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{{short description|US home renovation platform}}
{{AFC submission|t||ts=20111019004432|u=Sheilaschmitz|ns=5}}
{{Infobox website
| name = Houzz
| logo = Houzz logo (2024).png
| company_type =[[Privately held company|Private]]
| traded_as =
| foundation =
| dissolved =
| location = [[Palo Alto, California]], U.S.
| locations =
| incorporated =
| area_served = Worldwide
| founder = Adi Tatarko <br> Alon Cohen
| chairman =
| chairperson =
| CEO =
| president =
| MD =
| GM =
| key_people =
| industry = [[Remodeling]] <br> [[Interior design]]
| products =
| services =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| assets =
| equity =
| owner =
| num_employees = 1,700+
| parent =
| divisions =
| subsid =
| url = {{URL|https://www.houzz.com/}}
| website_type =
| advertising =
| registration =
| num_users = 65 million (November 2021)<ref name=DesignersToday1>{{cite news|url=https://www.designerstoday.com/news/industry-news/houzzs-top-10-design-trends-for-2022/ |title='Houzz's top 10 design trends for 2022' |website=DesignersToday |date=November 29, 2021 |access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref>
| language =
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|2009|02|df=yes/no}}
| current_status =
| screenshot =
| caption = ''The New Way to Design Your Home''
| footnotes =
}}
'''Houzz''' is an American website, online community and software for [[architecture]]; [[interior design]] and decorating; [[landscape design]] and [[home improvement]]. It was founded in 2009 and is based in [[Palo Alto]], [[California]].


==History==
{{afc comment|1=As this submission had no [[WP:REFB|inline references]], help was added to the author's talk page, [[User talk:Sheilaschmitz]] [[User:ChzzBot IV|ChzzBot IV]] ([[User talk:ChzzBot IV|talk]]) 18:00, 19 October 2011 (UTC)}}
Houzz was founded as an online platform in February 2009 by Adi Tatarko and her husband Alon Cohen, in response to the challenges they faced with their own home remodeling project.<ref name=nytimes1>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/22/garden/the-home-that-inspired-the-web-site-houzz.html | title=Houzz Proud | work=[[New York Times]] | date=March 21, 2012 | accessdate=December 28, 2012 | author=Kurutz, Stevens}}</ref> They found it difficult to communicate their vision for their home, and to find the right professionals for their project.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ryall|first1=Jenni|title=Houzz Launches In Australia, Home Renovators Get Excited|url=http://mashable.com/2014/08/28/houzz-launches-in-australia/|publisher=Mashable|date=August 28, 2014}}</ref> Cohen coded the initial website himself, and they asked a few Bay Area architects to upload their portfolios, to give home renovators ideas for their projects.<ref name="Mashable"/> The site spread by word-of-mouth and they began to receive emails from homeowners and home professionals outside the Bay Area asking them to open more categories on Houzz and expand to other areas.<ref name=nytimes1/><ref name="Mashable">{{cite news|last1=Ang|first1=Sarah|title=Houzz Helps You Make Your House a Home|url=http://mashable.com/2013/12/11/houzz-video/|publisher=Mashable|date=December 11, 2013}}</ref> Houzz became a company in the fall of 2010.<ref name="Mashable"/>


In November 2010, Houzz released an [[Mobile app|app]] for the [[iPad]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/11/11/houzz-funding-ipad-app/ | title=Heads Up, Home Design Freaks: Houzz Launches New iPad App, Raises $2M | work=[[TechCrunch]] | date=November 11, 2010 | accessdate=December 28, 2012 | author=Wauters, Robin}}</ref> The Android version of the app was released in December 2012.<ref name="HouzzstatsDec2012">{{cite news |url=http://pandodaily.com/2013/08/27/the-numbers-say-houzz-has-lit-a-fire-under-the-home-remodeling-market/ |title=The numbers say Houzz has lit a fire under the home remodeling market |website=PandoDaily |last1=Carney |first1=Michael |date=August 27, 2013 |access-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-date=November 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114052826/http://pandodaily.com/2013/08/27/the-numbers-say-houzz-has-lit-a-fire-under-the-home-remodeling-market/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
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In July 2013, Houzz introduced the Real Cost Finder, an interactive tool that helps users plan home renovations and total costs. The tool is based on data collected from the Houzz community.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ecker|first1=Shana|title=Houzz's Real Cost Finder Helps You Figure Out How Much That Renovation Will Set You Back|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/08/houzz-real-cost-finder_n_3563189.html|work=Huffington Post|date=July 8, 2013}}</ref>


