Podcast Summary

Talk Shop with Ariel Okin: A Fenimore Lane Production

Episode: The Things That Matter: Nate Berkus on Home, Style, and Storytelling

Air Date: November 12, 2025
Guest: Nate Berkus, Interior Designer and Author
Host(s): Ariel Okin (and possibly co-host Brooke or another guest interviewer)

Episode Overview

This episode offers an in-depth exploration of renowned interior designer Nate Berkus’s journey: from his formative years surrounded by creativity, through his early entrepreneurial leaps, to the philosophies underpinning his storied career. The discussion orbits the launch of Nate’s latest book, “Foundations: Timeless Design that Feels Personal,” and how storytelling, resourcefulness, and authenticity have shaped his approach to interiors, product lines, and life. Expect candid reflections on fame, unforgettable design moments, and practical design wisdom for both industry professionals and everyday listeners.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Nate’s Signature Aesthetic & Philosophy

• Three-Word Style Summary: "Classic, layered, and rooted in history." [03:02]
• Homes should tell the story of those who live in them, not just look beautiful. “[My work is] always about how we make decisions in our homes that are deeply personal and special.” [07:55]
• “Your house should feel like you have a great haircut every day.” [11:03]

Early Influences & Career Origins

• Raised by an interior designer mother, Nate learned to “hunt” for extraordinary and unique things from a young age. Sourcing and antiquing are foundational joys in his work. [05:48 - 07:34]
• Launching his own firm at 24 was fueled by naiveté and hard-won confidence. First gigs were earned by honesty: “I have no staff. I don’t really know what I’m doing, but I promise I’ll never lie, and I’ll work really hard for you.” [11:24]
• Resourcefulness defined his early problem-solving (e.g., sourcing millwork by directly contacting the millworker Ralph Lauren used). [14:26]
• Childhood immersion: First design moment was getting his own (basement) bedroom at 13, choosing everything himself — an experience that ignited his passion. [15:52 – 18:05]

Challenges, Mistakes, and Lessons

• Learned to recognize red flag clients early: “Maya Angelou once said, ‘When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.’” [19:06]
• The business side of design is a service industry: “We are not the star of that project… we are there to make sure their money is well spent… and what the experience was.” [20:39 – 21:22]
• Emphasis on hospitality and delivering a memorable experience at every turn. [21:38 – 22:18]

The Oprah Effect

• Oprah platform launched him nationally, offering lessons in resourcefulness and discernment. “No people on this earth are more resourceful than the Oprah Show producers.” [22:22 – 24:04]
• It shaped how he weighs professional opportunities and the importance of saying no: “I was always conscious that I was representing Oprah’s brand, not just mine.” [24:04]
• “No one’s more fun. No one’s funnier… Everything anyone has ever wanted her to be and nothing anyone’s ever accused her of being.” [25:10]

Product Lines and Brand Expansion

• Oprah advised: “Don’t do that thing where you design things my audience can’t buy.” [26:39]
• Story behind first mass retailer partnership—pioneering a “store within a store” at Linens and Things. [26:44 – 27:54]
• The process is hands-on and collaborative, combining historical influences with mass appeal. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for somebody who has $50 at the end of their paycheck and decides to spend that $50 on something for their home.” [32:10]
• Loyalty and collaboration—Nate’s company enjoys extremely low turnover and deep partnerships with long-time team members. [28:48]

Inspirations & Personal Creative Practice

• Constant inspiration through auction websites, research, and global travel. Sourcing is both a passion and a design necessity. [32:47 – 34:37]
• Value in hands-on learning: “How do you design a towel for $12 if you’ve never dried off with a $200 towel? You have to know the difference.” [35:03]
• The love of craft: When traveling, he seeks the best locally made items—preferring authentic crafts over typical souvenirs. [52:27 – 53:13]
• Example: Finding and repurposing utilitarian Peruvian fabric as bespoke pillows and even a suit. [54:48 – 55:29]

Foundations: About the New Book

• Instead of a luxury coffee table book, Nate wanted an accessible, instructional volume—a “thank you note” to anyone who ever sought his advice.
  • “I wanted it to be more of a thank you note to anybody who's ever DM'd me a question… or bought a bath mat.” [36:47 – 37:38]
• “Everything I have and every asset I own” went into the book—a practical, readable, magazine-style guide. [38:07 – 39:40]
• “Not just a design manual”: Book includes questions, exercises, and standard dimensions for real-life problem-solving, making it interactive. [40:02]
• The biggest takeaway? “I hope people slow down. I hope that people don’t, like, click on a cart and fill a room... Design as a pursuit and living well as a pursuit is something that… groundwork is unbelievably important.” [41:55]
• Nate brought true experts in as contributors, not just relying on his own wisdom (e.g. GM of the Carlyle for guest room hospitality). [43:28]

