Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Update your front yard, porch, and entryway to welcome visitors with a beautiful first impression. Check out these simple, low-cost curb appeal ideas for improvements you can do in a day, a week, or a month. When your home looks good at first glance, everyone (including potential homebuyers) will want to see what's inside.

House numbers, the entry door lockset, a wall-mounted mailbox, and a light fixture are all elements that can add style and interest to your home's exterior curb appeal. However, if they're dingy or need to be updated, your home may not convey the aesthetic you think it does. These curb appeal ideas have the most impact when they function collectively rather than as mix-and-match pieces. Oiled-bronze finishes suit traditional homes, while brushed nickel suits more contemporary ones.

Window boxes are a curb appeal idea that offers a fast, easy way to bring color and charm to your home. Choose boxes made from copper or iron for a traditional look. For example, the lattice detail on this Better Homes & Gardens metal window box ($16, Walmart) adds texture to the display. Select painted wood for a cottage feel. Mix and match flowers and plants depending on whether you get full or partial sun and your home's color scheme.

Your home's front entry is the focal point of its curb appeal. Make a statement by giving your front door a coat of color with paint or by installing a custom wood door. Clean off dirty spots around the knob, and use metal polish on the door fixtures. Your entry should also reflect the home's interior, so choose a swag, flag, or wreath that reflects your style.

Symmetry is not only pleasing to the eye but also the most straightforward layout to arrange. Symmetrical compositions of light fixtures and front-door accents are curb appeal ideas that create welcoming entryways. Two sidelights flank this door. The lantern-style sconces safely guide visitors to the door and coordinate with the door hardware and urns.

Invite guests to pull up a chair and stay a while with welcoming porch furniture. Look for seating with skids to help prevent damage to your surfaces, like this woven chair from Better Homes & Gardens ($97, Walmart). Add the cozy feel of a living room with rugs, throw pillows, and end tables.

If you don't have space for a rocking chair or two, adding a small chair or bench on your porch can serve as a resting spot or a convenient place to slip off dirty shoes. Comfortable outdoor seating is a curb appeal idea that encourages everyone to engage with neighbors and participate in street-side activities.

Low-voltage landscape lighting significantly impacts your home's curb appeal while also providing safety and security. Add accent lighting to trees or the house or illuminate a walking path. For the best landscape lighting, plan to incorporate a variety of fixtures and lighting types. If you aren't able to use lights that require wiring, install solar fixtures. Solar outdoor lights (like these Better Homes & Gardens LED lights, $19, Walmart) are budget-friendly and easy to install.

Mailboxes should complement the home and express the homeowner's personality. If your mailbox is attached to the house, pick a style and finish that matches your home's trimmings. For a mailbox that sits closer to the road, surround your mailbox with a beautiful flowering garden to instantly make your front yard more welcoming and approachable. Consider painting the mailbox and post to coordinate with the home's color scheme, or personalize your mailbox with vinyl decals that list your address.

Get garden beds into shape by pruning growth, pulling weeds, and planting flowers. Add new mulch to restore color faded by sunlight and harsh weather. If stone or brick borders your bed, consider cleaning and resetting any soiled or dislodged pieces. If your border needs to be updated or more modern-looking, try upgrading to stone or a decorative cast-concrete edging system for improved curb appeal.

Container gardens are a curb appeal idea that adds a welcoming feel and color to any home exterior quickly and affordably. You can buy ready-made containers from garden centers or create your own with your favorite plants. Pots come in a variety of materials, such as terra-cotta, wood, and plastic. For durability, look for chip-resistant ceramic planters. A staggered, asymmetrical arrangement works best for most landscapes to create a dynamic setting.

Use these easy curb appeal ideas to take your landscape to the next level:

Even with a small budget, there are curb appeal ideas that will draw attention to your front door and entryway. Add a few well-chosen and nicely arranged plants on the front porch to create an inviting focal point. Molding is an architectural detail that adds definition when applied to the sides and top of the doorway. Notice how the white door casing makes this door stand out.

Add contrast and color to your home exterior with a new planting bed. Prime spots for improving curb appeal are at the front corners of the yard, along driveways or walkways, and immediately in front of the house. When creating a new garden, choose features that frame your home rather than obscure it. Opt for stone or precast concrete blocks to edge the bed. Include a mix of plant size, color, and texture for optimal results.

