving

2011-11-17T10:39:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is a great occasion to celebrate and enjoy with family and friends. If you're hosting Thanksgiving dinner at your home, you want to make sure everything looks great for your guests. While the food will always be the star, it's also important to design a holiday tabletop that your guests will enjoy and appreciate.

Centerpieces
For Thanksgiving, it's always nice to decorate your dining table with fall-inspired touches and natural components. And when it comes to decking out the table, sometimes simplicity is best. You can use autumn jewel tones such as gold, deep orange, and burgundy or go even simpler by sticking with neutrals and only small pops of color. Beautiful pumpkins and gourds are still readily available and make for a beautiful table scape on their own or accompanied by flowers. And by simply hollowing them out, you can create festive vases. Green or white pumpkins, rather than the traditional orange, add a chic and modern twist. And don't forget the candles!

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: DigsDigs.com

Photo: MarthaStewart.com

Place Settings
A nice way to personalize your table is with charming guest place setting tags. A fresh pear or pomegranate, sprig of fresh sage tucked into a napkin, or mini pumpkin spray painted gold are all very simple to do, and look amazing.

Photo: MarthaStewart.com

Photo: ApartmentTherapy.com

Photo: MarthaStewart.com

Photo: Pinterest

Kids Table
This idea for the kids table is just the cutest. Cover the surface with kraft paper and set out little pots of crayons for drawing. Stamp paper for place cards and use a marker to make place settings. And the best thing is the cleanup after, just throw away the tablecloth!

Photo: Sweet Paul Blog

We hope these sweet and stunning display ideas will help you with your holiday table design. Happy Thanksgiving!

Chameleon Design Featured Project: City Center Seniors Housing, Ontario

2011-11-07T21:02:00.000-08:00

City Center is a “Low Income Affordable” Senior Apartment Building with a Clubhouse, Leasing Offices, Theater, Multi-Purpose Room and common areas. The exterior and interiors were designed with a craftsman-style in mind, and the exterior brick detail was brought inside to the Main Lobby. We chose a color scheme of caramel, greens and browns to reinforce that overall craftsman feel. The seniors who now call this home love how warm and comfortable it feels.

Exterior

Main Lobby

Media Room

Community Room

Meeting Room

Gym

Fountain Courtyard

Get Your Home Ready for the Holidays

2011-11-07T21:00:00.000-08:00

Holidays are most popular time of year to welcome the ones you love into your home. But at the end of the day, it’s also nice to be able to show it off, right? If you need some extra help this year, book the experts at Chameleon Design for your holiday home decorating. However...if we're not coming over to your home to do it for you, we'd like to provide you with a few tips and considerations to prepare for the holidays well before the late November/into December crunch time.

Take a Look
Before you take your holiday decorations out of storage, begin by making a plan. Look around your house and determine the areas that need décor. This will allow you to fill in any holes with new purchases, and also keep you from going overboard if you have too many decorations. Once you have your plan figured out, let the decorating fun begin!

Key Areas
The key to creating an inviting home during the holidays is to concentrate on making social areas as warm and welcoming as possible. Key areas in most homes include the foyer, living room and powder room. Focus on them and be assured that your home will look and feel holiday ready.

Front Door & Foyer:
Your guests’ holiday experience begins at your front door. Set the stage with a beautiful wreath, lights or greenery. Your exterior holiday decor should also reflect your interior decorating style, giving your guests a sample of what they will find inside. The foyer is the first thing people see when they step inside your home. A beautiful, green garland on the stair railing is a sure fire way to bring a holiday spirit into your home that guests will feel moment guests step inside.

Photo: Martha Stewart

Photo: Elle Decor

Living Room:
Friends and family will spend a lot of time socializing and relaxing here, so comfort and style take priority. The living room is a popular place for a Christmas tree, though many homes now have multiple trees. If this is the case in your home, keep the living room tree more formal and classic. That leaves room for a fun tree in the family room- one that the kids can help decorate with brightly colored ornaments, flocking, rainbow lights or whatever they prefer.

Photo: Elle Decor

Photo: Domino

Powder Room:
The guest bathroom is always a high-traffic space that everyone sees. Wear or tear has nowhere to hide in this small space, so give it a facelift if needed. A sleek, monochromatic palette creates a beautiful look and a little holiday décor can easily be added with a candle and sprig of greenery.

Minimalist
If you're not big on holiday decor, sprigs of greenery, pops of red or over-sized Christmas bulbs tucked around the house are some ideas to keep it modern, yet festive. Pick a theme and color scheme that complements furnishings. Don’t be afraid to incorporate nontraditional holiday colors, such as gold, bronze and copper. Lime green, orange, purple and pink are also hot. Less is more. Use a few striking festive items, and pare down the knickknacks.

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Martha Stewart

Special Touches
Every family has special things that they like to display during the holidays. These items are important so definitely don't leave them in the boxes and forgoe them for new decorations! You want your family to feel that your home is not just decorated for guests, but also for them to enjoy.

Collections:
If you have any sort of collection such as Nutcrackers or Nativity Scenes, these are lovely to display during the holidays and also very special as each object tells a story. Make your collection at home with your other holiday décor by creating one area for them to be displayed. Scattering them around the house can be overwhelming and take over your décor, but finding a mantle or credenza where you can set everything up in one place will look best.

Photo: Pinterest

Ornaments:
Special ornaments that have been saved over the years or that the kids have made should most definitely be integrated into your décor. Hang them on the tree in the family room, or if you have enough, you can dedicate an entire tree to the one of a kind collection.

Christmas Cards:
Many families cherish the Christmas cards they receive each season, and some even save cards from year to year to showcase their family history. The mantle is the most traditional place to display cards but there are other creative ways to consider. Below are a couple ideas we came across.

Photo: Decor8

Photo: Pinterest

Good luck and happy decorating! We hope these tips will help, but don't hesitate to give us a call if you need an extra hand.

Chameleon Design Featured Project: The Welcome House- Colony Park, Anaheim

2011-10-31T22:08:00.000-07:00

The Sales Trailer for Colony Park in Anaheim was designed to feel like someone's living room. With all the technological advances that are showcased in this trailer, Chameleon Design felt that it should also feel like the name- “The Welcome House.” The idea was for potential home buyers to come inside seeking more information, but do it while putting their feet up and watching the master plan amenities on the flat screen, or sit on a bar stool and interact with a computer.

Welcome Home Exterior

Main Area

Impact Wall

Coffee Bar

Closing Office

Hip Houseplants

2011-10-31T22:07:00.000-07:00

Whether you have a green thumb or not, great houseplants really do round out a room. Two or three plants in your most used rooms will not only freshen up the look, but also the quality of air in your home too, which is a nice bonus. Plants can act as accessories that are just as important to the overall feel of the room as a piece of art or an amazing piece of furniture. Not to mention the color accent and beauty of green foliage that they provide for your space! If you are looking for design ideas to add a little life and greenery to your home, then check out our roundup of hip houseplants.

Large Varieties:
A large variety that will act as a green sculpture in the room, adding shape and liveliness to the interior. For these, maintenance is key—remember to wipe smooth-surface leaves regularly with a damp cloth and trim off dead or dying bits. And it’s best to keep the plant contained in a plastic pot tucked inside a decorative one. That way if it bites the dust, you can replace it easily. We love Steve Wolff & Associates Interior Plant Design if you'd like some assistance with bringing some greenery indoors: Find more information on their website here: Swolff. com. According to their plant experts, the most popular larger indoor varieties include: Fiddle Leaf Figs (Ficus Iyata), Palms, such as Kentia, Fishtail and Rhapis (Hardy plants) Dracena, Yuccas, Character Marginata and Zamifolia (Zamia).

Fiddle-Leaf Fig Tree

Three Palm Varieties

Smaller Varieties:
When choosing a houseplant, you want to consider its light requirements to what you can provide at home. Most plants will prefer a room bathed in light to flourish, though not necessarily direct sunlight. Bright morning sunlight is just right. However, if you have a shady spot that's crying out for a plant, species such as Sansevieria (also known as snake plants) are very tolerant, not to mention quite hip. Another very tolerant plant that does well indoors with little watering or care are Succulents. They are rapidly becoming the cool, low-maintenance way to bring plants inside. Nurseries and retailers nationwide are offering unique combinations of these interesting plants in assorted dishes and planters.

Succulents

Sansevieria

Chameleon Design Featured Project: Belvedere Plan F1-B- Central Park West, Irvine

2011-10-26T09:47:00.000-07:00

This space was designed for a move down couple from Newport Beach that is trading in the maintenance of having a single family home for a condo lifestyle. One great perk is the spectacular club facility right across the street within Central Park West.

The condo features elegant finishes including honed creamy stone flooring, granite slab counter tops and accent tables, silk rugs and modern decorative light fixtures. We worked with a sophisticated color palette of chamois, creamy whites, natural silks with vibrant yellow accents, and a hint of navy blue. And the transitional furnishings are accented with original art, natural elements like oversized coral pieces, large crystal mineral pieces and petrified wood sculptures.

Creative Roadblocks: The Home Office

2011-10-26T09:41:00.000-07:00

It's a fact that today many people typically do some of their work from home. The days of leaving it at the office are long gone, so it's essential to have a designated space in the home so as to ensure maximum productivity. These tips will help you in setting up a home office almost anywhere.

Define Your Space:
Design ideas can be adapted and changed according to the specifications in your home. The guest room may be replaced, or combined to make a home office space. Or you may be lucky enough to have an extra room that you can completely dedicate to the office. But the truth is, it doesn't matter if you have a large room that you are converting into an office or a tiny nook, as long as you can create a place of solitude to get your work done. The most important thing to remember to not to mingle the area where you do your work, bill-paying, etc. with an area the family uses to relax and spend time together. Separating church and state will make for a much happier household.

Do It Yourself:
Not everyone has a big budget for outfitting a home office, but there are many things you can do yourself to create an efficient space. Starting with the walls, consider painting them yourself. Adding a fresh, lively color or a more calming color will set the tone for your work space. Next, address the storage issue. Depending on how much work you're going to be doing from home, you may be ok with just a desk. In this case, go with something longer and wider giving you more work space. Any typical dining table will do the trick and save you money. And as important as a comfortable desk chair is, since this is not your main office where you're spending the majority of your day, you don't need to spend the extra money on a pricey task chair. A regular chair will do just fine.

This floating desk has a formal feel without taking up a lot of space.

A fun and simple home office that was really inexpensive to do.

Personalize It:
Move photographs or accessories from one part of the house to your new home office to liven it up and make it feel like an extension of the home, rather than a random room that you want to shut off from the rest of the house. Is there a comfortable chair in the guest room? Do you have some pictures tucked away in a closet that would be inspiring and decorative on the walls of your work space? Look around to see what you can use in your new home office.

The Extra Mile:
In the case that you do want to invest a little bit more money in your home office, upper and lower built-ins are the way to go. They'll allow you to keep things organized and tucked away without even trying. Otherwise, some simple and affordable free-standing filing cabinets tucked under the desk will also work.

Built-ins are more costly and permanent.

A high-end home office with full custom built-ins.

By keeping these simple tips in mind you'll be able to set up a nice home office that will be a steady step for you to establish and increase your productivity. And just remember that there's no shame in reaching out to the pros at Chameleon Design if you find that you still need a little extra help!

To Hide or Not to Hide...the TV

2011-10-18T09:14:00.000-07:00

It is always interesting to see how interior design has to adapt to technology. The television has gone from commonly being the highlight of the family room or living room, with gigantic entertainment centers to house them in, to today’s streamlined flat screen panels, that blend seamlessly with your decor. Today we discuss some of the different ways to work with your television or creatively disguise it.

Hidden features:
It's more common than not to have the TV out in the open, but if you're looking to hide it we have a couple favorite ways to do it. Artwork that covers the television, and slides up and down on a track, is a pricey, yet perfect way to hide television if you'd rather not see it when it's not in use. This screen looks exactly like a framed painting, but, with the click of a button on a remote control, the screen rolls up and into the frame for a unobstructed view of the television. The television itself is set back into the wall and is completely undetectable when the screen is down.

