LHA PURSUITS | NATE BERKUS

Nate Berkus

Award-winning interior designer and author

Ever since Nate Berkus’ first appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2002, he has become one of the world’s most recognizable interior designers. His work has been featured in publications including Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, VOGUE, InStyle, O Magazine, People and ELLE DÉCOR, which included him on their “A-List” of the world’s top designers. His popular product lines include a home collection sold at Target, a fabric line at JoAnn Fabric & Craft Stores, as well as being Artistic Advisor for LG Studio. He has authored two New York Times bestselling books: Home Rules (2005) and The Things That Matter (2012). His new design show, “Nate and Jeremiah By Design”, premiered on TLC in April 2017.

Nate Berkus actually worked for Leslie Hindman Auctioneers before launching his hugely successful career as an interior designer. Recently on his blog for International Women’s Day Nate said, “If you read The Things That Matter, you already know all about Madame Storm, as well as auctioneer Leslie Hindman, my first boss in Chicago. She believed in me, gave me a lot of autonomy, and taught me about the history and stories behind objects.” Now, he’s perusing the old stomping grounds and shared with us his favorites from our upcoming Modern Design auction on May 11.

Regarding these gilt bronze chandeliers in the style of Andre Arbus, Berkus also said, “These would look phenomenal over a kitchen island or in a dressing room.”

A personal favorite of Berkus’, he said that this sunburst totem “reminds me of the works of Tony Duquette as well as the Mexican architect Arturo Pani.”

These Lucie Rie vessels reminded Berkus of his own pottery collection. He said, “Jeremiah and I have been collecting pottery. With their forms and as black & white, these would look beautiful on a fireplace or coffee table.”

Enough said. With something like these Puiforcrat Art Deco candelabras, what more is there to say?

Berkus suggests how he would build a room around this Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan fire escape panel from the M.A. Meyer Building in Chicago, Illinois, c. 1900: “I would inset it into a panel with a mirror behind it in a foyer, or you could mount it vertically into a panel over the bathtub.”

Regarding this Thevenin wrought iron table, Berkus also said, “This could be in the center of a living space with 3-4 carefully chosen objects on top.”

“Angles on my Shoulder” by Pedro Friedeberg offers a special connection to Berkus. He said, “I had the opportunity to share tequila with Mr. Friedeberg in his studio in Mexico City; I have two of his works in my LA home.”