The Real Secret to a Home That Feels Personal

To Berkus, a sense of self is the most important aspect of home decor and design. “We should spend time to figure out what really reflects who we are, who we’ve been, who we aspire to be, and what we really love, because those are the things we should really be spending money on and not what someone tells you is the color of the year,” he says.

Rather than fads and trends, Berkus says a mix of elements is the key to making any space feel lived-in and personal. In the case of a coffee table, for example, Berkus recommends mixing at least four different materials—metal, wood, ceramics, and glass—and finding unique items from secondhand stores whenever possible.

For Berkus, this has recently meant leaning into his love for salvaged and vintage architectural materials by embarking on the installation of 300-year-old English wood flooring in the home.

“I can’t stand an interior that’s all new,” he says. “Our homes are really powerful, and they tell a lot about us. I love when I walk into a home and it feels authentic, layered, and assembled over time. It’s evolving with them. When you marry things that have inherent character and history and a past and a story, that elevates everything in a space.”

Pepperidge Farm

The Story Behind Berkus' Newest Collab

This passion for tradition and embrace of heritage extends into everything Berkus does, including a new partnership with Pepperidge Farm. The designer has teamed up with the brand to design a checkerboard serving tray that is inspired by the company’s iconic Chessmen cookies. 

Working with the brand was a no-brainer for Berkus; the cookies instantly transport him back to when he was growing up in Minnesota. “When I was a kid, those were the nice cookies,” he says. “We were allowed to take the other cookies, but [Pepperidge Farm] were the ones that I remember my mom saying, ‘Look, these are special, so you have to ask me if you want them.’ They just felt fancy.”

The cookie board itself is directly inspired by the warmth and richness of the brand’s three new Chessmen flavors launched earlier this year—Salted Caramel, Cinnamon Sugar, and Brown Butter Pecan—and is intended to be a piece that can be put to use both as serveware as well as a coffee table decor accent.

Where to Shop the Chessmen Cookie Board

The Pepperidge Farm x Nate Berkus Chessmen Cookie Board is available for pre-order by visiting ChessmenCookieBoard.com. The board is being sold for $60, while supplies last, via two limited drops. Your first chance will be this Wednesday, April 22, at 10 a.m. ET, and the second drop is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29.