Nate Berkus began his career in design at a young age. “I was barely in grade school when I helped my mother rearrange the living room furniture for the first time.” With his allowance dedicated to buying things for his bedroom and his mother’s influence (she’s also a decorator), Nate began a life-long passion for design. “I think I was the only kid on the block who knew about furniture scale by the time I was 8.” After graduating from Lake Forest College, he took a job with Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. It was from this position, as well as an internship with Dominique Aurientis in Paris, France, that he really developed a love and knowledge for the decorative arts and furniture. From his auction house experience came a deeper understanding of how to shop and what to buy. Self-taught, Nate 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 2001, Nate was invited to make over a small space for “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” From there, Nate became a featured design expert for the show and continued on to become a regular contributor to O at Home magazine. “It’s funny, as a kid, I think I rearranged the rooms of almost every house on the block,” laughs Nate. “I feel like I’m still doing the same thing. Except, now I’m coming into your living room through the TV, the pages of Home Rules and my own products.”