In January 2014, Houzz announced that it had opened offices and hired local managers in the UK, Germany and Australia to accelerate its global expansion; 35% of the company's site traffic already came from outside the U.S.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Carney|first1=Michael|title=Houzz and international expansion go together like peas and carrots|url=https://pando.com/2014/01/15/houzz-and-international-expansion-go-together-like-peas-and-carrots/|work=PandoDaily|date=January 15, 2014}}</ref> In February, Houzz launched Site Designer, a free website building and publishing tool for home professionals.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lardinois|first1=Frederic|title=Houzz Launches Site Designer, Offers Free Websites For Home Professionals|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/02/05/houzz-launches-site-designer-offers-free-websites-for-home-professionals/|work=TechCrunch|date=February 5, 2014}}</ref> In December, Houzz announced its expansion to the rest of Europe and into Asia, starting with Japan.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Carney|first1=Michael|title=With rabid overseas demand, home design favorite Houzz looks to triple its international reach in 2015|url=https://pando.com/2014/12/19/with-rabid-demand-from-overseas-home-design-favorite-houzz-looks-to-triple-its-international-reach-in-2015/|work=PandoDaily|date=December 19, 2014}}</ref> It was reported that the Houzz database contained millions of images of home interiors and exteriors.<ref name=pando1>{{cite news|url=http://pando.com/2014/12/19/with-rabid-demand-from-overseas-home-design-favorite-houzz-looks-to-triple-its-international-reach-in-2015/ |title=With rabid overseas demand, home design favorite Houzz looks to triple its international reach in 2015 |website=Pando |date=December 19, 2014 |access-date=November 15, 2021}}</ref><ref name=pando2>{{cite news|last1=Carney|first1=Michael|title=The numbers say Houzz has lit a fire under the home remodeling market|url=https://pando.com/2013/08/27/the-numbers-say-houzz-has-lit-a-fire-under-the-home-remodeling-market/|work=PandoDaily|date=August 27, 2013}}</ref>
{{AFC submission|d||ts=20111019004721|u=Sheilaschmitz|ns=5}}


In May 2015, Houzz introduced HouzzTV, showing homeowners' projects using design professionals.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2015/05/14/houzz-disrupting-and-empowering.html |title=Houzz: Disrupting and empowering |website=CNBC |date=May 14, 2015 |access-date=November 15, 2021}}</ref><ref name=business1>{{cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.in/advertising/brands/article/houzz-presents-its-first-indian-video-series-highlighting-how-people-turn-their-dream-homes-into-reality/articleshow/73578381.cms |title=Houzz presents its first Indian video series highlighting how people turn their dream homes into reality |website=Business Insider |date=January 29, 2020 |access-date=November 15, 2021}}</ref> In August, Houzz made its first acquisition, acquiring gardening and home advice site GardenWeb from NBCUniversal.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Rao |first1=Leena |title=Home design company Houzz makes its first acquisition |url=http://fortune.com/2015/08/25/houzz-buys-gardenweb/ |magazine=Fortune |date=August 25, 2015}}</ref> In October, Houzz settled a privacy violation lawsuit for not providing the standard recorded notification that customers' and professionals' calls were being recorded for quality and training purposes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dremann |first1=Sue |title=Houzz Inc. settles privacy-violation case |url=https://paloaltoonline.com/news/2015/10/07/houzz-inc-settles-privacy-violation-case |accessdate=5 June 2019 |work=paloaltoonline.com |date=October 7, 2015 |language=en}}</ref>
Houzz is an online platform and community for home design professionals, homeowners and others interested in home design. The Houzz platform and mobile apps feature more than [http://www.houzz.com/photos 190,000 interior and exterior residential photos], [http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/featured articles] by professional writers and home design experts, [http://www.houzz.com/photos/products product recommendations], and social tools to help users manage their home and garden projects. ''CNN'' named Houzz App of the Week, calling it “The Wikipedia of interior and exterior design sites.” <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSTdDSMnadk] Katie's App of the Week: Houzz — "Decorator's Best Friend" (June 11, 2010)</ref>


