My Houzz: Watch Kyrie Irving Surprise His Dad With a Renovation
The Cleveland Cavaliers player uses Houzz to find a pro, and shop for products to open up and brighten his father’s home
Mitchell Parker
13 June 2017
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
Kyrie Irving has accomplished a lot in the past five years. He was the No. 1 NBA draft pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2011 at the age of 19. His first-season performance as point guard for the Cavs earned him the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 2012. And, as of this writing, he’s battling the Golden State Warriors for the NBA championship title – for the third year in a row. He and his teammates, which include LeBron James, won the title in 2016.
In light of all this, there’s one person to whom he attributes much of his success: his father, Drederick. When Kyrie was 4, his father gave up his own career as a professional basketball player to raise Kyrie and his sister, Asia. He moved the family to West Orange, New Jersey, bought a house and, when he wasn’t working, taught his son everything he knew about basketball. “He sacrificed a lot,” Kyrie says. “He really was Superdad.”
In light of all this, there’s one person to whom he attributes much of his success: his father, Drederick. When Kyrie was 4, his father gave up his own career as a professional basketball player to raise Kyrie and his sister, Asia. He moved the family to West Orange, New Jersey, bought a house and, when he wasn’t working, taught his son everything he knew about basketball. “He sacrificed a lot,” Kyrie says. “He really was Superdad.”
‘After’ photos by Mike Jaro of Inner Photography
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Drederick Irving, father of NBA basketball player Kyrie Irving
Location West Orange, New Jersey
Designer Jules Duffy of Jules Duffy Designs
Drederick still lives in the family home and has never really wanted to leave. “It’s his first house,” Kyrie says. “I think he wants it to be his only house. This is where I grew up, and I respect him even more for wanting to keep it. But I know there’s always things he wants to improve on in the house.”
With that desire for a new feel in mind, Kyrie decided to surprise his father with a renovation to several living spaces – taking down walls, gutting the kitchen and adding new furnishings to create a more open plan fit for the frequent parties Drederick likes to throw for friends and family. “I want to do this renovation for my dad because he worked his tail off to get the house and provide for myself and my sister,” Kyrie says. “He deserves it.”
The renovation is featured in the latest episode of My Houzz, a video series documenting public figures as they surprise a close family member with a home renovation. The pilot episode featured Ashton Kutcher, who is an executive producer of the series.
Watch now: See Kyrie Irving surprise his dad with a home renovation
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Drederick Irving, father of NBA basketball player Kyrie Irving
Location West Orange, New Jersey
Designer Jules Duffy of Jules Duffy Designs
Drederick still lives in the family home and has never really wanted to leave. “It’s his first house,” Kyrie says. “I think he wants it to be his only house. This is where I grew up, and I respect him even more for wanting to keep it. But I know there’s always things he wants to improve on in the house.”
With that desire for a new feel in mind, Kyrie decided to surprise his father with a renovation to several living spaces – taking down walls, gutting the kitchen and adding new furnishings to create a more open plan fit for the frequent parties Drederick likes to throw for friends and family. “I want to do this renovation for my dad because he worked his tail off to get the house and provide for myself and my sister,” Kyrie says. “He deserves it.”
The renovation is featured in the latest episode of My Houzz, a video series documenting public figures as they surprise a close family member with a home renovation. The pilot episode featured Ashton Kutcher, who is an executive producer of the series.
Watch now: See Kyrie Irving surprise his dad with a home renovation
BEFORE: The original living room was somewhat closed off from the dining room, on the right, and the kitchen, on the other side of the staircase.
AFTER: The most important design move was opening up the wall to create a more open layout that establishes better flow and distributes light among the rooms. This made the home visually and physically larger without adding actual square footage.
Kyrie used Houzz to shop for new furniture and furnishings and to find a designer for help. While searching Houzz for designers in and around West Orange, he found Jules Duffy’s profile, loved her portfolio of images depicting her previous work, and knew that he’d found the person to trust with the project.
Kyrie collaborated with Duffy on a Houzz ideabook of products, materials and finishes that would most likely appeal to Drederick. Kyrie knew that they included old finishes with a modern sense, and lots of navy blue, Drederick’s favourite colour.
Duffy noticed that the house already had a lot of charm, such as an existing 2-meter ceiling in the living room, and she worked on playing up those attributes. She refreshed the fireplace by painting the brick and mantel for a lighter feeling.
Kyrie used Houzz to shop for new furniture and furnishings and to find a designer for help. While searching Houzz for designers in and around West Orange, he found Jules Duffy’s profile, loved her portfolio of images depicting her previous work, and knew that he’d found the person to trust with the project.
