My Houzz: The Fast and the Furious Actor Gifts His Mom a Home Makeover
Ludacris, the Atlanta actor and rapper used Houzz to find a pro and shop for items to help personalise the home he gave to his mom
Mitchell Parker
11 May 2017
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
Chris Bridges credits a lot of his success as a musician and an actor to his mother, Roberta. Bridges is better known as the Atlanta rapper Ludacris, with hit songs including What’s Your Fantasy and Stand Up, and for his recurring role as Tej Parker in The Fast and the Furious film franchise. He says his mother taught him about hard work and dedication. “That’s why I’m where I am and who I am today,” he says.
Years ago, after Roberta retired, she moved into the first house Bridges bought when he became commercially successful. Many of Bridges’ style choices at the time remained in the home, including a painted logo of his record company in the home office. “At that point, I had no sense of style,” Bridges says.
Years ago, after Roberta retired, she moved into the first house Bridges bought when he became commercially successful. Many of Bridges’ style choices at the time remained in the home, including a painted logo of his record company in the home office. “At that point, I had no sense of style,” Bridges says.
“After” photos by The VSI Group
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Roberta, mother of rapper and actor Chris Bridges, aka Ludacris
Location: Atlanta
Designer: Rachel Oliver of Rachel Oliver Design
Roberta had started several decorating projects in the home but never completed them. Recently, Bridges decided to surprise his mom with a make over the living room, dining room, kitchen and office with new colours and furnishings he knew she’d like so that she’d finally feel that the home was hers. The renovation is featured in the latest episode of My Houzz, a video series documenting public figures as they surprise a close family member with a home renovation. The pilot episode of My Houzz featured Ashton Kutcher, who is an executive producer of the series.
Watch now: See rapper Ludacris surprise his mom with a home makeover
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Roberta, mother of rapper and actor Chris Bridges, aka Ludacris
Location: Atlanta
Designer: Rachel Oliver of Rachel Oliver Design
Roberta had started several decorating projects in the home but never completed them. Recently, Bridges decided to surprise his mom with a make over the living room, dining room, kitchen and office with new colours and furnishings he knew she’d like so that she’d finally feel that the home was hers. The renovation is featured in the latest episode of My Houzz, a video series documenting public figures as they surprise a close family member with a home renovation. The pilot episode of My Houzz featured Ashton Kutcher, who is an executive producer of the series.
Watch now: See rapper Ludacris surprise his mom with a home makeover
Before
Bridges felt that the original kitchen was “old school,” and he knew his mom wanted to have something more current.
Bridges felt that the original kitchen was “old school,” and he knew his mom wanted to have something more current.
After
Bridges used Houzz to shop for new furniture and furnishings and to find a designer for help. After looking at the projects on designer Rachel Oliver’s Houzz profile and reading her positive reviews, he knew he’d found the right person for the job.
Oliver ripped out the old kitchen, and added new cabinets and new appliances. She kept the layout the same because it had worked for Roberta, but she added a slightly bigger island to accommodate more seating and work surface.
Bridges used Houzz to shop for new furniture and furnishings and to find a designer for help. After looking at the projects on designer Rachel Oliver’s Houzz profile and reading her positive reviews, he knew he’d found the right person for the job.
Oliver ripped out the old kitchen, and added new cabinets and new appliances. She kept the layout the same because it had worked for Roberta, but she added a slightly bigger island to accommodate more seating and work surface.
Oliver re-did the drawer layout to make it work better for Roberta, and added upgraded features like soft-close drawers and doors.
A new wine rack is one of Roberta’s favourite features. A pullout step at the bottom of the oven wall allows her to reach the microwave above the double ovens.
Watch now: See rapper Ludacris surprise his mom with this makeover
Watch now: See rapper Ludacris surprise his mom with this makeover
Before
A large sectional and two ottomans dominated the original living room.
A large sectional and two ottomans dominated the original living room.
After
Oliver added a smaller sectional and a large leather ottoman-coffee table to create more space and better traffic flow. Roberta loves the colour blue, so Oliver brought in a lighter shade for a more contemporary feel. “We didn’t want to overwhelm with colour,” Oliver says.
Bright colour does make an appearance with the throw pillows, a nod to Roberta’s love of Miami and its colourful design scene.
Oliver added a smaller sectional and a large leather ottoman-coffee table to create more space and better traffic flow. Roberta loves the colour blue, so Oliver brought in a lighter shade for a more contemporary feel. “We didn’t want to overwhelm with colour,” Oliver says.
Bright colour does make an appearance with the throw pillows, a nod to Roberta’s love of Miami and its colourful design scene.
A tall bookcase at the end of the room helps draw the eye to the soaring ceilings.
The light colour palette keeps things open and airy, and better coordinates with the colours in the adjacent kitchen.
Before
Roberta had begun decorating the dining room, but she stopped after installing the wallpaper, ceiling fixture and furniture, most of which she still liked and wanted to keep.
Roberta had begun decorating the dining room, but she stopped after installing the wallpaper, ceiling fixture and furniture, most of which she still liked and wanted to keep.
After
Oliver picked up where Roberta left off, adding more subdued chairs and a dark rug to ground the space. Then she brought in some glam elements, such as the faux crocodile-textured buffet and the metallic ceiling paint. A sunburst mirror over the buffet also adds a little glitz.
Oliver picked up where Roberta left off, adding more subdued chairs and a dark rug to ground the space. Then she brought in some glam elements, such as the faux crocodile-textured buffet and the metallic ceiling paint. A sunburst mirror over the buffet also adds a little glitz.
Again, the grey-and-blue scheme helps create visual flow between the redecorated spaces, including the kitchen to the right and the office to the left.
Before
In the original office, a painted logo of Bridges’ record company was left over from when he lived in the house, making the space feel a bit impersonal to Roberta.
In the original office, a painted logo of Bridges’ record company was left over from when he lived in the house, making the space feel a bit impersonal to Roberta.
After
Oliver painted over the logo (with Bridges’ blessing), and repainted the bookshelf and walls to reflect more sunlight and create a brighter space. Now it’s a comfortable home office in which Roberta helps run Bridges’ foundation, The Ludacris Foundation.
“She’s going to wake up every day with a smile on her face and go to sleep every night with a smile on her face, knowing her house is complete,” Bridges says.
“I see us making lots of memories here,” Roberta says. “It feels wonderful.”
Watch now: See rapper Ludacris surprise his mom with this home makeover
Your turn: See how to make and use Houzz ideabooks for your own home project
More Houzz TV:
Houzz TV: Ashton Kutcher Surprises Mom With the Basement of Her Dreams
Houzz TV: Frozen Star Kristen Bell Treats Her Sister to a Bright New Basement
Tell us:
Did you like this makeover? Tell us in the Comments below.
Oliver painted over the logo (with Bridges’ blessing), and repainted the bookshelf and walls to reflect more sunlight and create a brighter space. Now it’s a comfortable home office in which Roberta helps run Bridges’ foundation, The Ludacris Foundation.
“She’s going to wake up every day with a smile on her face and go to sleep every night with a smile on her face, knowing her house is complete,” Bridges says.
“I see us making lots of memories here,” Roberta says. “It feels wonderful.”
Watch now: See rapper Ludacris surprise his mom with this home makeover
Your turn: See how to make and use Houzz ideabooks for your own home project
More Houzz TV:
Houzz TV: Ashton Kutcher Surprises Mom With the Basement of Her Dreams
Houzz TV: Frozen Star Kristen Bell Treats Her Sister to a Bright New Basement
Tell us:
Did you like this makeover? Tell us in the Comments below.
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Love the backsplash with the cabinet color.