In January 2016, Houzz introduced Sketch for Android.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fuller|first1=Daniel|title=Houzz Interior Decorating App Gets Sketch Feature|url=http://www.androidheadlines.com/2016/01/houzz-interior-decorating-app-gets-sketch-feature.html|publisher=AndroidHeadlines|date=January 13, 2016}}</ref> In February, Houzz introduced View in My Room within its app for iOS and Android that lets users virtually place products from the Houzz Marketplace in their homes before buying.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Korducki|first1=Kelli|title=You Can Now *Virtually* Try Out Furniture Before You Buy|url=http://www.brit.co/houzz-app/|website=BRIT+CO}}</ref> In March, Houzz announced that it had opened its Commerce API to third party partners, to make it easier for merchants to sell and manage their inventory on Houzz.<ref name="https">{{cite news|last1=Lardinois|first1=Frederic|title=Houzz opens its Commerce API to third-party vendors|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/03/22/houzz-opens-its-commerce-api-to-third-party-vendors/|work=TechCrunch|date=March 22, 2016}}</ref> In May, Houzz won "Best App" at Google's inaugural Play Awards.<ref>{{cite web|last1=D'Onfro|first1=Jillian D'Onfro Senior Reporter Jillian D'Onfro|title=The best Android apps in the world, according to Google|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/apps-that-won-google-play-awards-2016-2016-5|website=Business Insider|date=May 20, 2016}}</ref> In September, Houzz launched Visual Match, a tool that "uses deep learning technology to analyze more than 11 million home photos on Houzz. Furniture and decor that looks similar to the six million products on the Houzz Marketplace is then surfaced for users to browse (and hopefully buy)."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chang|first1=Lulu|title=Find furniture that suits your style with Houzz's new visual match tool|url=http://www.digitaltrends.com/home/houzz-visual-match/|publisher=Digital Trends|date=September 14, 2016}}</ref>
== History ==
The company, based in Palo Alto, Calif., was founded in February 2009 by wife-and-husband team Adi Tatarko and Alon Cohen. Tatarko and Cohen created the site as a result of their own remodeling project. Tired of cutting pages out of magazines for their inspiration file, they developed the online photo database and professional directory as a tool for people to exchange ideas and help each other with the process of building, remodeling and decorating.


In May 2017, Houzz introduced a tool for its iPhone and iPad app, View in My Room 3D, that allows people to preview over 300,000 products in 3D within the context of their own rooms.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Stein|first1=Megan|title=Never Fear Furniture Shopping Again: This 3D Tool Shows You How Things Will Looks in Your House|url=http://people.com/home/houzz-releases-new-furniture-preview-app/|magazine=People.com|date=May 4, 2017}}</ref> In July, Sketch was made available as a web app.<ref>{{cite news|title=Houzz's moodboard/floor plan app expands|url=https://businessofhome.com/articles/houzz-s-moodboard-floor-plan-app-expands |website=Business of Home |date=July 6, 2017 |access-date=November 15, 2021}}</ref> With the launch of iOS 11 from Apple in September, Houzz introduced an upgraded version of its 3D AR tool within its app for iPhone and iPad, with 500,000 products available to view.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lunden|first1=Ingrid|title=A new ARKit app from Houzz brings 500,000 objects to moveable life|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/19/a-new-arkit-app-from-houzz-brings-500000-objects-to-moveable-life/|work=TechCrunch|date=September 19, 2017}}</ref>
''Mashable'' wrote, "Houzz is bringing the process into the digital age by creating a database of more than 170,000 home design photos sorted by room, style and geographic location." <ref> [http://mashable.com/2011/08/30/houzz/] "Find Home Design Inspiration With Houzz’s 170,000+ Photo Library" (August 30, 2011)</ref> ''The Wall Street Journal'' wrote, "As a launching platform for your decorating project, or just as idle inspiration while daydreaming about your next one, Houzz is practically a bottomless well of inspiration at the tip of your swiping fingers." <ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904836104576561072066173278.html?mod=WSJ_LifeStyle_LeadStoryNA] "A Decorator on Tap" (slide #26)</ref>


