The Houzz Blog

Houzz Wins Google Play’s Best App of the Year

Friday, May 20, 2016

Last night was a heartwarming night for Houzz: we were named “Best App” at the inaugural Google Play Awards!

We’ve always been focused on creating the best mobile experience – whether that’s ensuring we have the smoothest scrolling or the fastest image loading – to provide our community of homeowners and home professionals with the best mobile technology and tools.

This focus has made mobile very important to our business, with over half of our users engaging with our platform via our apps. Houzz users flip through more than one billion photos on our apps every month! Many of the features we introduce are exclusively on mobile, such as View in My Room, which gives users the power to experiment with home decor options by virtually placing products from the Houzz Shop in their home before they buy; and Sketch, which makes it easy to communicate through photos and add products from the Marketplace to any photo.

We have an incredible team of engineers and designers that works very hard to constantly enhance the experience and make it best-in-class. We’d like to thank them for all they do. We’d also like to thank our incredible community for trusting Houzz to help them create homes they love. And we’d like to thank Google Play for recognizing our app and for building a great platform for Houzz.

Houzzer Profile: Ania Kurek, Front End Engineer

Thursday, May 12, 2016

A longtime Houzz user, Ania is a Front End Engineer for Houzz. When she’s not at work, you can find her upholstering furniture, cooking up a storm and browsing Houzz, of course!

How did you get into computer science?
I’ve always been really interested in math and science. I also love art and art history. When I was growing up in Poland, I wanted to go into art restoration, but when I moved to the U.S., I found that most schools don’t offer art restoration majors.

Studying computer graphics was a good way to merge my interests in math, science and art. Over time, front end engineering became what worked best for me. I managed to use my science skills and art skills at the same time.

What’s your favorite part of working at Houzz?
I really love the product! I discovered Houzz when I was considering a kitchen remodel years ago and decided I wanted to work here. Since I was a user, I had plenty of ideabooks and feedback for the engineers who interviewed me.

Sometimes in the evening, I just browse Houzz for inspiration. It’s always fun to test your code on something that you actually love. I often learn something from reading comments on photos.

What’s the development process like at Houzz?
It’s really great. I’ve worked at other places and, in comparison, Houzz inspires a lot of creativity because we have an open, flat organization where everyone can share their thoughts and opinions. We have a very collaborative process where everyone’s input is taken into account. Also, the engineering team works very closely with the design team, which is really rewarding.

What technical challenge have you been most excited to work on?
I like working on projects that are new and different for me, that I have to spend time researching instead of just using a library someone else wrote. I enjoy going back to math problems and solving things on a whiteboard.

At Houzz, we have the option of being in charge of a project from the beginning, so you get the chance to pick the flow of how the back or front end is going to work. Everyone gets the chance to be their own architect and decision maker.

How have you used Houzz at home?
I’m a long time Houzz user! I recently used Houzz to find a contractor to build a custom entertainment center. It was so easy - I knew exactly what I wanted and that he could do it, based on his profile.

Now, I’m working on a nursery and found a photographer on Houzz who does pictures of baby animals. I purchased a lot of prints from her to put on the wall.

I have a ton of ideabooks for future projects.

What should an engineering candidate know about working at Houzz?
Houzz is a fun environment and has a great team. You’re not just working by yourself to accomplish things, everyone works together to solve problems. We really want to help the user, and that shows throughout the team. On top of that, everyone is really smart and nice.

What do you do when you’re not working?
I love to work with my hands and make things. I particularly love to sew and made all the curtains in my house. Sometimes, I even reupholster things myself. I love to cook, also.

Houzz New Zealand is Here!

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Six years ago, Mal Corboy, an interior designer in New Zealand, stumbled upon Houzz.com and decided to set up a professional profile. Little did he know at the time that his colorful, modern kitchens and beautiful cabinetry work would inspire a growing community of Houzz users around the world. Fast forward to today, and Mal’s exposure on Houzz has brought multiple global opportunities to his business, including a current project in Trinidad – a complete home design – for which he has designed custom cabinetry that’s soon shipping from New Zealand.

This is just one of the many incredible stories we’ve heard since our team began customizing Houzz for our community in New Zealand and we’re thrilled to announce that houzz.co.nz is now live.

Even prior to launching, New Zealanders have been active on Houzz, with over 200,000 Kiwi homeowners and over 4,000 local trade professionals already using the site and apps every month. Now, New Zealanders will find a tailored experience that surfaces relevant content (such as this story on the Kiwi ‘sleepout’) and inspiration (like this Bach house), and fosters more connections between Kiwi homeowners and local home pros. At the same time, New Zealanders can access all of the global resources that only Houzz provides. The global Houzz community benefits, too, with more access to inspiration, talent and products from New Zealand. Houzzers have been particularly inspired by the Kiwi indoor-outdoor lifestyle; this courtyard is among the top photos from New Zealand saved by Houzz users around the world.

