Dominik Bindl/WireImage; Caesarstone/K+J Agency, LLC
Home decor is a terrifying challenge for many of us—it’s why we latch on to those home-makeover TV shows, desperately hoping to pick up some tips that we can use in our own homes. If only we could ask these folks who actually know what they’re doing how to make our interiors look like an expert had a hand in them, too.
So that’s exactly what we did! We caught up with design guru Nate Berkus at the annual Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas, where he designed a booth for premium countertop company Caesarstone. The booth showcased Berkus’ personal aesthetic, along with materials and accessories that he predicts will be big in outdoor spaces in 2020. (You probably know Berkus from his numerous appearances on TV, including “Nate & Jeremiah by Design,” the TLC show he co-stars in with his husband.)
But we had to dig deeper. What’s in for 2020? What’s out? And what will give our spaces that perfect air of style—without emptying our wallets? Read on for the lowdown from Berkus himself.
Caesarstone/K+J Agency, LLC
What was your design inspiration for putting together this booth?
I’ve always believed that design—good design—stands the test of time. And I’ve always liked working with classic forms, classic shapes, and sort of reinterpreting tradition in a modern way. I don’t like tricks, and I don’t like trends. I do like innovation. That’s why this was a really cool opportunity to work with a very innovative outdoor product for the first time, but use it in a kitchen that felt timeworn and classic and sort of old school, if you will.
What’s your thought on the modern farmhouse trend?
I like the color palette, and I also like the form of it. But I think it’s become a little bit impersonal when you see something that everybody wants over and over. So what I tend to respond to within that aesthetic are what Joanna Gaines does when she uses old architectural elements—like an old pair of doors or salvaged stone flooring. Those are the pieces to me that make it interesting.
What would you call your personal aesthetic?
My spaces tend to feel very layered and very assembled over time. I try to take the best from each era and combine them in a way that feels fresh.
I think the shortcut to actually doing [design] well—if you do want it done in a weekend—is to be really diligent about shopping vintage and antique. You have to mix in things that are old, even if it’s a brand-new space, to give it character and give it some life.
What are the biggest mistakes you see homeowners make with their designs?
I think they follow the trends too closely. I think that people are very easily taken with the latest look, the latest feeling. It’s kind of like that black-and-white concrete tile that everybody had. Three, four years ago it was the thing to use in your powder room floor and on your kitchen backsplash, but do you really want it anymore now that you’ve seen it over and over and over? I’d rather build into a home really classic, beautiful materials that stand the test of time—and buy a new dish towel if I’m tired of the trend.
How do you find those timeless looks?
Materials that have been around since the 1920s are always safe. Stone or stone-solid surfacing, concrete, stone, or wood floors, classic ceramic tiles, terra-cotta, butcher block—all of that stuff has been around forever, and there’s new innovation within those looks. But the bottom line is, it’s not on trend. It’s just been around forever.
Caeserstone/K+J Agency, LLC
What can we expect to be big in outdoor spaces this year?
What’s interesting to me about what’s coming next in outdoor kitchen design is that there are products like Caesarstone that you can use and leave. There’s nothing more luxurious than having a beautiful space that you don’t have to really maintain. And I think that’s probably one of the largest trends pushing forward: We want a space that’s gorgeous, but we don’t want to put covers on everything. We don’t want to have to bleach anything just to get it ready for a dinner.
What are your biggest tips for putting together a chic outdoor space?
Look at the old European garden. Get on Pinterest. The reason we all have this fantasy of spending the summer in Tuscany or in the south of France or whatever is because it’s just so beautiful. Collect all the elements that you can. Assemble a grouping of elements that you really love visually, and apply those where you can to your next design project.
What will be big inside?
Brown furniture—like traditional brown, antique furniture—is 100% back. And I think that’s great because it’s been undervalued for a really long time. There are very few things that are as elegant as a George III chest of drawers in mahogany, underneath a beautiful modern photograph or a modern abstract painting.
Will millennials go for that?
I think so. It’s all about the combination and the personalization. But I think millennials are reaching for vintage and antiques more than they ever have been because of sites like 1stdibs and Chairish and Etsy—and there’s value in that. There’s value in a vintage side table. You can buy it for less money usually than a new [one], and it’s worth that in the end.
What else do you predict happening indoors?
I think there’s been a return to things that are made by hand, like your pillows don’t necessarily need to come from a big retailer. It can be from Etsy. They can be hand-blocked by an artist found on Etsy. Your lampshades can be printed and fabric instead of just a typical drum shade.
What are some design trends that you wish would just go away already?
I’m tired of things with phrases on them. I really can’t handle it anymore. “Live, laugh, love”—all that business. Instead of buying it, just do it.
Should anything else go by the wayside?
I’ve always been really more about people creating homes that reflect them, so I can’t knock somebody who wants a French country interior if that’s what brings them joy. I kind of apply the same principles to any style, so I don’t hate country. I don’t hate modern farmhouse. I don’t hate anything if it’s done well and feels layered.
* This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
The post Exclusive: TV’s Nate Berkus on 2020’s Top Design Trends and the Biggest Mistake People Make appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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