In February 2018, Houzz acquired IvyMark, a company that developed business management software and a community platform for interior designers and home design firms.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/02/06/houzz-acquires-ivymark-to-expand-into/ |title=Houzz acquires IvyMark to expand into services for designers |website=TechCrunch |date=February 6, 2018 |access-date=November 15, 2021}}</ref> In March, the Houzz App for Android devices was updated with [[ARCore]] support, enabling users to "place virtual representations of furniture and other home decor items anywhere in their home to see how they would look."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Diaz |first1=Justin |title=Houzz App Updated With ARCore Support |url=https://www.androidheadlines.com/2018/03/houzz-app-updated-arcore-support.html |publisher=AndroidHeadlines |date=March 21, 2018}}</ref>
== Funding ==
In November 2010, Tatarko and Cohen secured $2 million in first-round funding <ref>[http://techcrunch.com/2010/11/11/houzz-funding-ipad-app/]</ref> and began hiring a staff for their office in Palo Alto. The investor roster included Oren Zeev <ref>[http://www.crunchbase.com/person/oren-zeev-2] CrunchBase</ref>, who has also invested in Audible.com and Chegg; Donald Katz, founder and CEO of Audible.com; Gary Ginsberg, Executive VP of Time Warner Inc.; Jeff Fluhr <ref>[http://www.crunchbase.com/person/jeff-fluhr%20] CrunchBase</ref>, co-founder of StubHub.com (and CEO until its sale to eBay) and Amos Wilnai, founder of MMC Networks.


As of June 2019, the company had reportedly 40 million users.<ref name=BBC1>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-48395181 |title='Before we knew it this little website had 350,000 users' |website=BBC |date=June 3, 2019 |access-date=November 15, 2021}}</ref>
== Photo database ==
The Houzz photo database contains more than [http://www.houzz.com/photos 200,000 photos] of residential interiors, [http://www.houzz.com/photos/exterior exteriors] and [http://www.houzz.com/photos/landscape landscape design photos] uploaded by more than 27,000 home improvement professionals. Users can filter photo searches by location, style and type of space, or search the collection using multiple keywords. In each photo category, users can choose to browse a stream of photos users have most recently added to their personal collections (“ideabooks”); browse images with product sources (“tags”); and view the most popular photos. Users can click on an image to learn more about the designer, see the designer’s contact information, email a link to the photo, ask a question, and learn about products tagged in the photo.


In April 2020, the company launched Houzz Pro software to help home professionals run their businesses.<ref name=arch1>{{cite news|url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/christies-hit-with-dollar167-million-tax-evasion-fine-arpers-founder-dies-and-more-news-this-week |title=Houzz Debuts New Software Service |website=Architectural Digest |date=April 10, 2020 |access-date=October 26, 2021}}</ref> As of May, Houzz had over 20 million photos of design ideas on its platform.<ref name=curbed1>{{cite web |last1=Xie |first1=Jenny |title=18 renovation apps to know for your next project |url=https://www.curbed.com/2017/5/12/15626862/home-improvement-apps-renovation-android-iphone |website=Curbed|date=20 May 2020 }}</ref>
== Editorial Content ==
An editorial staff in Palo Alto and contributors throughout the United States write daily design articles (“featured ideabooks”) for the Houzz homepage and newsletters. Topics include [http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/architecture architecture], [http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/landscape landscape design], [http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/interior-design interior design], [http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/landscape events], [http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/kitchen kitchens], [http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/bathroom baths], [http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/home-office home offices], [http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/furniture furniture], [http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/product-picks products], [http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/materials materials], [http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/accessories-and-decor accessories], [http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/houzz-tours home tours], [http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/interviews interviews], [http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/DIY DIY] craft, decorating and home-improvement projects, [http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/storage-and-organizing storage and organizing], [http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/colors-and-patterns paint colors and patterns], choosing [http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/flooring flooring], [http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/lighting lighting] and [http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/featured more].


By March 2021, the company reportedly had 2.7 million professionals in its professional services database.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.yahoo.com/now/how-houzz-is-benefiting-from-the-housing-boom-185736600.html |title=How Houzz is benefiting from the housing boom |website=Yahoo |date=March 18, 2021 |access-date=November 15, 2021}}</ref>
== Homeowners’ personal ideabooks ==
Homeowners and apartment dwellers interested in building, remodeling or redecorating browse Houzz for photos relevant to their individual projects and design styles. Users can browse photos by room, design style and location, upload their original photography, and bookmark favorite photos in personal ideabooks. These ideabooks often become tools professionals and homeowners use to email project ideas to each other, a practice that led the magazine ''Real Simple'' to call Houzz “the online equivalent of clipping décor images from magazines.” <ref> ''Real Simple'' (Sept. 2010, page 60).</ref> As of October 2011, more than [http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks 760,000 user ideabooks] have been created.