Another fun alternative are TV Mirrors. These hand-crafted frames surrounding mirrored two-way glass are an attractive, functional solution to the age old dilemma of where to hide the TV. When the TV is off it is simply a framed mirror. When the TV is on, it transforms from a mirror to a TV. A source that we've used is Simpson's Mirrors: www.simpsonsmirrors.com.

Work With it:
We don't frown upon a television out in the open, as long as it's displayed in a nice way. A flat screen can look great sitting on a piece of furniture with a lower cabinet to house media. A wall-mount has also become much more popular as flat screens become more affordable. This is a nice way to get the TV out of the way, yet still be a focus of the room when you want it to be.

It's best to map out a plan for your television before moving into a new house or before purchasing a new TV set. If you need assistance with blending your television seamlessly into your décor, don't hesitate to give us a call.

Chameleon Design Featured Project: Montecito Village, Ramona

2011-10-13T20:01:00.000-07:00

Montecito Village is an affordable family community comprised of 1, 2, 3 and 4-bedroom apartments. The property serves low to very low-income households. Chameleon Design was involved in the renovation which included: new roofs, paint, energy efficient windows and patio doors, fencing, HVAC systems, signage, and improvements to drainage, landscaping, paving and site accessibility. Kitchens and bathrooms also received new cabinets, countertops, appliances, plumbing fixtures, flooring and energy efficient lighting. Additionally, a new community room, computer learning center, picnic area and leasing office were added to enhance the lives of the residents.

Multi-Family Rec Room

Outdoor Picnic Area

How to Hang Art Like a Pro

2011-10-10T17:35:00.000-07:00

The excitement of purchasing a new piece of art can quickly turn to stress when it comes time to hang it. Keep reading for valuable tips and suggestions for creating your very own in-home art exhibits:

Mix it up:
Think about what you have to work with. Do you have three canvas art pieces? Then use them in different rooms. Mix in photography, art that is framed with a glass face, metal art, etc. When arranging multiple pieces, don’t just think in terms of a grid. Salon installations- a grouping of often different images or frames clustered together- are becoming very popular. Such installations often stretch from wall to wall and floor to ceiling and there's no right or wrong way to do it. Simply start in the middle and work your way out.

Hang Art at Eye-Level:
The most common question when it comes to hanging art is what is the proper height to hang it? When hanging a single piece on a wall, the center should be approximately 62 inches above the floor, which places it at eye level. When hanging a pair of works, one above the other, treat them as one large piece (whether they’re the same size or not). Find the center point between them, and use the same 60 inch rule. Groupings should have approximately 2-3 1/2'' spacing between the pieces. And the larger the pieces, the wider the spacing.

Hang Safely & Correctly:
Hanging a beloved or expensive piece of art can be stressful, because if it's not secured properly, it can come crashing down to the floor. And contrary to popular belief, you don't need to hammer nails into studs, or install drywall anchors to support art. Here's how to do it:

• Use picture-hanging hooks, rather than heavy nails or screws:
Although they may seem dainty, they are very secure. The picture hooks go into the wall on an angle, like a cat’s claw—it’s a whole different set of physics.

• Buy the right type of hook for your artwork’s weight:
There are basically three types: a one-nail picture hook holds things that are 30 pounds or lighter, a two-nail picture hook holds pieces that are about 50 pounds and three-nail picture hook holds pieces that are about 75 to 100 pounds.

• Use two picture hooks per artwork:
Not only does this provide added security but it helps art remain level over time, compared to items hung from a single point.

• When possible, install two D-rings, rather than a wire, on the backs of frames, to hang from the picture hooks. This way the piece is stationary, and not swinging on a wire, so there's no pendulum effect involved.

• Use a level and ruler to ensure that both the picture hooks and D-rings are aligned when installed.

Recruit someone to assist you:
A helper can hold pieces against the wall before you begin hammering in the picture hooks, so you can step back and make sure you like the way the space looks like with the piece there. You get
a sense of the proportions and colors, and see it against all the other design elements.

We hope these tips prove helpful for your art hanging adventures!

Chameleon Design Featured Project: Waterman Junction, Barstow

2011-10-10T17:31:00.000-07:00

For this project, Chameleon Design transformed the Harvey House restaurant in the middle of Barstow into an information center launching a new 80,000 home development. Dating back to 1885, the building used to be an old railroad depot. The building's historical designation lead to considerable construction constraints. We made it work for us by drawing on original features such as the Doric columns, box beam ceilings and hammered copper chandeliers to infuse elements of the past with fresh modern styling.

Original columns at entry.

Bold patterns on upholstered chairs recall the feel of a passenger train car and standing displays resolve the problem of no wall space.

On the solitary usable wall, one finds an enormous map suspended with steel and custom wood framing.

Welcoming windows, lively carpet tiles, and a rich gem-like palette all signal a Barstow with vitality, history and community where new residents and homeowners can imagine beginning a new.

Let Your Light Shine: Lighting and why it’s important to the overall look and feel of a room.

2011-10-05T00:38:00.000-07:00

Lighting is unbelievably important in creating the right look and feel in any space. It creates the mood in each room definitely deserves some special thought and attention. If you are moving into a new space, make sure that lighting is considered in your planning. If you’re in an existing space and you’d like to re-do your lighting, hiring an electrician is your best bet. They can help explain your options and make sure that you stay within your budget. Here are some pointers from Chameleon Design in making sure you’ve got your bases covered when it comes to lighting in your home:

Install Dimmers
One mistake that we find people often make is not putting dimmers on all of their lights. Any switch can be converted for $100 or less, and the amazing results you’ll get when you can control the mood in the room will be well worth the cost!

Use Different Light Sources
We always recommend that every room have three different light sources: Accent Lighting for highlighting small spaces, Task Lighting for specific purposes such as reading and Ambient Lighting for general illumination purposes. For accent lighting, overhead lighting in the form of recessed cans or tracks are best. You can use these to brightly light specific areas or a piece of artwork. Table lamps or occasional reading lamp covers task lighting, and ambient lighting can be achieved with decorative sconces, chandeliers or other lamps. You’ll find that if your living areas are complete with these different light sources, it can transform the look and feel of the entire room.

Make the Switch to LED
All this additional lighting may have you worrying about your electricity bill. But a switch to LED can solve this problem in a snap. LED products are relatively new to many sectors of the lighting marketplace and are currently enjoying a big surge in popularity. Though it has a higher upfront cost, LED lighting has many benefits that will save you money in the long run. Benefits are: high energy efficiency, durability, versatility and a longer life span compared to incandescent and fluorescent lighting. LED lights have a 50,000 hour life span and do not burn out. After time, they will start to diminish about 30% of the light until they eventually fade out. The wattage required to power an LED bulb is a mere fraction of that required for standard incandescent light bulbs. This means big energy savings for the homeowner, while also reducing environmental impact!

If you have any questions, or to request additional information, LED Power Inc. (www.ledpower.com) in Irvine is our go-to source for all of our LED lighting needs!

Chameleon Design Featured Project: Granville at Central Park West, Irvine

2011-10-05T00:37:00.000-07:00

For this project we used our Earthy, Urban Natural scheme and added some Industrial Elements mixed with reclaimed wood pieces to inspire an Eco-Friendly buyer. The wood flooring starts at the entry and into the downstairs office, then continues on the second floor living spaces and then again is repeated on the third floor landing/day trader space to lead you up.

Office with reclaimed wood desk

Master Bedroom

Living Room: The coffee table base is a tree stump

Kitchen: The dining table had to have a "wow" factor, since you walk right into the side of it on the second floor, so we chose a slab of wood with a live edge and added the industrial metal stools for seating. The stools worked well because they didn't take up too much space.

Chameleon Design Studio/Showroom Update

2011-09-26T21:23:00.000-07:00

We’re still working on the new Chameleon Design offices and wanted to update you with some behind the scenes news! As mentioned in our last post about the new offices, we tackle design dilemmas that can also apply to the home. When moving into a new space, two of the biggest factors are making sure you successfully integrate the old with the new, while maintaining beauty and functionality.

Take Existing Things Into Account
When you’re looking for a new space, do an inventory of the bigger items you already own, and make sure they will work within it. With our space, we knew we wanted to use our existing commercial office furniture, as well as some furniture from the store that we wanted to keep and integrate. We found a building with polished concrete floors that we knew would look great with our metallic green Systems Office Furniture. This was a big factor is choosing the space, because the cost of replacing the furniture would have been huge. Once you know you can fit your bigger ticket existing items into the new space, you can begin to fill in the holes with new items.

Brick, Metal and Concrete

Metallic Green Systems Furniture

Function and Beauty
Another important design element is to make your new space look great AND be functional. The same goes for any home or office, as you obviously want it to look great, but if you can’t really live or work in it, you’re doing something wrong. In designing the Chameleon Design offices, everything is driven from two things: they must be functional in terms of helping our clients in the most cost-effective and time efficient manner, and they must look beautiful and demonstrate our design abilities, while integrating items we already own to save on costs.

The multi-use space will have offices where people are working, as well as a showroom area with store inventory set up in vignettes so that clients can see possible design directions. There will also be an interior design library that will need to be functional and easy to use, but look fabulous and organized at the same time! Also, as we discussed in our last showroom update, there are office areas in the space with walls that do not go all the way to the ceiling. We decided to address the sound transmission issue but putting in upper glazing. As you can see below, we raised the walls in the office areas, to give added privacy, but left them lower in adjacent areas that may serve as more general areas such as the showroom.

Upper glazing to address sound transmission

Raised walls for offices are left low in adjacent areas

We hope these design tips will help you when moving into your next home (or office) and please don’t hesitate to contact us at Chameleon Design for some additional guidance.

Chameleon Design Featured Project: Belmont Plan One, San Elijo Hills in San Marcos

2011-09-26T17:56:00.000-07:00

This project won Chameleon Design a SoCal Award this past weekend! The space that we had to work with was very small, but was done so well that it shows much bolder and stronger than the budget of $18 per square foot. Check out the photos and we're sure you'll agree:

Kitchen & Dining Room

Master Bedroom

Office

Nursery

Chameleon Design Featured Project: Olive Street, Downtown Los Angeles

2011-09-19T15:50:00.000-07:00

A perfect location for seniors deciding where their "new" home is going to be, 740 S. Olive Street is a historic building that's been updated. This 13-story building provides affordable senior living in the heart of Los Angeles and Chameleon Design put a little glitz and glam into its art deco bones.

All of the interiors were redone to include: the lobbies, recreation room, exercise room, theater room, offices and hallway interior specifications, while maintaining the art deco historical features. See the ceiling detail in the lobby, the gold leaf mural in the lobby seating area and the glass block wall in multi-purpose room.

Resident Reverend Hannah couldn't believe how beautiful it looked after the remodel and said: "I can't believe this is my home. I am so happy I live here!"

Entrance

Lobby Seating

Main Lobby

Multi-Purpose Room

Rooftop

Creative Roadblocks: What to Do With Trouble Areas in the Home

2011-09-19T14:04:00.000-07:00

Every home has those rooms or areas that get left out of the design and décor mix- often because people don’t know what to do with them. Follow our blog in the coming weeks for series of “Creative Roadblocks” that we’ll help you out with. First up- the laundry room!

The Laundry Room:
The laundry room is often a room that homeowners don’t think about. Yet there are simple things that you can do to make it much more functional and maybe even show-worthy! One very helpful addition is to hang a dry bar for those items that have a tendency to shrink and delicates that need to be air-dried. A drying rack only holds a few shirts at most and can look sloppy, but a closet rod mounted on the underside of a laundry-room shelf makes a good spot for a row of shirts on hangers. The rod can also be helpful when you're ironing to hang pressed shirts as you work. You can see an example of this, and other features, in the photos below from various Brookfield Homes laundry rooms. They are one of our favorite clients to work for and one of the most creative developers of new homes out there.

Speaking of ironing, the laundry room is a logical place for the ironing board to be stored, but many don’t have closets. Consider having a pullout ironing board built into the wall and you just might find yourself looking forward to the chore.