Shutters and trim are curb appeal ideas that add a welcoming layer of beauty to your home. Exterior shutters can be made of wood, aluminum, vinyl, composite, or fiberglass. New composite materials, such as PVC resins or polyurethane, make trim details durable and low maintenance.

If your home has an older gutter system, odds are it's also suffering from poor gutter maintenance. Peeling paint, rust spots, drooping, and other problems indicate repair or updating is needed. Replace old gutters and downspouts with a new gutter system.

If you're on a tight budget, vinyl gutter systems that you can install yourself may fit the bill. However, they become brittle and crack over time in cold weather. Copper systems, while pricier, convey an unmistakable look of quality and pretty curb appeal. For the best results, we recommend hiring a professional to install gutters.

Arbors, garden gates, and short sections of decorative fence panels are curb appeal ideas that will enhance your garden and increase the appeal of your home. These simple additions can become a backdrop for a bounty of blooms. They're available in easy-to-build kits or prefab sections that you simply connect. For best results, paint or stain these items with colors already on your house.

Give your yard a little whimsy and curb appeal by adding weather-resistant artwork. Choose pieces that complement your home's natural palette and exterior elements. Birdbaths, metal cutouts, sculptures, and wind chimes are good choices for outdoor decor. Water sculptures function as yard art; the gurgling is soothing and makes hot days feel cooler. Place fountains on level ground in optimum hearing and sound vantage points.

Planting colorful flowers is a surefire curb appeal idea to boost your home's beauty. Use bold, bright hues to create a big impact, even with limited space. Greet guests with a colorful garden in your parking strip (between the street and sidewalk). For an easy street-side garden plan, feature native plants such as Aster, Baptisia, and purple coneflower.

Porch and stoop railings can deteriorate quickly if not properly cared for. If your railings are past their prime, look for quality wood or metal components to replace the existing material and improve curb appeal. As with other improvements attached directly to the house, make sure the color, scale, design, details, and material are compatible with the home's main features. Porch railings supply an integral part of a home's exterior aesthetic, helping to reinforce a home's style.

An exterior update (new paint, siding, or trim details) automatically transforms the look of a home. Regular maintenance of exterior surfaces is the surest way to keep your house and its curb appeal looking great. Any apparent defects, such as cracked or rotting material, can downgrade the aesthetic and quickly turn away potential home buyers. Once weaknesses are repaired, look for ways to add personality with color, trim, or shingles.

Create a permanent welcome mat by upgrading your front steps. Installing tile, pouring new concrete steps, or painting a porch floor or front stoop are curb appeal ideas that can drastically change the look of your home. If you decide to go the tiling route, select a tile that's slip-resistant and rated for outdoor use. If installing tile on sealed concrete, you'll need to grind the surface down before starting so the thin-set mortar will bond.

If your driveway is cracked or stained or has vegetation sprouting, you can easily clean it up or upgrade the surface. First, repair the cracks and stains (and kill the weeds), then dress it up by staining the concrete or affixing flagstones. For more room to move your car or park, add stone, brick, or pavers to the sides of the driveway to widen it. Establishing a crisp, clear shift between paved and unpaved surfaces can help to set off a driveway and enhance curb appeal.

A well-designed walkway is a curb appeal idea that will make your home warm and inviting. For a dramatic improvement to a straight concrete path, replace it with a contoured walkway made of stone or brick. For a less labor-intensive upgrade, apply a colored concrete resurfacer to the old walkway, then edge it with brick or stone borders. Brick pavers offer traditional, classic beauty to the landscape of any home.

Nothing carries pedigree and permanence like stone. It's great for dressing up exterior features such as concrete foundations, column footings, and other masonry details. Natural and manufactured stone can be costly options for large expanses, but both are affordable and well-suited for use as an accent material. A faux stone patio is a long-lasting curb appeal idea for your home.

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23 Curb Appeal Ideas for the Best Front Yard on the Block - Better Homes & Gardens

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Skipping home inspection could be costly | Business | therogersvillereview.com - Therogersvillereview

The purpose of the Connecticut legislative research analysis, prepared this past September, was to identify any bills proposed in Connecticut that are similar to the pending law in Massachusetts that would ensure the buyers right to an inspection. The research report foundone such bill, which did not make it out of committee.

