What makes a home for me is there's an emotional connection
Some memories, warmth, and the people that are in it
I'm Kyrie Irving and this is My Houzz
I will always be from New Jersey
that's where my father's house is that's where I grew up
It's where I get my attitude from
it's where I get some of my personality from
My dad's name is Drederick
Man, he sacrificed a lot
ultimately gave up his dream to play basketball professionally
He chose to, you know work nine hours a day
a nine to five
And he would divide the time up of working all day
and then teaching me how to play basketball
or dropping my sister off at a dance class
He was really a super dad
I want to do this renovation for my dad
because, you know, he worked his tail off to get the house
and provide for myself and my sister
He deserves it
It's his first house
I think he wanted it to be his only house
That's where I grew up
and I respect him even more for wanting to keep it
But I know that there's always things
that he wants to improve on in the house
My dad's house is great
but I think it's time to see some new looks
and make the house more functional
and I think it should be a little bit more spacious
The dining room is to the right of the living room
the walls are so closed off
and it's definitely something that we just need to open up
From there, you walk through a small door
and enter the kitchen
Definitely fix up the island area as well as the sink
There are a lot of memories of me
being in that kitchen washing dishes all night
and me and my dad having really long talks
My dad has an idea that we're doing something special for him
but he doesn't necessarily know exactly what
He trusts me enough
that I'll get the right team to really fix up the house
I live in Cleveland and my Dad's house is in West Orange, New Jersey
So I turned to Houzz for this renovation
Houzz is the perfect app that has everything you need to get inspired
find a professional, go shopping and get advice all in one place
I went to houzz.com
looked up for local designers in West Orange, New Jersey
and along came Jules
Found her profile looked at some of her designs
I thought that she can find that balance
between modern and traditional
Jules and I scheduled a meeting here in Cleveland
to go over the design ideas for my Dad's house
Before we jump in, I want to ask you
about the "hungry and humble" sign on your wall, tell me about it
It's a mantra that my dad gave me
to really live by through basketball and life
just always having a hunger for more and always striving for perfection
And then humility, it's one of the most important things
that makes me who I am and I developed it from my family
Walking into this kitchen and seeing this wonderful mantra
that means so much to Kyrie
just speaks to how much family means to him
So is there anything you think your dad might really like?
So he loves really old finishes with a modern sense
Okay
You know, as blue is his favourite colour, I think...
Okay
Something to play on with navy
but a little flare of some colours here and there
- That sounds perfect - Yeah
Jules set up an ideabook on Houzz to collaborate from
She can show me different ideas she has
and I can add to what she has already done
Where I think we should start is in the living room
I'll go to the...
- To this one? - Yeah
I picked this picture because of the fireplace
Do you guys use the fireplace quite often?
Yeah, we use it
- Yes, we use it - Which is so nice
A lot of times, yeah
And to have seating around a fireplace
again, it just ties back to this
you know, wonderful tight-knit family that you guys are
and I'd like to highlight that in the space
You know, make it a fresh happy room
I'd like to incorporate a nice rug...
I think he'd like to see that
Okay, well, wonderful
Do you guys entertain?
My dad throws these incredible parties
but people are just going in different spaces in the house
and that's where everybody kind of lounges around
Some of the rooms feel a little closed in
I would love to see more of that light shine into the kitchen
So I'm sort of thinking
what if we could create a larger entrance into the dining room
maybe try to open up that space a little more
Speaking with Kyrie
I feel it's really important to break through some of these walls
It's going to dramatically improve how they function in the house
I really want to embrace that
and warm the dining room up as much as possible
When we have our family gatherings that's where we go all the time
In the dining room
I still want to keep our big table
I think that he would want to maintain
the feeling within that room
Right
And I want to, I want to keep that
One of the things I wanted to talk to you about
for the dining room is a storage piece
I love the idea behind it
I think it will be great for our big party gatherings...
Okay
And things that we're having over at our house
Great
We'll just click Add to Cart and then you just purchase it
and you can either check out or keep shopping
Seems pretty easy
And so one of the things that really struck me with your kitchen
is you have this really small island that has storage in it
That was all my dad's idea
Well, I get the idea...
Nope, that had nothing to do with me
- Nothing to do with me - What did you think of it
I don't sit in the kitchen
I stand in the kitchen
Okay, okay
Just because I know my knees can't get up to the island
Your knees...