Kyrie collaborated with Duffy on a Houzz ideabook of products, materials and finishes that would most likely appeal to Drederick. Kyrie knew that they included old finishes with a modern sense, and lots of navy blue, Drederick’s favourite colour.
Duffy noticed that the house already had a lot of charm, such as an existing 2-meter ceiling in the living room, and she worked on playing up those attributes. She refreshed the fireplace by painting the brick and mantel for a lighter feeling.
BEFORE: In the original kitchen, a dropped ceiling and several layers of flooring made for a cramped space. Father and son are both 6 feet 3, so when either was in the kitchen, something looked off. “Drederick looked completely out of proportion in his own kitchen,” Duffy says.
Meanwhile, a small square island didn’t offer enough countertop overhang, so people sitting there bumped their knees against the cabinets below.
Meanwhile, a small square island didn’t offer enough countertop overhang, so people sitting there bumped their knees against the cabinets below.
AFTER: Duffy and general contractor Anthony Carbone of TimberRidge Construction peeled back the layers of flooring, which eliminated a 5-centimeter step between the kitchen and the dining room, and raised the ceiling nearly 18 centimeters.
Duffy reoriented a new island to extend out from the wall to allow a pair of stools on each side with plenty of legroom.
Kyrie picked out the bold, graphic tile for the splashback, which was also Duffy’s first choice. With the wall between the living room and the kitchen removed, Duffy knew that the splashback would catch visitors’ eyes as soon as they walked in the front door. That drove the decision to go with white cabinets and countertops. “I didn’t want anything fighting the splashback,” she says.
After Kyrie worked with Duffy to choose furnishings, materials and paint colours, his older sister, Asia, took over the coordinating reins while he got back to focusing on basketball.
Watch now: See Kyrie Irving surprise his dad with a home renovation
Duffy reoriented a new island to extend out from the wall to allow a pair of stools on each side with plenty of legroom.
Kyrie picked out the bold, graphic tile for the splashback, which was also Duffy’s first choice. With the wall between the living room and the kitchen removed, Duffy knew that the splashback would catch visitors’ eyes as soon as they walked in the front door. That drove the decision to go with white cabinets and countertops. “I didn’t want anything fighting the splashback,” she says.
After Kyrie worked with Duffy to choose furnishings, materials and paint colours, his older sister, Asia, took over the coordinating reins while he got back to focusing on basketball.
Watch now: See Kyrie Irving surprise his dad with a home renovation
This angle shows the closer connection between the kitchen and the living room since the dining room wall came down.
BEFORE: In the original layout, a wall separated the kitchen from the dining room. During get-togethers, people sometimes tripped over the 5-centimeter step between the two rooms.
AFTER: With the wall down, the two spaces flow together. The new wood floor is now flush – no more tripping.
BEFORE: This angle shows the dining room looking back toward the kitchen. Besides wanting to change the closed-off feeling, Duffy and Kyrie sought to liven up the decor.
AFTER: Duffy opened the wall but kept a small soffit so that she could add crown moulding around the room to visually designate the spaces.
Kyrie knew that his dad would want to keep the dining table, so Duffy used it as a jumping-off point in the room. It’s a visually heavy piece, so she tried to bring in balance with lighter, airier pieces, such as a mirrored-door sideboard.
She also didn’t want the pieces to match too much, preferring an eclectic look that feels collected over time. “It gives a home a lot of warmth,” she says.
Because she was putting paint on the wall, Duffy wanted to bring in pattern in other ways, such as with rugs and curtains.
She also didn’t want the pieces to match too much, preferring an eclectic look that feels collected over time. “It gives a home a lot of warmth,” she says.
Because she was putting paint on the wall, Duffy wanted to bring in pattern in other ways, such as with rugs and curtains.
The new sideboard doubles as a serving station during parties.
Here’s a look at the new, more open layout from the corner of the dining room. Drederick was thrilled to see the new openness. “This has always been my dream to knock that wall down, but I never envisioned that it’d be like this,” he says. “It looks so much bigger. I really feel like this is the way the house is supposed to be.”
Watch now: See Kyrie Irving surprise his dad with a home renovation
Watch now: See Kyrie Irving surprise his dad with a home renovation
BEFORE: Duffy thought the curtains in the original living room were too low and blocked too much light. And because of the closed-off nature of the spaces, few people, including Drederick, used this room very often. Drederick often watched sports on a large TV in the basement.
Duffy wanted to bring in new colours and comfortable furnishings that, with the new open layout, would entice Drederick and his family and friends to use the room more.
Duffy wanted to bring in new colours and comfortable furnishings that, with the new open layout, would entice Drederick and his family and friends to use the room more.