It does not appear that any states [currently] require a home inspection as a condition of a residential home sale, the Connecticut report stated.

Nick Gromicko is the founder of theInternational Association of Certified Home Inspectors, or InterNACHI, which has some 25,000 members in the U.S. and Canada. It also operates a home inspector training program that is accredited by theU.S. Department of Education.

Gromicko said the practice of dropping the home inspection contingency in order to juice the offer for a home works well to get the house, but then thats a potential grenade that can blow up [if major problems with a home exist].

And it blew up so much that states like Massachusetts are seeking to pass right-to-inspect laws, which is going to make it hard to get that inspection contingency out of the contract, he said.

Mark Goodman is a senior home inspector and territory manager forBPG Inspections, which is owned by title insurerFidelity National Financial Inc.He is also the 2024 president of theAmerican Society of Home Inspectors(ASHI), which has some 5,000 members and is one of two national home inspector organizations deemed trustworthy by theNational Association of Realtors(NAR) with the other being InterNACHI.

A member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) or the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) are trustworthy individuals to perform the [home] inspection, aNAR report states. Theyll generally charge about $300 to $500, with the figure varying on the region of the country and the size of the home.

Goodman offered some insights into the the home inspection business and individual inspectors via the following datapoints.

Inspectors rely heavily on real estate agents for job referrals, although they cultivate other referral sources as well, including real estate attorneys, past customers, and online reviews and marketing.

Most inspectors come from the building trades, but there are many exceptions to that rule. We have a member who is a former NASA engineer, and weve got CPAs, and theres a member that formerly ran a scuba diving resort, Goodman said. Theres a big percentage of full-time inspectors, but there are a lot of inspectors that are like Realtors and theyre part-time home inspectors.

A total of 36 states currently regulate home inspectors and/or their firms in some way. And then you have non-licensed states, like Missouri, for example, where I am, where its really important to use an ASHI-certified inspector [or an InterNACHI-certified inspector] because we set a standard of practice, Goodman added.

Gromicko estimates that there are some 27,000 home inspectors in the U.S., adding that its a second career for many.

If youve been in the trades, thats considered hard work welding, plumbing or whatever and then when they become an inspector, its almost like being semi-retired because its so much easier physically, he explained.

Most home inspection firms are smallmom-and-pop operations, according to Goodman and Gromicko. But there are some larger operators as well, such asBPG Inspections,U.S. Inspect, theWIN Home Inspection franchise and private equity-backedLaunchPad Home Group.

Inspectors really look at every system in the house, but theres some specialized ancillary areas [where additional training is needed], Goodman said. Theres mold, theres infrared, termites, radon, and theres lots of chimney inspections so theres a bunch of ancillary services that involve additional fees [for the client].

The home inspector is one of the few unbiased advocates for the consumer thats solely looking after the consumer, and that home inspection is really important in protecting somebodys investment.

Geoffrey Binney, managing partner atGauntt, Koen, Binney & Kidd LLP in The Woodlands, Texas, is a formerFBIagent turned attorney who has been defending home inspectors for the past 15 years.

The most prevalent types of lawsuits lodged against home inspectors, he said, involve claims over foundation, roof or plumbing issues that were missed, as well as claims involving termites or mold even though the latter two are not part of a standard home inspection.

If its just a home inspection, theyre not responsible for mold or termites, Binney said. I cant tell you the number of times Ive taken depositions of plaintiffs and asked, What did you think he [the inspector] was going to do?

And the response is something like, I thought he was going to tell me everything that was wrong with the house.

Binney stressed that home inspectors are generalists who know enough about a range of areas to get licensed or certified, but theyre not experts in all of those, unless they happen to have experience from a prior job.

Theyre only supposed to look and report on things that are present and visible, he added. If it isnt there that day, then they cant report on it.

If its under the carpet, behind a wall, or if its in a crawlspace that you cant get to; if its covered by laundry I mean, some of these houses that are for sale are just cluttered and that significantly hinders the inspection. Oftentimes, the homebuyer should be angry with the seller for not disclosing something, like if theres evidence of a roof leak that was painted over, but they might sue the home inspector and say, You should have caught this on the site.