Well, you can't get any knees because the countertop ends...
- All his idea - Right, okay
So I'd like to come up with a better solution for him
Me too
And then I would like to incorporate one fixture
that comes down from the ceiling a pendant fixture, in the kitchen
I liked this one for maybe over the island
Always make a statement no matter what
Okay, click on the piece add it to cart, purchase, and voila
So I've got some ideas going on about the kitchen
but one thing that I really wanted to run by you was the tile
Bold navy blue with a hint of orange
I like the design
Artistically, I think people will come in and be like
"Hey, where did you get this tile from?"
which is always a conversation starter
It has a wow factor about it, I like it
So let's get it
When you retire from basketball
you might have a new career ahead of you
I appreciate that, I appreciate that
But that's not gonna be for a super long time
- Yeah, no, no - Okay
Not for a long time
Not for a long time, but thank you
My sister Asia will be taking over the reins with you from here
while I go through my season
So I know she's excited
I can't wait to get Asia's input as well
And it is very, very important
very important that we kinda get this right
Excited
- So nice meeting you - Yes, ma'am
- Thank you - Thank you so much
Really appreciate it
I'm using Asia, my sister
as my other set of eyes and she's in Jersey already
so it works out that she can be close to the project
- Welcome - Thank you
- I'm Jules - Asia
It's a pleasure to meet you
It's a pleasure to meet you as well
Well then, I know you have some great things planned for us
Yeah, yeah
You know what let's start in the kitchen
- Yes, this way - Okay, you lead the way
Okay
We want to make this a really inviting space
because, you know, everyone congregates in the kitchen
which makes it really fun
It does
But I'd love to maybe try to open it up a little more
so you have more of a flow going on
Great idea, I'm excited
Let's take a look at the dining room
and see how we can work that out
Okay
You know, the first thing I noticed
in the dining room coming in is this step
I would love to see that go away
That would be great because a couple of people have tripped over there
Especially during his parties
- Yes - Yeah, yeah
We need to resolve that issue, absolutely
Yes, we do
So, Asia, when we were in the kitchen
we talked about sort of pushing out
This is the wall that we're talking about
I would love to see this wall
just completely open up as much as possible
It's hard to get your head around it
- Yes, it is - It's a major change
But what would happen here is
then you'll have a completely transformed
flow of traffic in this space
And it'll be better
You want to show me the living room?
- Yes - Okay, great, let's take a look
This way
Okay
So we don't really use this room a lot
All right, well we need to change that
Okay
You guys do a lot of socialising at the parties
We do
So we need to accommodate people
for comfortable seating and conversation areas
maybe some new paint colors, opening up the windows
Before you know it
it'll be a room that you guys want to spend so much time in
- I'm excited for that - Okay, good
So I think that this is gonna be a wonderful project
But wait, there's one more room
that I think we should take a look at
This will be a great surprise for the project
- Oh, I love surprises - Yes
- Let's take a look - Oh, excellent
Wow
So this is our trophy room
Tell me why your dad has so much of Kyrie's trophies in here
So he likes to give him his accomplishments
just as a gift to him like, as a thank you
- That's so meaningful - Yes
- That is so meaningful - It is
It's very special
So this is gonna be an awesome transformation
and a really special wonderful surprise
- Yes - So we need to get started
Today is demo day at my Dad's house
Oh, here he is
- Hey, Anthony - Hey, Jules, how are you?
- Great to see you - Good to see you again
I'd like you to meet Asia
- Hi, Anthony, nice to meet you - Hi, Asia
So this is the other side of the wall facing the dining room
We're gonna take the finishes off of here too today
So we'll be able to see right through from one room to the other
and even at that point we'll get a feel of the open space
So, Asia, throw on a pair of designer work goggles and...
The hammer is ready to go
Grab a nice big hammer
Let's do it
- Yeah, I know it's a lot of fun - Right here
On your mark, get set, go
Anthony, are you here?
Oh, my gosh
This is amazing
Look at this
And I see right through the kitchen
Worked out really well
What we saw earlier before we started the demo
was there was a step-up into the kitchen
- Yep - We got down to the subfloor
And how many layers do you think there were?