So now you’re organized and tidy, but if your laundry room feels a bit dreary, add a brighter paint to the walls such as yellow, green or turquoise. You could also consider a textured vinyl wallpaper to give you a nice, tonal texture in the room. If you do go with color on the walls, keep trim, counters and the backspash looking clean with a color like white. Laundry rooms are busy enough with clothes everywhere, so keep your design simple. I like Caesarstone counter tops instead of granite because it creates a more uniform look. Also make sure you have adequate lighting.

Brookfield Homes builds great functional features and clean design into their laundry rooms. Check out the rest of the homes in their Colony Park Anaheim development: www.livecolonypark.com. And, as always, if you need help with your laundry room you know that we're here for you at Chameleon Design!

Fall Is Here! What Does It Mean For Your Home?

2011-09-12T13:26:00.000-07:00

School has started back up, it’s beginning to get dark a bit later and temperatures have begun to drop by the slightest bit. Fall is on everyone’s mind! I’m sharing some helpful hints on how to get your home nice and cozy for the season ahead.

Fall Cleaning?
Though spring-cleaning typically gets all the attention, fall should not be ignored! It may not be on the top of any Southern California residents’ to-do lists, but it’s a great way to prepare a home for the cooler winter months where much more time is spent indoors. Before the temperatures start to drop, tackle all the loose ends that build up over the year. We talked about organizing the closets a couple weeks ago, but don’t forget about the kitchen pantry, turning rugs to avoid ware, removing summer slipcovers on furniture, changing bed linens and so on. While vacationing with my family this summer in the Caribbean, I was catching up on my favorite magazines and came across some incredible cleaning checklists from homemaking maven Martha Stewart. I thought these were excellent tips to share with you, and you can check them out here: www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/fall-homekeeping-tips

Changing Seasons, Changing Wall Color:
The leaves are changing color, the weather is changing, so why not transform a room in the home with a wall color change? Painting is the quickest and most inexpensive way to give any room a new look and feel. You can even do it yourself! Over at Chameleon Design, we find ourselves getting sucked into that late-night infomercial just like the rest of you. One of our latest faves is the “Paint Zoom” paint gun www.paintzoom.com. This can turn anyone into a pro, and make transforming a room with a color change a low-cost breeze that anyone can do.

Also, consider painting one accent wall as opposed to a warmed background color on all four walls. An accent wall is traditionally a brightly-colored wall added to a room where the other three walls are white. They draw your eye to a particular part of the room and give you a chance to play around with color in your house in a new way. When deciding what wall to use, look for the natural focal point in the room. If you have a fireplace, you can make the room more dramatic by painting the wall around it a different color. The wall behind a bed's headboard or an important piece of furniture are also great options. When there is no natural focal point in a room, you can create one. Look around- where do you want the eye to go first? Here are a few examples to illustrate this design technique:

This orange bedroom accent wall is a bold choice but works with the mostly neutral decor colors and the pops of color on the bed tie it all together.

The accent wall in this office brightens up the room and creates a focal point around the desk.

Chameleon Design Is Getting A New Home

2011-09-06T13:40:00.000-07:00

We're taking you behind the scenes of our studio construction and design in progress!

We've acquired a new space for Chameleon Design and we're working hard on building out and creating our new design offices. Throughout the process, some unexpected design dilemmas have come up and we’ve had to put our heads together to come up with the best ways to address them. Read about how we handled them, as the tips may come in handy in your design adventures as well!

Comfort and Functionality:
When designing a new space, professional designers have to think about functionality before we even begin to consider furniture and decor elements. In our space, which was built with a contemporary feel, the walls between each room and office do not go all the way to the ceiling. This may look cool, but in actuality this is not ideal for offices. The open space can allow sound to travel, as well as make temperatures hard to control. There is nothing more miserable than too much noise or being too hot or cold when you’re trying to get your work done! We came up with a concept to put clear glazing on the upper areas that look almost like windows, and reach to the ceiling. This way the light is still able to travel through, allowing that airy feel to remain, but sound is kept at a low.

For the storage room, we decided to add a door and an air conditioner vent, and make this the home of the computer system. No one wants to see the ugly wires all over the place, so tucking all of this away is a great idea. This was most definitely the best use of the storage closet.

We mainly think of hiring a professional designer to make things look pretty in the home. Though that is definitely important, making sure the space is functional ranks just as high. If you need to re-think the function of any spaces in your home, Chameleon Design can help you do it.

Stay tuned through the coming weeks for more updates on the progress of this project!

Get Organized for Fall.... starting with the closet.

2011-08-29T18:03:00.000-07:00

While many people see Labor Day weekend as the last chance to squeeze in a mini-vacation before the fall, some are up to their ears transitioning their closets from summer to fall and getting organized and prepared for back to school. So for those who have opted to stay home, we thought we would offer some tips to organizing your closet in style.

Take an inventory:
In order to assess what’s in your closet, start by taking every single thing out. You’ll be surprised by what’s been hiding in the far corners and on hard to reach shelves. Once you can get a clear picture of everything you’ve got, be choosy about what you put back in. If there are items you haven’t worn in two plus years, it’s time to get rid of them. Donate to a charity and make room for new pieces. We love Working Wardrobes: www.workingwardrobes.org. If you have a ton of outgrown kids clothes, make some extra cash by taking them to a children’s consignment store such as PrettyDotz in Corona del Mar. Once you get things cleared out, stay organized year-round by spending 10-15 minutes each morning making sure things get put back where they belong.

Create a Hideaway:
Consider storing off-season clothing such as bathing suits and sundresses elsewhere. These items don’t deserve prime closet real estate and can easily be tucked away until the summer weather rolls around again next year. An attic, garage or extra closet in another room is a great place to store boxes. Also consider creating mud room area in your garage with wall hooks and a bench. By leaving items such as coats and shoes just outside the door, you’re saving much-needed closet space.

Invest in New Hangers:
You know those wire and plastic hangers from department stores or dry cleaners that somehow always manage to find a home in even the nicest of closets? Well get rid of them! Any dry cleaners will take them back and recycle them for you. Splurge on nice, wooden hangers that will keep the form of your clothes and you won’t regret it. Investing in all matching hangers, which will also allow your clothes to all hang at the same height, is one of the quickest ways to make your closet look and feel more organized. And don’t forget about the kids hangers! As your kids grow, and so do their clothing sizes, make sure to get rid of old hangers that are too small. Involve the kids in any closet organization projects, so they can learn how to do it for themselves as they get older.

Make the Most of the space you have:
Don’t let any space in your closet go to waste. The simple act of adding hooks to the backs of doors gives scarves, purses, belts or long necklaces a tidy place to hang out. If it will work with your closet configuration, install two-tiered hanging rods, allowing you to hang blouses and shirts over your pants. That way, you’ll get twice the amount of clothes in a smaller amount of space. Purchase plastic bins to store knits such as cashmere, that lose their shape if they are hung, and stack on shelves above your clothes racks.

If you don’t have shelving and your closet will allow for it, consider having something built. Chameleon Design can work with you to design a beautiful custom built-in for even the tiniest of spaces in your home. It will leave you feeling not only luxurious, but fresh and organized for the new season!

A Chameleon Design closet in a master bedroom.

Proportion Parameters

2011-08-23T20:48:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest telltale signs that a home has not had the input of a designer is that it is out of proportion. I see a lot of out-of-scale furniture, underutilized space and awkward floor plans. I was just in a house recently where this was apparent. It was sort of odd how they arranged things and uncomfortable to move from room to room, making it feel un-inviting. But the homeowners didn't know what they were missing because no one had taken the time to rearrange it and edit it for them!

When putting together a room, it’s really worth to hire a designer for a few hours to help out. They can help you create a floor plan which is useful in many ways. They can also do some drawings to scale so you know what fits size-wise if you are going to buy the furniture yourself. Even if you want to do it one piece at a time, you have that background of information to use for as long as you're in the home.

This kind of consultation is something just about any designer will do. It can really help you create the kind of space that people will want to be in AND stay in.

Below are some photographs of a media-living room-dining room that was tricky to design. With a little expert planning and design they came together beautifully!

Transitioning Kid’s Rooms

2011-08-15T11:22:00.000-07:00

As our kids grow, their tastes change and they literally grow out of their old rooms. Your 12 year old might have hit a growth spurt and has feet dangling off the bed he or she had as a child! Their needs also change. They don’t play with the same “toys” that used to entertain them for hours on end. Once kids are in early elementary to late elementary or middle school, it’s usually time for a transition. People often do a beautiful job from the nursery to the little kid's room, but changing a room to be tween/teen can take a little bit more thought. They aren’t grown-ups yet, but will be adults by the time high school is over. Such a broad range.

The main idea: you want to think about this as a cool place where they can hang out with their friends— better your home than somewhere where you can’t keep an eye on them! This is going to be their sanctuary where they begin to develop a sense of self and identity. I’ve recently done a few of these rooms and they can be really fun to do.

Out with the old: First you want to take all the kiddie stuff out—the castle, transportation-themed items, over-the-top glittery and girlie, childhood characters, etc.

Bedding matters: Ever wonder why kids are drawn to your bed and don’t like to be in theirs? Part of it is that your bed is super comfy! You’ve made cozy bedding a priority. Your kids would appreciate the same consideration. Why wouldn’t they want to sleep in a nicer bed? If you can believe it, kids can make a distinction of thread count. A pillow top mattress with a down-filled duvet they would be happy in their own bed. But if your worried about spending money on a bed you fear will get destroyed quickly, you can get high thread count sheets at Target and Costco.

Kids today: The days are gone when kids sit at a desk and do homework. They are sitting in chairs with laptops or iPads, so they need a surface for writing. A chair with a little table next to it that will swing out for them to work is great use of space and practical for their needs.

Friends are huge: Remember who will mostly be in this space— your child and their friends. Think about what will make them want to hang out in there. Use lots of photography of them with their friends and the activities they are involved in. It will give them feeling like this is THEIR space.

Dealing with trends: If your child is really into something you think will soon fade, a good idea is to wallpaper a wall with tackable surface (it looks like fabric). Your kid can just pushpin things right into the wall with their changing tastes. It’s also great to organize it like a giant bulletin board to keep track of the most recent things happening in their life.

The INformalizing of the Formal Dining Room and Living Room

2011-08-09T13:54:00.000-07:00

The case of the unused formal space is pretty common. This is an example of a home I recently did where a family in Cameo Highlands was looking to make better use of their formal living and dining room. They didn’t need the formal space, and it was going unused.

Their objective was to uphold the distinction between the entertaining area and the everyday family room and kitchen, while softening the space so that it became a relaxing place to read a book and take in the view. Truth be told, the husband was the one asking for a place to get away, and with a traditional “man cave” not in the cards, the couple reached a compromise. The designers at Studio Chameleon were able to re-imagine a space that fulfilled both her needs as a hostess, and his desire for a quiet retreat.

Features:

New arched doors provide an architectural element while further dividing the room acoustically and visually. The chaise sofa parallels a wall of windows highlighting the home’s north facing views of the Pacific and Newport Harbor.

The dramatic over-sized Joan Davis art piece creates a focal point that draws you into the room.

Occasional swivel chairs seat two, perfect for entertaining other couples and extra guests. The photos above the TV are the husbands own, adding a personal touch that isn’t cliché.

Natural elements like fossil boxes, petrified wood, and a roughly hewn bronze sculpture give the room a more masculine, less fussy feel.

Christmas in August: Redecorating Takes Time

2011-08-01T11:17:00.000-07:00

Hope you’ve had a great summer! It might seem crazy with the warm weather and grilling, but it’s time to start thinking about holiday decorating and the design projects you want finished in time for guests during the holidays. I highly suggest enlisting the help of a designer. Even if you are just repurposing items from last year and don’t plan any new purchases, a designer can help you lay out your decorations and furniture to make hostessing a breeze.

Here are some things to think about when working with a designer to plan your holiday look.