== Professional database ==
== Products and services ==
Houzz offers a home design photo database with millions of images of home interiors and exteriors.<ref name=pando1/> Homeowners browse photos by room, style and location, and bookmark photos in personal collections the site calls ideabooks.<ref name=pando2/> Users can click on an image to learn more about the designer, ask a question, and learn about products tagged in the photos.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hickey|first1=Shane|title=Houzz: the website that speaks the language of home improvement|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/dec/28/houzz-home-improvement-adi-tatarko-alon-cohen|newspaper=The Guardian|date=December 28, 2014}}</ref>
Houzz offers a platform for design and home improvement professionals in 50+ metro areas <ref>[http://www.architecturaldigest.com/resources/features/2011/09/home-renovation-smartphone-apps-slideshow#slide=6] "Design Apps on Tap"</ref> to be found by potential clients and the media through free online portfolios they can update and manage themselves. More than [http://www.houzz.com/professionals 27,000] [http://www.houzz.com/professionals/architect architects], [http://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designer interior designers], [http://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build builders], [http://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractor general contractors], [http://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath kitchen and bath designers], [http://www.houzz.com/professionals/photographer photographers], [http://www.houzz.com/professionals/showroom showrooms], [http://www.houzz.com/professionals/media-and-blogs bloggers] and other home professionals have uploaded their home design photography to the Houzz database.
== Mobile ==
The first version of the iPad app was launched in April, 2010, followed by a second version in November, 2010. The Wall Street Journal said that “Houzz is practically a bottomless well of inspiration at the tip of your swiping fingers." <ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904836104576561072066173278.html?mod=WSJ_LifeStyle_LeadStoryNA] (September 10, 2011, #26)</ref>


Houzz also has a directory of home improvement professionals who use the site to reach homeowners. The platform can be used for consumers to search through professionals for hire, view their previous projects, and ultimately hire them.<ref name="Wall Street Journal">{{cite web|title=Professional Decorating Ideas in the Houzz|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303816504577321702299401424?KEYWORDS=houzz|work=The Digital Solution|publisher=Wall Street Journal|accessdate=20 April 2012|author=KATHERINE BOEHRET|date=4 April 2012}}</ref><ref name=Businessweek>{{cite web|title=An Online Antidote to the Housing Bust|url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-03-14/an-online-antidote-to-the-housing-bust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315113633/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-03-14/an-online-antidote-to-the-housing-bust|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 15, 2012|work=Profiles|publisher=Bloomberg Businessweek|accessdate=20 April 2012|author=NICK LEIBER|date=14 March 2012}}</ref>
== Houzz Questions ==
The Houzz [http://www.houzz.com/questions Questions] section gives users a community forum to post their design dilemmas and get ideas and advice from Houzz moderators, professionals and other Houzz users. Users can browse the forum to find questions and answers in specific areas, such as [http://www.houzz.com/questions/accessories-and-decor Accessories and Decor], [http://www.houzz.com/questions/bath Bath], [http://www.houzz.com/questions/color Color], [http://www.houzz.com/questions/floors Floors], [http://www.houzz.com/questions/furniture Furniture], [http://www.houzz.com/questions/lighting Lighting], [http://www.houzz.com/questions/kitchen Kitchen], [http://www.houzz.com/questions/windows-and-doors Windows and Doors], and [http://www.houzz.com/questions/using-houzz using Houzz].


The company also develops Houzz Pro software, designed to help designers manage their projects, manage new business and handle their projects' financial details.<ref name= arch1/>
== Products ==
Users also can browse a continually updated database of more than [http://www.houzz.com/photos/products 75,000 home products] from more than [http://www.houzz.com/photos/products 240 product categories]. Home design photos accompanied by a green product-tag icon contain [http://www.houzz.com/photos/tagged product information and sources] added by designers and the Houzz editorial staff.


