Nate Berkus has been a household name in American design for 30 years. Whether he was doing makeovers for the Oprah Winfrey Show, hosting his own show or designing collections, his taste for clean lines and natural tones, and his down-to-earth personality shine through.
Berkus makes his first trip to Charlotte for the Mint Auxiliary Spring Symposium on April 15 at Charlotte Country Club, where he’ll discuss his new book, Foundations. He shares a glimpse of daily life in New York City with his husband, designer Jeremiah Brent, and their two children, Poppy and Oskar, in his own words.
7-8 A.M. WAKE, CALENDAR CHECK AND COFFEE
The alarm goes off at 7 a.m. I hear the dog moving around in her kennel. I'm embarrassed to admit that I immediately go on my phone to look at my calendar for the day. I've never had the same day twice because my business is so varied and diversified. Ever since I met Jeremiah, there’s a cup of hot coffee on my bedside table when I open my eyes. It’s one of my favorite things about my marriage. And I love being able to press a button and having the automated draperies from The Shade Store open.
9-11 A.M. LEAVING HOME, TRAINER, OFFICES
I cannot leave any mess behind. I can't leave dirty laundry on the floor. I can't leave the toothbrush on the vanity. I have to put the hair dryer away. I have to refold and put away anything I've tried on. I'm literally incapable of walking out the door with an unmade bed. I usually go to the trainer at 9 a.m. I go back to the house, get dressed and come to the office.
NOON TO 2 P.M.
We either meet clients on site or at my design offices in New York City. I have to travel up to three or four times a month, hence checking my calendar when I wake up in the morning, but when I’m in town, I’m in the office every day. People really aren't interested in coming up to others, no matter who they are in New York City, so most definitely, I can get everything I need done, whether it's my work or a grocery store run.
3-5 P.M. INSTALLS AND THE BEST REVEALS
An install is still my favorite part of my job, whether for a private client or a makeover. I had the great good fortune of doing TV makeovers, both for my own shows and for the Oprah show, for over 20 years, and the moment when it all comes together is still my favorite part of every project.
5 P.M. HOME WITH KIDS. FOCUS ON FAMILY TIME
I'm usually home when the children get home around 5 p.m. every day. Jeremiah and I always have dinner with our children at the table. I think every working family would understand this: I try very much when I first come home to focus only on the kids and will respond to work emails only after they're in bed. But vacations for our family are no phone zones.
7-9 P.M. PERFECT EVENING OUT
I really love having dinner with my family in a restaurant. The four of us, we don't have devices at the table. I mean, no judgment by that, but for our family, we decided when the children were young that they would be taught to engage in conversation with us. Some of the most revealing conversations about our children's lives happen when we're at a dinner table.
PERFECT EVENING AT HOME
The perfect evening for me at home is changing into sweats, which I never used to do before I was married. I always thought it was weird that people changed when they came home, but now I do it every day. Changing into sweats, having dinner with the family, watching Downton Abbey with our daughter before her bedtime, putting our son to bed and just chilling with Jeremiah.
Designer Nate Berkus on his new book, Foundations: Timeless Design That Feels Personal
Nate Berkus got his “foundation” in design from his mother, Nancy Golden, who was an interior designer in Minneapolis, Minn. He says their tastes couldn’t be more different, but they share a love of vintage and antiques. She’s one of many he honored in the book, which he hopes will encourage readers to listen to their own voice.
“I wanted the book to read almost as a thank-you note to everyone who has supported my career over the last 30 years. I realized I had so much information I could share, but I wanted to create a book that’s useful. I didn't want to write a book about expensive interiors in multi-million dollar homes for inspiration. I wanted to write a book that showed our best design ideas and everything I've learned, and use the photographs of our projects and my personal homes to illustrate why I think they work well…”
“I think we are so distracted by all of this information and imagery out there about design that we start to feel bad about what objects, patterns and colors we don't use in our home. I think real design should be deeply personal. It's the antithesis of paying attention to what everybody else is doing.”
People, Pets, Then Things
Q. What makes a house truly feel like a home to you?
The sound of little feet on the stairs.
Q. Where do your best ideas come from?
I'm definitely inspired by how other people move through the world. I love to travel. I love experiencing what Jeremiah likes to call “modern life happening in ancient places.” I'm very inspired by old architecture, old structures and old homes. I have a deep, deep love for vintage furniture, antique furniture and lighting. And many of my best ideas start with the actual object: the table, the sofa, the table lamp, and the room gets built around that.
Q. How has fatherhood influenced your design?
It's been a recalibration of priorities. I still love to be surrounded by things that I find beautiful, but I've always believed in order of priority, especially at home, it's people, pets, then things.