AFTER: Duffy painted the brick and the mantel for a lighter feeling, and she incorporated shelving in a niche that she believes was previously a door to a former patio that had been converted to a storage room.
Duffy hesitated about adding a TV over the fireplace, but she wanted the living room to be a space that Drederick would be inspired to use, and that was the only option for the screen. Now when there’s a game on and he’s entertaining, he and his friends don’t have to go down to the basement.
Duffy hesitated about adding a TV over the fireplace, but she wanted the living room to be a space that Drederick would be inspired to use, and that was the only option for the screen. Now when there’s a game on and he’s entertaining, he and his friends don’t have to go down to the basement.
A sofa in navy blue, Drederick’s favourite colour, with orange accents plays off the kitchen splashback tile, making the style cohesive throughout the renovated spaces.
A new chest creates the feeling of an entryway.
A new chest creates the feeling of an entryway.
Asia came up with an additional project to surprise her brother and dad. She worked with Duffy to turn the storage room on the other side of the living room fireplace into a trophy room displaying awards and accolades from all members of the family. Previously, Drederick had the trophies all over the house or stored away in boxes.
The room was also a surprise to Kyrie, who didn’t know that his father had kept all the trophies and awards. “He gave up his dream for mine and my sister’s,” Kyrie says, tearing up. “It’s incredible to see he has every single trophy. It means a lot.”
The room was also a surprise to Kyrie, who didn’t know that his father had kept all the trophies and awards. “He gave up his dream for mine and my sister’s,” Kyrie says, tearing up. “It’s incredible to see he has every single trophy. It means a lot.”
Duffy chose navy blue for the walls, knowing that, thanks to all the windows and light, the room could handle the rich colour. A reclaimed-wood bookcase offers future display space.
Duffy’s floor plan sketch shows the furniture arrangement and open layout, with the kitchen at the top right, the dining room at the bottom right, the living room at the left and the trophy room above.
“I’m so grateful to Asia and Kyrie,” Drederick says of the remodel. “It’s a good feeling as a parent to know your kids have your back. It’s just a nice gesture on their part.”
Watch now: See Kyrie Irving surprise his dad with a home renovation
What do you think of this amazing remodel? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
“I’m so grateful to Asia and Kyrie,” Drederick says of the remodel. “It’s a good feeling as a parent to know your kids have your back. It’s just a nice gesture on their part.”
Watch now: See Kyrie Irving surprise his dad with a home renovation
What do you think of this amazing remodel? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Related Stories
Houzz TV
Tour an Architect’s Home Filled With Light and Vintage Charm
In this video, Lesley Cotton shows how exposed concrete blocks, warm wood and colourful artworks create a unique home
Full Story
Houzz TV
Peek Inside an Architect’s Bright and Open Modern Home
In this video, Denise O’Connor talks about the light-filled kitchen, dining and living areas in her Dublin house
Full Story
Houzz TV
Houzz TV: Step Inside a Designer’s Upbeat Eclectic Home
Watch and read how a designer created a light, airy and colourful kitchen-diner and a cocooning living room and bedroom
Full Story
Houzz TV
Visit an Architect’s Colour-happy Contemporary Home
In this video, architect Richard Keating highlights the playful details he used to create a fun family home in Scotland
Full Story
Houzz TV
Tour a Modern Farmhouse Kitchen and Living Room
In this video, a couple show how they removed a wall to create a stylish kitchen and living area for their family
Full Story
Houzz TV
See How an Architect Has Used Bold Colour to Add Joy to Her Home
In this video, Sophie Nguyen gives a tour of rooms in her London home, where red and yellow spark happiness
Full Story
Houzz TV
Tour an Australian Designer’s Modern-meets-traditional Home
In this video, Jess Hunter shows how she used furniture and a central fireplace to create zones in her open-plan home
Full Story
Houzz TV
Peek Inside an Interior Designer’s Stylish Home
In this video, Emma Merry takes viewers through her utility room, hallway, home office and son’s bedroom
Full Story
Houzz TV
See Inside a Designer’s Family-friendly Kitchen and Living Room
In this video, Amy Elbaum shows the storage and style details that create durable and fashionable spaces in her home
Full Story
Houzz TV
Step Inside a London Designer’s Elegant Edwardian Home
In this video, Claudia Dorsch takes viewers through the family home she designed to bridge modern and traditional styles
Full Story
a very beautyfull sucessful.
What a lovely, lovely family, so kind and thoughtful. Well done dad you did an amazing job and you can see you are all so proud of each other.
The house looks fab as well :O)
Well done on the renovation! Also so nice to see Kyrie's lovely family. :)