== More reaction ==
=== HouzzTV ===
The company's HouzzTV video series shows homeowners' projects being implemented with the help of design professionals.<ref name="business1" /> Notable homeowners featured include [[Kristen Bell]], [[Mila Kunis]], and [[Taraji P. Henson]].<ref>https://www.youtube.com/@HouzzTV/videos</ref>
''Architectural Digest'' wrote, "This app will stoke your imagination." <ref>[http://www.architecturaldigest.com/resources/features/2011/09/home-renovation-smartphone-apps-slideshow#slide=6] "Design Apps on Tap"</ref>
''TechCrunch'' wrote, "Houzz appears to be a decent idea that's been executed well." <ref>[http://techcrunch.com/2010/11/11/houzz-funding-ipad-app/] "Heads Up, Home Design Freaks: Houzz Launches New iPad App, Raises $2M" (Nov. 11, 2010)</ref>
''The Mercury News'' wrote, "You'll find a nearly endless portfolio of excellent ideas for your swipe file there that you and your architect can both contribute to and comment on." <ref>[http://www.mercurynews.com/real-estate/ci_17949611?nclick_check=1] "A Picture May Be Worth A Thousand Words, But A Thousand Pictures Are Even Better" (April 28, 2011)
</ref>

== External links ==
[http://www.houzz.com Houzz.com]
[http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/houzz-interior-design-ideas/id399563465?mt=8 Houzz for iPad and iPhone]
[https://www.facebook.com/pages/houzzcom/129309818805 Houzz on Facebook]
[http://twitter.com/#!/Houzz_inc Houzz on Twitter]
[http://www.houzz.com/questions Houzz Questions]


==Reception==
''[[Bloomberg Businessweek]]'' called Houzz "An online antidote to the housing bust."<ref name=Businessweek /> ''[[Architectural Digest]]'' wrote about how the app would encourage imagination.<ref>{{cite web|title=Design Apps on Tap|url=http://www.architecturaldigest.com/resources/features/2011/09/home-renovation-smartphone-apps-slideshow#slide=6|work=Architectural Digest|publisher=Condé Nast Digital|accessdate=30 January 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330063433/http://www.architecturaldigest.com/resources/features/2011/09/home-renovation-smartphone-apps-slideshow#slide=6|archivedate=30 March 2012}}</ref> ''[[TechCrunch]]'' wrote that the idea behind the company was well-executed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Heads Up, Home Design Freaks: Houzz Launches New iPad App, Raises $2M|url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/11/11/houzz-funding-ipad-app/|work=CrunchBase|publisher=AOL Inc.|accessdate=30 January 2012|author=Rob Wauters|date=11 November 2010}}</ref> [[San Jose Mercury News|''The Mercury News'']] wrote about the breadth of ideas for customers and their architects to collaborate with.<ref>{{cite web|title=How to talk to an architect|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/real-estate/ci_17949611?nclick_check=1|work=[[San Jose Mercury News]]|accessdate=30 January 2012|author=Richard Taylor Zillow|date=28 April 2011}}</ref> In 2012, ''[[The New York Times]]'' noted that the app was one of the few nongame apps on [[iOS]] that had a 5 star rating.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/technology/personaltech/mobile-apps-help-with-home-improvement-projects.html | title=Before Tearing Out a Wall, Check Your Phone | newspaper=[[New York Times]] | date=January 18, 2012 | accessdate=December 28, 2012 | author=Tedeschi, Bob}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Real estate companies established in 2009]]
[[Category:Online marketplaces of the United States]]
[[Category:Interior design]]
[[Category:Architectural design]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 2009]]
[[Category:Companies based in Palo Alto, California]]

Latest revision as of 19:45, 19 December 2024

Houzz
Type of businessPrivate
HeadquartersPalo Alto, California, U.S.
Area servedWorldwide
Founder(s)Adi Tatarko
Alon Cohen
IndustryRemodeling
Interior design
Employees1,700+
URLwww.houzz.com
Users65 million (November 2021)[1]
LaunchedFebruary 2009; 15 years ago (2009-02)

Houzz is an American website, online community and software for architecture; interior design and decorating; landscape design and home improvement. It was founded in 2009 and is based in Palo Alto, California.

