Podcast Summary: Totally Booked with Zibby
Guest: Nate Berkus
Episode: FOUNDATIONS: Timeless Design That Feels Personal
Host: Zibby Owens
Date: November 18, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode features celebrated interior designer and author Nate Berkus, discussing his latest book, Foundations: Timeless Design That Feels Personal. Hosted live at the Whitby Hotel, Zibby Owens and Nate delve into his philosophies on design, the intentions behind his book, the emotional power of home, and personal moments from Nate’s life and career. The tone throughout is candid, warm, and approachable, offering listeners both practical design wisdom and touching reflections on resilience and authenticity.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Origin and Structure of Foundations
- Intentionality in Design Literature (02:20 – 05:22)
- Nate did not want to create a "labor of love" coffee table book as is tradition; instead, he aimed for a practical, accessible guide grounded in real-life experience.
- His original pitch was for a modular set of mini-books tailored to specific home areas, but high production costs led to a single, comprehensive volume.
- Nate leveraged his 30 years of experience (including lessons from TV makeovers and Instagram) to make the book a singular go-to resource for anyone—from those renovating a bathroom to crafting a whole home.
- Quote:
"What Foundations really represents is every mistake I've made, along with everything I've learned." — Nate Berkus (03:54)
2. Personal Approach and Respect for the Reader
- User-Friendly and Relatable (05:22 – 06:28)
- Zibby praises Nate’s conversational, non-condescending tone and the way he weaves personal anecdotes to enhance practical advice.
- Nate explains that while his previous books were more autobiographical and emotional, Foundations is outward-facing, intended to help the reader create a happier, more meaningful home—rather than spotlighting his own style or achievements.
3. The Closet as a Window into the Soul
- Understanding Clients—Beyond Trends (06:39 – 09:45)
- Nate reveals an unconventional approach: he examines clients’ closets to understand their true preferences, colors, patterns, and personal style—a far better indicator than chasing design trends.
- He’s highly trend-averse, believing trends are "designed to make us all feel really terrible and inferior about what we don’t have."
- Heritage and personal history are pivotal. Nate helps clients incorporate elements reflecting who they are, who they've been, and who they aspire to be.
- Quote:
"Our homes should represent not only who we are, but who we've been and also who we aspire to be. We have to leave room for that." — Nate Berkus (09:28)
4. The Power of Objects with Meaning
- Building a Visual Diary (09:45 – 12:18)
- Nate emphasizes homes should have "soul"—aesthetic beauty is less interesting than objects imbued with memory and personal stories.
- He cherishes items collected during meaningful moments, as "every time your eye lands on that, you remember that afternoon."
- His philosophy: it's not about budget or brand, but about connection and narrative.
- Notable Anecdote:
- Nate’s husband calls him a "fancy hoarder" because even a simple rock picked up by their son becomes a treasured artifact, labeled with its origin as part of the family story.
5. Value, Imperfection, and the Layering of Home
- Layered and Vintage Design (12:42 – 14:10)
- Nate’s mother, also an interior designer but with different taste, taught him the importance of shopping vintage and mixing old with new.
- Rooms feel truly “done” only when they are layered over time—incorporating things with history, not just newly bought items.
6. Career Origins and Auction House Influence
- Learning from Other People's Lives (18:00 – 20:10)
- Nate started at a Chicago auction house, learning the real value of objects on the secondary market and how people’s lives and stories are told through the things they leave behind.
- “The auction industry is fueled by three things: death, debt, and divorce. And that’s where all the stuff comes from.”
- Cataloging everything from art to "box lots" (pots and pans) shaped his appreciation for the lived experience behind every possession.
7. The Joy of the Hunt (and the Grit Behind Design)
- Hands-On vs. Instagram Curation (20:10 – 21:33)
- Nate distinguishes himself from modern Instagram designers by emphasizing the importance of physically seeking out vintage pieces, “digging through bins” and assembling rooms layer by layer.
- He enjoys “the hunt” and even includes his (sometimes reluctant) children in flea market adventures.