Check out 100 of the best New Zealand homes on Houzz here; you’ll soon see a lot more!

Tony Been from our New Zealand team speaking to a packed room of home pros

A full house at our launch event

A Glass Houzz at Salone

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Earlier this month, Houzz Italy took part in Salone di Mobile 2016, the biggest furniture industry trade show in the world held in Milan every year.

The team built a glass house in Tortona, where the more than 300,000 Salone visitors could check out the Houzz.it experience, relax and meet members of the team.

Throughout the week, a different professional from the local community joined us at the house for one-on-one consultations, which was a bit hit with visitors.

A presto, Salone Di Mobile 2017!

Houzz Launches in Singapore

Friday, April 22, 2016

We’ve launched a dedicated site and apps for users in Singapore (houzz.com.sg), bringing a localized Houzz experience to 12 countries outside of the U.S. Singapore is our second market to launch in Asia after Japan, which celebrated its one-year anniversary (and a tenfold growth of our community!) in April.

We saw incredible demand for Houzz in Singapore. Even prior to launch, more than 150,000 Singaporeans were already using Houzz every month to renovate and decorate their homes from start to finish. Local home professionals were already using Houzz as well, with over 3,000 Singaporean pros using the platform to build their brands, collaborate with clients and connect with homeowners.

Our teams have been working hard to customize the Houzz experience, and it goes far beyond localising the language (“service yard” instead of “laundry,” for example). Different professions and categories were added based on the Singaporean market needs, such as a tag for Peranakan-style homes. Our goal is to make it easy for our communities around the world to navigate Houzz and to find the best resources for their needs.

Designs from across Asia are some of the most popular and in-demand styles among the global Houzz community and we’re excited to provide people with more access to Singaporean design inspiration, products, talent and expertise.

From a house built around a century-old tree to sleek, modern spaces, check out some of the best designs from Singapore on Houzz.

Members of the Houzz Singapore team celebrate our launch outside of a traditional ‘black and white’ house prior to a party with local professionals.

Pro Confidence, Challenges Vary by Region

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Residential remodeling firms across the country report strong confidence in the health of the industry, according to the Q1 2016 Houzz Renovation Barometer released this week. While the majority of firms overall are optimistic in year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter market improvements, some regions are more confident than others – and some are being hit especially hard by current industry challenges.

The Q1 Barometer readings indicate high quarter-over-quarter confidence nationally, across all industry groups, thanks in part to a seasonal uptick in market activity. However, rainy weather in the West contributed to weaker confidence for firms in this region, which posted scores of 67-73 vs. national scores of 72-84.

Firms across the country posted widespread year-over-year increases in business inquiries and the number and size of new projects in Q1 2016. Northeastern pros in a number of sectors are especially bullish. General contractors, remodelers, building/renovation specialty firms and landscape/outdoor specialty firms in the Northeast all reported an increase in year-over-year market gains in Q1 2016 compared to Q1 2015.

Labor shortages continue to be a top challenge for renovation-focused professionals nationally. Four in five remodelers and design-build firms report moderate to severe shortages in skilled trade professionals and general laborers.

Firms in the Midwest are especially impacted by this challenge, with nearly nine in ten firms in the region experiencing moderate to severe shortages. Northeastern firms are impacted the least, with 72% of these firms reporting significant shortages.

For more information from the Q1 2016 Houzz Renovation Barometer, see the full report. This includes additional findings among architects, interior designers, general contractors, design-build firms and more.

10 Million Photos And Counting

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

It’s said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but what about 10 million pictures? Houzz now has more than 10 million photos of beautiful, professionally designed interiors and exteriors on our platform from all over the world. We reached our first 5 million photos in five years and hit 10 million just over a year later. Today, Houzz users flip through more than one billion photos on Houzz apps every month.

On Houzz, a photo is a gateway to information that helps you go from inspiration to execution, including the professional who designed the space, the products and materials used, additional photos from the same project, community discussions about the design, and more. With Houzz’s global reach, our community can get inspired from designs from around the world, from glass box extensions in the UK to the rich colors, textures and patterns that often adorn the walls of Russian homes to modern condominiums in Japan.

The most popular photo on Houzz has been saved to nearly 700,000 ideabooks. Check it out here:

Credit: Fiorella Design

Houzz Ireland - Erin go Bragh!

Monday, April 11, 2016

From traditional Irish country kitchens to glass cube extensions, the Houzz experience just got a little bit greener with the launch of Houzz.ie, a dedicated site and apps for Irish users.

