Nate Berkus And Jeremiah Brent Launch A Transitional French Chateau Inspired Furniture Collection For Living Spaces

Finding beautifully designed, quality furniture at an accessible price point can be a challenge. But famed husbands and interior design duo, Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent just launched a new collection for Living Spaces that checks every box with chic, transitional pieces designed to integrate into a variety of decor schemes. While Living Spaces is very much a household name in California (they also have locations in Arizona, Nevada, and Texas), those in other regions of the country may not be as familiar with this family-owned big-box retailer full of hidden gems.

A Timeless Aesthetic

Inspired by a French chateau aesthetic, the new Nate and Jeremiah collection is one of their best collaborations with the brand. “We keep trying to raise the bar with every new collection and we care so deeply about the details and about people having the ability to live with luxurious finishes,” Berkus tells me.

But the style of this line isn’t about what’s on trend this moment. Rather, Berkus characterizes the pieces as “Beautiful things and things that feel permanent, not just temporary furniture.”

Every piece in the collection has a sophisticated, yet timeless quality to it. This elevates the overall appeal because there have been so many design trends in recent years. “It looks like it could be modern, it looks like it could be transitional. It looks like it could be a little bit farmhouse if your farmhouse was in Sweden,” the designer explains.

While pieces of furniture this stylish are rarely intentionally practical, that’s what makes this collection unique. “I think one of the things that’s really important about our collection is we’re trying to create pieces that people can actually use and aren’t just one design aesthetic. We’re constantly trying to bring in that blend, and mix traditional with some pieces that are more modern, so it feels really harmonious,” says Brent. 

Furniture For Life Today

The line features a variety of pieces for every room in the home from sofas to beds, seating, tables, and textiles like rugs and pillows. It’s incredibly accessible with prices ranging from $49 for a throw pillow to $2595 for a three-piece sectional. “We know that people can’t afford to go in typically and buy eight new pieces of furniture for a room in one afternoon,” says Brent. “What we really believe in is high design at a low cost. So much of the way we looked at our homes before this pandemic has changed.” 

Everyone is spending more time at home these days. So, our awareness of rooms that could use updating or furniture that simply needs to be replaced has highly increased. Brent sees this line as ideal for anyone who needs to work with what they already have. “If you have an antique chest from your grandmother, or if you have a floral sofa, [you can use] whatever pieces that could mix in [to] make you feel like you’re on top of what’s happening in design globally, not just locally. You can make it contemporary, you can make it farmhouse, you can make it traditional, you can really kind of bend it into wherever you go.”

For example, the Vaughn Settee compliments most contemporary or modern sofas, but it can make a great accent to a modern farmhouse or boho chic living room. The leather pillow is a sleek, modern touch that makes this piece stand out. The upholstery can even be customized with 35 different fabrics from light-hued solids to neutral rose shades and even textured chevrons. 

The Design Process

While many well-known or celebrity designers simply put their names on a label, Berkus and Brent were highly involved in the process with Living Spaces, translating their vision into a product that’s tailored for the brand. “As designers, oftentimes you find yourself in a situation where your vision doesn’t necessarily match what the customer wants to buy. And so we depend on Living Spaces, because they know their clientele really well,” explains Berkus.

Berkus revealed that versatility was essential for each piece to make it into the collection. “A rule of thumb for us with the dining table [for example] is, would it work with ten different styles of dining chairs? If somebody has mahogany, antique or reproduction chairs, would it work? [What] if they have fully upholstered chairs? Modern chairs? And so when we can answer that in the positive, that’s when something makes it in.” 

They also oversee the entirety of the process beyond the initial design. “We test everything, we touch everything, we open and close every drawer, we see all the samples and the finished samples and everything,” says Berkus. “So we’re definitely very involved. It’s about what’s right for you, what will work in your home, what will be the right price. So that people can afford to live with our things.”

Then there’s the process of the husband design team working together. “We have a lot of fun because we like the same things. But we’re drawn to different aesthetics. I obviously like a little bit more contemporary. Nate likes a little bit more traditional. And I think that balance is really great for the average person because not everybody wants their home to feel like one note,” says Brent.

How To Find The Right Furniture For Every Room

While there’s not an exact formula for finding perfect furniture or styling a room, both men agree that authenticity is key. Instead of looking to influencers, magazines, or television for inspiration, they recommend looking inward and encourage design risks. “People are understanding what it means to really create a space that feels like a direct reflection of you and I think with brands like Living Spaces, you can really start to take those chances for the first time,” says Brent.

This post first appeared on Forbes.com. To see the original, click here.