Dreamhouse

Nate and the crew that helped the Hale-Jo family build their dream house.

On yesterday’s Oprah show cutie pie interior designer Nate Berkus worked his magic Extreme Home Makeover style for a family who’s overcrowded suburban Seattle home was in need of a top to bottom renovation. In just 15 days Nate gutted, partially demolished and rebuilt the house from the inside out, opening up its floorplan and even adding a second master suite level to the 1960s former ranch style home. Nate also enlisted the help of his friend, Australian landscape architect Jamie Durie, to completely redesign the home’s exterior landscaping. The result was fabulous. Have a look at the  “After” pictures, below. To see the before pictures and to read the background story on the family visit Oprah.com.

House

The newly designed house with its beautifully landscaped front yard.

Lrdr

A shot of the home’s new open kitchen.

Br

The second level master suite.

Photos via Oprah.com

6 Comments

  1. Hi Great write up on Nate,, he was so amazing to deal with in Seattle.He did alot of his shopping at Pacific Gallery Antique Mall, where I had the honor of dealing with him , he bought several items,and has such great taste! Take a peek at my other blog
    http://www.soulfuladornments.blogspot.com/
    Love your blog!
    thanks lorie at soulful adornments

  2. Hi Great write up on Nate,, he was so amazing to deal with in Seattle.He did alot of his shopping at Pacific Gallery Antique Mall, where I had the honor of dealing with him , he bought several items,and has such great taste! Take a peek at my other blog
    http://www.soulfuladornments.blogspot.com/
    Love your blog!
    thanks lorie at soulful adornments

  3. Hi Lori– Thanks so much for your post & I’m so happy to hear you love my blog! I just checked both of yours out and they’re great too! So cool that you had the pleasure of working with Nate! Even though he doesn’t have a thing for women I still have a slight crush on him!

  4. yolanda finch

    Nate, I no that you don’t come to the Idaho area and i know that it is very cold here, Would you please come to Lewiston Idaho. My daughter just turned the big 18 on December 5th and i would like to give her a late Christmas gift and a graduation gift as a total package. Her bedroom is in such need for a makeover ,she has no room for anything it is a disaster and she gets very frusterated trying to keep it clean. thank you Nate and please consider it. Yolanda

  5. Candice Janit

    Hi Nate,

    I am not sure where to post my story but I just thought I would give it a go here and pray for the best.I just saw you do a makeover for an incredible family on Oprah and saw the incredible work you have done for the people who really need it and I would love to tell you my inlaws story.

    I met my husband about 4 years ago as he came to Live in Australia, we went back 9 months later to Canada, Toronto to meet his family and I instantly felt at home as I was very nervous as his father is suffering from a debilitating disease called multiple sclerosis where he is in constant pain and getting worse. My husbands mother is such a dedicated woman and nothing is ever to much for her for the family. She goes out of her way to make sure everyone is ok before her. She is truely a selfless person and really deserves something back.

    They have been trying to sell there home as it has stairs and is not very functional for my husbands father as he falls a lot and can not menouvre himself around very easily. They could not sell their house but are looking to make it functional for him and the rest of his family as he is constantly getting worse. They do not have the resources and dont even know where to start so I am hoping you will be the answer.

    I am very close to my inlaws and even though we live away from them I would love to do something for them as they need the help.

    They all have the most incredible attitudes, nothing is ever to hard or to much and although my father inlaw has a debilitating disease, he has the amazing ability to ignore his disability and keep a positive attitude for everyone else around him so they dont see him suffer and his wife selflessly works around the clock to make his life and everyone around her better.

    She even arranged our wedding a year and a half ago in Canada with no help while her grandaughter was in hospital born prematurely as well as looking after her husband.

    If anyone deserves a makeover they do. Please help, I know you can make this happen. I am not sure you do makeovers in North America but really hoping you can help make a difference to my husbands family’s life.

    Thank you anyway for all the work you are doing for every other family out there who needs it.

    Your Sincerely,
    Candice Janit
    Sydney Australia
    (02)93984471
    mobile 0410 464 418

    My inlaws live at 87 Charnwood place Toronto Canada. My mother inlaw and father inlaws names are Gwen and Selwyn Janit and their contact number is 905 881 5480

  6. Kathleen Hennessy

    Dear Nate,
    I am writting for my Husband Kevin. He’s a hard worker and is always helpful to me and our two young daughters. His dad got in a car accident when Kevin was 12 years old He grew up with just him and his mom. His mom had some health problems and did not drive he took care of her making sure she had groceries every week and whatever she needed. We got married and lived close to her, and When we moved again we looked for a inlaw appt for her so we could be together to help her out. She loved our two daughters and we had a lot of good times. Two years ago Kevins mom passed away it was unexspected very hard on all of us. As i look over at the appartment over our garage every day it saddens me. Kevin gutted everything but has no time to get it all done. I am so proud of how much he has done already, He wants more then anything a movie theatre game room with a bathroom and small kitchen to have for memories of his mom to enjoy the place and to have it a place to go to of his own. It’s a work in progress but it’s been two years and one wish i have for him is to have this finsihed for him and our two girls. I love your show, you are so inspiring and love your styles of decorating. thanks so much for all you do.

    Kathleen Hennessy