We’ve been humbled by the amount of love for Houzz in Ireland. Even prior to launch, over 150,000 Irish homeowners were already using Houzz every month to find design inspiration, get advice from the largest home community on the web, source products, research and hire home professionals, and manage home projects from start to finish. Irish trade professionals were already active on Houzz as well, with over 3,000 home professionals using the site to showcase their work, build their brands and connect with homeowners. As one of our pros, Modis Designs said:

“I would love to join in the celebration of a fantastic achievement by the Houzz team and accept with many thanks! I remember meeting some of the UK team a couple of years ago and there was talk of making Houzz more ‘Ireland friendly’ and relevant so I am just thrilled that we can feel a part of the hype too! It’s just fantastic to see how Houzz has grown over the last few years and to have an exclusively Irish Houzz now is really going to mean big things for Interior design in Ireland. Houzz has already become a big part of my work and most of my clients even have their own houzz sites set up too before I’ve even met them! A big thank you to Houzz and for making it so accessible to homeowners, designers/specifiers, and suppliers alike. What a fantastic concept!”

Our team kicked off the launch on-the-ground with the local community, both homeowners at the Ideal Home Show Dublin (the largest interiors show in Ireland), as well as professionals at our Dublin OpenHouzz event.

Check out some of the best designs on from Ireland on Houzz. We can’t wait to see more!

Busy Houzz booth at the Ideal Home Show Dublin

Houzzer Profile: Gloria Hiek, Designer

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Gloria is a designer at Houzz, where her responsibilities span everything from building our brand look and feel to overseeing the design of all our print materials, email templates, marketing banners and ads.

How did you get into design?
I drew and sketched from the time I was a child. In middle school, I was inspired by my cousin’s collection of Marvel’s X-Men comic book cards, so I began drawing Rogue and Storm along with my own imaginary characters. A friend later showed me a Japanese anime series called Ranma ½, and I was influenced by its more exaggerated and feminine flair. Throughout high school, my art teacher had us try everything from landscapes to still lifes, portraits and self-portraits. Those years were a nice transition from flat artwork to more complicated techniques with shadow and depth.

By the time I got to college I was fluent in a vast array of styles, but my parents didn’t want me to pursue art. I took some computer science classes to appease them, which turned out to be a great decision. Those classes helped me realize that I could combine my love for art with technology through graphic design. I applied to the Academy of Art when I was 20 years old.

What’s your favorite part of working at Houzz?
The people. Everyone on the design team shares the same enthusiasm for design. Feeling that your sensibility is shared by the broader team encourages you to work together to create this amazing product. It also fosters a truly collaborative environment, where you feel comfortable inviting feedback from peers who you respect. It feels like we’re working with a mindset of “one team, one dream,” with a singular goal of making Houzz look great.

What’s your favorite thing you’ve worked on at Houzz?
My favorite project has been expanding our brand guidelines. Brand guidelines exist to ensure that everyone uses the Houzz logo, text, and icons in a way that is consistent with our look and feel. Back in 2014, they didn’t exist. It was empowering to have this blank slate, blue sky before me. I was able to create a full set of guidelines that include color palette, fonts, space and size requirements, and examples of how that visual language can appear in our marketing materials. It’s rewarding to know that Houzzers and our partners around the world look to this guide as their source for how to best represent the brand.

What do you like to do outside of work?
I do a lot of arts and crafts. After working most of the day on a computer screen, it’s satisfying to make something real and tactile by hand, without the help of technology. I particularly enjoy creating hand-crafted items for friends’ special events. When one of my friends from back in middle school recently got married, I created the letterpress invitations. For another friend’s wedding, I made decorative paper flowers to serve as a backdrop for her ceremony. I love being able to contribute little hand-made touches that personalize the event and make it feel even more special.

I have a daughter who just turned nine months old, so I also spend a lot of time with her. We read books together, and she seems to love it. She spends a lot of time examining the book and flipping through the pages, just like her mom.

How do you use Houzz?
We own a home, and there are always projects on our list. Most recently, we redid our floors, which were originally a combination of tile in the kitchen and hardwood in the living and dining rooms. My husband and I wanted to keep them consistent throughout the house, so we saved images we liked to a Houzz ideabook to compare our choices. Fortunately, we both like modern, contemporary design, so most of our selections were pretty similar! We chose a strained bamboo floor because they are super durable and eco-friendly, and we love how it turned out. The next project on our list is making over our backyard from a weed haven to a more usable family space. We’d love to include a table and chairs to enjoy a cup of coffee, a play area for our daughter, and a grill and some outdoor seating to entertain friends.

Houzz Launches Houzz Smartz™

Friday, April 1, 2016

At Houzz, we’re always looking for new ways to make the home remodeling and design process more fun and productive for everyone involved. Today, we released Houzz Smartz™, the first AI-enabled line of home products and furnishings that help your home look and feel its best.

Houzz Smartz™ provides design help, maintenance and companionship. Spatial and style recognition-enabled Houzz Smartz™ products ensure that your room looks perfect every day, even after your designer leaves. The product sensors detect dirt, smudges and wrinkles, and alert you to necessary upkeep. Since Houzz Smartz™ products are interactive, spending time with your furniture and accessories is like being with friends.

For more information, please visit houzz.com/HouzzSmartz and happy April Fools!