Kitchen Design Tool Nate Berkus

Wood, Lighting, Room, Property, Major appliance, Interior design, Wood stain, Furniture, Kitchen appliance, Countertop,

LG Studio

A Kansas City family of four were the lucky winners of the LG Studio "My Kitchen Needs Nate" contest. As a bonus, the designer gave their dining room a makeover, too.

Wood, Lighting, Room, Property, Major appliance, Interior design, Wood stain, Furniture, Kitchen appliance, Countertop,

LG Studio

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Kitchen Before

Nate chose Tim and Lauren Oliphant (and their two adorable boys) from Kansas City as winners of the LG Studio "My Kitchen Needs Nate" Contest. To enter, the Oliphants submitted a video from their kitchen that showcased the personal inspiration they wanted Nate to incorporate into their design, as well as a description of what they love about LG Studio appliances.

"The house hadn't been renovated since late '70s or '80s," Nate says. "The kichen wasn't footing the bill for this particular family, who invite everyone over all the time."

Floor, Room, Wall, Ceiling, Beige, Electrical supply, Plywood, Electrical wiring, Building material, Beam,

LG Studio

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During Renovation

The 10-day timetable for the makeover meant that they had to work quickly. The challenges? "Massive," Nate says. "I insisted on taking a wall down between kitchen and living room," he says, and in the process they discovered -- and had to fix -- other issues to make the home structurally sound.

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LG Studio

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Design Priorities

Though the family has two young boys, Nate says he wasn't designing with them as his top priority, though he notes that "one should remember they like shiny things with buttons." Instead, he says, "The design was really for Lauren. She's the quintessential weekend warrior mom, decorating on the weekends, and she does a lot of DIY."

Wood, Room, Interior design, Countertop, Floor, Furniture, Table, Cupboard, Light fixture, Ceiling,

LG Studio

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Kitchen After

"I've always felt like a room is assembled and layered over time," Nate says, and the way to do this is "incorporate pieces that have patina and age" along with new items from stores like Target. One of his finds was the kitchen table, a vintage 19th century piece from an antiques mall."

Room, Lighting, Wood, Property, Interior design, Ceiling fixture, Major appliance, Light fixture, Home appliance, Ceiling,

LG Studio

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Kitchen Details

"It was very clear what her personal style was," Nate says of Lauren. "She loves a Hamptons beach vibe." So, he chose items like Carerra marble counters, brass fittings, a gray weathered wood floor, and a custom stove hood.

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LG Studio

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Stainless Steel Appliances

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LG Studio

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Head, Arm, Smile, People, Eye, Happy, Plaid, Iris, Love, Tartan,

LG Studio

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Nate with the Oliphants

"I wanted the design to feel timeless -- classic materials mixed with the best tech out there," Nate says. "They're never going to redo this kitchen."

Interior design, Floor, Wood, Room, Flooring, Table, Furniture, Ceiling, Glass, Wall,

LG Studio

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Dining Room

"The dining room was a total bonus," says Nate, who notes that the room previously had been used as a playroom for the boys. "I found a salvage iron gate and placed it over the mirror, and we painted the window frames black. The curtains are from Restoration Hardware, and the accessories are all vintage."

Room, Lighting, Property, Kitchen, Floor, Cabinetry, Plumbing fixture, Interior design, Sink, Major appliance,