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

[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?

[Bebe321]

08:45 AM on 05/17/2012

On your May 16, 2012 House Proud my Aren Myrin, she decorated her brother's apt. and in one room she had a light brown background wallpaper/mural with white trees. I love this wallpaper and cannot find it anywhere on the web, and I'm a good "searcher." Can you please let me know where I can purchase this perfect wall covering? I'd sure appreciate it.

[Kari Hansen]

04:50 PM on 05/11/2012

Hi Nate,
Love your show, always learning something new. I have a question for you, I run an in-home daycare and will be moving into a house my daughter just purchased as I'm not able to keep up with mortgage payments on my house due to the death of my husband. I will be doing the daycare downstairs but also will want to use the room as my living room. I will have a couch, loveseat and recliner/rocker in this area plus tv. Also will be storage for the kids toys, I have an infant so I have an infant area plus 4 toddlers. Now how do I make it kid friendly, and still have an adult look to it??.The room is only 12X13 with a walk out patio on one end and 2 doors.I will have kids bright colors, numbers, learning things on the wall, not permenantly. I plan to use 2 older dressers and take out the drawers, put in shelves and store toys in 1, the other will be used for the tv and videos/dvds and older kids puzzles and games.Plus I have other assorted larger toys such as playhouse, play kitchen etc, I would prefer not to be dragging them into storage when I want to relax......help what can I do. PS I'm one of the percentage of parents moving in with their adult child, how sad.

[savannachang]

11:51 PM on 04/04/2012

Hi Nate, in my family room, I have a bright red couch, birch color hardwood floor and kitchen cabinets, and expresso color entertainment center. I like a contemporary look, so what wall color would you suggest? Thank you very much.

[anneeger]

10:48 PM on 03/04/2012

I just looked at the colorful painted parking garage featured in Huffpost's Art section. I always wanted to paint the concrete floor in my house in real bright colors. How can I do this? The concrete colors I find in home improvement stores are not bright enough. And what kind of coating do you have to put on top of it.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/31/international-art-duo-creates-surreal-parking-lot_n_1245284.html?ref=design

[OakNewel]

12:45 PM on 02/15/2012

I live on the south side of Chicago where St. Patrick's Day is a big holiday. How do I decorate the outside of my house without using tacky store bought St. Patrick's Day items?

[MaryAnn1008]

04:43 PM on 02/04/2012

I've enjoyed watching Nate's show and I will miss it. The show is honest and sincere in their approach to help us with our decorating dilemmas and there is always something from each show that I can apply or help a friend with.

My question is about floor lamps. I want to add two tripod floor lamps to a family room, flanking the fireplace, but I don't know if they will overwhelm the space. Physically the lamps will fit but will they look cramped?

Thank you.

[cp4]

05:55 PM on 12/30/2011

I was sorry to hear that Nate's show is being cancelled.Who doesn't love that amazing grin. he is really "Mr. Nice Guy". That said, his show is boring. He seems locked into a junior high school mentality.... yes, his jackets ARE too small. and the reruns of the show this week have him wearing what looks like ochre jeggings. Not at all attractive considering that his jacket barely reaches his waist, the button is up under his chin which reveals what looks like a codpiece on the jeggings. I don't think Nate is who I would go to for fashion advice. Sadly, his lack of an expansive vocabulary has everything bein "cool". My sons fraternity use the show for a drinking game. Every time Nate or one of his guests says "cool", well, its time to have a dring. I think his show was ill guided with little focus. Whoever was in charge could have centered the show on his surprise room makeovers (except he is always painting the wooden chairs!), budget shopping and particularly, decorating small spaces. I wish him luck,but if he expects his clothing to continue to fit him (which it actually doesn't) he will need to lay off the food segments where everything is "delicious".

[left in vermont]

09:50 AM on 12/27/2011

The only question I have for him is why does he always wear jackets that are 2 sizes too small for him.