Before & After: Neil Patrick Harris Just Pulled Off a Secret Makeover for His Brother
If there’s anything better than a home makeover, it’s a heartwarming home makeover with Neil Patrick Harris. The child TV actor turned triple threat (musical theater star meets family man meets magician) just surprised his older brother Brian with a renovation project at his longtime New Mexico home.
In an episode of MyHouzz—the home renovation platform’s web series in which a well-known, public figure surprises a close family member with the gift of a makeover—Harris set out to do something lovely: turn Brian’s lackluster den and backyard into a more livable space for him and his new girlfriend.
“Brian has always been a fantastic older brother. He doesn’t always want me to spoil him, but I thought this renovation would help create an amazing space for his next big chapter,” said Harris.
Although Brian has done work on the house over the years, the den was still largely untouched: It was more storage than usable room, filled with random stuff, and an awkward transitional space between the kitchen and outdoors.
NPH worked with Houzz and designer Lisa Samuel of Samuel Design Group to create a modern, stylish room that Brian and his family will actually want to hang out in. It’s filled with comfortable furniture—including a coveted Eames lounger—and pops of blue against fresh white walls. The old brick fireplace is now a focal point of the room with Spanish tile and a flat screen TV. A broken pocket door was replaced with a slat wood partition wall, which divides the space without closing it off entirely.
Outside, things were also a little bleak. Although the backyard was a great size with plenty of potential, it also wasn’t terribly functional, with just a concrete slab and a spot for some tools and supplies.
Landscape architect Solange Serquis of Serquis + Associates transformed the backyard into a multi-purpose oasis for dining, lounge and cooking. A pergola provides shade from the hot New Mexico sun, and the new deck has plenty of room for a grill, table, seating, fire pit, plenty of plants, and even a swing.
During the big reveal, Brian says he can’t believe the changes. “I’m just so blown away. There are just so many things to just feel like it had a lot of input from someone who actually knows me.”
Watch the entire episode with Neil Patrick Harris, and see more photos of the transformation over on Houzz.