Nate Berkus

I thought this would be a coffee table book, filled with gorgeous photos and decorating ideas and not much else. I was wrong. Yes, there are beautiful photos of inviting interior spaces of about a dozen different homes, but the accompanying text tells a personal, engaging story about Nate and his relationship with the individuals featured.

Nate begins the book with some background information about himself. He talks about his family, his childhood, his years in college and how he eventually show more ended up in the world of design. He also talks about personal relationships and the pain of losing his partner, Fernando, when they were caught in the tsunami in 2004 while vacationing in Sri Lanka. The bulk of the book features a close look at the interior design of friend’s homes and in the final chapter we get to see how Nate’s own apartment is designed and what some of his special pieces of art and furniture mean to him.

One of my favorite sections was the chapter on Dr. Ruth Westheimer, an old friend, who asked him to help her with some design ideas. She is a fascinating woman who experienced much loss in her early years. The items she has in her home all have meaning to her and she did not want to get rid of any of them, but she felt “stuck” and needed some advice on arranging her things. Nate viewed that as a challenge when some interior designers would call it a deal breaker and refuse to help.

I read an advance copy of this book which did not contain the final color photos. (I was able to look through a finished copy at my local library and can confirm the photos in the finished copy are beautiful). None the less, I was impressed with the collections and arrangements and how ordinary items held such special meaning for many of these people. In one sense, some of the rooms appeared cluttered, with many objects displayed on tables and shelves (I would hate to have to dust them, but then again, I bet most of these folks have a cleaning service!), but on the other hand, it’s comforting to be surrounded by things you love, which is really what this book is all about.

It was a joy to see so many of the rooms were filled with book and bookshelves, some very creative ones. I’ve always surrounded myself with my books and was happy to see others doing same. Also pleasing to me was to see a lot of artwork of birds on display: paintings, photos and even Brian Sawyer’s taxidermy collection that he received from his great uncle. Yes, stuffed birds! Both creepy and beautiful, looking down at you from shelves on the wall and perched on tables.

This book has inspired me to consider having some of my own photography printed and framed for display on my walls and to remove the meaningless artwork that’s now taking up space. And as I clean out closets and go through boxes I’ll look at some of these items I’ve stored with a new eye and perhaps put some of them out on display.

Nate’s fans will especially enjoy reading this book, but it will also appeal to those who enjoy design and seeing how others arrange their private homes. show less

This is not your typical design guide. Nate goes autobiographical here, starting with explaining how his passion for design was ignited as a child. Thankfully his parents wisely let him foster that interest. He was a magpie from a young age and treasure hunting in flea markets and antique shops is still a huge passion for him. This resonated with me because I, too, am a magpie, but those things that interested me when I was 4, 6, and 8 are still the passions in my middle-age adult life. I show more too was blessed with parents that fostered all my interests.

He also recounts the harrowing experience of being at ground zero of the tsunami in 12/04. This was difficult to read, even though I already was aware of him losing his partner Fernando, who was literally ripped from his hands by a big wave. His grief is unimaginable. He talks about the mementos and gifts that were touchstones within that relationship and how they are soothing to see and an integral part of our personal design.

Overall he encourages and demonstrates (through photographs of fellow magpies' homes) how to make design personal. The commercialization of design to me is crystallized in those goofy, shallow wood signs that say "Live, Love, Laugh", which you can buy at Target. But it's not personal. It's vapid, empty decor. But if YOU made the sign with wood you found on a hiking trip and included photos of loved ones, then it has meaning. Sorry, I digress. If you are a Nate fan, this book is a must have. show less

In The Things That Matter, Nate Berkus underscores the importance of recognizing the meaning and worth of our lives and the lives that intersect with ours. Where we live, how we live, and the choices we make regarding how to express how we feel about both matter because those choices not only help us tell the story of our lives to ourselves but also share the meaning of our lives with others. The mementos we select to surround ourselves with convey more than lifestyles, decorating trends, or show more transitory fads, those mementos remind us of people and places that we want to remain a part of our lives even if they are gone or we never visit those destinations again.

Our homes are us in ways which many of us do not understand. From the amount of clutter or organization to the colors that resonate with our spirits, we need our nests, our sanctuaries to help us maintain an inner focus. Whether we long for a spiritual sanctuary or an energizing vibe, we can attain that through our homes whether those homes are a one-room bedsitter, or a multi-story mansion, whether we decorate piecemeal by ourselves or hire decorators, those choices are ours and reflect in large part who we are, what we need, and what we want from life.

In the thirteen homes (his own included), Nate discovers the stores behind the “things,” the meaning of what we cherish, and reminds us how those things can enrich our lives. He also nudges us through these examples to examine our current digs, see why we may be dissatisfied with them (perhaps they lack our personal touch, bits and pieces of what matters to us) and how to how to enrich our lives by acknowledging the things and people we care about. What I like is how he stresses that making our homes meaningful and relevant to us doesn’t need huge investments; we need only invest our time and thought, relax and reveal ourselves to ourselves and others.

This is not the standard decorating book. It is a book that touches the heart through the stories it shares. It is a book that not only make us see things clearer, but feel things more deeply because if we dare to share the things that delight us, we become more authentic and comfortable with ourselves and our intimate environment. I thank Nate Berkus and each person highlighted in the book for daring to share themselves and the stories of the things they love because by doing so, they give us each an opportunity to be more comfortable with our own lives and loves.

I wish I had been able to write this review when I first received an unedited, black & white copy of this book, but we were in the midst of moving and it got packed up and stored for a couple of years. When I unpacked it, I decided to order a color copy of the final version. I am glad I did. The published version has more impact and conveys a deeper understanding of Nate’s message. I highly recommend this book. show less

I am usually disappointed in decorating books. This book is quite different. My introduction to Nate Berkus was not on Oprah's tv show but on her satellite radio station. I never really knew when he would pop up but I always enjoyed listening to him. This book is written in a way that reminds me of him on the radio, the tangents, the asides, yet he has something interesting to say.
The book starts with Nate's life (so far) story and that is how I started the book. That packed such a wallop show more that I had to put it down. After a time, I browsed, then read. Not in order but as it struck my fancy, although I did save Nate Berkus for last.
A fine, delicate line is walked. The difference between stuff and The Things That Matter. If you want to call this a decorating book, it is the best I have read. show less