Establish budget. This is so important! You need to know what you can spend in order for your designer to be able to plan appropriately. Telling your designer you don’t know what your budget is can lead to problems. There is such a variety of pricing on items. You’ve been to IKEA, Room & Board and high-end boutiques, right? So, just think about the variety of pricing. It’s even broader when you deal with a designer who has access to even more furniture. You also might need to refresh a few things like outdated or broken items.

Schedule accordingly. You need to give yourself about 12-14 weeks from the day you start talking to a designer until completion. Remember, if you are ordering furniture or even certain decorations you should plan for 6-8 weeks for delivery. You can’t make a decision that quickly. You might get lucky and find your items on the showroom floor, but don’t count on it.

Be prepared when you meet with the designer. The more prepared you are, the more you will save time and money (and energy). Designers work on an hourly basis. You will save the designer from having to create a million different concepts if you have a clear vision of what you want or at least come with ideas and know what you DON’T want. In your first meeting you will discuss concepts, so be prepared!

Final decisions. After you discuss concepts the designer will go back and begin pulling what she thinks will look best and is in your design aesthetic. You will have a design development meeting with specific selections and pricing for you to approve.

Orders are placed!

Wait. While you’re waiting for your décor to be delivered start planning your menus, preparing invitations and relax a little before the mayhem begins!

Delivery and staging. Yay! Your purchases are now ready to put in your home and the designer will help the look come together with existing pieces.

Studio Chameleon does lots of this work and we’ve already begun helping a few clients prepare. Would love to help you too! Call us today at (949) 650-7979.

Monochromatic Makeovers

2011-07-25T14:34:00.000-07:00

People who go monochromatic often do it because they get tired of things quickly. They need something that is very timeless and will work forever. If you did something like a red sofa it can look really cool, but a lot of people will just get tired with such a strong color after awhile. People like their basics to be neutral. Before you know it you have a neutral scheme. Then you can just add beautiful neutral looking throws, pillows and art. Successful ones are typically in warm tones. Your browns, golds and taupes. If you do something like all blue, with baby blue walls and denim fabric it gets overwhelming. If you are someone who likes to entertain and throw parties, remember your guests will look good in the backdrop of a neutral color scheme. It will make for better photos!

One thing to remember if you are afraid of the monochromatic is that even if you have a mono color scheme you really don’t. You have plants, you have the flooring and even the food and people you have at your parties has varying color. You can change out your accents with the seasons with a pop of color, too.

These contemporary pieces from artist Dan Sayes are examples of neutral accents that would look beautiful as part of your monochromatic decor:

How about you? Any monochromatic successes or flops?

After the Honeymoon: How to Marry Your Decor

2011-07-19T17:40:00.000-07:00

As marriage season is in full swing, after the parties and honeymoon the happy couple will go back to their home. And what awaits them? Stacks of gifts and two lives that now have to be merged. This includes furniture and home accessories!

Luckily for today’s couples, eclectic styles are really in. “Marrying” more than one style is what the art of interior design is about right now. You will need to think carefully how to best incorporate all of your stuff, especially when it comes to beloved pieces you may not agree upon. Bringing in a “mediator” like an interior designer can really help to figure out how to solve disputes over what goes and what stays. It’s not uncommon for interior designers to say they are also therapists- we’re skilled in handling these types of disagreements.

Here are my thoughts on the matter:

Think about this when you register. As you are selecting items to build your home together, this is a great time to start thinking about what pieces each of you already own, that you'd both like to keep. This will also help to ask for things that will look great in your home, and compliment what you already have.

It’s not up to one person to decide. More and more the idea that the woman is the one who dictates style is becoming an antiquated notion. Men care too. That’s why the whole house should be a collaboration with input from both sides. Sometimes men will say they don’t care or are fine with anything, but even in those cases thought should still go into what will make them happy, even if they don’t vocalize it.

You both need your space. While the whole house is a collaboration, you should still have places in your house where your personalities can shine and you can get things done. It might be a craft room/area for her, or a special space in the garage for him. Whatever you do, try to carve out “his” and “her” spaces where each of you can explore your own interests and enjoy your personal style.

Expect the unexpected. Doing an eclectic style right is all about releasing the need to be too matchy matchy. You want there to be an element of the unexpected.

Don’t sweat the small stuff. Does he really love the neon beer sign he’s had since college? Can she not live without her cat figurine collection? If it really means that much to the other person, find a way to make it work. Put the beer sign in a discreet spot at your home bar or create quirky places where the cats seem whimsical and playful.

Remember, marriages are forever but couches and the latest styles are not. Learning to embrace your partner’s design perspective can be a first step in many of the compromises you will be making in your happy life together!

Doing the Home Bar Right

2011-07-11T17:35:00.000-07:00

Recently I did a series on “What We Love About Home.” One of the things I’ve noticed in the last few years is that people are really investing in their homes. They are really focused on putting love into them and making them spaces where people want to gather. Why go out when staying in is just as fun? One of the ways to really complete a home for entertaining is making a great home bar. If you do it right, friends and family will always want to return to your cozy cantina.

The first thing you will want to do is make sure you are stocked with the right supplies. Here’s a good checklist:

-Ice bucket and tongs: no finger picking, please!

-Bottle coolers: keep your Chardonnay & Champagne at the perfect temperature without the fuss of ice

-Cocktail shaker: Make sure to get a large one since this is for entertaining (at least 2-3 martinis per shaker). The small, personal ones won’t cut it.

-Decanter: let your wine breathe a little!

-Barwear and glasswear

-Coasters: Ack! Rings on your wood are no good.

-Rings for wine glasses: so your Pinot doesn’t get picked up by the wrong person

-Wine fridge: Even for the smallest bar, you will want your wine at the perfect temp.

We have a variety of beautiful decanters in-stock that will fit the style of any home.

Now that you are stocked, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got the right furniture. Whatever you are using as your prep station, you will want at a bar height which is at least 36”. This is so you stand and prepare without hunching over. I really recommend that even for the smallest bar you want to get a wine fridge so everything is at the proper temperature, unless you are fortunate enough to have a cellar! Also, you want to make everything really accessible. An icemaker drawer installed in your bar is great to keep you from running back and forth to the kitchen. When you entertain you need a lot of ice, and the freezer is usually already full with party food!

If you have cabinetry, you will want to use for hard liquor and to keep mixers there. Storage for all of this requires a decent amount of space. If you don’t have a lot of space in your bar area little, think about keeping all of your items like glass wear and mixers elsewhere. You will really want to think about how to maximize your space no matter how much you have. Hiring a designer for a couple hours to help you plan the space will be a GREAT investment.

What other things do you find essential for creating a great home bar?

Under the Sea: Oceanic Offerings for the Home

2011-07-05T18:15:00.000-07:00

Beneath the waves are crawling crustaceans waiting to inhabit your home. Luckily, our Bone Crabs and Bone Lobsters are easy to care for and will be a welcomed addition. Each is handcrafted with lifelike detail, including moving limbs. No worries about your wallet feeling “the pinch,” the small ones start at $225. Buy a few and start a family!

Two fab crab! All of our sea creatures are handcrafted and made of bone.

Rock lobster! Made of bone, with the look of ivory.

Make your new family of undersea creatures feel at home with beautiful ocean views by artist Deborah Brenner. Her minimalist design creates a serene beach scene.

Deborah Brenner’s Coastal Shore 1 (16x20) and Coastal Shore 2 (20x16) take you to seaside escapes.

Summer Space: A Tour of Eve Lowey's Backyard

2011-06-27T13:35:00.000-07:00

I’ve tried to make the rooms in my home live up to my motto of relaxed elegance. The biggest compliment is when people tell me that they want to just linger in my home. But in the summer, my backyard is where grown-ups and kids all like to gather. Here’s a tour of what you’ll find if you visit.

A colorful one-of-a-kind planter with mosaic tiles near the front door exemplifies my love of childhood creativity. It was designed and facilitated by my son’s fifth grade class for his school fundraiser. I also have antique spring playground animals that are the epitome of fun. They bring out the kid in everyone. Adults and children love sitting on them!

My backyard/entertainment area also has a fireplace, barbecue area with bar seating, and table seating for eight along with bar height tables for more entertaining. The pool and spa have cuddle chairs and ottomans, where friends and family gather to share stories of summer fun. Along one side of the pool house, facing the pool, are four life-sized, marble carved statues, each “lady” representing one of the four seasons.

If you search the plantings you will find an Indian head carved out of slate or hand-blown glass flowers in the midst of real ones. A mushroom-shaped small statuette is in the garden (another is at the front of the property). These 18th century pieces were made to hold hay bales in the barn to prevent molding. All of these touches are unexpected artifacts waiting to be uncovered.

The side yard is earthy and peaceful with a vegetable garden, grape arbor, seating area and a fountain off the guest room. Off the office, another side yard has a fireplace. All of the gates are from Europe, adding rustic enchantment.

The pool house—added on after we moved in—is a retreat for visiting guests. It contains all you need to feel like your vacationing in comfort with a bedroom, bath, living room, and a spiral staircase to the sun deck on the top.

There is no specific “style” I have tried to claim for my outdoor space, only that being outdoors should always embrace nature, celebrate the nostalgia of childhood and create opportunities to make new memories.

The Perfect Porch: How to Welcome Guests Before They Ever Set Foot in Your House

2011-06-20T19:14:00.000-07:00

Many people don’t realize the importance of the porch. The very first experience someone has of your home is when they are standing outside your front door, waiting for you to answer. It’s the first point for making guests feel welcome. So if you do a lot of entertaining, you really need to put some thought into it. At a time when you aren’t preparing for guests, spend some time thinking about how this often neglected area of your home represents your style. Here are some of the ways I’ve made my porch inviting.

Eve's porch

1) Make a Green Scene. Plants are great way to create interest and character at the front of your home. My porch has succulents that are arranged in a succulent wreath that doesn’t close the loop. They are easy to use and you stick the succulents into the mesh/felt material to create your own design. It frames my door. The front of my home and entry are also covered in ivy that has been grown and trimmed into a grid pattern. I think that a big blank wall is too much, even if it’s completely covered in ivy, it can still seem blank because it’s all one color. I like the look of the grid because it feels like outdoor art.
2) Have a Seat. Having some kind of seating in your front looks warm and inviting. It’s great for staging things like placing candles or seasonal decorations, but also an everyday use for placing groceries on or packages. Think about a little bench seat. I have two benches. One out by the driveway because it’s so long. The other is under a window near the porch. It’s really become something we use all the time.
3) Light the Way. If you are having a party in the evening, use votives in the entry and lining the walkway if it’s dark. I recommend finding outdoor votives and placing them in a glass or stone container. If you need more light, go with glass. If you are having a summer party that goes into the night, don’t light until the sun starts to set. I’d assign someone to do the lighting—like one of your girlfriends who is reliable. When not entertaining, think about the lighting in general. I have my entry lighted with sconces and placed in different areas. They are not just over garage but also in other places to create a lot of ambient lighting.
4) Put Out the Welcome Mat. In my entryway I have a bright and modern Chilewich rug (available at Studio Chameleon). They are great! It doesn’t shed, doesn’t feel too hard and they are fun to look at. They come in different colors and patterns. People really love them. The ones with bold stripes pair well with a more traditional exterior.

I hope these tips give you some ideas about making your porch a welcoming place. Remember, put yourself in your guests shoes and think about how your porch will appear to them!

Poolside Entertaining for Day and Evening

2011-06-13T14:13:00.000-07:00

Gathering poolside is a great summer tradition. It’s great for cooling off or as ambiance. Here's some tips on making a great time for those in and out of the water.

1) Fabulously furnished. Outdoor furniture will be the foundation to any poolside entertaining. You will want to invest in quality, which will wear better and last longer as the years go by. Make sure to have seating that is poolside so guests can enjoy being near the water. Having pillows and blankets on hand are also a great way for people to set up seating wherever they’d like.
2) Flotation devices. If it’s evening, floating candles or lanterns in the water are always great, but you might also want to think of some nontraditional floaties. Giant beach balls, floating fountains and fake flowers (look for ones that are meant for this sort of thing) make great decor.
3) Made in the shade. Your guests will want to escape the sun. Umbrellas, awnings and portable cabanas help guests beat the heat.
4) Extra! Extra! If guests will actually be going for a dip (even if just in the spa), you will always want to make sure you have extras on hand. This includes towels, sunscreen, floaties and even loaner swimsuits (the ones from a couple seasons ago work great). You don’t ever want to someone to feel like they can’t be part of the fun just because they’ve forgotten something.