Instead, Binney said, the buyer should blame the seller who painted over the problem. He added that he has handled cases where my guy just screwed up, with the inspector missing an issue that was clearly present and visible.

In these cases, he said, inspectors will often fall on their sword and admit their error because theyre good, honest people. And Ill tell the insurance carrier, Youve got to pay this one. Binney said.

In addition to purchasing professional liability insurance, another protection that inspectors need to employ is smart contract language. Binney explained that a limitation-of-liability clause in a contract is enforceable in most jurisdictions nationwide. He recommends setting the limit for exposure to the amount of the inspection fee adding that its not fair for an inspector to charge $500 for an inspection and then be liable for $250,000 in damages.

That just doesnt make economic sense, so were going to agree that if you sue me, the most you can get is the amount of the inspection fee, Binney said. One of the biggest problems Ive had is convincing [inspectors] to do written agreements, because many mom-and-pop inspectors still do business with a handshake.

Gromicko stressed that the threats of lawsuits and reputational damage also serve as checks against another concern that exists in the market with respect to home inspections that is, the perceived conflict of interest between real estate agents seeking to close a sale and the home inspectors they refer to their clients.

Some worry that when a real estate agent provides a referral for an inspector that he or she will be a patty-cake inspector whos going to just make the house look glowingly beautiful, Gromicko said. But the real estate agent [and home inspector] dont want lawsuits, and they dont want bad word of mouth, because they have to work in the community.

In fact, Gromicko said, some prospective buyers may actually want the inspector to find problems with a home not to kill the deal but to use the inspection report as a negotiating tool. He added that inspectors must learn to deal with the politics and pressures of the job, and they should become good communicators in both spoken and written word.

A lot of new inspectors go in, and they do the first two or three inspections, and theyre like, Eff this! Gromicko added. Im not going to be in this position of pressure, where I have the seller on one side and the agent and buyer on the other, with the kids running around sticking their fingers in things, and I have to get on this roof, and I have to generate a report, and they want it today.

Excelling as a home inspector requires a skill set that is rare and for a relatively modest income that typically short of six digits, even for the most successful of inspectors.

A guy who fixes plumbing is not normally a guy who can stand on a podium and talk, and then theres the challenge of needing to distill it all into writing, Gromicko explained. The ones that survive [and prosper] normally have that unique blend of skill sets.

In addition to the unique skill set required to excel as a home inspector, theres the equally daunting challenge of surviving as an inspection business in the current climate of tight inventory and higher rates that are working to suppress home sales. Thats in addition to the ongoing trend of waiving the inspection to sweeten an offer.

The last couple of years, because of the condition of the housing market home Inspections are down, on average, in a lot of areas in the country, but not every place, because there are some really booming markets, Goodman said. And so, many are having a rough time because of the costs of running a business, and theres only so much in your overhead that you can really cut out, so you have to either raise your prices or do more inspections.

If that doesnt work out, then maybe it could cause a little bit of a shift to move more of the small proprietorships toward multi-inspector firms [industry consolidation]. Thats just the nature of the beast the cyclic nature of the home-inspection profession.

Goodman agrees that the legislation now pending in Massachusetts, which calls for mandating the right to an inspection for nearly all sales, would arguably help to bolster the home inspection industry in that state. He also stressed, however, that the legislation creates an important safeguard for consumers.

The New England ASHI chapter is pushing the bill in Massachusetts that mandates [a right to] an inspection, he said. If that bill is successful, I think youll see a wave of similar legislation across the country.

That legislation is not so much about the home inspector and the home inspection, but rather its more of a consumer protection.

Excerpt from:

Pending legislation would end home inspection waivers in Massachusetts - HousingWire

Nine states have signed a joint agreement to accelerate the transition to residential building electrification by significantly expanding the use of heat pumps to meet heating, cooling, and water heating demand.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by directors of environmental agencies from California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Rhode Island. These states set a shared goal for heat pumps to meet at least 65% of residential-scale HVAC and water heating shipments by 2030 and 90% by 2040.

