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Today is Nate Berkus Day in Blogland. I thought I would add my two cents, because I, too, am a huge Nate fan. Yes, I'm a Nate-head. Rock on, Nate!
What's not to like? It's not only his adorable face - this guy is a super-talented designer, too. He gave us a peek at his Chicago apartment on
Oprah in 2006:
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Love that his animals try and escape the moment the front door opens, too!
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And this display - love the composition of items. This is the most important thing in Nate's house. "Everyone always asks themselves, 'What would you grab in a fire?' For me, my dogs and then this, which is a woven photograph that was a Christmas present from Fernando." Fernando Bengoechea was Nate's partner, a photographer who passed away in the tsunami tragedy.
Next, a gallery of black and white photographs. It's a great way to fill up a wall where furniture won't fit.
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Nate's kitchen, with the original cabinets, painted (in Nate's own words "army green"). It's always amazing to me what a coat of paint can do to freshen up a space. And keeping the cabinets is not only a thrifty choice, it's also an eco-friendly one. (I was going to say "the green choice", haha, but even I couldn't be
that cheesy!)
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And Nate's kitchen is also proof that a space doesn't have to be big to be beautiful!
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The worn metal shelves add patina and warmth to Nate's apartment. The careful arrangement of objects allows your eye to settle on, and appreciate, each one.
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Animals live here, too!
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The dining room is spare. With that view, who needs drapes?? And, like Nate, my personal (unpopular?) choice is to NOT place an area rug under a dining table. Way cleaner, and it allows the hardwood flooring to be the star. Makes the room look bigger, too.
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Nate's office is to die for. Love the rug (stripes are the easiest pattern to live with). Love the glass desk. Love the silver-leafed wallpaper, which is original to the apartment (1950!) Again proof you don't need to gut everything to make a beautiful space.
Overall, Nate's space is personal, masculine (but not
not feminine) and comfortable. Sigh. Love it.
And if you wanted to bring home some of Nate's style, Nate has a line of furniture and accessories he sells at
hsn.com:
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Beautiful! Nate, you rock my world!
Nadine