Eve's elegant poolside space for entertaining.

Summer Entertaining: How to Throw the Perfect Summer Party

2011-06-06T20:00:00.000-07:00

Summer is my favorite time to entertain. It’s relaxed, the weather’s great and there’s so much great food. Here are a few tips for the perfect summer party!

1) Plan ahead. While spontaneous get-togethers are great, a planned party always feels like something special. Make sure to give yourself a couple weeks to think about location, guest list, budget, if it will be day or evening, and if there will be some sort of theme.
2) Invitations. Depending on the kind party you will be hosting, invitations can be a phone call, Evite or a card in the mail. What matters most is that it is personal, timely and done all at once (no one likes to feel like an afterthought!). Aside from date, time and place, you’ll also want to make sure to let guests know how to RSVP, if kids (or even pets) are welcome and if they need to bring anything (games? drinks? food?).

Eve's home in Newport Coast is ready for guests.

3) Outdoor considerations. I’d encourage you to take advantage of the great weather summer has to offer! This could be in your backyard, beachside or at a park. But make sure you think of how that will affect guests (they will need shade!), food (drinks need to be iced, chocolate melts, dairy spoils) and if bugs will be bothersome. And if you are in a place with extreme heat, make sure guests are hydrated with lots of water and consider parties when it starts to cool.
4) Food. If you are planning something elaborately catered or just doing a simple potluck food is often the start of the show. Make sure to think about how guests will be eating—if they are standing up or balancing on their lap you will want to avoid a knife and fork. Kabobs work great and there many different possibilities including veggies, fruits and fish. Also, as someone with food allergies, I’m always excited when people have considered if there are things for me to eat. As hostess, you may want to check with guests if there are special food considerations.
5) Music. This will get the party going and keep it alive! Depending on your soiree, it can be upbeat or mellow. I always think a good summer mix should be fun, but not something that will overwhelm and dominate (like something with a heavy beat).
6) Signature cocktail. This is easier to do than it sounds and also will impress guests! Considering adding mint, basil or other herbs to a cocktail you already love. A sangria with a twist, like using white wine or summery fruit, is also an easy drink. You will want to experiment before the party to taste test—which I’m sure some friends would love to volunteer to help!

Wedding Gift Ideas

2011-05-31T13:25:00.000-07:00

Wedding season is upon us! There’s always pressure to find the right gift for the bride and groom for their new life together. Get them started right with gifts from Studio Chameleon. We’ve also got great shower gifts, too! If you’re a stickler for sticking with the registry, consider a registry gift plus a small, unique item from us to show your thoughtfulness!

Petrified Wood Cheese Platter: A gift that’s great for the couple who loves to entertain.

Fossil Box: An elegant and very distinctive box that holds whatever you want, but makes a statement wherever it is.

Custom Art: A great way to celebrate the bride and groom is through a one of-a-kind piece of art that is special to them. We offer custom framing and can help you think of the right item or items to frame into art. Perhaps seashells from the beach where they were engaged? Or commission one of our celebrated artists to create something as unique as their love.

Frames: A great item to display memories. Tip: Find photos of the happy couple online or ask their family to have the frame already filled.

Stone and Agate Druzy Hearts: These are great little something to add to shower or wedding gifts, but also a unique reminder of the couple’s love.

Quick Fix: Easy Kitchen Upgrades

2011-05-23T10:05:00.001-07:00

Last week we talked about how to upgrade your bathroom. This week we’re tackling the kitchen. The kitchen often becomes a gathering place when company comes by. Food and drink tends to draw people in! Here are some ways to help keep the kitchen fresh.

1) Hardware Care. This one is pretty easy is to upgrade and can make a real difference. Replacing knobs, hinges and pulls is fairly inexpensive and can take an afternoon to do. Just a word of caution: make sure the new hardware matches the existing hole locations. A good polishing of existing hardware can also help to brighten the space.
2) Floor Fixers. If you’ve got great hardwood floors that have taken a beating, refinishing them will restore their former glory. For the quickest and easiest of all fixes, look into rugs that will add personality to room, while protecting floors.
3) Cabinet Creativity. There are lots of ways to make your cabinets look better. Of course refacing is great for a redo without completely ditching the old cabinets, but it might still be too time and money intensive. Consider instead repainting, changing only the doors or adding molding.
4) Exciting Lighting. Again, like with bathrooms, lighting makes a huge difference. If you’re fixtures are newer, an install of dimmers can also add to the ambiance for dinner guests. Even if you don’t upgrade, a good scrubbing can make a world of difference!
5) Backsplash Beauty. An easy way to get current is to focus on redoing the backsplash. The “in” styles for these change every few years if you are looking to stay modern, but backsplashes can also get grimy quickly so that’s another good reason to change! Subway tile has been all the rage and also has a classic look, but other options are ceramic or glass tile, beadboard or even stainless steel.
6) Fancier Faucets. There are some really amazing faucets out on the market right now. Ones that seem to do everything. A new faucet can go a long way in making dishes feel less like a chore.
7) Get Organized. Have items started to drift from their proper places? Has the utensil holder on the counter become a catchall? Get everything back in its proper place! This is especially a must in the kitchen as it will save you time when cooking or just looking for the bag of Oreos.

The Black Tamara Tower is perfect extra storage for the kitchen. Can also double as a bar and has a removable serving tray.

We also loved the very thorough list from Bon Apetit on “Fifty Instant Kitchen Upgrades.”

Don’t forget—Studio Chameleon’s design services also extend to kitchens and we’d be happy to help you figure out what upgrades would be best for your kitchen!

Father's Day Photo Contest and Reception

2011-05-19T10:52:00.000-07:00

It’s a yearly dilemma—what to get dad for Father’s Day. Another tie simply will not do. Gadgets are fun, but so impersonal. DEDO and Studio Chameleon are helping to re-frame Father's Day gifting.

Honor your pop with a unique and personal gift he's bound to love—a photo in a frame from recycled precious woods (DEDO has 40 different woods to choose from). Even better, you can win this great gift for dad. Here’s how….

CONTEST: Submit a really cool photo of you and your dad together. The photo can be from a time long before camera phones (tech tip: you can shoot a photo of that old Polaroid with your 2.0MP camera phone) or you can submit a celluloid memory you made this year.
DEADLINE: May 31st
SUBMIT ONLINE: http://dedoframe.com/fathersdaycontest
WINNER ANNOUNCED: Thursday, June 2nd at Studio Chameleon from 4-8 p.m. We’ll have a wine and cheese reception to honor dads and where you can view the photos from the contest in specially selected DEDO frames. All are welcome to attend and browse frames and other great gifts from Studio Chameleon for their dads too!

Quick Fix: Easy Bathroom Upgrades

2011-05-17T09:27:00.000-07:00

Summer brings a flurry of activity—the kids are home, there are vacations to take, parties to plan and friends to entertain. Looking at your bathroom you may feel less than excited about company coming over to inspect it. Banish the bathroom blues with these easy upgrades!

1) Swap out linens. And I mean ALL of the linens. This includes the rugs, bath mats and shower curtains. Consider the season and try to bring in ocean blues, coral or a summery yellow. You may want to also have a rotating set of linens for the change of seasons. This is by far the easiest step (and fairly inexpensive). Even if you only do this, you will feel like the bathroom has had a mini makeover.

2) Change or rearrange. Is your toothbrush holder tired? Soap bottle sad? Change it up! There is also no reason why the same seashell is sitting on your shelf in the same spot year after year. Rearrange or replace any knickknacks you might have lying around the bathroom. Also consider swapping between bathrooms if you are not up for a shopping spree.

3) Accentuate the positive. If you’ve got a little more time and are ambitious, consider painting an accent wall in your bathroom. Remember to keep the color one that flatters your skin tone as the color will be picked up in your face’s shadows. If you are not into DIY (do it yourself), having someone paint a wall in your bathroom is also fairly inexpensive and would take less than a half day of labor.

4) Fix your fixtures. The two fixtures you should look at are your faucet and your lighting. New faucets are a great facelift and can really help keep your bathroom looking modern and on trend without redoing the entire bathroom. Lighting, typically because it is up so high, often gets overlooked. Even if you don’t replace, consider cleaning as the dirt and dust can begin to affect the radiance of the room. These are great “honey do” projects if your significant other is slightly handy.

5) Bloom with the season. A very easy way to perk up the bathroom is with fresh flowers. Summer is a great time to be on the lookout for bright bouquets. We also have some lovely and fun vases at Studio Chameleon. Consider this one that has a “barnacle” look to it.

6) Change your scent. I always like to include this because so many people don’t think about this. Scents set moods, so the warmer apple cinnamon scent of winter doesn’t fit with summer. Try a cooler scent, like one with citrus or a “spa” scent like lavender. Also, don’t be afraid to use a couple different scents that will compliment each other. Just be aware not to overwhelm the nose! If using candles to create your scent, seek out soy. Soy candles burn much more cleanly and the scent will remain right to the last flame.

Get the Look for Less: Clayton Chair

2011-05-16T15:30:00.000-07:00

Get the look for less! Studio Chameleon sells a nearly identical chair to the one recently featured on House Beautiful's website--for $500 less! The Clayton Chair is a great addition to any living room and very comfortable.

Celebrating Mothers All Month

2011-05-13T10:55:00.000-07:00

We hope everyone had a great Mother's Day! We're in the Mother's Day spirit the whole month of May with our Furniture Swap Sale that benefits the moms of Human Options, a domestic violence shelter helping women and children get back on their feet.

It's easy:
1) Donate any piece of gently used furniture through Studio Chameleon during the month of May and we will give you 25% off the purchase of any furniture in the store.
2) We’ll pick up your old piece when we drop off your new one!*
3) All donated furniture will go directly to the women and children of Human Options.

Call us today at 949.650.7979
*Free delivery within 15 miles of Studio Chameleon

Energize Your Life: Now You’re Ready to Party at a Moment’s Notice

2011-05-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

Part four of a month-long blog series that looks at energizing your life through your home.

Now that your home is revitalizing and provides you with energy, you will never need to fear guests dropping by or inviting people over on the fly. All you need to do is some quick tidying. And I mean quick. This is my list to get my home ready for company in about a half hour.

1. Perform a room check. Just take a few moments to check in on each of the rooms your guests will be seeing. If there isn’t enough time to clear up clutter, move everything into a box and put it into the garage or closet until the party is over. Check for things around the house that you are used to but may not be best left out for guests – like the hairy dog bed in the family room, or the cat box in the bathroom – and move these things out of sight for the time being. Fluff the pillows, visually check to make sure furniture is positioned the way you want it and drapes or blinds are hanging nicely.
2. De‐clutter the kitchen. If you have dirty dishes and not enough time to wash them, stick them in the dishwasher or stack neatly in the sink. Removing the day‐ to‐day things from your kitchen counter tops creates a clean and uncluttered feeling. Stick the toaster, blender, coffee pot, knife block and vitamins in the cabinets and wipe down the counter tops.
3. Light some candles. I want to appeal to all of my guest’s senses, and it takes at least 30 minutes for candles to burn enough so that the aroma permeates the house. Fresh scents that are more natural appeal to a broader group of people. I recommend Maura Peters candles, which are available at Studio Chameleon. These hand‐poured soy and vegetable wax candles are made from the finest essential oils so they burn long and clean. A few of these and you are set for scent!
4. Put your photos out. Review the photos you have displayed and, particularly if family or close friends are visiting, make sure that you have pictures out of the people who are coming over. Keep a drawer or box of framed photos of those
closest to you, so that even if you don’t want to display them all the time, you have them available. This is such a simple way to make people feel that they are known and loved by you.
5. Dust the transition areas. People tend to look down at transition areas – when they are walking into the front door and other rooms and the flooring changes from wood to carpet. This is also a place that quickly accumulates dust and pet hair. Before your guests arrive, take the towel you used to wipe down the counters and do a quick rub down of this area to make sure it is clean.
6. Set the mood with music. Put on your favorite cd and enjoy a glass of wine before your guests arrive.