Participating states will collaborate to collect market data, track progress, and develop an action plan within a year to support the goals. The agreement emphasizes collaboration with key stakeholders, including heat pump manufacturers and HVAC installers.

The states also committed to promote installation of zero-emission, grid-interactive technologies in existing state buildings. States will aim to direct at least 40% of efficiency and electrification investments to benefit low-income households.

See the article here:
Nine states pledge to transition to heat pumps for residential HVAC and water heating - Building Design + Construction

Julie Crosby is a self-proclaimed serial remodeler. The San Diegobased interior designer bought her first house in 2003 and has rehabilitated a fixer-upper for herself nearly every other year since then. At a certain point her renovations began attracting attention and thus her hobby turned into her full-time jobbut transforming her own homes remains her creative outlet.

Its been a passion project for me in a lot of ways, Julie says of her most recent transformation, a 1968 midcentury-modern abode that she bought from the original owners. Though they lived there for five decades, they hadnt much changed the Simpson & Gerber Architects design, so she was gifted a time capsule of retro features like a spiral staircase, a Space Age fireplace, and a Coke bottle window.

BEFORE: With its Space Age fireplace and groovy spiral staircase, the house won the American Institute of Architects Homes for Better Living Award in 1970.

Aside from these precious historic elements, there was nothing worth preserving, so Julie otherwise gutted the interior. She installed new oak floors, replaced every finish, and extended the upper level over the existing lower level roof to add two bedrooms and two bathrooms. But she was careful not to over-modernizeand therefore maintained the layout, kept the location and size of all the windows, and reinstated the fluffy shag carpet that once graced the stair treads.

AFTER: Julie covered the stair treads in shag carpet to honor the original design and prevent slipping.

Read more here:
This Midcentury-Modern Reno in San Diego Is a Time Capsule of Retro Features - Architectural Digest

Consumer demand for sustainable building materials is rising, but the question remains: What, exactly, counts as sustainable? That can be a difficult question to answer. For indoor spaces in particular, the sheer number and variety of available materials and products can be overwhelming. Gensler, the largest design and architecture firm in the world, created a solution that demonstrates how one company can make a difference with sustainable design.

Much attention is paid to the sustainability of steel, concrete and other structural materials used in the building industry. Interior spaces are just as important, and they can present new and different sustainability challenges.

Every day, people work in and around spaces filled with furniture, but how many of us know how our furniture impacts us or the environment? theU.S. Green Building Councilasks rhetorically on its website.Furniture products can be made with high-emitting materials that can off-gas chemicals and potentially affect employee productivity; or they could be manufactured with high-embodied carbon materials that contribute to climate change.

Interior design teams already choose materials based on aesthetics and performance. Gensler maintains that sustainability should feature just as prominently and that sustainability standards should be straightforward and easily accessible. To help push the industry in that direction, the firm created a platform called the Gensler Product Sustainability Standards.

The firm announced plans for the standards last year, and the platform officially launched in January. In addition to identifying sustainable options among existing products, the platform is expected to motivate manufacturers to develop new products.

As architects and designers, selecting more sustainable building materials is one of our most substantial opportunities for impact, the Gensler team wrote in anAugust blog. We have a responsibility to define clear, impact-based priorities for sustainable materials, and a key step in this mission is publicly sharing a minimum sustainability standard for all our projects.

We recognize the power of collective action and strive to use our influence responsibly by increasing demand for sustainable materials in the market, Gensler added.

Genslers platform is an actionable initiative, not an aspirational one. It launched as GPS Standards v1.0, indicating its focus on product categories in which suppliers have already made sustainability disclosures, such as those outlined by the U.S. Green Building Council and other sustainability pace setters. Gensler expects that future versions of the platform will reflect a more proactive approach to motivate progress in the design industry.

To provide for maximum impact now, the current version centers around 12 categories representing the highest volume of materials used in interior spaces today. That includes office chairs, ceiling materials, insulation, carpet tiles, decorative glass, glass partition walls, gypsum board, interior latex paint, non-structural metal framing, furniture workstations and resilient flooring, which refers to vinyl and other materials that give slightly underfoot.

In addition to raw volume, Gensler also selected product categories based on their current state of traceability, including lifecycle and indoor air impacts. A sustainability paper trail already exists for carpet tile, for example, whereas Gensler determined that broadloom carpet is still problematic.

