A writer who lost their home in the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, is currently rebuilding. They say the biggest takeaway from the experience has been understanding the meaning of home. While deciding on the placement of outlets, switches, and light fixtures, the writer’s builder made a comment that resonated: “The best design happens when you think about the life you want to live here.”
This idea is reflected in the work of Nate Berkus, a celebrated interior designer who has built a career on the concept that homes tell the stories of our lives. Berkus says, “You need the option of landing in your own environment that you’ve created, that you’ve edited, that you’ve chosen.”
In a recent issue, Berkus’s design for an art collector’s Greenwich Village apartment is featured. The apartment is deeply personal, reflecting the collector’s life and style. This philosophy is also seen in other homes featured, including a Jersey City brownstone, a Toronto bachelorette pad, and an Oklahoma lake house. Each home is unique, yet reflects the life of its occupants.
Author Annie Meyers-Shyer sums up this idea, saying, “At the end of the day, a beautiful house only matters if it supports the life happening inside it.” The writer who lost their home is taking this concept to heart as they rebuild. It is a notion that is reflected throughout the featured homes, and one that they hope to incorporate into their own new space.
The writer’s experience rebuilding their home after the fire has given them a new appreciation for the importance of design in creating a space that supports the life of its occupants. As they continue to rebuild, they are keeping this concept in mind.
Nate Berkus’s design philosophy is one that emphasizes the importance of creating a space that is tailored to the individual. Berkus believes that a well-designed home should reflect the personality and style of its occupants. The writer’s builder also emphasized the importance of considering the life they want to live in their new home, and this is a concept that the writer is taking seriously as they rebuild.
