10 Ways to Make Your Home Part of the Family With Authentic Decorating, According to Veronica Valencia

The Revealed designer infuses her clients’ family history, heritage and heart into every home she designs. Here are 10 of her best tricks for making a house feel like a home.

By: Susan Hall

Show: Revealed

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Photo By: Katherine Valencia

Photo By: Dustin Reynolds

Photo By: Dustin Reynolds

Photo By: Dustin Reynolds

Photo By: Dustin Reynolds

Photo By: Dustin Reynolds

Photo By: Dustin Reynolds

Photo By: Dustin Reynolds

Photo By: Dustin Reynolds

Homes With Heart

“When I design, I want to tell every family’s story,” says designer Veronica Valencia. During each episode of her HGTV show Revealed, Veronica and her team (fine artist Josh Smith, designer Tommy Rouse and contractor Dave Bohler) work closely with clients to bring their family history to life through design. “I love incorporating culture and heritage into a home,” Veronica says. She does this by learning about her clients' home-design goals and digging deep into their family history. The result: Touching, thoughtful and meaningful designs. Ahead, get inspired by Veronica's decorating tips for every room — and learn how to add a little heritage to your own space.

more on revealed: Revealed

In the Dining Nook: Materials That Matter

Homeowners Genni and Sean are newlyweds, soon-to-be parents and ready to imbue their 1950s ranch-style home with warm touches that honor their families. Genni grew up on the island of Guam, and Sean is of Thai and Hungarian descent. To bring their formerly cramped dining room to life, Veronica and her team maximized space and comfort for the couple’s large extended family using deliberate design details to pay homage to the couple’s heritage. For Genni, Veronica and her design partner Tommy added pottery-style texture to the base of the built-in banquette with hand trowels and dry brushes to mimic indigenous Chamorro pottery from Guam. Veronica applied raffia to the simple bifold doors, which lead into the laundry room, as a nod to tropical-inspired materials. The dining nook is now a cozy, light-filled place to gather with loved ones.

more about veronica: Get to Know Veronica Valencia Hughes of HGTV's 'Revealed'

From: Veronica Valencia Hughes

In the Nursery: Symbolic Blooms

Mom-to-be Genni's love for ballet — she took classes until she was 18 — inspired the soft pink palette of her new nursery. Genni’s mom sent Veronica some of Genni’s most treasured ballet collectibles (ballet shoes and ballerina figurines) to add a nostalgic touch to the space. Veronica chose a rose-hued grasscloth to add warmth and commissioned fine artist Josh to craft a beautiful hand-painted wall of flowers. He painted tulips to represent Sean’s mother’s Hungarian roots, plumeria for Genni’s childhood in Guam and hibiscus to honor the couple’s cozy California home, where a vibrant hibiscus tree blooms in the front yard. Sean’s mother delivered the family’s cherished bassinet, made by her cabinet-maker father and used by babies in the family for 40 years.

get to know the team: Get to Know Veronica Valencia's Talented Team From HGTV's 'Revealed'

From: Veronica Valencia Hughes

In the Kitchen: Spice of Life

“We want the house to represent us, our family, but more importantly our culture and our heritage,” says homeowner Manish Patel of the home he and his wife Priti — both first generation Indian Americans — live in with their two children. The couple enjoy a mix of modern and classic design and share a passion for authentic Indian cooking and celebrating their culture with friends and family. In the kitchen, Veronica was inspired by the family’s masala spice tin, which contains the primary seasonings used in Indian cooking. She crafted an expansive built-in spice rack that hugs the range. She also commissioned a brass hood that echoes the shine of the masala tin, which is a true focal point of the room. Classic white shaker cabinets with bronze hardware and sleek Brazilian quartzite countertops (complete with shaker panel-style trim on the waterfall edges) honor the couple’s sophisticated taste. In another corner of the kitchen, Veronica and her team crafted a beautiful hutch and handmade box to hold the family’s Mandir, a Hindu place of worship. To the delight of the homeowners, Veronica worked with Priti’s mom to situate the Mandir in a respectful and appropriate way.

see more: Erin Napier's Cost-Effective Kitchen Countertop Trick is So Clever

From: Veronica Valencia Hughes

In the Office: Homage to History

Veronica’s best friend Laurin and her husband Mark are ready to transform their lackluster house into a forever home that pays tribute to beloved family connections. In Mark’s new office, Veronica created a quiet place to work and reflect with moody hues and rich textures. To honor Mark’s grandfather, who was like a second father to him, Veronica sifted through a trunk of his belongings gathering dust in the garage and selected treasures to display throughout the home. She installed floating picture ledges above Mark’s desk and outfitted them with photos of his grandfather, his grandfather’s travels and Mark and Laurin’s travels. “It’s a visual reminder of Mark’s love of history, travel and his grandfather,” Veronica says. “Now this is the heartbeat of the entire office. When you’re working and the day is stressful, you can look up and remember it’s all about family.”