Control over the selection of materials is another factor. As an interior-centered business, Gensler does not control the structural elements of a building like steel and concrete. The focus on todays market-ready product categories is important to ensure enough GPS compliant products are available to maintain competitive bidding and avoid barriers for design and construction processes, according to the firm.

Last month, TriplePundit checked in with David Briefel, Genslers sustainability director who was instrumental in designing the standards, to get some insight into the launch of the platform.

Weve definitely been getting some feedback in the buildup to launch, and we got a lot this month, Briefel said. People like the idea and the collaborative nature. We are very transparent, and weve made an effort to align with industry standards.

Once the platform was activated, Briefel and his team zeroed in on areas of improvement. One of those is coordinating with manufacturers to avoid duplicating requests for information.

The challenge is largely around communication with manufacturers, Briefel said. We have an entire part of the team focusing on manufacture engagement. We are tracking outreach and making the information available to everyone.

Although sustainability has become part of the mainstream conversation, Briefel also noted that its status within the design world varies from one client to another.

Some markets are more sophisticated than others, he said. Some clients have done deep dives but others are more focused on energy efficiency, and for some, its not a priority. Thats why we thought it was important to have our standard as a baseline, regardless of the individual market.

Considering the ever-growing supply chain complexity of the task chair industry alone, the coming years will be full of challenges for the interior design industry. Nevertheless, a new language for sustainable materials is beginning to take shape.

Genslers platform is part of a movement that gathered force last November when the American Institute of Architects, the International Living Future Institute, the International Well Building Institute, the U.S. Green Building Council, and Mindful Materials announced their joint support for the Common Materials Frameworkfor building and product materials.

The first-of-its-kind collaboration drew attention to the framework, which launched in 2021 as the premier digital language for tracking and reporting sustainable building materials. It covers human health, climate health, ecosystem health, social health and equity, and circularity.

Every organization defines product sustainability differently and asks for different pathways or labels to meet the same objectives safe, sustainable and socially just materials. Alex Muller, the vice president of strategy at Mindful Materials, said in a statement. So, its not surprising weve made less progress than wed want. Thats all about to change thanks to the Common Materials Framework.

The change will not happen overnight but, as Breifel told 3p, the work done today will help prepare the designers of the future to create buildings and rooms that support a healthy, sustainable planet, inside and out.

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What Makes a 'Sustainable' Material When It Comes to Interior Design? - TriplePundit

There's nothing like a light and airy kitchen to bring the family together, and this kitchen redesign fits the bill. Curated by interior designers, authors, and TV personalities Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent for their New York City home, the space is a masterclass in transitional design.

Defined by statement skylights, veined marble countertops and considered vintage light fixtures, the space is effortless and timeless and serves the family's every need. We spoke with Nate about the kitchen design, how it's changed over time, and how it feels to live inside the space. This is what he had to say.

(Image credit: Kelly Marshall / Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent)

Nate says this is the family's second time living in the space they sold the house to friends years ago, but recently bought it back. And since the first time designing the kitchen, quite a bit has changed.

'It was time for us our style had evolved. And also our budget had evolved, in all honesty we could barely afford to live there the first time we bought that place,' Nate tells Homes & Gardens.

Originally, designing the kitchen was an exercise in creating a gorgeous space while sticking to a budget. Though the room's bronze kitchen island was bespoke (and 'the only splurge in the entire room at the time,' according to Nate), the rest of the kitchen's features were price-checked and relatively inexpensive.

'We had sconces from CB2 on the backsplash, we used plain white subway tile, and we painted the existing cabinetry it was beautifully made, but it was a dark mahogany when we bought the house,' he says.

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Since Nates first appearance on TheOprah Winfrey Showin 2002, he has become one of the worlds most recognizable interior designers. He has authored twoNew York Timesbestselling books and stars alongside his husband, Jeremiah Brent, in HGTV'sNate & Jeremiah Home Project.

In 'evolution two' of the kitchen, Nate and Jeremiah had an opportunity to adjust the space to their developed taste and an increased budget. The final product brings in a bit more vintage, and the classic marble countertop and backsplash introduce a splash warm, inviting color to the space. One of Nate's favorite elements of the space is the welcoming antique lighting.

