Office Design for a New Era: Nate Berkus Offers Tips on How to Redesign Your Space Post-Pivot.

The following is a collaboration between partners American Express Business and Dell Technologies, and American Express Ambassador, Nate Berkus of Nate Berkus Associates.

Award-winning, celebrity interior designer Nate Berkus is known worldwide for creating timeless, elegant interiors that are deeply personal – a signature Nate Berkus designed space typically employs a neutral color palette paired with furniture and accessories that have patina, and history. Chances are good you own something by Nate. His name is ubiquitous thanks to his many home collections, and partnerships, with major retailers. 

Berkus first became a household name on the Oprah Winfrey Show where he transformed countless spaces. Today, his design firm, Nate Berkus Associates, has offices in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. He and his husband, Jeremiah Brent, also have their own HGTV home renovation and design series, The Nate and Jeremiah Home Project.,

As small businesses continue to reopen without COVID restrictions, Berkus is finding meaningful ways to assist other small business owners. Recently, Berkus teamed up with American Express and Dell Technologies to reimagine the reception area of New York City veterinarian Dr. Richard Fried's Lincoln Square Veterinary Hospital.

During the pandemic, “a lot of people got pets, and a lot of people didn’t like their sofa anymore," says Berkus. “From one small-business owner to another, I understand the challenges. My business was impacted just as [Fried’s] was by the pandemic.”

Adapting to lockdown realities, Fried’s office transformed into a curbside drop-off model of patient care. This was a cumbersome pivot, slowing efficiency and the flow of patients into and out of the office. “It deprived us, to some degree, of the close connection to our clients that we so highly value,” says Fried. He was ready to reinvest in a physical space and an operational facelift.

Enter Nate Berkus to the design rescue and Dell Technologies to the tech rescue. 

With Fried's business back to functioning as normal and a surge in new furry patients, he was ready to present his clientele with a safe environment that felt fresh, functional, and fabulous. The hospital reception area was the focus—a place where pet owners and pets alike congregate, rocking a spectrum of energy and emotional levels. 

I want our work environment to be as special as the residential environments that we designed. Every decision has been deeply and thoughtfully considered because if we’re [not] going to work from home again, I want the environment to be very home-like.

—Nate Berkus, designer

“[Berkus designed] an incredible new reception area [and DELL TECHNOLOGIES PROVIDED] a much needed technology upgrade,” says Fried. “Vet waiting rooms don't need to be cold, sterile, impersonal places; they can be warm and welcoming. We wanted surfaces that could be easily cleaned and stand up to heavy wear. We’re a very busy practice so having a space that was clean, comfortable, and modern was key."

Designer Nate Berkus stepped in to help a New York City veterinary hospital get a new look post-pandemic.

That meant incorporating in more comfort in the form of cushioned seating. "People are enjoying the little end table to put things on, and [the] ottoman in the middle, which I was worried would be in the way. [It] actually works well. People can sit on it if they need to, and it just adds to the comfortable look," says Fried.

And thanks to Dell Technologies, Fried's office received a system overhaul that functions "rapidly, seamlessly, and reliably, with adequate security," says Fried. "Our record-keeping system brings together our hand-typed examination notes, referral records from other vets, lab work, and x-ray and it’s all brought together in one place." 

The collaboration created a strategic design-forward alliance that fellow small-business owners can model as they continue to reengage with the public. Better yet, small businesses wanting to invest in an overall upgraded experience for staff and clientele alike can do it on their own. Here's how. 

Be Classic

Stick with a timeless foundation and build your unique style from there. In fashion terms, think little black dress or quintessential suit. Berkus recommends starting with a neutral color palette, and then figuring out where to invest in the space, and where to save.

“It’s very easy to change color and pattern if it’s not built in,” says Berkus. “Throw pillows and accents are much less expensive than custom, built-in upholstery.”

Get Personal

When you let our personality flag fly freely, you can capture what is unique about your business and space in charming, approachable ways. If you can’t ask Nate directly, check in with those you trust who can offer necessary style checks and balances, along with discerning professional design edits.

