Shopping With Nate Berkus Style Mavens Lauren Gold and Sasha Adler

By The Inside Source
October 3, 2011

Lauren Gold & Sasha Adler As the design directors for Nate Berkus Associates, the interior design studio helmed by the famous Oprah-pal-turned talk show host, Sasha Adler (l) and Lauren Gold (r) are very well schooled in the uber-decorator's luxurious-but-lived-in, handsomely nuanced aesthetic. They know him so well, in fact, that they seamlessly take the lead on all his interiors projects, while Berkus focuses his attention on brand extensions like his TV show and product lines.

Friends since their college days at the University of Michigan, the like-minded pair joined forces at Berkus’ studio several years ago, honing their talent under his close tutelage. Recently though, the women have stepped out from behind-the-scenes, racking up accolades in their own right, with Gold’s Chicago apartment landing the cover of Lonny, and the duo cited among Trad Home’s Top 20 young designers.

Curious to learn more about the budding design stars and self-proclaimed eBay fetishists, we dialed in to find out what’s on their style radar right now, and got a slew of decorating pointers and shopping tips in the process.

The Inside Source: How do you describe your aesthetics, and how are they similar/different to one another?

Lauren Gold: I love a layered, collected look—a mix of modern and antique that’s warm and comfortable with interesting touches. Our aesthetics are extremely similar, but when in doubt, Sasha goes a little more modern and I go a little more traditional.

Sasha Adler: I like eclectic pieces from different periods of time, and like to mix different materials like brass and chipped paint. I like the contrast of an old room with modern artwork. My style is very similar to Lauren’s, but I’d say I’m a bit more colorful.

The Inside Source: With regard to vintage furniture, what eras are you guys drawn to?

Lauren Gold: We’re really into the French 40’s—pieces from designers like Jean Michel Frank, who used a lot of parchment, brass, and black glass.

Nate Berkus

interiors by Sasha Adler and Lauren Gold for Nate Berkus Associates

The Inside Source: Where do you shop for vintage?

Sasha Adler: eBay is one of our primary resources. We’re on there almost every day. Don’t tell our husbands! We tend to shop more for ourselves than for work, since with an auction it can be hard to guarantee an item for a client.

The Inside Source: How do you navigate the site?

Sasha Adler: We both have a slew of saved searches. I have favorite designers saved, like Jacques Adnet or Maison Jansen, so every time one of their pieces comes up, I get an email. I buy a lot of vintage jewelry on eBay, like bib necklaces, chandelier earrings, and cuff bracelets, and again, I often set up searches based on certain designers I like—Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel... Sometimes if there’s a designer coat from last season that I couldn’t afford to pay full price for, I’ll set up a search for it. The searches change all the time. I recently moved, so I was looking for 60’s chandeliers and sconces. I bought 99 percent of the lighting in my house on eBay.

Lauren Gold: It’s good to save your favorite vendors and check back for their new inventory. I have a vendor I really like that sells the most amazing pieces of amethyst, which I use as a decorative accessory, so if I want another big piece I know exactly where to go. For vintage high-end designer clothes, I like Fiona’s Collection. And there’s a great vintage estate jeweler named Peter Suchy that’s pretty dangerous! I also save all my favorite furniture designers, like Milo Baughman, Gio Ponti. And right now I’m looking for a fall coat so I have “Givenchy coat” and “YSL coat” among my saved searches.

Nate Berkus

The Inside Source: Where do you guys find interiors inspiration?

Sasha Adler: Everywhere. We always look for inspiration when we’re traveling, and always pay attention to what’s happening in fashion, too. Books are a big one as well. Our favorite design book is Jacques Grange: Interiors. He designed for Yves Saint Laurent, and the attention to detail is impeccable, and it’s in the same vein as the fashion we like as well. It’s very chic but not stuffy. The style varies a little by client, but the common thread is that everything feels distinctly like his design.

The Inside Source: What are some of your current favorite design trends?

