Ask Design Expert Nate Berkus A Question!

Nate Berkus, design expert, author, Oprah contributor and star of his own NBC daytime show "The Nate Berkus Show" is joining me soon on Mondays with Marlo! Ask him anything you'd like to know about:

• Holiday entertaining and decorating ideas
• Organizing and renovating tips
• Decorating do's and don'ts
• Tips on de-cluttering and personalizing your space
• Bringing the outdoors in (using natural elements)
• Playing with patterns
• Bringing two kinds of personalities into one space

• Or anything else you'd like to know!

Post your questions in the comment section below!

Nate Berkus began his career in design at a young age. With his allowance dedicated to buying things for his bedroom and his mother’s influence (she’s also a decorator), Berkus began a life-long passion for design.

Self-taught, Berkus then went on to form Nate Berkus Associates in 1995 at the age of 24. Moving from the auction house to interiors was a natural evolution for him. The firm grew to include projects for Wolfgang Puck’s Spago, Barney’s New York, W hotels, as well as a prestigious list of private homes and clients.

In 2002, Nate was invited to make over a small space for “The Oprah Winfrey Show," after which he became a featured design expert for the show and continued to garner national press in publications such as ELLE décor, House Beautiful, US Weekly, People, O Magazine, Lucky and InStyle, to name a few. In the fall of 2005, following the launch of his branded product line, Nate celebrated the release of his first book, “Home Rules: Transform the Place You Live into a Place You’ll Love,” (Hyperion), which went on to become a New York Times Best Seller.

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Comments

[Singer Jeanette]

02:53 PM on 04/26/2013

I have a split level house with a tall window problem. The main level has cathedral ceilings 17' at its peak. In the middle of the wall there is a window 16' tall x 43" wide. What in the world do I do with this window? I have to have the whole window covered because the top is in align with the bed rooms and bathroom hall way. I do sew and have tried a couple of things nothing looks right. I have seen your show and loved the way you tackle things. Thought you might have some ideas to help. Thank you for sharing your talent.

[joy brunker]

04:26 PM on 04/07/2013

dear nate. I loved your show and am mad it is no longer on. I have a bedroom that needs help. My daughter and family are moving home and the kids bedroom is 12foot 8 inches by 8ft 4 inches. It has to house a 51"by18 1/2 " dresser, a 24" by 48"tv stand, and a t shaped bunk bed set measuring 82" by 42" with the same size bed underneatth making a t. .It has a dresser/shelf at one end and a desk at the other. Please help. [e-mail] They will be back in Wi May 1,2013

[Elaine Fitzpatrick]

03:32 PM on 12/22/2012

Hi. What paint colors can you suggest for a family room to make it feel warm inviting and larger. The room is in basement has lights throughout ceiling and 2 windows with door as entrance. Do you suggest accent wall or soffit to be a different color thanks

[Carol Brazil]

12:19 AM on 12/05/2012

Nate, We are moving to a beach side community. The townhouse is very white inside. White marbles floors, white walls and white fireplace surrounded with with marble. I am not able to get all new furnature. But I can do some painting of what I have.

I plan to do the downstairs den in dark choc. brn painted desk, and bookcase, with hunter green sofe.
The bedroom will be in warmer colors, but probably a brown comforter.
The upstairs is the problem. The entry way, I have a dark choc brn wicker frame and table.

Upstairs I have a forest green sofa, and a purple patterened with greens and ivory background chair.

My table is my question. I think it should be a color, or just left natural dark wood. The high back chair could be painted a green that match the sofa and the green in the multi colored chair.
Orange could be a pop color, or yellow. I have Monet paintings that have purple and those two colors plus white in them.
What would you do?

[jburket]

11:54 AM on 11/16/2012

I've been trying to help my mother find window treatments for her kitchen/eat-in dining area for over 2 years. She has a mid 50's Rambler home in White Bear Lake, MN. The kitchen has a corner sink with corner windows behind the sink. The two windows are 27.5W x 37H each in size and are difficult to find a with the short height. The eat-in area window is 31W x 45H and we would like these three windows to match. It would be nice to have something that is light filtering too. Also with the windows being behind the sink it's hard for my 75 year old mother to open and close curtains easily if they don't slide well. We have tried many rods and curtain combinations and I'm at dead end as to what I can do next, that will not cost a fortune. My mom watched your show everyday and would tell me each day after work what you did and the amazing things you do with out spending a fortune. I'm hoping you would be able to give us a little (or a lot) of help on what we should do. Please help and Thank you for reading. Have a wonderful day! Jill

[Jolanda Vallenduuk]

08:03 PM on 11/07/2012

Nate my husband build me a 10x15 walk inn closed now how do I utilize the space

[lee lan tj]