home office inspo: 30 Home Office Design Ideas We Love

From: Veronica Valencia Hughes

In the Bedroom: Vacation Vibes

A 500-square-foot addition transformed Veronica’s best friend Laurin and her husband Mark’s home, adding a primary bedroom escape for the couple and an office for him. In the bedroom, Veronica went with a beachy, modern aesthetic to celebrate the couple’s love of travel and breezy coastal escapes. The new suite features earthy tones, French doors that directly access the backyard and beautiful his-and-hers inset wardrobes. Designer Tommy Rouse crafted the wardrobe doors with dark-stained fir to bring warmth to the room and added decorative fluting to the doors and drawer insets for a look that feels like a getaway to Tulum, one of Laurin and Mark’s favorite destinations. Atop Laurin’s wardrobe, Veronica placed a legacy journal she compiled of stories from Laurin’s beloved grandparents, who have been together 71 years. Now Laurin can gather strength and inspiration from her family every time she gets ready for the day. Mark’s wardrobe features family portraits and travel photos to fortify him as well.

more star-approved bedrooms: 30 Dreamy Bedroom Designs From HGTV Stars

From: Veronica Valencia Hughes

In the Dining Room: Focus on Friendship

Lisa and Scott have lived in their home for 20 years and love to entertain, but the home's original footprint left much to be desired. Their refreshed dining room is now the perfect place to host friends, play games and celebrate Lisa’s treasured collection of books. Contractor Dave crafted beautiful built-ins (complete with a sliding ladder and a pretty quartz countertop) to house Lisa’s books, display family heirlooms and serve dinners and drinks with friends. The custom dining table has a hidden compartment that opens to reveal board games and custom puzzles Veronica made out of old family photos. Veronica engraved the dining table surface with a simple dandelion illustration that honors the couple’s daughter Maddy, who, as a child, wished upon a dandelion for her parents to buy the home when it was for sale. A collection of meaningful botanicals — native Montana grasses to honor Scott’s roots, forget-me-nots to honor family and friends, and lavender from the couple’s backyard — adorn the wall.

dining room inspo: 100+ Top Designer Dining Rooms

From: Veronica Valencia Hughes

In the Kitchen: Culinary Traditions

Veronica was tasked with bringing repeat clients Leore and Adrian Berger’s 100-year-old home into the modern age while honoring its roots. The couple is passionate about celebrating Jewish traditions, especially in the kitchen, where Leore makes Shabbat dinner and their son Ari practices making challah. Here, Veronica replaced the original small-scale, black-and-white checkered floor with larger limestone tiles to bring in timeless character. Creamy cabinets are balanced by a beautiful walnut-stained wood island, which anchors the space and invites everyone to gather around. Countertops in Calacatta rochelle marble are “beautiful but also functional, as they really embrace the history of this home,” Veronica says. English double sconces flank the architectural vent hood. Veronica created a special heirloom project for Leore: two custom cookbooks brimming with family recipes, stories and history that celebrate her rich Jewish culinary heritage that will inspire her in the new kitchen.

more coastal grandma inspo: 10 Times HGTV Stars Pulled Off Coastal Grandma Designs

From: Veronica Valencia Hughes

In the Entry: Gallery Wall With Heart

Clients Ken and Malaika’s home was functional but didn't reflect their style, their love of entertaining or their family’s rich heritage. Of course, Veronica and her team helped them discover the story of their background and brought it to life through design. Veronica and the couple met with a genealogist and discovered they both had ancestors who hailed from Nigeria, Cameroon, Congo and the kingdom of Benin before becoming enslaved in the Southern United States. They learned of resilient ancestors who became registered voters in Mississippi. Their new entry hall immediately speaks to their family history, with works by celebrated black American artists, textiles and crafts inspired by the couple’s African heritage and a custom decorative wood header over the staircase that mimics the design of a Kuba cloth. Veronica and Tommy chose a warm grasscloth wallpaper to add depth and texture to the space. “It feels like us,” Malaika says. “It’s a representation of who we are.”

get the how-to: 7 Tips for Creating the Perfect Gallery Wall

From: Veronica Valencia Hughes

In the Den: Family Gathering Place

Veronica and her team were challenged with transforming Ken and Malaika’s den from a chaotic hangout-meets-playroom to a relaxing refuge with modern boho vibes. Tommy turned the fireplace wall into a statement moment with dark, vertically-stacked tile and a custom alderwood built-in cabinet with storage space for each member of the family. The black tile on the fireplace contrasts with warm woods throughout the space to impart a “mini boho” aesthetic. Elsewhere in the room, natural materials further the bohemian vibe, while a neutral palette lends an aura of calm. “It’s rich,” Ken says, “and feels smoky, like a lounge.”

From: Veronica Valencia Hughes

In the Living Room: Celebrating Overseas Memories

Ike, Jessica and their four children have traveled the world, living as far abroad as New Zealand — but now they're ready to put down roots in California. Though they loved the natural and minimalist elements in their new abode, it was far from feeling like home. In the family room, the warm wood ceiling, organic fireplace and neutral palette were winners, but the space lacked storage and comfort. Thanks to Veronica and her team, the finished space checks all the boxes. New wall-to-wall built-ins provide space to stow kids’ toys, books and games, and, mostly importantly, a TV for movie nights. Cozy, unpretentious furnishings invite relaxation and family time. Dave installed a reclaimed mantel from an old packing house to add history and rugged visual interest. “Everything has a story now, a place and a history,” Jessica says. “It’s really exciting.”

more on revealed: Revealed

From: Veronica Valencia Hughes

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