Lauren Gold: We try to avoid trends in general. That said, Restoration Hardware and more commercial vendors are picking up things like Belgian linen and jute rugs and we’re happy to see that out there because they’re so classic and now very accessible. When possible, we like to incorporate less expensive items for our clients.

The Inside Source: On that note, got any good tricks for saving when decorating?

Sasha Adler: We like to advise people to save on upholstery and spend more on hard goods like a cocktail table. You can save on natural woven rugs or textiles.

Lauren Gold: One of the first lessons that Nate taught me was never to buy cheap wood pieces or case goods. The hard pieces can be more sculptural and function like art. If you have an interesting lamp or a funny side table, that’s what separates your home from a catalog.

Nate Berkus

The Inside Source: What are some other important design lessons you’ve learned working with Nate?

Lauren Gold: He taught us a lot about scale. The scale of furniture in a space can really change it.

Sasha Adler: You don’t necessarily want small pieces in a small space. He also tries to incorporate a tall bookcase in a room to draw your eye up. It adds architecture to a space—you kind of have to see it to believe it.

The Inside Source: Do you have any favorite color combinations?

Sasha Adler: We tend to gravitate toward many of the same colors. We use a lot of bottle green, mustard yellow, Belgian linen... And right now we’re really drawn to men’s suiting and camel tones.

The Inside Source: Fill in the blank: “_______ makes any room look that much more chic.”

Lauren Gold: A large gilded antique mirror.

Sasha Adler: Vintage lighting. It really is so unique and individual.

Lauren Gold’s eBay Picks:

Roll over items for details

Pair of Chrome and Suede Barrelback Chairs

Ross Bleckner Stem 1 (Stem One-Stem 1) 2002

(buy it now price, $1,400)

Amethyst Geode

Vintage Retro Solid Brass Pheasant Figurines

Alaia Womens Python Sandals

(buy it now price, $749.99)

Shopping With Nate Berkus Style Mavens Lauren Gold and Sasha Adler

1. Pair of Chrome and Suede Barrelback Chairs: I love these vintage chrome and suede chairs. Nate has a pair just like them, and I thought of him when I saw them. I would show these to a client.

2. Ross Bleckner Stem 1 (Stem One-Stem 1) 2002: I wanted to cry when I found this on eBay. I have the same piece at home and had purchased it from an art gallery. Check the seller’s feedback, and if it’s good, don’t be afraid to buy big ticket items!

3. Amethyst Geode: I like to give my clients a range of materials in terms of accessories. To me, geodes add a great pop of color and there’s nothing trendy about them.

4. Vintage Retro Solid Brass Pheasant Figurines: I can never seem to pass up the opportunity to buy a little brass animal. They are quirky and fun.

5. Alaia Women’s Python Sandals: I have an obsession with Alaia sandals, but the price tag scares me. eBay is the only way for them to come home with me.

Sasha Adler's eBay Picks:

Chanel Python Classic Purse

Milo Baughman Chaise Lounge Chair

Vintage Bagues Table French Jansen Faux Bamboo

(buy it now price, $1,850)

Burchell Zebra Skin Rug

(buy it now price, $1,400)

Hermes Black CDC Collier De Chien Bracelet

1. Chanel Python Classic Purse: eBay is a phenomenal source for rare and vintage Chanel. I have been drooling over this gray python bag.

2. Milo Baughman Chaise Lounge Chair: I am constantly searching eBay for Milo Baughman’s vintage chrome and brass seating. His pieces exemplify midcentury American design.

3. Vintage Bagues Table French Jansen Faux Bamboo: Maison Jansen is one of our very favorite designers, whose pieces often find their way into our client’s homes. This table would make the perfect nightstand in a small space.

4. Genuine Zebra Hide Rug: A zebra hide rug is classic and works in so many different interior contexts, but they can be pretty expensive. I found one for my own home on eBay.

5. Hermes Black CDC Collier De Chien Bracelet: This cuff is quintessential Hermes and the craftsmanship is impeccable. Nate gave me a similar one as a gift several years ago and I have barely taken it off since.

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