01:00 AM on 09/08/2012

please recommend a reliable contractor 4 Glendale/LA area, 2 renovate a house, hill site, abt 400sq', as w'r new comers in d USA. I've seen ur show on NBC. Your help is really appreciated. Tq so much Nate

[shariuzz]

06:53 PM on 08/22/2012

Hi Nate,

Love your show! I am a condo dweller, and of course space savers are extra important here. I found a Linon space-saver gate-leg table with 4 folding chairs that you can store inside. BUT, it is very cheap, and I'm assuming it won't be durable. Do you know where I could find something similar in a sturdier, but very modern and contemporary look (in a nice dark color, like Wenge)? I've searched all over the internet and can't find anything.
HELP!!??

[robertgoldsby]

09:07 AM on 08/13/2012

NATE ...PLEASE HELP ME. I WANT TO BUY SILVER CHARGERS WITH BLING. I HAVE SEEN THEM ON LINE BUT CANNOT FIND OUT WHERE TO BUY THEM FOR MY WEDDING. I AM 66 AND WANT TO MAKE THIS WEDDING SPECIAL. PLEASE HELP ME. THANKS ELEANOR [e-mail] 920 202 3026

[LISA JONES01]

11:58 AM on 08/09/2012

Dear Nate,

I have two teen sons and they have outgrown their shared bedroom. With very limited funds, I am switching my bedroom which is the larger of the two. My goal is to convert the larger bedroom into two. With space being an issue, I am looking for interior ideas to best accommodate their requests. One of their requests is for a full size bed each. I considered futon beds so that the full amount of bed space would be used during bedtime but based on some reviews they are not the most comfortable. The room's width is 6.5 X 14.9 (3.7 window included) X 8.5 (3.33 window included) X 5.1 and the floor measurements are 10 ft X 16.29 ft Any layout recommendations, spacing saving ideas, lightning, and room dividers would be greatly appreciated. The research that I have done, have given me a few ideas such as painting each teens’ space a different color to show individuality. But I am still searching for more, bedding, layout, and entertainment space. We live in an apartment, so my changes and adjustments cannot be structural.

Remaining a “Hopeful Mom”

[Richele Barcenas]

08:53 PM on 07/13/2012

Hi Nate! We have been in our house 12 yrs. and are the third owners. During this time we changed the flooring and windows, remodeled the kitchen and relandscaped the backyard. What I am still bothered by is the brick fireplace that was built at a weird angle in our family room. Instead of the fireplace opening being directly in the corner (which is most logical to me) it is about 18 in. from the corner and is surrounded by a brick wall and hearth which runs along the leghth of the wall. My husband said it would be too much work to remodel it, so I am looking for some decorative idea to update the look and camouflage the grout line that obviously shows where they started to angle the wall. I welcome any suggestions you have

[mspilz]

01:35 PM on 06/29/2012

Nate, HELP!!!! I have a gigantic mediterranean bedroom set(Yes, the whole thing) from the 70s. There is no plastic on it. I want to replace the headboard with a plain upholstered one. But what to do with the dresser and chest? I am more than willing to paint it, but wondered if the decorative accents on the fronts could be pried off and then all of it sanded? I have been bringing the rest of the house and furniture into the current decade. But short of throwing this away is there anything I can do?

[nadege]

09:02 AM on 06/24/2012

HI, NATE MY NAME IS NADEGE I LIVE IN WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA. MY HUSBAND AND I AND OUR 2 BOYS ONE 7 YEARS OLD AND 12 MONTHS OLD BABY JUST BROUTH A HOUSE. BUT I'M REALLY EXITED AND I DREAMED THAT YOU HELP US DESIGN IT.WHAT DO YOU THINK. PLEASE LET ME KNOW. MY EMAIL" [e-mail] Thanks....

[morgan1949]

05:53 PM on 06/05/2012

Hi Nate,
I am not one that can put colors togethet that look right or know what type of lights and tables to buy. Our house is a tri-level home. I have beige furniture. All the trim in the house is oak. I need to know what type of lamps, end tables, colors to paint that would go with the Oak trim. I would love to send you some pictures to get you opinion on how to decorate. I always remember what you and Oprah said on her show once, "Your home should greet you when you come in." I am desparate for help in the decorating of my home. It is a nice home, but needs so special touches. Thanks so much.

[carol braam]

01:05 PM on 05/22/2012

Hi Nate,
I have a split level house that I am trying to figure out how to paint and what color. There is a grass cloth type paper in the foyer that is also upstairs in the hallway which I don't mind, but everything is beige; the carpet, drapes and wallpaper. Would you suggest painting the wallpaper for some texture?