Now you're ready to party!

Our White Orchid Tealights are lovely to light up when guests
are on their way. Available in store and online.

Marigold Mirror Featured in Fresh Home

2011-04-27T17:42:00.000-07:00

Clean lines with industrial wood make the Marigold Mirror from Studio Chameleon an impressive piece in any home. Featured online and in the Spring 2011 edition of Fresh Home, the mirror hangs in designer Kyle Schuneman's home office. He says, "It's handsome and timeless--I love the craftsmanship." The Marigold Mirror is available from Studio Chameleon in store and online.

Energize Your Life: Reupholster, Re-Stuff, Replace

2011-04-25T11:00:00.000-07:00

Part three of a month-long blog series that looks at energizing your life through your home.

Welcome back to energizing your life! We hope you enjoyed your Earth Day and were inspired to support the beautiful AND the green out there. Let's talk about how taking a look at your furniture can reinvigorate a room.

While it is common for us to clean out our closets and toss clothing that is worn, out-of-style, or no longer flattering, reconsidering furniture use is less customary. Why is this a problem? Because just as the items that you wear reflect your personality and style, so too should the furnishings of your home. Like clothing, furnishings should be reevaluated and updated so that they represent who we are and, above all, make us feel good. For some of us this can be as simple as mixing up throw pillows, bringing out your favorite china for a casual dinner party, or just filling your home with fresh flowers. For others, this may mean a real overhaul - rearranging entire rooms or a deep cleanse of the pieces that have stayed too long and are no longer contributing anything positive.

There are three things you should look at when deciding whether or not to keep a piece of furniture:

1) Condition: Is it worn? Stained? Missing Pieces? This kind of shabby is NOT chic! It doesn't help you stay positive if you are cursing every time you sit in a chair with collapsed cushions or have to fuss with busted drawers.
2) Function: Is this piece still relevant to your lifestyle? Is it the best use of space in your home? In general, do you have a room that gets little or no use? For instance - think of how you could re-purpose your formal living room to invite activities.
3) Style: Is it outdated and no longer fits in with your primary décor? Maybe you've already had it refinished and tried it in every room of the house. If you're keeping the piece for sentimental reasons, store it or let it go. There is no reason to have an eye sore out of guilt. Let someone else enjoy it! As with any still functional furniture (or clothes) there are plenty of people who would love to take it off your hands and recycle - After all, we did just celebrate Earth Day!

Looking to replace a worn-out chair? We love the Barber Chair! Available in store and online.

A Perfect Mother's Day Gift: Furniture That Gives Back

2011-04-21T19:17:00.000-07:00

Studio Chameleon loves moms! This Mother’s Day we’re helping the moms of Human Options, a domestic violence shelter for women in crisis in Orange County. These moms are rebuilding their lives and need furniture to do that. When you donate your furniture to them, we’re happy to reward your good deed!

Here’s how it works:
-Donate any piece of gently used furniture through Studio Chameleon during the month of May and we will give you 25% off the purchase of any furniture in the store.
-We’ll pick up your old piece when we drop off your new one!*

All donated furniture will go directly to the women and children of Human Options. For more information, call us at 949.650.7979!

*Free delivery within 15 miles of Studio Chameleon

Art, Wine and Design

2011-04-20T09:23:00.000-07:00

Please join us next Thursday, April 28 from 4-7pm for great wine, fabulous art and 15% off the entire store!

Earth Day Inspirations

2011-04-19T08:28:00.000-07:00

We’re taking a break this week from our “Energize Your Life” series to talk a little about Earth Day.

I’ve always been inspired by nature in my design work. Its unique beauty is something you can’t replicate. Which is why I’m always excited to find gorgeous pieces that have little or no impact on nature in the process. This Friday, April 22 is Earth Day (and this is also Earth Week!), so I thought I’d share a few earth-friendly items I currently adore.

For the wine cellar I designed at this year’s OC Philharmonic House of Design, I featured two eco-friendly pieces that were the talk of opening night. The wine crate art piece features the salvaged wooden labels from old wine crates. It’s completely custom, so we can highlight wines that you love from crates you have collected. It serves as memory of great wines that you’ve enjoyed with friends and family. It’s a great conversation piece!

The striped buffet is a sustainable, organic and contemporary piece. It is made of reclaimed teak. The stripes are formed from scrap wood, which is why each is different hue and adds a “rainbow” effect.

The striped buffet and wine crate art displayed in the wine
cellar of the OC Philharmonic House of Design.

We’re also loving these earth-friendly frames from Dedo, which are made from the unusable scraps of woodworkers. For Father’s Day Studio Chameleon will be doing a special event with Dedo. Be on the lookout for more details!

Bamboo frame from Dedo.

We hope you're inspired to find ways to be both green and beautiful this Earth Day!

Energize Your Life: Plants and Natural Items

2011-04-11T19:54:00.000-07:00

Part two of a month-long blog series that looks at energizing your life through your home.

How’s it going revitalizing your home? Everything clean, organized and re-placed? Next step: add some natural energy!

Living plants in our homes emit oxygen and help to clean and detoxify the air. Did you know that indoor plants can reduce fatigue, coughs, sore throats and other cold-related illnesses by more than 30%? Some great ones to use are Snake Plants, English Ivy and Spider Plants.

Minerals, stone and wood elements can also bring different kinds of energy to your home. Some help with procrastination, giving a power boost, or bringing peace. Plus, they’re beautiful to look at! Here are few we keep in the store and their uses.

Carved Onyx Leaf
Material: Onyx helps to ground and center.
Good for: Family rooms

Quartz Lotus Candle Holders
Material: Quartz crystal is energizing and emits power.
Good for: Home offices and gyms

Spalted Maple, Red Cedar, Cherry and Walnut Turquoise Box
Materials: Turquoise dispels negative energy and can be worn to protect against outside influences or pollutants in the atmosphere. Maple is a traveler's wood. Those who are always on the move and changing will feel right at home with this type of energy. Red cedar brings luck in any pursuit that requires the acquisition of new knowledge. Cherry helps to conquer conflict. Walnut is good for focusing upon the task at hand.
Good for: Home offices and “man caves”

Selenite Tealight Holders
Material: Energy from a selenite crystal can provide calm and peace.
Good for: “Mom caves” and bathrooms

Energize Your Life: Clean, Calculate and Create

2011-04-05T11:28:00.000-07:00

Part one of a month-long blog series that looks at energizing your life through your home.

If you’ve been following my blog, you know that I see the home as central to life and living. The state of your home has a direct impact on how you feel and consequently how you behave. When I’m looking for an energy boost, a trip to Starbucks for a cup of caffeine will not cut it in the long run. I need to refresh and revitalize my home as part of refreshing and revitalizing my life.

Clean
The first step in this process? I like to start with clean slate. I remove literally every item from my shelves. Once I’ve cleared everything, I clean—every nook, every cranny. This is not only good for bookshelves, but also helpful with kitchen cabinets that often go neglected.

Calculate
With everything down and clean I get a completely fresh perspective on the space. This helps me to best utilize what I have. I can also see if there is anything I might need to purchase or repurpose from another room in the house. I also try to evaluate what has been working in the room and what is not.

Start re-placing with your favorite items. At some point you are left with what doesn’t work. That is the donation pile! Or find new life for it in another room where it might work better.

Create
Now that I’ve cleaned and calculated how to use the space, I start to create and compose. I try to bring a balance to the room through color and décor. Here are some examples from the vignettes we created in the store.

Using art as a backdrop in shelving is a nice way to start a composition.

Notice the accessories are all different heights and textures—fossil, stone, metal and mercury class.

Using risers helps layer accessories. Don’t be afraid to have a little fun either!

If you feel you need to call in some help, for a couple hours and not much money a designer will be able to look at your barren shelves and surfaces and help you make something appealing and friendly for your lifestyle. Contact us at info@studiochameleon.com or 949-650-7979 if you’d like a free consultation!

Reminder: March Artist Reception plus Sip, Shop and Save

2011-03-30T16:10:00.000-07:00

This month's artist reception on March 31 from 4-7 pm will feature the work of Stacy D'Aguiar. Join us for beautiful art, great wine and 15% off the entire store!

Keeping Clutter At Bay

2011-03-24T13:36:00.000-07:00

When I design rooms, I want them to be livable spaces. I try to think about how the space will be used. What items will get tossed on this surface? Who will be sitting here? Will they have food? Wine? A sippy cup? Knowing these behaviors allows me to figure out what kind of storage should be present, what types of surfaces would be good and where to place decorative items.

While rooms that are lived in will rarely stay in their “original” designed state, no one wants to be in a room that feels overwhelmingly messy. After all, friends drop by unexpectedly and sometimes in-laws like to check in. No one likes saying, “Sorry for the mess.” So, here are a few tips to keep clutter at bay.

Designing this kid's room we made sure there was a
place for all of her school and personal items.

1) A place for everything, everything in its place. It’s a saying for a reason. This means EVERYTHING. Where do keys or your purse go when you come home? What happens when you get the mail? Do shoes get removed before entering the house? This is what I mean about thinking through how you live. Make sure your home is arranged to make organization and neatness as easy as possible. For instance, when you get the mail you may not have time to deal with all of the pressing items immediately, but have a drawer where it goes or a filing system. Whatever works for you.

2) Stick to a schedule, have a routine (as much as possible). I love this sample cleaning schedule from Re-Nest. I’d encourage you to adapt to your own needs, print it out and stick it somewhere you’ll see it regularly (like the fridge).

3) Apply a little pressure. Having people over to your home on a regular basis can also be a great motivator to keep things in order. I’m not talking about doing a deep clean every time there’s a visitor, just making your place presentable. Also, having regular cleaning service stop by once or twice a month will motivate you to put things away so they can clean the nooks and crannies more easily.

4) No excuses. This has become my mantra with exercising lately, but it holds true for lots of areas of life. Don’t put things off because, in the end, even 15 minutes of tidying is much easier to deal with than an all-day mountain-of-stuff-clearing marathon. You likely do not have a free day, but very likely have a free 15 minutes. And if you're having issues with procrastination, the aragonite stars we sell in the store are great to get you motivated!

Aragonite stars help with procrastination and
are available in our store.

5) It’s okay to look like people live in your home. Some people feel pressure that their home must be "perfect." This is not necessary and ultimately doesn’t create the warm, homey environment guests love to be in. For instance, if you have your family take their shoes off before they enter the house, great! But instead of a messy pile in the home, think about a cute basket in the garage where they can throw them. Or even better, try to create a mud room in the garage that keeps the dirt in an "outside" space, along with hooks for backpacks that keep them from becoming a mountain of stuff on the kitchen counter or dining room table.

These are just a few ways I keep my home mess free. Is there anything you do to keep clutter at bay?

Westcliff Court Open House Thursday!

2011-03-21T13:15:00.000-07:00

The shops of Westcliff Court (that includes us!) will be hosting an open house Thursday, March 24 from 4-7 pm. Join us for food, special offers and prizes.

March Artist Reception plus Sip, Shop and Save

2011-03-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

This month's artist reception will feature the work of Stacy D'Aguiar. Join us for beautiful art, great wine and 15% off the entire store!

What We Love About Home: Beautiful and Elegant

2011-03-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite designers is Margaret Russell, the editor in chief of Architectural Digest. I love the spaces she designs! Not just because we have similar design philosophies, but the spaces she creates are both stunning to look at and the kind of home you actually want to be and live in. I’ve seen lots of technically well-designed rooms that have very gorgeous pieces in them, but without work they can feel like museums. Look, but don’t touch. To me, the highest compliment someone can say about a room I design is that it is a place that they just want to hang out in and never leave. Its beauty draws you in and its easy livability keeps you there.

