The Things That Matter

October 1, 2012
An intimate examination of the meaning of material possessions. Interior designer Berkus (Home Rules: Transform the Place You Live into a Place You'll Love, 2005) takes readers on a meticulous tour of his own home and those of 12 others, exploring the bits and pieces with which we surround ourselves. Seashells, rocks, glass boxes, framed family photos, trinkets and tchotchkes fill the shelves, nooks and crannies of the homes, each object a reflection of the person who collected it. The book is "about how the prints on our wall and the rough-hewn rocks we swiped from the Marfa farmer's market give our everyday lives shape, texture, and a sense of who we are, who we've been, and where we may be heading." Explicit descriptions and full-page photographs lead readers from room to room in homes overflowing with items such as "heart-shaped rocks, a little jade necklace, a pair of loving cups, a funny-looking owl, even a steel horse bit that you would swear was made by Gucci"--all requiring Berkus' sense of order. Other, smaller homes, reduced to the barest of pieces by the owners, provide them and Berkus with a much-needed haven from the hectic pace of the outside world. Whether the item was found in nature or at a local flea market, each is quirky, highly personal and special to the collector. Having survived his own personal tragedy, Berkus understands the need for comfort in a place where people can feel safe and at home. Through his charming, in-depth descriptions, readers will gain a new appreciation for the multitude of furniture, dishes, paintings, books and knickknacks that fill their own personal havens. A rewarding book about the stuff that fulfills us.

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December 1, 2012

Berkus (Home Rules: Transform the Place You Live into a Place You'll Love) champions the idea of decorating to reflect one's personality. He explains his approach to design as he shares details of his upbringing and career, including his partner's death in Sri Lanka during the 2004 tsunami. The author then visits the residences of 12 friends and clients from Los Angeles to Manhattan. He describes their backgrounds and interests and shows, in more than 200 photographs, how they have filled their living spaces with items that are touchstones in their lives. VERDICT Although no projects are included, Berkus's celebrity status as a featured interior designer for the Oprah Winfrey Show will make this book of interest to some, and his design advice will encourage do-it-yourselfers to create homes that reflect their own personalities.

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2012
Designer and TV host Berkus was an Oprah Winfrey find. Here in his new decorating book, he infuses his life story on every page. The tragedy he experienced during the Sri Lanka tsunami (the loss of his partner, Fernando) became the foundation for the things that matter to him: It's about how the prints on our wall and the rough-hewn rocks we swiped from the Marfa, Texas, farmer's market gave our everyday lives shape, texture, and a sense of who we are, who we've been, and where we may be heading. This is truly an awe-filled, happy book, on the surface about decorating, but, on a deeper level, how the things we love unfold our soul. We meet artists and media executives (no, not Oprah), celebrities and the nearly so, all secure in their selvesand their relationships. Gaze at the pictures, read the words, and then think as you look into your own homes how much of who you are and where you're going shows. As Berkus has it, The correct order for achieving joy is people, then animals, then things.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)