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If you own, rent or just live in a house, you need know about Nate Berkus. But who are we kidding? It is clear you already know him from his many, several appearance in Oprah, which in turn led to its own daytime chat program. The superstar interior designer and chief of Nate Berkus Associates is also named after a number of excellent lifestyle products and household items and is a prolific author.
To make a long story short: if it is about making your home a more beautiful, smart or comfortable place, Berkus is the man with the plan. And now he is here to help when we need him most.
With the pandemic leaving us all in need of something – anything – to improve our homes (and our mood), Berkus was kind enough to share some of his secrets for a quality quarantine life.
Step one: create a peaceful environment. Even the walls in your living room may be subconsciously adding to your stress level, and who needs it?
“The problem is this,” says Berkus, “we are all looking at our homes now and thinking: how can we make them more relaxing?” The answer? “Neutral paint colors like alabaster, cream, light gray, ivory, they just help to block out the noise outside. “
Berkus suggests Behr’s River Rock Gray interior latex for a distinct look for your hallway, bedroom or office. Its semi-gloss finish adds reflection of light to spaces that the sun does not reach and makes them easier to clean.
Buy: River Rock gray enamel primer and semi-gloss paint, $ 22, homedepot.com
Do you prefer a flatter, brighter option? Behr’s Aristocrat Ivory Matte paint and primer will classify just about any space.
Buy: Behr Aristocrat Ivory primer and matte paint, $ 20, homedepot.com
Complete transparency. The Careyes candle (car-AY-ess) is the brainchild of fellow interior designer and husband of Berkus, Jeremy Brent. We strongly endorse this elegant accessory for its aromatic aroma of vanilla, cinnamon bark, sweet tangerine and dry thyme that brings a delicious vibe (also vegan and without parabens and without cruelty) of walking in the woods for any living space.
“The smell is absolutely delicious,” says Berkus. “It calms me down.”
Buy: Careyes Soy Candle by Jeremy Brent X Grove Co., $ 20, grove.co
For many people, the hope of a pandemic life was to rediscover the joys of reading. Right on you! Now it’s time to step up your game with the Bright Light mini-book light. This is what Berkus did:
“This was a lifesaver for me during the pandemic. I use it every night to read in bed. “And why not? Its range of 2 to 10 lumens means you can adjust the brightness according to your personal specifications. It lasts up to 60 hours on a charge (that’s right, not working for the battery store; just plug in the cable USB for an hour and you’re done).
Oh, and your focused beam will be a boom for your partner who wakes up early, or as Berkus puts it: “It lights up your page and leaves no one in bed with you crazy” Comes in blue, green, lavender, purple, white and black.
Buy: Mighty Bright Recharge Clip-On Light, $ 24, amazon.com
“There is a big trend in functional drinks,” explains Berkus, and he opted for Driftwell’s Enhanced Water Beverage, the thirst-killer superhero. It has magnesium, a subtle flavor of blackberry-lavender and L’Theanine, which promotes chlorination.
What’s not? Sugar, calories or carbonation. What refreshing change? “We’ve all been super stressed lately,” says Berkus. “so this is part of my relaxation ritual.”
Buy: Driftwell Enhanced Water Beverage, $ 23 for ten cans, walmart.com
“Whatever comes in a glass can, don’t throw it away,” says Berkus. Good advice, especially if you have a piece that is as pleasing to the eye and classically functional as the vintage-looking half-liter wine from the Anchor Hocking bottle.
Use it to let your reds breathe before dinner or to make your whites look more expensive than they really are. Or do like Berkus and experiment with it other life-sustaining elixir: “Recycle it and use it as fresh water on your nightstand. I look, like, five times a night”
Buy: 0.5 liter glass wine carafe, $ 13 for two, amazon.com
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