Six or seven six or seven layers of floor
Unbelievable
We were looking to lower the floor and raise the ceiling
Look at the ceiling
The ceiling's a much more dramatic change
than even the floor
- Oh, my God - Yeah
I'm jazzed about that we're gonna put...
- Jazzed? - Yeah
- I'm jazzed about it - Jazzed
Be careful here 'cause here's the other issue
Oh, wow, okay
Something that happened years ago...
Okay
And they just kept piling floor on top of floor
no one ever knew there was an issue
Oh, my gosh
And then we're gonna just change out the whole section
Okay
It's been four weeks since construction started
Asia's going to be meeting me at the house
to see how the progress is going
- Wow - Hey
Hi, Jules
- How are you? - How are you?
It looks so different in here
Oh, what do you think?
This doesn't even look like my house anymore
Oh, is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Yes, yes, yes
It was a big deal knocking down all the walls in her dad's house
so I am so relieved by Asia's reaction
At first, I was a little hesitant
but now that I see it come to life, it's amazing
So are you ready to see the trophy room?
I know you can see it already
Yes
- Blue - I love this blue
- What do you think? - I love this colour
Have you told your brother about this room?
Are you keeping it secret or telling him?
- Keeping it a secret - Oh, you are?
So you cannot let him know about this
Okay, okay
Asia is so excited about this trophy room
and I love that she's keeping it a secret
This is so different for you
- It's very different - I mean...
I think we should call Kyrie
- He has to see it - I love that idea
- Yeah - He has to
Okay, okay, good
I was in the car and I got a call from Asia and Jules
Hello
Hey, bro
- How are you guys? - We're great
How are you doing?
I'm good just getting out of practice
Well, we have a surprise for you
A big surprise
- The house looks so different - A big surprise?
Let me see
We're gonna give you a little tour
We're standing in the dining room facing towards the living room
Can you see a lack of something?
Yeah, the wall
Yeah
The walls are down, they're gone
So pretend you're at the front door now
So it's really open
Right?
It looks so much brighter in here now
It does
That snazzy backsplash you selected on Houzz Shop
is really gonna make quite a statement in the kitchen
- Really? - Yeah
- It's gonna be great - It better
- It better - It will
What was this backsplash that you chose?
Asia doesn't know
Yeah, Asia, it's really just between me and the décor
You and Jules?
Okay, well, I have something
that I'm keeping between me and Jules too
that you have nothing about
That's completely on you
and I respect your artistic expression
Okay, okay
It's really a silent competition
between us on whose idea would be better, so it's...
It's just sibling rivalry at its finest, that's all
It is good to see the progress that's going on, I'm excited
- Okay - All right
I love you, Shorty
I love you too
- I'll talk to you later - Okay
All right, signing off, take it easy
Bye
I love the fact that he is enjoying this process
I think he likes it
I'm so anxious to meet Dred the man behind the house
I picked up my dad
and we're headed to meet Jules and Asia at the house
My dad is extremely anxious
but, you know he's definitely excited
to finally get back to his house after two months
Okay, so we've got a lot to do before your dad and Kyrie arrive
Feeling that anticipation is a little nerve-racking
but I'm gonna keep my calm cross my fingers
and hope for the best
I think it's in the right place
I'm excited to see exactly what it looks like
Okay
But I know as much as I'm excited I know my dad's even more excited
And then the lamp goes on the table
My sister has been a great extension of me throughout this whole process
so I'm definitely excited to see what her and Jules have come up with
- All right, so I think we're good - Yes, I think so
We're ready for your dad and Kyrie to come
I'm so excited for them to see it
I can't wait
I just couldn't wait for the project to be completed
This is where I've been for
you know a substantial amount of years
and there's so many memories in this house
but just not knowing and not having control
I'm just really anxious to get back and to actually see the house
- Hello - Hey, Jules
Great to see you - You, too
I'm so excited about today
What's up, Shorty?
- Hi - How are you?