'We replaced all the sconces on the perimeter, did a beautiful Italian fixture from the '60s over the island, and the most amazing vintage Italian sconces on the backsplash where the CB2 ones used to be. We took [those] out of our previous home we owned all that stuff. The thing over the island was in our bedroom and the sconces were in our parlor, so we just earmarked those for the kitchen because we knew we'd be spending so much time in there,' he says.

Though the marble adds a stunning touch to the room, it was a source of disagreement during the planning process, says Nate. While he wanted more whites, browns, and grays, Jeremiah pushed for the more 'busy' option, and ultimately won.

'I fought him on that, and I was wrong ... He was absolutely insistent, and he was right. I love it. It's really, really warm, ' says Nate.

The brass island was stripped and redone in the Calacatta Paonazzo marble, 'which felt more forever,' Nate says. An integrated sink made of the same marble material allows the color scheme and atmosphere to flow seamlessly throughout the space. And the cabinets? They got yet another refresh.

'We plastered the walls and the hood, and we covered a lot of the appliances, this time around, with cabinet-front appliances,' he says.

Eloise Flush Mount Ceiling Light

River Stone Quartz Off-White Kitchen Countertop

(Image credit: Kelly Marshall / Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent)

Nate describes the previous design scheme as 'a little bit more industrial in style,' noting its subway tile, butcher block counters and black cabinetry. The new space allows for an entirely different atmosphere.

'This feels a bit more European. A little bit more Venetian. A little bit more Romantic, and softer,' says Nate

The room's defining domed skylights steal the show, bringing natural light and visual interest.

'That was done by the person who owned the apartment before us who actually expanded onto some of the exterior terrace to create that atrium. And it's one of my favorite things in the house,' says Nate.

A kitchen is meant for cooking and sharing moments with loved ones, and the family's current kitchen makes much more space for daily use. Its vast countertop fits three different lamps, a spice tray and more.

'The island has a beautiful bowl from my husband's shop Atrio that we keep bananas and avocados for the kids in. The kids have breakfast at that island now, whereas before they couldn't really do that,' says Nate.

Functional and fresh, the finished kitchen is truly a success. With plenty of room for the whole family and a lot of natural light, it offers a serene escape that Nate and Jeremiah love.

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Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent's kitchen redesign is sophisticated and sleek these are the key tweaks they made to ... - Homes & Gardens

Seann William Scott and Olivia Korenberg. Getty Images (2)

Seann William Scott and interior designer Olivia Korenberg had a very low-key romance before calling it quits in February 2024.

In September 2019, Scott exclusively told Us Weekly that he was dating somebody but did not reveal her identity. Shes a great girl, he shared, explaining that hes a pretty private person but in a super happy relationship.

Later that month, Scotts rep confirmed to Us that he married his mystery girlfriend in a secret ceremony.

In October 2019, Scotts new wife was identified as interior designer Olivia Korenberg.

Celebrity Couples Who Got Married in Secret

Nearly four years later,Usconfirmedthat Scott filed for divorce from Korenberg, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split. The twosome also welcomed daughter Frankie Rose in June 2020, per court documents.

Keep scrolling to learn more details about Scott and Korenbergs relationship:

Scott revealed that he was dating somebody but didnt identify her. That same month, his rep confirmed that Scott and the mystery woman had tied the knot.

Scotts wife was revealed to be Korenberg. Shes from L.A. and owns an event/interior design company. Shes very sweet, an insider told Us at the time.

Scott and Korenberg welcomed a daughter named Frankie Rose.

Celebrities Who Secretly Welcomed Children

According to court documents obtained by Us, Scott filed for divorce from Korenberg. The actor listed the couples date of separation as October 2023 and cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for their split. Scott asked for joint legal and physical custody of Frankie Rose.

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Seann William Scott and Olivia Korenberg's Relationship Timeline - AOL

Design in all its forms, from furnishings to fashion, offers a rich narrative of people and place, as evident in Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures, on view through August 18, 2024 at The Smithsonians National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. The exhibition, which opened last spring, offers an immersive exploration of Afrofuturist expression over the last century, displaying more than 100 objects across mediums, including music, film, comic books, and more, that reflect pressing ideas around Black liberation, identity, and agency.

