Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent, The stars of The Nate and Jeremiah Home Project, know that old homes need updating – and in the latest installment, they have a lot of work to do building a 100-year-old home.
In The Gift of Home Project, Berkus and Brent travel to Jackson Heights, NY to meet Anya and her son, Chris. Anya came to the United States from Thailand as a teenager and has worked hard to support her family ever since. Now Chris wants to make up for it by buying her a townhouse and giving it the elegant style she deserves. Chis and Anya show Berkus and Brent their 1920s estate, and while the space is charming, it clearly takes a lot of work.
With a $ 90,000 renovation budget, Berkus and Brent must carefully choose which positions to spend money on. Find out which big upgrade Berkus and Brent are going for – and skip it – and get tips that might have inspired you to try it out in your own home.
Antique doors add simple charm
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Berkus and Brent love the charm of this 1920s townhouse. While they are planning on lots of updates, they also want to add a bit of vintage elegance. Luckily they have a lot of antique jewels in their warehouse and at the end they find some old doors that they know will work perfectly in the entrance area.
“We really want your entrance to feel special, so reusing those antique doors can be really charming,” says Berkus.
They sand down the doors, remove the paint and bring them down to the natural wood. With all the knots and imperfections visible, these reclaimed doors add character to the home. These double doors are a simple, inexpensive addition that adds a ton of style.
Don’t tear down all of your walls
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When Berkus and Brent visit Anya’s house for the first time, they find that the living room is cut off from the kitchen and dining area. They decide to open the wall by widening the doorway into a curved archway.
“It’s like an open floor plan, but it’s not,” says Berkus. “And I think so many people miss the mark by not doing anything architectural and just blowing up the walls.”
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The arch gives the room a charming old world aesthetic and makes the home appear more open without completely tearing down the wall. While many homeowners still want an open floor plan, Berkus and Brent are proving that you don’t have to tear down walls to achieve that open, airy look.
A simple chimney update can work wonders
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While Berkus and Brent want to give the fireplace in this house a sleek makeover, they find they are on budget.
“We had these great ideas about vintage French marble mantels and all that stuff,” says Berkus.
Instead, these designers give the fireplace a simple cosmetic refresh with new white paint on the bricks, black paint in the firebox, and vintage mirrors and wall lights above the mantelpiece.
The fresh color and the new decor make the fireplace an eye-catcher for this living room. Plus, Berkus and Brent will save $ 3,500 to use elsewhere in the renovation.
Add moldings for a timeless texture
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To underline the elegant, Paris-inspired design, Berkus and Brent install moldings on the living and dining room walls. The strips cost only $ 1,500, but they add depth and design to the otherwise plain white walls. They’re a great addition to that charming old house because the look is timeless, says Berkus.
“It looks good, it’s classic, it always looked good because it’s been around for hundreds and hundreds of years,” he adds.
You don’t have to keep old floors
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When Brent and Berkus visit Anya’s house for the first time, they notice the charming old wooden floors. While some designers may have wanted to keep old floors like this one, Berkus and Brent decide it’s probably time for something new.
“We want to keep the character of a house, but those original floors were just too far away,” says Brent. “That’s why we’re going to keep it light and airy everywhere with wide white oak plank floors.”
The new floors look great and give the house a bright, light look. While original wood floors can be a great addition to an old house, there’s nothing wrong with a fresh floor.
Switchboard-ready devices are on everyone’s lips these days
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In the kitchen, Berkus and Brent find orange and yellow wallpaper, outdated cabinets, and antique appliances. The room takes a lot of work, so these two are making a lot of big changes. They tear down the wall, open the kitchen to the dining area, and add a marble counter and soft gray cabinets.
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For that special touch, Berkus and Brent opt for an upgrade that is on everyone’s lips these days and could be even more in the months leading up to the holidays: switchboard-ready devices that fit into the cabinet.
“I always love how seamless and integrated it looks,” says Berkus.
Plus, Anya has never had a dishwasher. Talk about taking a step up!
