Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Tag: Max Wilker

  • New Traditional Style

    The New Traditional home trend is making its way into our homes and our hearts. Max Wilker, Style Director at Dotdash Meredith, discusses how the look is all about utilizing what was once old and reimagining it with a fresh new finish or bold print fabric. Traditional styling offers chic layering of classic furniture with contemporary accessories. Wilker states, “It’s about freely mixing decades of furnishings with colors, silhouettes, and proportions all working together for a cohesive look.” Discover how to transform your home below.

    How to achieve the New Traditional style:

    • Find velvet chairs – preferably in a deep, rich tone to anchor the room
    • Create a traditional fireplace
    • Look for pieces with embroidered details
    • Try floral wallpapers
    • Design with gold and brass lighting and accessories
    • Use a mix of wood stains
    • Find a vintage brass mirror
    • Incorporate a traditional wingback chair
    • Use furniture with simple lines and minimal ornamentation
    • Colors to use include deep rich tones of green, blue, purple, and burgundy balances with softer and more neutral hues

     

  • Redefined Farmhouse Style

    Redefined Farmhouse is a very popular home trend, and we can see why. Max Wilker, Style Director at Dotdash Meredith, talks about how this look is a fresh, modern twist on the traditional farmhouse style of the past. “It’s still relaxed and comfortable but has visual cues of clean lines, modern sensibilities, and simplicity, plus hints of industrial,” he stated. Wilker recommends sticking to a neutral color palette with saturated, high-contrast tones partnered with black accents when creating this look in your home. It’s about creating a warm and cozy space full of charm and character while not looking overly rustic or modern. Learn how to transform your home below.

    modern kitchen with arrows and transform tips

    How to achieve the Refined Farmhouse style:

    • Stick to a neutral color palette for an open and airy look
    • Use light and medium-toned woods
    • Say hello to shiplap walls
    • Try to balance the old and new
    • Incorporate industrial or barn-inspired lighting
    • Get an apron-front sink
    • Have clean and smooth lines
    • Add wood beams to the ceiling
    • Use pops of colors sparingly. You can do this with plants and blue hand towels or pillows
    • Add texture, whether with furniture, stone, textured walls, or with fabrics and upholstery
    • Consider matte or brushed finishes
    • Add black accents to create a beautiful contrast

    Shop this look:

  • Holiday Decorations with Max Wilker

    Create stunning holiday centerpieces with things you can find around your home. From cookie stands overflowing with beautiful presents to snowy candles with tree silhouettes, discover a few simple ways to make your tables shine with Max Wilker, Style Director of Better Homes & Gardens®.

  • Ask A Pro – Top Bathroom Color Trends

    Question:

    I’m getting ready to repaint my bathroom.  What are the top color trends that will help me sell my home?

    Answer:

    Color can be fun to experiment with but don’t go crazy with extra bold color choices since you are planning to sell.

    There are a few things to consider when painting your bathroom:

    1. The overall color flow in the entire house. A house show’s best when a simple color palette is used throughout a house. The home feels larger and not so broken up when each room is a different color.
    2. What color is your bathroom tile, countertop, cabinets, faucets, woodwork, and flooring? What color will highlight these features?
    3. What style is the house and decorating style?
    4. What kind of lighting is in the bathroom as lighting changes the warmth and tone of the paint color?

    Today’s top color trends are going away from the cooler shades of gray (that have been trending for over 12 years). Homeowners are looking for warmth and coziness that comes from warmer colors used in a house. For gray tones, look for shades of light gray that have a warm yellow or red hue and not a cool blue hue. A nice greige is a good option as it bridges the gap between gray tones and beiges. Also in a bathroom, you can’t go wrong with a white paint as it can give that hi-end spa bath appearance. White will let the features of the bathroom shine so make sure everything else looks good. If you dislike white paint, go with a light color on the walls and then bring in fresh white towels and rugs with textures for a fresh, clean look. And to keep the trendy look going, add other textures such as a nubby wicker trash can and bring in a live green plant in a small basket or textural ceramic flowerpot. Bringing outside elements into the home is a trend that isn’t going away.

    Best of luck,
    Max Wilker
    Style Director
    Better Homes and Gardens Brand Licensing

  • Ask A Pro – Yellow House Curb Appeal

    Max Wilker, Style Director at Better Homes and Gardens, helps chose colors to give a yellow house a new look.

    Question:

    My house has light yellow siding and navy blue shutters but I’m wanting to change things up to better fit my style. I’ve thought a lot about black shutters but I’m not sure how that would look? And then I can’t decide on a door color. I’ve thought about white, black, red, or dark purple/eggplant.

    Answer:

    We have similar tastes as I have a yellow house, white trim and front porch, and dark royal blue shutters!

    To change up your curb appeal, maybe think about warm, charcoal gray shutters as they won’t be as bold as black shutters. Give your trim a fresh coat of white paint. For a front door, you could go with a stained, warm medium wood tone or look for a bright, navy blue paint. I’d go with brass or gold hardware on the door and porch lights for a fresh, modern twist. If you have space for a couple of planters by the front door, go with white planters/containers to match the trim and fill with red blooms for an extra pop of color.

    Cheers and have fun with color, Max.

  • Seed Starting with Max Wilker – Growing Green with BHGRE

    Max Wilker, Style Director of Better Homes & Gardens®, discusses seed starting and other top notch gardening tips. Get growing!

  • Ask a Pro – Mood Brightening Colors – BHGRE #HappyHome

    Max Wilker, Style Director, Better Homes and Gardens Brand, shares a few option for brightening a room with color.

    Question:

    These last few months of winter are taking their emotional toll on me. I need a quick pick-me-up in my living room and I think a new color would do the trick!

    I’ve got a cream couch and rug, so the sky is the limit. Can you give me some mood-brightening color suggestions?

    Answer:

    Option 1: I’d go with a classic palette of blues and greens to add punch to your creams. Explore a new look with a mix of hues and a variety of textures. Go with sleek colored-glass lamps and velvet pillows, plus green plants nestled in nubby, warm-colored wicker baskets. Find colored accessories and maybe a new statement piece of art for the wall with lots of blues and greens in it.

    Option 2: Of if you’re like to be right on top of the color trend, go with a rich, charcoal gray and warm, sunny yellows. A textural dark gray blanket throw and bold yellow pillows would perk up your sofa. Look to mix solid yellow pillows with printed pillows that have a dash of yellow and gray on them. Then you can add decorative accents in brass or gold to elevate the look of the room and elevate your mood!