A chic mansion in Manhattan

“Although it hadn’t been touched much for two generations, it contained a lot of emotion.” So says interior designer Jeremiah Brent, of a Manhattan apartment that had been a Latino family’s home base for decades — the home of its beloved matriarch. ; the place for memorable gatherings, convivial dinners and celebrations of all kinds. Everyone knew the Park Avenue property needed a makeover when it recently passed into the hands of another generation, but, adds the New York-based talent, commissioning would be a challenge for everyone involved, both both personally and professionally. “It couldn’t lose any of its spirit, but it needed to bring light and more contemporary elements,” he explains. “The approach had to honor the client’s mother, who had lived there for so long, while placing her in the present, while leaving room for the future. It had to be a new but sensitive start.—Mitchell Owens

A Breezy LA pad

“Brian and Tracy’s last home was a Tudor without much sunlight, so the question was ‘How do you bring a bright, contemporary spirit to a home with traditional bones?’ Here, the challenge was reversed – we wanted to bring a sense of warmth and comfort to an immaculate contemporary home,” says Brent. As you might expect, Berkus has his own opinion: “They didn’t want to go completely neutral. “, he jokes. “They didn’t want a room with three perfect modern pieces of furniture.” Instead, the designers orchestrated an unassuming symphony, spanning decades, of chic and eminently comfortable furnishings, including many have been reused from the owners’ previous residence.—Mayer Russia

The all-white DC home of a former NHL player

High ceilings, large windows and impressive skylights all contribute to bringing an abundance of natural light into [this] house, which Brent says played a vital role in opening up the once dark space. . . . “We drew a lot of inspiration from Europe,” says Brent, whose love of art and interiors was first cultivated with furniture design. “Everything was supposed to be integrated and clean, so we avoided any trends.” One of the biggest transformations – and challenges – involved the home’s staircase, which was flipped from one side of the property to the other. “Moving the stairs isn’t necessarily an easy task,” says Brent. “But it really gave us the versatility to do a lot more with interior aesthetics and use the house more.”–Troy J. McCullen