- Hi - I'm Dred
- I'm Jules
- Nice to meet you, Jules - Pleasure to meet you
Pleasure is all mine
- Hey, sweetheart, how are you? - Hey
- Good, how are you? - I'm good
- Are you ready? - Yes, I am, very excited
Have we got a surprise for you guys
- We're so excited - All right, let's make it happen
Okay, all right
When me and my dad walk in
I'm hoping that he's just as open to the newness
of what we created as much as I am
You know, we just have to go on with an open mind
and really trust what Jules and Asia did
Incredible
I'm like speechless
It looks so much bigger
Doesn't it feel like this is the way the house was supposed to be
Yes, it does
So the living room you'll notice we painted the brick
the mantle on the fireplace to give it a lighter feeling
Incorporated the shelving
now you have lots of places for family photos
Navy blue is one of your favourite colours
Yes
So I wanted to give you a nice large navy blue sofa
selected some accent colours
Looks great, wow
So it has a very warm feeling and yet remains masculine
In the dining room
your beautiful table really shines now
I love it
Wood finish gives you that Thanksgiving vibe all the time
It does
You know, family intimate environment is still here, so...
Yes, I love the chairs
These really cool tangerine chairs
Oh, yeah, those are nice
And we replaced your old storage piece
with a new console adding additional storage
The cabinet is really nice
You're standing where a wall used to be
- Really? - Yes
So the wall was here and we had another wall here
Now you can see right up to the stairs
Awesome
And then we also opened up the wall leading
from the dining room into the kitchen
We're walking through the imaginary wall that used to be
Yes, this is...
And I want to point out to you look, it's all even
I want you guys to know
that there were seven layers of flooring in your kitchen
that we peeled back
And then the ceiling went up about 7 inches
It seems so much larger, doesn't it?
This seems a lot larger
I want you to notice the backsplash
Remember, Kyrie this is what you selected on Houzz
I walk in and I'm speechless at first
and then I look around
and I realise the ideas that were shared on ideabook
were now brought to life
This is an exciting moment and I really just try to live in it
This kitchen is unbelievable it feels like home
but it just feels like it's more
like Kyrie said, like this is how it should be
We know how much this house means to you
but it's still so warm, Dad
and we know how much you enjoy having people here
and we enjoy being here as much as possible
Now it just gives this house more options
it gives it just more of an identity now, man
It's just now we create from this point on
And I think, Asia you have one more surprise
- I do have one surprise - A big surprise
So, Asia, take the lead
I don't really have an idea of what Asia's surprise is
but I know it's definitely gonna come from the heart
Dad, this is the new trophy room
Wow
- How do you like it? - I love it
It has actually all of our accomplishments
we have your stuff from Boston University
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Dad, I didn't know you were keeping all this, everything in here
I mean, I didn't even know we still had some of your old trophies
I mean it, I didn't know you were keeping all this stuff
It's overwhelming to see all of your accomplishments in one place
It's not so much that
it's more or less the relationship I have with my dad
My Dad gave up his dream for my sister's dreams and my dreams
he knew that from the beginning
It's incredible to see that he has every single trophy
I'm sorry, this actually really means a lot
Just a lot of memories shared with not only my sister
but with my dad and for Asia to design this room
and bring this to life is awesome
You did a wonderful job
- You did - Thank you
When I got to the trophy room it was an emotional moment for me
It's a special moment it really is, for all of us
We're a close-knit family
and to see those guys get emotional was really special
This is just...
I'm speechless
I can't even conjure the words
but it's been a long time waiting
this has always been my dream to knock that wall down
but I never envisioned that it would be like this
The house was definitely a success
a lot warmer now, a lot more spacious
it opens up a lot more opportunities for my dad now in this house
Thank you
- You're so welcome - Thank you, guys
You're so welcome
Let's have a little party
- All right, let's go - First one
Start it off right
Hey, welcome, welcome
Hey, wow
There's more possibilities that now we can work with
and I think he's ready to do that
I love the open
Oh, yes
This is my tile that I chose
You picked it out?
- This is me - That's pretty
I'm just so grateful to Asia and Kyrie
It's just a good feeling as a parent to know your kids have your back
and they think about you
and it's just a nice gesture on their part
We're all gathered here today for an amazing person
You know, Dad
this is just a little bit of thank you
for everything that you've done not only for the family
but everyone else around here
- Thank you - Toast
- Toast to new memories - Cheers
This is a big thank you to my dad
for what he's done for not only me but for my sister
Through the technology of Houzz
I was able to bring the vision to life
I'm not claiming any team I am a player fan
I'm a Pittsburgh fan
I like seeing great athletes do amazing things
Me and Broad, Pittsburgh Uncle Ty, San…
Without my dad's teachings I wouldn't be here
so it goes without even being said
how much thanks you try to give a man like that