Personal Approach to Home & Family

• Home is a joint creation with partner Jeremiah Brent; together their style blends, with “no means no” when making decisions. [48:08 – 49:12]
• Every item, from rare antiques to everyday placemats, is chosen with love—each home is “very vintage, heavy, very, very much patinaed… a mix of periods and creators… a lot of contemporary art.” [49:11 – 51:14]
• Client work echoes this: utmost care in client presentations, pushing only what feels truly inspiring for the client. [51:29 – 52:18]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

"Your house should feel like you have a great haircut every day."
— Nate Berkus [11:03]

“There are no people on this earth that are more resourceful than the Oprah show producers. There was never a no.”
— Nate Berkus [23:38]

"I have a tremendous amount of respect for somebody who has $50 at the end of their paycheck and decides to spend that $50 on something for their home. And something with my name on it… that just matters.”
— Nate Berkus [32:10]

“Design as a pursuit and living well as a pursuit is something that, if you actually do a little bit of groundwork before you set off, that groundwork… is unbelievably important.”
— Nate Berkus [41:55]

"We are not the star of that project… we are there to make sure their money is well spent."
— Nate Berkus [20:49]

“We have one rule. If somebody says no, we can’t try and sell it to them… No is no. Find another thing.”
— Nate Berkus [49:00]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:02 | Nate describes his style in three words | | 05:48 | Childhood influences and mother’s design lessons | | 11:24 | Founding his firm at 24 – leap of faith and early stories | | 14:26 | Resourcefulness: The Ralph Lauren millwork anecdote | | 19:06 | Lessons from early mistakes & Maya Angelou wisdom | | 22:22 | The Oprah effect on career & resourcefulness lessons | | 26:39 | Transition to product partnerships; Oprah’s business advice | | 32:10 | Respect for mass audience and accessibility in design | | 34:37 | Auctions, research, and inspiration | | 36:16 | Genesis of the new book: Foundations | | 41:55 | The most important lesson from “Foundations” | | 44:46 | Favorite thing about working in design: transformations | | 46:11 | Design rules—Nate vs. Jeremiah: archiving vs. breaking rules | | 48:08 | What Nate’s own homes say about him | | 52:27 | Travel, craft, and authentic sourcing inspiration | | 54:48 | The Peruvian herringbone story | | 57:00 | Shop My storefront picks and curation | | 59:42 | Rapid-fire “Take 10” questions | | 63:26 | Upcoming projects and what’s next |

Tone, Style, and Takeaways

The conversation is intimate and candid, filled with warmth, humor, and practical wisdom. Nate’s approach is self-effacing, generous, and rooted in a sense of duty to elevate not just spaces, but the lives and experiences of those who live in them. He brings a storyteller’s knack for both details and big-picture thinking, encouraging listeners to seek joy, patience, and authenticity in every design pursuit.

Additional Highlights

Practical Wisdom

• Research and knowledge are critical for curating and designing at any level.
• Sourcing and hunting for special items is more than a job—it’s a lifelong passion.
• Design’s service dimension is non-negotiable, whether the client is spending $50 or $5 million.

Personal Favorites & Recommendations (from rapid-fire round: 59:42+)

• Food: Thai
• Drink: Nonalcoholic “Little Saints” margarita flavor, Tequila & soda with fresh lemon
• Film: Overboard with Goldie Hawn
• Hotel: Ritz Paris; honorable mention to Amantaka in Laos
• City: New York
• Bedding: Restoration Hardware
• Music: 80s–90s hip hop and rap
• Best design book: Yves Saint Laurent & Pierre Bergé Interiors

For Further Exploration

• [Book] Foundations: Timeless Design that Feels Personal—out November 18
• Nate’s curated Shop My storefront (link in show notes)
• Instagram: @arielokin
• Next week’s episode: more world-class designers & inspiring stories

This episode is a must-listen for design pros and enthusiasts alike—rich in personal anecdotes, actionable advice, and a celebration of the stories that spaces can tell.