The 'Anti-Trend' Decor Approach Nate Berkus And Jeremiah Brent Swear By For A Timeless Home
The best way to make your home's design timeless is by staying away from trendy choices, and HGTV's Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent know this all too well. "I think the mistake that so many people make when they're renovating is that they reach for like the latest, greatest, trendiest thing... We want to reach for things that will stand the test of time," Berkus says when renovating a 1920s home on Season 1, Episode 5 of "The Nate and Jeremiah Project" (via HGTV on YouTube).
If your goal is to be 'anti-trend' with your renovation, follow in Berkus and Brent's footsteps by preserving some of the original elements in your house. In the 1920s home, they do this by conserving the river rock fireplace with unique farmhouse built-ins. They also keep the original layout and most of the arched doorways, as closed-in and narrow rooms are true to the time period. Not only do these elements help the renovation feel timeless, but they are also well-loved by the homeowners, and they make the exterior and interior feel cohesive.
Staying true to the character of the home
Even when adding new elements, Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent make sure they match the character of the home. For instance, when choosing the right tiles for the fireplace hearth, they decide upon classic black and white diamonds. They also include crown molding along the ceiling, which looks like it could be original. And when choosing the flooring, they decide upon a dark wood since this was the typical choice during the 1920s.
In the kitchen, they create a slightly more modern style with gray cabinets, but it still matches the rest of the space. When choosing the right cabinet color and countertop material, Berkus says, "So this is the color that I want to do the kitchen cabinetry in there, it's just really warm, it doesn't feel trendy to me, and I really like the idea of doing this gray marble on the countertop... And I think it's in keeping with the character of the house" (via HGTV on YouTube). Brent adds that he wants to include a wooden, antique piece of furniture for the island, and Berkus agrees since it perfectly pairs with the flooring.
Personalizing elements for the homeowners
At the same time, this doesn't mean the home should look like it belongs to someone else. The key is mixing pieces that fit with the time period of the home with elements that incorporate your own style and personality. For instance, in the sunroom, Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent include the couple's inherited cabinet, but only after spray painting it black and redoing the backing. According to Brent, "The interesting thing about people when they inherit furniture, or they take furniture into their home [is that] they stop one step before, which is finding a way to personalize those items and actually make them your own," per Realtor.com.
Another way they add the couple's personal flair is by including a nature mural wallpaper in the dining room since the wife loves sketching trees and other items. And, to match this mural, they frame and place her artwork around the space for an extra customized look. These elements create, as Brent says, the "relaxed but classic style" (via HGTV on YouTube) the homeowners are looking for.