So, how do you do it? Here are a few ways to bring in beauty and elegance to your home.

Inspiration Point
Surround yourself with what inspires you. This could be memories of travel, books you love, favorite artists or even scents that stimulate a positive outlook. The things in your home should mean something to you!

Think It Through
People who feel like they have a beautiful and elegant home, have often put a lot of thought into it. As a designer, that’s what I get paid to do—helping clients think through their routines, favorite things, not-so-favorite things and how that can all best work together. But you don’t have to be a designer to be thoughtful. Ask questions. Bounce ideas off of friends. Play around with what works best for you!

Love Where You Live
Always remember it’s YOUR home. It is there to please you and meet the needs of your lifestyle. While there is something to be said for updating rooms to suit new life stages or reflect a better use of space for daily living, be careful about changing to just follow trends. If it’s a trend you love, great! But if it’s a trend for trend for trend’s sake, then you will likely become bored or unhappy with a trendy purchase than if it’s something you actually love.

Also, remember it’s your personal style that counts most. Who cares if someone else doesn’t like it. If you love it and it makes you happy, that’s all that matters!

What We Love About Home: Comfort and Livability

2011-03-08T09:56:00.000-08:00

This post is the second in a three part series on “What We Love About Home.”

"The numerous pieces that furnish your house... are undoubtedly THINGS! But if you choose each piece with due regard to your individual needs and preferences... it then becomes, not a THING, but an undeniable part of yourself!"

- Leopold Stickley

One of the things I love about the TV show “What Not to Wear” is that the hosts are always telling women that they don’t have to wear baggy sweatpants or sneakers in order to be comfortable. It is possible to be both stylish AND comfortable. I feel the same about the home. You don’t need an overstuffed recliner in order to relax in your abode. Plenty of items for the home are comfortable and also stylish.

Furniture
Leather is beautiful to look at and is pretty easy to clean. It wears well and can actually look better with age. Like a great leather boot, it also becomes more comfortable with age.

Rugs

Area rugs can be a way to warm up hard surface floors like wood and stone. They also give extra personality to the room. Because they aren’t permanent, they are easy to change when worn. You can also rotate them in different rooms when you feel the need to change things up. We just got in several area rugs in the store that are absolutely beautiful!

Layout
Consider how you and your family go about daily life. Is your home helping or hindering this? Arranging furniture to suit your daily needs makes an impact to the overall feel of your room and makes you feel good in the process. Think about the size and shape of the room, as well as the sizes of the pieces you are working with, in order to determine placement. For instance, long rooms can be broken up by creating two groupings of furniture.

Also, keep comfortable items as part of your décor. Snuggly blankets thrown over a couch that are also beautiful, like chenille, make your home feel lovely to be in.

Knick Knack Attack
It’s fun to display family photos, sentimental heirlooms and treasures from travels. However, we can quickly get bogged down by all of these. Not only can it look cluttered, but becoming a knick knack hoarder makes dusting a bear. I suggest keeping only the decorative essentials out and bring special items out when you want to share with certain friends or family

Check Out Eve in This Month's OC Metro

2011-03-03T15:50:00.000-08:00

Owner and founder of Studio Chameleon, Eve Lowey, has been named as a "Woman to Watch" in the March issue of OC Metro.

What We Love About Home: Durable and Effortless

2011-03-01T16:59:00.000-08:00

This post begins a three part series on “What We Love About Home.” There’s so much we love, we couldn’t squeeze it all into one post!

Durability and the “ease-of-maintenance factor” are pretty big for moms. We don’t like being stressed, worrying if the stuff that we have is too easily damaged. But we still want to have “nice” things--i.e. pieces that are beautiful to look at and make you feel like you are still living in an adult home, not a kiddie castle. Even if you’re not a mom, we’re all pressed for time and want to live in a place that is fairly easy to maintain, but doesn’t involve throwing plastic over furniture. This is a home we’d all love to be in. Here are some things to look for to help you create a durable and effortless home.

Flooring
For stone floors, opt for a honed finish instead of polished to avoid scratches. Wood floors look really beautiful when they get a little distressed but you want to make sure you pick a wood floor that you can actually refinish. Use real wood planks, not veneers (engineered wood is fine). If you plan on being in your home for a while you want to be able to refinish something. It will be a bigger investment initially, but will be more cost effective in the long run.

Carpeting shows damage and dirt when it is smoother and more unified. Using a loop pile or a frieze (which is a twisted end cut pile), adds more texture and reduces the appearance of wear.

We installed this beautiful wood flooring in a recent home design
knowing the residents planned to be there for several years.

Paint
Flat finishes are always much harder to clean. If you are looking for a matte look, go with an eggshell finish. If it’s marked up, you can wash it off with much less effort and damage to the paint.

Fabrics
For upholstery fabrics, go with something that has more texture. The smoother the fabric, the easier it is to see dirt and damage.

Surfaces

Cesarstone is available in a variety of colors.

Avoid glass top dining tables that will inevitably get scratched and show every fingerprint. Go for hard stone in a honed finish. Personally, I use CesarStone, which is a hard surface made of quartz and poured into a mold. This is virtually indestructible. If you do want to use a marble or granite, remember to have it professionally resealed every one to two years. Know that it will show its age over time, but let it go; learn to embrace this as a part of the home’s story – because that’s what easy elegance is really about.

Artist Reception plus Sip, Shop and Save

2011-02-24T09:13:00.000-08:00

Join us tonight from 4-7 p.m. for a Sip, Shop and Save plus Artist Reception for Joan elan Davis. We will be pouring Robert Oatley wines, which were recently featured on Oprah's Australian adventure.

Spring Clean With a Purpose

2011-02-21T13:33:00.000-08:00

We’re heading into March and the beginning of Spring Cleaning. Few look forward to cleaning, but my suggestion is start with your kids. Get them to clean out their rooms and box things up to give to charity. Surprisingly, kids love to deliver their goods themselves so they feel like someone is actually going to have use of them. It puts a whole new twist on cleaning their rooms if they know where things will be going. Many abused women and children shelters are in need of gently used items that your kids are no longer using and many housing causes could use some not-too-worn furniture. We love helping out the women and children at Laura's House and also Human Options. HomeAid Orange County has a list of the furniture needs of many local shelters.

What to do With What You Pitch
There’s also this great article on what to do with your items after you have decided they can’t stay. Donate, recycle or sell!

This Alabaster Tray can help keep you organized after your Spring Cleaning. Toss in your keys or mail.

Getting Into the Trend: Mirrored Furniture

2011-02-14T15:00:00.000-08:00

At all the shows and in design magazines I’m seeing lots of mirrored furniture. This might seem like a hard trend to get into since mirrors are often seen as modern. But don’t worry, whether you’re style is French country or shabby chic there are plenty of ways to incorporate mirrors into your home.

Put It Together

A fun way to make a large mirror is to buy a bunch of smaller mirrors and butt them up against each other on a focal wall behind the sofa or behind the buffet in the dining room. Do six or nine of them to create the grid.

Antique Chic

A great way to make mirrored less edgy is by looking for antiqued pieces. I’m in love with this Estelle Cocktail Table we sell online.

Re-Purpose

Take the framed mirror hanging on your wall and use it as mirrored tray on top of a cocktail table. Get a big one so that it virtually covers the top of the table.

Reflect Light

Mirrored chandeliers are a great way to bring mirrors in as a statement without doing a major design change. This shell and mirror chandelier from Nieman Marcus is a great transitional piece.

Valentine's Gift Guide

2011-02-07T15:16:00.000-08:00

Studio Chameleon is a place where you find something unique everyday and for every occasion. Valentine’s Day is no exception! We want to help you celebrate those you love. We have gifts for friends, kids and significant others that you can buy in store and online. We hope this guide helps you shop or helps someone in your life shop for you!

Blabla Dolls
$45-60, doll clothes $15-$25
Dolls are hand-knitted by Peruvian artists and made of natural fibers so they are irresistibly soft and cuddly. Display on entry bench or child’s bed. Perfect for kids and kids at heart.

Blabla Doll

Tile Art
$215 each
Pair multiple color tiles to make your own eye-catching wall décor or stack on a table top for an artsy display.

Tile Art

Selenite Tealight Holders
large $24, small $18
Energy from a selenite crystal can provide calm and peace. Perfect for the Valentine who could use more zen.

Selenite Tealight Holders

Heart Crysal Bud Vases
$40
Heart versions of our popular-selling vases. Stick a bud from the garden in it or attach a note of love to a pen or pencil.

Heart Crystal Bud Vases

Stone Hearts
$25 each
These hearts are carved from millennia-old stones that are as unique as your Valentine. Comes in banded amethyst (purple), fire quartz (pink) and desert jasper (multi-colored).

Stone Hearts

MAKE YOUR VALENTINE’S DAY PERSONAL

2011-02-01T09:03:00.000-08:00

Valentine’s Day has a lot of pressure for romance. Remember that romance is just another way to say “I love you.” When you think about it like that, it’s easier to make it personal and meaningful. It helps you to get beyond candy and flowers. Here are some ways to make Valentine’s personal.

Message in a Bottle

Have a small jar or container with a sweet note set out for your Valentine. You can even take it up a notch and fill the jar with several notes of “Reasons Why I Love You.”

Personal Touch

Buy a large canvas and a sponge brush and paint your declaration of love such as “John Loves Ann” or “J + A” and the year. Put it on an easel with a cool gift in front of it, preferably wrapped. Studio Chameleon has beautiful crystals, fossils and minerals that are 20 million years old—they say “I love you forever” in a unique and more affordable way than a diamond.

Cozy Up with Your Valentine

Snuggling with a good cashmere throw makes for a cozy evening with your sweetheart. And it’s a good way to introduce color into the room. Buy a red one for a seasonal touch! Add hot chocolate and your evening is complete.

We hope these help you. Feel free to drop by the store with your personalization dilemmas!

Color Turns February Into Fabulous

2011-01-25T12:14:00.000-08:00

Color is such a mood changer. Just adding a spray of colorful flowers can change a sad corner into a happy space you will love walking by throughout the day. But many aren’t sure how to integrate color. Don’t be afraid—be bold!

Introduce Color in Unexpected Places
If you have a color story that is happening in blues and aqua with whites then you may want to use orange as an accent—hang artwork with highlights of orange, drape an orange throw on a chair, or set out orange candy in the candy dish Those pops of color will move your eye around a room and make your look complete. On a pristine desk place a container with turquoise pencils for a fun accent or hang a chandelier that is yellow for a more dramatic effect! Little touches of color can help get you in the mood for spring, which is just around the corner...

Paint or Paper an Accent Wall to Add Interest
Adding color using an accent wall by painting or using wall paper can spruce up any room. Just do one wall—like the back wall behind the sofa or bed. It’s easy to do in a day, but big on the effect!

How do you bring color into your home?

Cozy Chic: Banishing Winter Blues

2011-01-18T11:41:00.000-08:00

Many people don’t realize that it does get cold here in Newport Beach (though lately the gorgeous weather has made me forget that it was grey and below 70 degrees). While there may not be snow on the ground, we still look for ways to make our homes cozy when the temperature drops outside. Here are some tips bring in warmth to your home—whether you live in Orange County, CA or Orange County, NY.


Fuzzy and furry throws look cozy and are warm.

1) Go Under Cover: Blankets and throws placed on sofas, chairs and beds don’t just look cozy—they ARE cozy. They come in so many textures, patterns and price points. We love ones in golden or red hues that give the feeling of the glow of a fire. Furry throws, or even the faux sheepskin rugs IKEA has, are great on the back of an occasional chair. Placed at the head, you will feel cozy as you snuggle up against it.

2) Bring the Outside In: Living things need warmth to grow, so when you have plants or flowers inside there is an immediate association of warmth. They are available year round and you can get a dozen roses for like $15 at the grocery store. Cut two dozen level and bunch tightly in a vase for a very professional look. Small plants are great additions to side or cocktail tables.