History

[edit]

Houzz was founded as an online platform in February 2009 by Adi Tatarko and her husband Alon Cohen, in response to the challenges they faced with their own home remodeling project.[2] They found it difficult to communicate their vision for their home, and to find the right professionals for their project.[3] Cohen coded the initial website himself, and they asked a few Bay Area architects to upload their portfolios, to give home renovators ideas for their projects.[4] The site spread by word-of-mouth and they began to receive emails from homeowners and home professionals outside the Bay Area asking them to open more categories on Houzz and expand to other areas.[2][4] Houzz became a company in the fall of 2010.[4]

In November 2010, Houzz released an app for the iPad.[5] The Android version of the app was released in December 2012.[6] In July 2013, Houzz introduced the Real Cost Finder, an interactive tool that helps users plan home renovations and total costs. The tool is based on data collected from the Houzz community.[7]

In January 2014, Houzz announced that it had opened offices and hired local managers in the UK, Germany and Australia to accelerate its global expansion; 35% of the company's site traffic already came from outside the U.S.[8] In February, Houzz launched Site Designer, a free website building and publishing tool for home professionals.[9] In December, Houzz announced its expansion to the rest of Europe and into Asia, starting with Japan.[10] It was reported that the Houzz database contained millions of images of home interiors and exteriors.[11][12]

In May 2015, Houzz introduced HouzzTV, showing homeowners' projects using design professionals.[13][14] In August, Houzz made its first acquisition, acquiring gardening and home advice site GardenWeb from NBCUniversal.[15] In October, Houzz settled a privacy violation lawsuit for not providing the standard recorded notification that customers' and professionals' calls were being recorded for quality and training purposes.[16]

In January 2016, Houzz introduced Sketch for Android.[17] In February, Houzz introduced View in My Room within its app for iOS and Android that lets users virtually place products from the Houzz Marketplace in their homes before buying.[18] In March, Houzz announced that it had opened its Commerce API to third party partners, to make it easier for merchants to sell and manage their inventory on Houzz.[19] In May, Houzz won "Best App" at Google's inaugural Play Awards.[20] In September, Houzz launched Visual Match, a tool that "uses deep learning technology to analyze more than 11 million home photos on Houzz. Furniture and decor that looks similar to the six million products on the Houzz Marketplace is then surfaced for users to browse (and hopefully buy)."[21]

In May 2017, Houzz introduced a tool for its iPhone and iPad app, View in My Room 3D, that allows people to preview over 300,000 products in 3D within the context of their own rooms.[22] In July, Sketch was made available as a web app.[23] With the launch of iOS 11 from Apple in September, Houzz introduced an upgraded version of its 3D AR tool within its app for iPhone and iPad, with 500,000 products available to view.[24]

In February 2018, Houzz acquired IvyMark, a company that developed business management software and a community platform for interior designers and home design firms.[25] In March, the Houzz App for Android devices was updated with ARCore support, enabling users to "place virtual representations of furniture and other home decor items anywhere in their home to see how they would look."[26]

As of June 2019, the company had reportedly 40 million users.[27]

In April 2020, the company launched Houzz Pro software to help home professionals run their businesses.[28] As of May, Houzz had over 20 million photos of design ideas on its platform.[29]

By March 2021, the company reportedly had 2.7 million professionals in its professional services database.[30]

Products and services

[edit]

Houzz offers a home design photo database with millions of images of home interiors and exteriors.[11] Homeowners browse photos by room, style and location, and bookmark photos in personal collections the site calls ideabooks.[12] Users can click on an image to learn more about the designer, ask a question, and learn about products tagged in the photos.[31]

Houzz also has a directory of home improvement professionals who use the site to reach homeowners. The platform can be used for consumers to search through professionals for hire, view their previous projects, and ultimately hire them.[32][33]

The company also develops Houzz Pro software, designed to help designers manage their projects, manage new business and handle their projects' financial details.[28]

HouzzTV

[edit]

The company's HouzzTV video series shows homeowners' projects being implemented with the help of design professionals.[14] Notable homeowners featured include Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, and Taraji P. Henson.[34]

Reception

[edit]