- Quote:
"The hands-on part is what I love... I have never once landed anywhere in my life where I haven’t, like, Googled local flea market." — Nate Berkus (20:23)
8. Personal Resilience: Surviving the Tsunami and Loss
- Candid Reflections on Trauma and Recovery (22:07 – 26:19)
- Nate recounts surviving the Indian Ocean tsunami, losing his partner, and the difficulty of returning to life and career in Chicago.
- With family support and therapy (notably a grief counselor specializing in children), he found his footing again.
- He speaks openly about fear of being stigmatized or unable to function, but ultimately found new meaning in honoring his late partner’s memory by fully living his own life.
- Memorable Moment:
- Nate’s self-deprecating humor persists even here, noting he survived, “the Jewish kid from the suburbs,” while his adventurous partner did not—a reality he felt compelled to transmute into purpose and openness.
- Quote:
"What it meant to me was that I could honor [my partner's] memory by going out there and living my life and being open to everything that life has to offer." — Nate Berkus (25:52)
9. The Human Side of Commercial Success
- Authenticity in Business (26:19 – 29:35)
- Nate describes how his empathy, authenticity, and non-strategic approach have helped him as a designer, collaborator, and public figure.
- He defines design as "a little bit sociology, a little bit psychology. It's a little bit magic.”
- He credits Martha Stewart with expanding America’s design consciousness, and details how he tries to bring "grace" to all professional relationships.
- Nate’s guiding belief is that everyone has a story, and his job is to make their individuality "sing" in their home environment—not to impose his own style.
Notable Quotes by Timestamp
- On Experience and Book Purpose:
"What Foundations really represents is every mistake I've made, along with everything I've learned." (Nate Berkus, 03:54)
- On Personal Style vs. Trends:
"There's a direct connection between what we feel good in that's tied into how trend averse I am." (Nate Berkus, 06:53)
- On Homes as Personal Story:
"Our homes should represent not only who we are, but who we've been and also who we aspire to be." (Nate Berkus, 09:28)
- On Collected Objects:
"Every time your eye lands on that, you remember that afternoon... it's about building a narrative." (Nate Berkus, 10:58)
- On the Auction House:
"The auction industry is fueled by three things: death, debt, and divorce. And that's where all the stuff comes from." (Nate Berkus, 18:23)
- On Surviving Loss:
"What it meant to me was that I could honor his memory by going out there and living my life and being open to everything that life has to offer..." (Nate Berkus, 25:52)
- On the Essence of Design:
"Design is a little bit sociology, a little bit psychology. It's a little bit magic." (Nate Berkus, 26:35)
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Time | Topic | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:20 | Concept and creation of Foundations | | 05:22 | Book’s tone, accessibility, and approach | | 06:39 | Why Nate studies client closets; philosophy on trends and personal heritage | | 09:45 | Homes as layered narratives; preserving meaning and storytelling through objects | | 12:42 | Layered vintage approach learned from Nate's mother | | 18:00 | Early career at a Chicago auction house—emphasis on layered, storied interiors | | 20:10 | Passion for "the hunt"; contrast between physical design work and Instagram curation | | 22:07 | Surviving the tsunami and personal trauma—resilience and purpose | | 26:19 | Merging authenticity with commercial work; the importance of grace and storytelling in design |
Memorable Moments
- Humorous Banter about Zibby’s Couch and Dining Room (02:04 – 02:17)
- Personal Family Anecdotes (Vintage Shopping with Mom, Kids at Flea Markets) (12:42, 21:33)
- Lighthearted Take on Trend Aversion and Fast Fashion (07:01, 09:03)
- Coy Commentary on Professional Personas ("You never know if they're a real, real asshole or not.") (28:57)
Overall Tone and Language
Nate is witty, candid, and accessible—eschewing design snobbery in favor of practical, empathetic advice. Zibby matches the tone with warmth and a touch of self-deprecating humor. Both are open and personal, creating a welcoming atmosphere for listeners regardless of design knowledge or life experience.
Conclusion
Whether detailing the creation of Foundations, discussing his approach to client work, or sharing deeply personal moments, Nate Berkus offers a masterclass in designing with intention and meaning. The episode is rich in practical wisdom, uplifting stories, and gentle encouragement for listeners to infuse their spaces with narrative, history, and a sense of self—reminding us all that meaningful design is within reach for everyone.