3) Fragrance and Radiance: Scent and light are huge for creating a cozy home because they engage so many senses. The fire on the wick does, of course, actually give off heat, but when you choose a warm or spicy scent it will also tell your nose that you are warm. My rule is that you need at least two candles, usually in odd numbers, burning and bunched together. This gives a mini fireplace feel in different areas of your home and gives a lot of cozy ambiance.

4) “Shoe” Away the Cold: In your entry or mud room keep fuzzy slippers and fur-lined boots (like Uggs) close by. When you come in from the cold, slip off your cold and wet shoes for something comfy and warm. Grab the throw from off a nearby chair and you’ll instantly feel cozy down to your toes!

Great Comforter Debate

2011-01-17T10:00:00.000-08:00

Did you know there's a debate raging about whether down is out? It's gotten so "heated" the Wall Street Journal has even "covered" it. Okay, enough with the puns. Whether or not you use a duvet or pile high with blankets, we know there are passionate opinions on both sides. My personal bed? Covered in a summer weight duvet with a blanket folded at the end of the bed. We make beds all the time as designers, so here’s my two cents.

Hurray for the Duvet

Down doesn't have to be messy. If you're committed to keeping your down comforter, I suggest tucking it in to make it neater. Another way to address it is use a blanket over the top of the duvet like a spread. You can also fold the duvet at the foot of the bed… put the top sheet on then the blanket. Fold both down a little below the pillows at the head of the bed. Then take the duvet and put it on the bed covering the pillows. Fold down to the foot of the bed so its folded in half. If that doesn’t look right fold it in half again. This especially helps the problem of the comforter peeping out of where it gets inserted in the duvet. I like the duvets that have square quilting on them so the down doesn’t move around. They get lumpy if you don’t choose this option.

Also, if you find yourself fussing with feathers, there are lots of great down alternatives on the market (which are helpful with allergies and when washing). Many of them also have different weights if you know you run hot or cold. If you find yourself changing temperatures with the seasons, I suggest also changing your comforter. Keep a heavier, toasty one around in winter and a cool, light one in the summer. Keep different duvets covers on them so you are also changing the look of your bed with the season!

The Beauty of Blankets
What's great about using blankets is that you can layer for the seasons. Pile them high in winter and strip down to one or two in the summer. This will always keep your bedroom looking fresh and seasonally appropriate!

What I also love is that blankets give you so many more choices with patterns and textures. You can have plaid mixed with floral with a solid color in between. Just make sure it all coordinates, but it doesn't have to be matchy matchy.

If you do keep a bed with blankets, I love the WSJ’s step-by-step guide to making a bed.

Check Us Out in This Month's Coast Magazine

2011-01-14T12:52:00.000-08:00

Coast Magazine did a feature on Studio Chameleon in their "What's in Store" section.

Refresh Your Home for a New Year!

2011-01-10T18:08:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! This is the time of year when we think about what we want to do, i.e. New Years resolutions. I am into doing more entertaining this year. So it’s time to update and refresh my home! The holiday decorations are down and I can see that I need to get to work! Here are some of the things I will be doing myself. I invite you to join me.

Stephanie Han Windham's "Halcyon 1" would
look great above a bed.

De-Clutter!
Love it? Use it? Need it? Go through your home and start sorting, pitching and storing. It doesn’t have to be a huge overhaul—even organizing your desk can make you feel better. Purging and creating a clean slate generates positive energy.

Breath of Fresh Air
Live plants detoxify and who couldn’t use that after all the holiday partying?

Plan to Entertain
Entertaining more is at the top of my list. Create a decorating or remodeling budget so that you know how much you are comfortable spending—then double it! Everything costs more than you think.

Banish Boudoir (and Bathroom) Blues
Nothing changes a bedroom faster than new linens and new art over the bed. We have some great art by fantastic California artists at Studio Chameleon. Also try a refresh with the bathroom—new towels and mirror will work wonders!

A Fresh Coat
A new coat of paint does wonders to walls. Use one of the new neutrals, smoky grays and taupes. Try accenting walls with deeper shades for a dramatic effect.

What to Get the Hostess With the Mostess

2010-12-22T17:24:00.000-08:00

There’s still a lot of holiday partying left to do and as a guest you can let your host or hostess know how grateful you are for all of their hard work with a gift. When someone opens their home to you, that is a very personal act and you will want to show your gratitude.

1. Lift Your Spirits: A nice bottle of wine or liqueur is a classic hostess gift. Make it a little more special and memorable by adding an ornament to it. We have these great seashell ornaments for $8 that can be used well past the holidays.

Seashell Ornament adds extra touch
to wine or liqueur gifts

2. Coast Along: Agate slices as coasters ($6 each) and antique teak wood coasters ($8.50 each) are a perfect place to set holiday libations. They bring in a natural element and a great organic feel. Wrap with a bow and present to your host or hostess.

3. Seaside Treasures: Polished Turbo Shells are great placed at individual table settings as guest gifts. Its reflective, mother of pearl surface can enhance any holiday table.

4. About Vase: Present the host or hostess with a holly berry stem or flower you’ve picked from your garden in a crystal Aphrodite Bud Vase ($40).

5. Common Scents: My favorite is the Maura Peters candles we carry at Studio Chameleon. They are soy-based candles in tiny tins for only $10 and they burn for 12 hours. I love the “Twigg n Berry” scent for the holidays.

Holiday 2010 Gift Guide

2010-12-14T17:36:00.000-08:00

Unique and Special Gifts for Everyone and Every Price!

Find the perfect gifts to complete your holiday shopping list at Studio Chameleon. We have a great selection of beautiful and one-of-a-kind items. If you’re stuck, our knowledgeable and friendly staff has great ideas for creating the perfect present.

Guys gift wrapping workshop shows it's not just the thought that counts... it's the whole package!

2010-11-30T10:40:00.000-08:00

Studio Chameleon Invites Men to Learn the Art of Gift Wrapping, with Proceeds from Sales Benefiting Charity
It is no secret that the burden of holiday gift wrapping usually falls on women. Studio Chameleon is hoping to break through the gift wrap "glass ceiling" by offering workshops for men on several upcoming Saturdays—December 4, 11 and 18 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. The workshops are FREE, plus 15% of proceeds on any store purchases by participants will be given to charity.
Nearly 71% of adults believe that women are better gift wrappers than men, based on the overall appearance of the gift (Source: Scotch Tape Survery 2009). It's time for men to give women a run for their money and blow the significant women in their life away with their beautiful and thoughtful gift wrapping!
"We think this will be a fun event," said Studio Chameleon owner Eve Lowey. "We're creating an environment where men can learn to gift wrap that won't be stressful and they won't be judged. We know that some men can pay to have this done, but when you wrap it yourself it makes it so much more meaningful and personal."
Participants are encouraged to bring a gift to wrap or they can purchase one from Studio Chameleon. Cheryl Steffen of Details Design Studio, also located in the Westcliff Court shopping center, will be the featured guest instructor for the gift-wrapping series. Details Design Studio offers gift-wrapping services for those who might not feel like they have quite mastered wrapping yet or for especially hard to wrap items.
GIFT WRAP FACTS
When asked what they would be most likely to give their spouse or significant other in return for wrapping all the holiday gifts, men say that they would buy them an extra gift (33%), watch the latest chick flick or action movie (18%) or take out the trash for a week (9%). Half of women (49%) claim, "It wouldn't matter because they would never agree to it."
74% of adults say that the female head of household is most likely to wrap the majority of holiday gifts in their home, while just 19% say the male head of household wraps the majority of the gifts.
While the average number of presents wrapped by adults in a typical December holiday season is about 15, women wrap an average of 10 more gifts than men (women: 20, men: 10).
Source: Scotch Tape Survey 2009
We hope you can join us for this fun event! Men, we hope you'll take our challenge to create beautifully packaged gifts for your loved ones. Ladies, you can shop and support charity (and nosh on refreshments) while the men go through gift wrap boot camp. Studio Chameleon is located at 1733 Westcliff Drive, Newport Beach.

Eve Lowey's 10 tips to Get Your Home Holiday Ready

2010-11-23T10:30:00.000-08:00

There are so many things that can make the holidays overwhelming, especially when entertaining company. Eve has put together some tips to help make hostessing easier.

Tip #1: Prep so you can have fun! The holiday season is a time for family and friends. We open up our homes for visiting relatives and festive parties. Did I say complicated? No it can be easy. Remember that the host or hostess having fun is mandatory for the guests to have fun. Prep ahead of time so that you have fun too! I mean it; if you aren't having fun your party wont be fun.

Tip #2: Make it easier on yourself and call in a professional. In many cases holiday entertaining means making room for additional guests and that 10' Christmas tree. Think about having a professional designer come over and do a quick rearrange and editing of your rooms that are accommodating Christmas decorations and guests. Most designers only charge a $100 per hour (give or take) and it is well worth it to get some sound advice! Once the designer has seen the space you can call on them for advice lickety split!

Tip #3: Clean (even though you don't want to). Ok, I know you don't want to hear it but I have to advise to clean, clean, clean! Moving furniture and bringing in extra chairs for parties uncovers dust bunnies and cleaning up thoroughly makes you feel GOOD and ready for guests.

Tip #4: It should also smell like the holidays. Wash your home with a fresh scent, not something overwhelming. My favorite is the Maura Peters candles we carry at Studio Chameleon. They are soy-based candles in tiny tins for only $10. I love the "Twigs and Berry" scent for the holidays.

Tip# 5: Divide and rotate your ornaments each year. You are under no obligation to put every single ornament you have out every year. This will not just lead to a second tree, but also a third and fourth. As a mother, I have lots of kid ornaments like Sponge Bob and Disney characters. As an interior designer, I have some very glamorous and elegant pieces. These do not always mesh well together. So I divided up the ornaments with one set of fun and whimsical items and another that is more sophisticated. I rotate these groupings each year and it adds a lot of variety within the existing items you have.

Tip #6: Light up the night. One of the neglected areas of holiday parties, or parties of any kind, is the lighting. Use votives and tealights to light stairs, dining tables tops, consoles, bookcases, guestrooms, bathrooms, anywhere! Don't forget to use candles outside at the entry on the stairs or at the front door. It makes the guest know you are thinking about them before they even hit the door. Many options are available at Studio Chameleon, including succulent and flower tealights that are $9 for a set of six.

Tip #7: Just-in-case gifts. Don't forget to have a few extra gifts around for unexpected guests or a last minute party invitation. We have beautiful shell ornaments for only $10 that can be draped on a wine bottle, polished agate slices that can be used as coasters ($6), and small ammonite matching halves ($14). These gifts are fun for kids and adults alike. Because they are so unique they look less like an after thought than buying chocolate.

Tip #8: Guest gifts. Everyone loves gifts and playful party favors are great as table settings. Wrap a small gift like an aragonite star ($8). It's good for procrastination, a holiday issue for many. What a great conversation piece at the table. For those of us less imaginative, chocolate or fun Christmas ornament works too! Don't forget the guest room—even folded towels with a ribbon tying them can feel like a gift.

Tip #9: Personalize photos for guests. Have framed photos in a drawer so that you can pull them out and display them specific to whoever is coming over. Nothing makes a person feel more welcome than a photo of them in your home. Having photos of every single family member out can be too much, so keep them stored for special occasions and then roll them out when you know they are coming! I am telling you, this really works! Studio Chameleon offers custom framing to make your photos even more special.

Tip #10: Top it off with a few flowers. If you have a garden, cut a few flowers or just pick up a bunch at the grocery store when you are getting snacks for your guests. I would suggest two small arrangements, one on the kitchen island or breakfast nook and one in the restroom that most people will be using. Add crystal holly berry sprays ($8) or sparkly garland sticks ($8) that we sell to give a holiday touch.

Newport Beach Style Makers

2010-06-16T10:37:00.000-07:00

"When interior designer Eve Lowey moved to Newport Coast in 2001, she faced a design dilemma: How could she design her home to reflect Newport Beach's renowned elegance and luxury, yet still create a place where she and her husband could kick back and their three children could have friends over, create messy art projects and rough house with the dogs?"

Read Eve's full profile as part of Newport Beach Style Makers in the current issue of Newport Beach magazine.