Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent Reveal the One Thing To Always Let Go—No Questions Asked
HGTV
On “The Nate & Jeremiah Home Project,” designer duo Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent really know how to turn lemons into lemonade.
In the latest episode, “Bring Them Home,” these New York–based designers meet Marnie and Mark, whose house was recently damaged by fire. Now, they’re hoping to put their place back together with a renovation budget of $130,000.
Knowing that these parents of four kids have been through a lot, Berkus and Brent want to make the most of this opportunity to transform their home. Here’s how they pull it off, with plenty of lessons that might inspire a few changes around your own abode, too.
Ask yourself how you want a room to feel
Newly remodeled dining roomHGTV
As they all survey the kitchen and dining space, Brent asks, “What’s the one way you want to feel when you walk in this space?”
“I want to feel relieved,” says Marnie, clearly traumatized by the fire that had temporarily forced them out of the house. “I love this house so much, and to be able to come back here and live again, and have it be even better than before would just be incredible.”
That’s a good way to reassess your own home, too—not by how you want it to look, but how you want to feel when there. Let your desired mood shape your surroundings, and you’ll never go wrong.
Purge items that are unpleasant reminders of your past
Deciding what should stay or goHGTV
While sorting through their things to decide what they’d like to keep and what they’d rather ditch, Marnie and Mark come across a box with chandeliers. Mark says they were hanging in his first house with his first wife—he’s been saving them ever since.
“Do you want to use them again?” asks Berkus.
“That’s a good question,” says Mark. After some deliberation, he decides, “I’m OK saying goodbye to these chandeliers. I loved the way they looked. I thought they were very cool.”
But when he takes a look at Marnie’s face, he knows he’s made the right decision.
“Obviously, you want to honor your past,” says Brent diplomatically. “But I think we have the opportunity to really create your story.”
That’s a very tactful way of saying, Hey, homeowners, for the love of god, get rid of anything that reminds you of your ex.
Pick a paint color you can live with for the long haul
Turquoise kitchen with a mirrored backsplashHGTV
Marnie has mentioned that she would like a little more glamour in her life, so Brent wants to go all out with an antiqued mirror backsplash, shiny brass hardware, and high-gloss teal cabinetry in the kitchen. But Berkus wants to play it safe, pointing out that “committing to turquoise cabinetry is a lifelong decision.”
“It’s paint,” insists Brent, stating that if they don’t like the color in a few years, they can just have the cabinets repainted.
Berkus, ever the realist, shoots back, “They’re not going to repaint.”
They decide to consult with their clients. Brent talks them into going bold. When Mark and Marnie first see their new turquoise cabinets, they are thrilled.
“I have never seen a more beautiful kitchen in my whole life,” raves Marnie.
We can’t help but wonder if she’ll still be saying that a year from now.
Ways to make one bedroom work for two kids
One room for two girlsHGTV
The couple’s two daughters, Emily and Elizabeth, share a bedroom, and they’re happy to continue with that setup, but some changes need to be made.
“When Emily and Elizabeth first started sharing a room, they were much younger than they are now,” explains Berkus, looking at a picture of the girls when they were sharing a room with bunk beds. They’re now tweens.
“They’re like young ladies, and that is a whole different planet,” says Berkus.
So they build a slatted partition, which will divide the room while keeping it light and open. On one side, the wall will be papered, and on the other side, the room will be painted to further define the girls’ individual spaces.
They’ll also add an extra closet to the room, because no two tween girls should have to share a closet, ever.
Add a new top to old furniture
Credenza with a new stone topHGTV
“This credenza for sure stays,” says Berkus, referring to a furnishing that Marnie adores. The only problem is some discoloration on the top from the fire. It cannot be sanded out, and painting over it would spoil the lacquered finish.
“Adding a stone top will make it look more important,” says Berkus. “I think it breathes a little bit of a new life into it.”
In the end, as usual, the family is elated with their newly renovated home.
“We have had a rough road,” says Marnie, through tears. “We cannot thank you enough. I cannot have imagined any of this.”
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