John's bay window inside his living room. He also has a large rug.

Design Ideas

Hot Renovation Trends From a Pro

Whether building a home from scratch, doing a complete reno, or simply refreshing a room or two, you can take your project to the next level with some design inspiration. John Colaneri, one half of HGTV’s “The Cousins”, shares insights and ideas to help you create a unique space in your own home where all the elements blend together.

TV Personality John Colaneri Shares His Reno Tips

Whether building a home from scratch, doing a complete renovation, or simply refreshing a room or two, you can take your project to the next level with some design inspiration.

As one half of HGTV’s “The Cousins” and the founder of Lilyshea Development LLC, John Colaneri is well-versed in top design trends. Having recently purchased a 1960s-era rambler with the goal of taking it down to the studs and remaking it, Colaneri is sharing insights and ideas to help you create a unique space in your own home where all the elements blend together:

Customized tiling. Tiles are a great way to customize a space so that it’s truly yours.  

“Since I have three different design styles pervasive in my home--contemporary, rustic, and industrial, I wanted the tiles to reflect this,” says Colaneri, who chose different effects for his daughter’s bathroom, the master bathroom, and his home’s entryway, where he used a hexagon marble tile that blends into the wood floor.

Custom hexagonal tile work in an entryway.
No one ever said your floor transitions had to be a boring old straight line. Take custom tile to the next level by using different sizes, shapes, colors, and even custom arrangements like this transition work moving from the tile to the hardwood.
A square casement window with dark green trim and wallpaper.
White windows are great...but sometimes you need to rock that color. John's bedroom features a dark green wallpaper with gold accents, dark green trim, and bold black windows.
White windows are great...but sometimes you need to rock that color. John's bedroom features a dark green wallpaper with gold accents, dark green trim, and bold black windows.

Color pop. Find a color to carry throughout the entire home. While many people typically look to paint doors and trim white, consider being creative here.

“For my home, which has an open concept floor plan, I knew that I wanted to use a dark color for trim and doors in order to enhance other design elements, such as my kitchen island and hood,” says Colaneri.

Something old, something new. Achieving a blend of old and new can bring warmth and texture to otherwise ascetic spaces and design elements.

“I love contemporary design, but my true passion is blending old and new together. For the main entry and hallway, I installed reclaimed natural wood to add warmth and character to the space,” says Colaneri. “Likewise, I selected industrial-style light fixtures that boast traditional touches.”

Let it shine. Blurring that line between the indoors and outside can make a space feel larger and more inviting. To do this, Colaneri suggests replacing old windows with those that bring in more natural light.

“I chose black trim to give my windows a contemporary look and allow them to be a focal point, but I went with a farmhouse style grille for a traditional feel,” he says. “I also changed the rear windows into sliding doors, which made a huge difference by offering more outdoor access and light.”

John's living and dining and kitchen space. There is another large rug.

To learn more about Colaneri’s project and read about more ways to freshen up your space, visit getinspiredwithjohn.com. When it comes to a renovation, it’s all about seeing a space’s potential. With a little vision, you can transform your home into something that you never thought possible!

John Colaneri

Why John Colaneri Chose to Hire a Window Pro

Sometimes even the pros hire pros. John Colaneri chose to work with Renewal by Andersen because of the quality of the products and the fact that it’s a one-stop shop, which can simplify a home renovation during these uncertain times. “This is the first time I had one company handle so many aspects of my project,” he says. “These days especially you need to have a professional team that thinks of all the small things that can go wrong and reacts before they happen.”

Inspiration Gallery

More from John's project

Check out a gallery of John's ongoing project. To see more design tips and tricks, and to learn more about John's rambler renovation, vist Get Inspired With John.

Our Hassle-Free Process

Meet with your design consultant in-home or virtually to design a replacement solution that works for you. You’ll get options that fit your home, your timeline, and your bottom line.

Step 1

Design Consultation

Meet with your design consultant in-home or virtually to design a replacement solution that works for you. You’ll get options that fit your home, your timeline, and your bottom line.
Your project technician will assess your home, take detailed window and framing measurements, and answer any last-minute questions before sending in the order for custom-built windows.

Step 2

Measure and Manufacture

Your project technician will assess your home, take detailed window and framing measurements, and answer any last-minute questions before sending in the order for custom-built windows. 
Our installers treat your home as if it were their own. They come prepared with a “rolling workshop,” take time to answer any of your questions, and clean up thoroughly when done.

Step 3

Installation

Our installers treat your home as if it were their own. They come prepared with a “rolling workshop,” take time to answer any of your questions, and clean up thoroughly when done.
A robust limited warranty is backed by a commitment to making sure your windows function as expected. We will be here for you today, tomorrow, and decades down the road.

Step 4

Customer Care

A robust limited warranty is backed by a commitment to making sure your windows function as expected. We will be here for you today, tomorrow, and decades down the road.