Home Rules: Transform the Place You Live Into a Place You'll Love [Hardcover]

Nate Berkus (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2005

Nate Berkus, regular contributor on The Oprah Winfrey Show, contributing editor of O, The Oprah Magazine, and nationally renowned decorator, has created a book inspired by his belief that everyone should love the way they live. This step-by-step guide to achieving your own beautiful rooms is based on Nate+s signature style and innovative approach to design. As a small boy, Nate could often be found rearranging his room (as well as helping his mother and the other neighborhood mothers rearrange theirs). Throughout the years his passion continued to grow, and soon Nate was heading his own award-winning firm with an elite roster of clients. But it was Oprah Winfrey who gave Nate the chance of a lifetime-the opportunity to go into millions of homes around the world and join her mission to help people live their best lives. -It has been a dream come true that has absolutely changed my life,+ explains Berkus. -Not only has working with Oprah helped me redefine my own vision and purpose-but she continues to challenge me to use my own life to help others live better. And there is nothing that makes me happier or more grateful than to be a part of that.+ As Oprah always says, -your home should be a reflection of who you truly are.+ Nate says, no matter how much money you have, he believes that is so very true. -I am honored to share my love of design to help everyone make that dream real for themselves with this book.+

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nate Berkus is one of Chicago’s preeminent decorators with a growing presence on the national front through his regular appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Nate started his design firm, Nate Berkus Associates, in Chicago in 1995 at the age of 24. He has designed prestigious homes and private spaces for his clientele, as well as commercial spaces that include several design projects for Barneys New York and W hotels and a complete redesign of Wolfgang Puck’s Spago Chicago. He has also designed a collection of furniture for Niedermaier. Home Rules is Nate’s first book.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; First Edition first Printing edition (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401301371
• ISBN-13: 978-1401301378
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,476 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Interior Design > Decoration & Ornament
  • #99 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Remodeling & Renovation

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

134 of 143 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars NoSubstance, March 20, 2006

By 

Charmed Life (NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Home Rules: Transform the Place You Live Into a Place You'll Love (Hardcover)

I picked this book up looking for lots of ideas for the home I have just bought. Maybe Nate does great stuff on Oprah's show, but I can honestly say I did not get one new idea after reading all 175 pages of the book.

What I did get was a lot of fluff--- wasted space made up of glossy photos of Nate (barefoot on his couch, hailing a cab in the city, at the flea market), empty statements like "Candles and soaps are wonderful luxuries, indulge!" and really common sense tips like 1) keep kids stuff organized in easy to reach places 2)use pretty boxes/baskets to stow away your stuff, 3) if you want open cabinets in your kitchen make sure you keep them organized.....etc. etc.

For the size of the book I was expecting more before and afters, and a lot more how-tos. The photos were beautifully done, but too many of them were of Nate and not of interiors.

Some of the makeover projects featured inside I recognized from O at Home magazine. Nate claims to have "too many makeovers to include in the book" and yet rehashes some of the same ones that were already featured in magazine spreads!

Overall, I came away with nothing from this book other than a sense that Nate Berkus is hugely overrated.

Stick to reading the occasional design magazine and you'll be in much better shape.

135 of 148 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, an organizing book for a disorganized guy like me!, November 3, 2005

By 

Nicholas Carroll (Portland OR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Home Rules: Transform the Place You Live Into a Place You'll Love (Hardcover)

When I saw this book, I was glad he decided to publish a book of how to create/maintain your own unique style. I have seen him on a few episodes of Oprah and think he is a great designer, as he finds out what the owner likes/dislikes and uses creative ideas to transform inexpensive things into beautiful works of art. His sense of style proves that you don't need a whole lot of money to transform your living abode into an oasis worth coming home to at the end of a long, busy workday. His book features many great photographs, which will inspire you to find your own style. This book is great to get for your own reference and makes an outstanding gift idea for that friend of yours who may need a little help getting his/her place in order. For a guy like me, having difficulty organizing my things into a comforting style, I'm very appreciative of this book. I've been wanting to get a home lifestyle book for some time now and am glad I waited. The others seem to be a bit too "trendy" for my tastes, and Nate Berkus is a down-to-earth kind of guy who knows style...so thank you Nate for publishing this. Its a Christmas gift I am giving to myself this year.

71 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Just Your Average Hyped Decorating Book, April 18, 2006

By 

Sonya "readaholic" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Home Rules: Transform the Place You Live Into a Place You'll Love (Hardcover)

I am really glad I checked this book out of the library. I would have been really upset if I had paid for it prior to reading it. I had never heard of Nate until I happened to watch an episode of Oprah (which I hardly ever do anymore) and saw his decorating style. The show was touting his new line and new book.

Pros

* Nice blend of a kind of contemporary/modern traditional style

* Large font is easy to read

* Nice photography

* Like his color combination choices (not too out there or garish)

Cons

* MAJOR PROBLEM FOR ME: The "Before" and "After" pictures often did not gibe.

The "After" pictures were almost consistently of a different viewpoint than the "Before" pictures. I spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out what area of the room the "After" picture was shot. On page 68, the "Before" picture shows two window on each side of a narrow wall with a picture. The left window is next to a counter/bar area. The "After" photo shows a room with one window. Is it the same wall or another wall in the room? I honestly could not tell, the bar isn't in the photo and there is part of a chaise in the "After" picture.

* "After" pictures missing a "Before" picture or vice versa. On page 52, the "After" picture shows a beautiful room with a window...there is no "Before" picture.

* Very little explanation of how and what he did to get to the "After" product. On page 99, there is a "Before" and "After" of a kitchen. The "After" description says, "Wallpapering the cabinet's recessed door panel gave...a custom decorative touch". The "Before" pictures do not show recessed door panels! Did they put in new cabinet doors? Did they keep the existing doors and put a paneled edge on each of the cabinet doors after they wallpapered? What did they do?

* The "Home Rules" are list of 10 "rules" that appear throughout the book - basically common sense or things you already know...but it fills up a page quickly. An example of these rule (from page 141): 1) Make the bed luxurious... 2) Serenity is key, so keep wall color soothing... 6) Use an armoire or cabinet to conceal the TV when not in use; 10) Make your bed every day.

This book has definitely been hyped up, which is okay with me, if it lives up to the hype. With all the hype, I would expect this book to contain some useful, innovative information, it doesn't. I would suggest others check it out of the library and determine if it is something you would find useful. I determine whether to buy a decorating books based on if there are great designs, decorating info or photos that I would refer to again, this book meets none of that criteria for me.

I would recommend HGTV Before & After Decorating by Amy Tincher-Durik (even if you are not an HGTV fan) or Real Life Decorating: Your Life, Your Style, Your Home by Linda Hallam.