Afrofuturism continues to evolve as a concept, an aesthetic, and as a cultural platform with a deep intellectual tradition and history, Kevin M. Strait, curator of the exhibition, tells Interior Design. The term was originally coined in scholarly circles to explore how Black writers and artists have utilized themes of technology, science fiction, fantasy, and heroism to envision stories and futures of Black liberation and convey a more genuine and empowered image of the Black experience. Afrofuturism offers what Strait calls a powerful lens to view and interpret the Black experience in an increasingly technological world, and an identity for the multitude of activists, intellectuals, and creatives who envision new futures through their cultural output.

In the realm of design, the term takes on many forms. Design is one of the places in which Afrofuturism has its fullest visual expression, shares Michelle Joan Wilkinson, the museums curator of architecture and design. As we saw with the elaborate production design, set design, and costume design for the 2018Black Pantherfilm, opportunities to represent Black futures benefit from expertise across design fields. Even furniture design can be employed to convey Afrofuturist aesthetics. The set for the films sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, includes a stool and chair by designer Jomo Tariku, she adds.

As for a unifying thread among Afrofuturist aesthetics, Wilkinson says expression is often individualized, noting that its difficult to to define characteristics or palettes across fashion, graphic design, and interiors. Im usually interested in what the creator identifies as Afrofuturist elements in their workand often this has to do with their own research into African diaspora cultures, into Afrofuturist literature, and the knowledge of predecessors in the genre across creative disciplines, she continues. That said, references to space or the cosmos are often part of Afrofuturist imaginings.

The cosmos play a prominent role throughout the 4,300-square-foot exhibition at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which is designed to take attendees on a journey through time and beyond guided by Afrofuturism pioneers. Glimpse Octavia Butlers typewriter, Nichelle Nichols Star Trek uniform, and Nona Hendryxs spacesuit-inspired costume worn while performing with LaBelle. And take a peek at Chadwick Bosemans Black Panther costume. Im certain that as new audiences encounter and learn from the history of Black futures, the scope of what Afrofuturism is will continue to evolve, says Wilkinson, noting that such imaginative world-building will likely encourage generations to come to discover new frontiers of architecture and design.

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This Must-See Exhibit Explores Narratives Around Black Liberation - Interior Design

Designer & Project Manager

Company: Benjamin Vandiver Interiors + Lifestyle LLC

Duration: Full-time

Date Posted: 02/12/24

Category: Interior Design

Location: New York

Salary: 50-100k

We are presently seeking an Interior Designer who shares our passion for design and has the skills and entrepreneurial drive to grow within our organization. Applicants should be highly organized, detail-oriented, self-starters who are flexible enough to work on and oversee a variety of projects.

AutoCAD drafting of furniture plans, elevations, and other drawings; Working with the Principal and design team to develop design concepts; Assisting Principal with selection of furniture, fixtures and finishes; Preparing presentation drawings/renderings; Field surveying of client spaces; Attending project meetings and providing documentation support; Managing project installations; Managing both client and vendor relationships; Overseeing client projects from start to finish and ensuring adherence to deadlines; Maintaining delivery schedules and troubleshooting when necessary; Reviewing all client documentation and communication for accuracy and clarity; Maintaining weekly status reports and updating the Principal and design team

Applicants should have: Bachelor's degree from an accredited architecture or interior design school; 2+ year experience minimum working in architecture or interior design office; Strong written and verbal communication skills; Ability to work independently and with a team, some team members may be remote; Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills; Ability to multi-task in a quick-paced environment; IVY software experience a plus

Benjamin Vandiver Interiors + Lifestyle, LLC is a multi-city interior design firm focused primarily on residential projects in and around the greater NYC metropolitan area -- this position is based in New York City. We are an energetic and creative team of professionals who work collaboratively to provide the highest level of design and services to our discerning clients. Featured by Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Vogue, WSJ, Domino, Luxe, House Beautiful, Garden & Gun, Harper's Bazaar, etc.

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https://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/house-interiors/a46044078/benjamin-vandiver-soho-loft/

Benjamin Vandiver

Owner

bv@benjaminvandiver.com

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