Bloomberg Businessweek called Houzz "An online antidote to the housing bust."[33] Architectural Digest wrote about how the app would encourage imagination.[35] TechCrunch wrote that the idea behind the company was well-executed.[36] The Mercury News wrote about the breadth of ideas for customers and their architects to collaborate with.[37] In 2012, The New York Times noted that the app was one of the few nongame apps on iOS that had a 5 star rating.[38]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "'Houzz's top 10 design trends for 2022'". DesignersToday. November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Kurutz, Stevens (March 21, 2012). "Houzz Proud". New York Times. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
  3. ^ Ryall, Jenni (August 28, 2014). "Houzz Launches In Australia, Home Renovators Get Excited". Mashable.
  4. ^ a b c Ang, Sarah (December 11, 2013). "Houzz Helps You Make Your House a Home". Mashable.
  5. ^ Wauters, Robin (November 11, 2010). "Heads Up, Home Design Freaks: Houzz Launches New iPad App, Raises $2M". TechCrunch. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
  6. ^ Carney, Michael (August 27, 2013). "The numbers say Houzz has lit a fire under the home remodeling market". PandoDaily. Archived from the original on November 14, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  7. ^ Ecker, Shana (July 8, 2013). "Houzz's Real Cost Finder Helps You Figure Out How Much That Renovation Will Set You Back". Huffington Post.
  8. ^ Carney, Michael (January 15, 2014). "Houzz and international expansion go together like peas and carrots". PandoDaily.
  9. ^ Lardinois, Frederic (February 5, 2014). "Houzz Launches Site Designer, Offers Free Websites For Home Professionals". TechCrunch.
  10. ^ Carney, Michael (December 19, 2014). "With rabid overseas demand, home design favorite Houzz looks to triple its international reach in 2015". PandoDaily.
  11. ^ a b "With rabid overseas demand, home design favorite Houzz looks to triple its international reach in 2015". Pando. December 19, 2014. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  12. ^ a b Carney, Michael (August 27, 2013). "The numbers say Houzz has lit a fire under the home remodeling market". PandoDaily.
  13. ^ "Houzz: Disrupting and empowering". CNBC. May 14, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Houzz presents its first Indian video series highlighting how people turn their dream homes into reality". Business Insider. January 29, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  15. ^ Rao, Leena (August 25, 2015). "Home design company Houzz makes its first acquisition". Fortune.
  16. ^ Dremann, Sue (October 7, 2015). "Houzz Inc. settles privacy-violation case". paloaltoonline.com. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  17. ^ Fuller, Daniel (January 13, 2016). "Houzz Interior Decorating App Gets Sketch Feature". AndroidHeadlines.
  18. ^ Korducki, Kelli. "You Can Now *Virtually* Try Out Furniture Before You Buy". BRIT+CO.
  19. ^ Lardinois, Frederic (March 22, 2016). "Houzz opens its Commerce API to third-party vendors". TechCrunch.
  20. ^ D'Onfro, Jillian D'Onfro Senior Reporter Jillian D'Onfro (May 20, 2016). "The best Android apps in the world, according to Google". Business Insider.
  21. ^ Chang, Lulu (September 14, 2016). "Find furniture that suits your style with Houzz's new visual match tool". Digital Trends.
  22. ^ Stein, Megan (May 4, 2017). "Never Fear Furniture Shopping Again: This 3D Tool Shows You How Things Will Looks in Your House". People.com.
  23. ^ "Houzz's moodboard/floor plan app expands". Business of Home. July 6, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  24. ^ Lunden, Ingrid (September 19, 2017). "A new ARKit app from Houzz brings 500,000 objects to moveable life". TechCrunch.
  25. ^ "Houzz acquires IvyMark to expand into services for designers". TechCrunch. February 6, 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  26. ^ Diaz, Justin (March 21, 2018). "Houzz App Updated With ARCore Support". AndroidHeadlines.
  27. ^ "'Before we knew it this little website had 350,000 users'". BBC. June 3, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  28. ^ a b "Houzz Debuts New Software Service". Architectural Digest. April 10, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  29. ^ Xie, Jenny (20 May 2020). "18 renovation apps to know for your next project". Curbed.
  30. ^ "How Houzz is benefiting from the housing boom". Yahoo. March 18, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  31. ^ Hickey, Shane (December 28, 2014). "Houzz: the website that speaks the language of home improvement". The Guardian.
  32. ^ KATHERINE BOEHRET (4 April 2012). "Professional Decorating Ideas in the Houzz". The Digital Solution. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  33. ^ a b NICK LEIBER (14 March 2012). "An Online Antidote to the Housing Bust". Profiles. Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  34. ^ https://www.youtube.com/@HouzzTV/videos
  35. ^ "Design Apps on Tap". Architectural Digest. Condé Nast Digital. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  36. ^ Rob Wauters (11 November 2010). "Heads Up, Home Design Freaks: Houzz Launches New iPad App, Raises $2M". CrunchBase. AOL Inc. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  37. ^ Richard Taylor Zillow (28 April 2011). "How to talk to an architect". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  38. ^ Tedeschi, Bob (January 18, 2012). "Before Tearing Out a Wall, Check Your Phone". New York Times. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
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