It’s what renovation fantasies are made of: An experienced designer swoops in to transform a drab space into a dream interior within days. As the winners of LG’s “My Kitchen Needs Nate” contest, the Oliphant family from Kansas City, Kansas found themselves in just that situation when design star and LG Studio artistic advisor Nate Berkus gave their kitchen a top-to-bottom overhaul. Berkus repurposed the layout and upgraded the space with chic new finishings as well as new appliances from LG Studio. The designer talked about the project with AD, and, for those who may not be lucky enough to have Nate in their kitchens in person, he shared some valuable renovation wisdom for all projects.

Architectural Digest: Aside from the big reveal, which must be incredibly fun and rewarding, what is your favorite part about working with a family through a renovation?

__Nate Berkus:__The level of personalization in the process. It’s about taking a good look around [a client’s] home, seeing how they’ve decorated other spaces, and then deciding how I can add to the feeling that they’ve tried to achieve or achieved in other areas of the home. This definitely involves a lot of local vintage-furniture shopping, finding what you can in the area—cool vintage shops or multidealer antique malls (and of course finding the best food along the way!).

__ AD: __Speaking of antiques, what are some tips for incorporating them into a newly renovated space?

__NB:__If you can, do it! No matter where you are, there are always great local finds. For me, living in New York City and with my design firm working all over the country, I am a big fan of finding things in other parts of the U.S., because they are often priced very differently than they would be in New York or Los Angeles. There was an antiques mall in Kansas City that was unbelievable! I bought three things for my apartment in New York, and everyone on my team had to go to a mail center to send home all the stuff we bought. I got an incredible French bench for $200.

One of the biggest shocks for the Oliphants, after they were over the initial reveal, was Tim, the father, looking around the kitchen and saying, “That’s our silver tray!” It had been away in a cabinet for years, and now it’s displayed against the backsplash.

__ AD: __The Oliphants have young children. How do you recommend creating a space that is kid-friendly but also stylish and upscale?

__NB:__It’s a matter of how you approach it. I grew up in a household with a decorator for a mother, where we weren’t allowed in the living room as kids. I’m having a baby in March and we’ll put up a gate, but I will not be slipcovering my chairs in rubber. Well, I say that now—talk to me next year and maybe everything will be slipcovered! We can live gracefully with children. It’s about the constant upkeep more so than rubber covers.

On this project, the kids got excited! Children love cool new surfaces, good lighting, bright objects. They were looking around at everything, seeing what was new, and they were able to carve out a piece of their life in the new space. And, of course, kids love shiny things with buttons, so they were happy.__*

AD:*__What would you say to those who want to make a change but are intimidated by the concept of a large-scale renovation?

NB: It’s about owning the process and believing you can do it. People get overwhelmed when they look around and think, This is not what I’m happy living with. But painting cabinets can be a weekend process, changing appliances can be easy. You can do it piecemeal.

__ AD: On that note, if you’re going to start with a single project in your kitchen renovation, what would you say is the most worthwhile?

NB:__ First, invest in new appliances. For a family with young kids, especially, a kitchen has to function, and great appliances are the heart of that. You can have a gorgeous backsplash, but if you can’t heat something in the oven, what’s the point? Second, paint cabinets. Third, redo the backsplash.

__ AD: __What are some misconceptions people have about renovating?

__NB:__People get sidetracked from what they really want by what trends are in the moment. A typical renovation takes anywhere from four to nine months, but trends change almost seasonally. So if you pick out a backsplash because someone told you that was the hottest thing right now, by the time it’s installed the world has moved onto something else. When people are investing money, I’m not interested in exploring the latest materials or content from a cosmetic standpoint. I always reach for what is classic, what has stood the test of time—subway tile, Carrara marble, butcher block, painted-wood cabinets. The biggest mistake is letting your own taste get sidetracked by what’s new. Keep a file of what you love and what represents your personal or your family’s aesthetic and keep that in mind throughout the process.

Watch the video series showcasing Nate Berkus’s LG renovation for the Oliphants at LGStudioKitchenom.

Check out before-and-after shots of the Oliphants’ kitchen here.