“One element that we used in the hospital was to do this full-size, floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall mural in black and white of a dog,” says Berkus. “It really sets the tone that this is a space that obviously cares deeply about animals. It’s also a place for pets, so it should always have an element of fun."

Feel the Energy

Berkus is not a feng shui expert, but he knows it’s important to always read the energy of a room. 

“We wanted the energy of the space to feel really warm, really welcoming, and really happy to counter-balance emotions,” says Berkus. “I am extremely sensitive to the energy of a space—how furniture is positioned, what the experience of people moving through the space or working through the space or living in the space will be.”

Berkus redesigned the Lincoln Square Veterinary Hospital's reception area to make it a functional space with a welcoming energy. 

When conscious of how placement and location can shift the whole feeling within a space, a room transforms and feels special.

“You need to be conscious of what you’re looking at or what’s in your sight line," says Berkus. "Are you staring at a wall? Are you staring at the door of a utility closet? Do you have the opportunity to position yourself with your back to the wall and facing a window, a view, or even a beautiful painting or photograph?” 

Listen to All the Experts

While Berkus was the interior designer for the project, he recognized he was out of his wheelhouse when considering the day-to-day realities of animals parading through a professional space. He consulted with Dr. Fried on what would really work and make sense versus only focusing on what looks lovely.

“He was the expert in the behavior of his animals," says Berkus. "He’d say: ‘I’m worried tails could knock over tables if they’re not very stable, and heavy.’ So the two side tables we used had a base on them that made them balance well and difficult to knock over. It was definitely a lot of give and take between Dr. Fried and I so I could tailor this design to his specific needs.”

That also meant paying attention to what the Dell Technologies Advisor recommended. 

"[Dell Technologies looked] at their internal business systems, figured out what could be improved, and then got them the correct product to help their business run even more seamlessly," says Berkus. "When we’re experiencing growth as a small business you have to make sure that you’ve got the correct systems internally to not only handle it but to continue to expand."

Navigate Traffic Patterns

The traffic patterns of your space are critical, too. “In terms of layout, what was really important was that we consider that his patients typically come in a crate or on a leash,” says Berkus. “We didn’t use a lot of big furniture at the center of the space because we didn’t want leashes getting wound around anything. That’s why we kept the seating around the perimeter of the space so it felt very comfortable, it felt very energetic, it felt very conversational.”

The layout of the Lincoln Square Veterinary Hospital's reception area needed to work for both people and pets. 

Mix It Up

No matchy-matchy, please! Berkus clocks 26 years producing spaces and interiors that reflect the people that work and live in them. Rather than work from a checklist, he assesses what already exists and produces from there.

“Do I have any natural materials in this space? Is there anything vintage or vintage-like that adds character and patina? [Adds] depth to the space? When you mix things from different periods or different styles, when you mix in natural elements, it always makes a space feel more layered and a bit more authentic,” he says. 

Consider the Unknown Elements

You may not run a business with clients who have a penchant for relieving themselves in your office, but when you're a veterinarian, you encounter all kinds of surprises in your professional sanctuary.

“I wasn’t able to use any natural elements like cotton or wool or linens because [have accidents]," says Berkus. "To counterbalance the fact that I had to use a lot of man-made upholstery materials, I used woven grass on the light fixtures, a natural woven grass on the window treatment. Bringing in a natural material on the windows or using even a wicker or seagrass lampshade is enough of a nod to the natural world that it makes the space feel warm.” 

Culture By Design

'Business culture' is a common phrase that's thrown around, but what does it truly mean to design such existential infrastructure and then cultivate it?

"What really defines a good small-business owner is a really strong internal culture," says Berkus. "What you stand for as a small-business owner. Spend some time figuring out what things are really important to you as a business owner. What things are really important to your staff and your team. Figure out how to mix the work with leisure time that promotes sort of a community of inspiration, well-being, and camaraderie. I’m a huge fan of the retreat—doing things that don’t directly relate to what you do professionally."

Take Your Time

When it comes to his own offices, Berkus keeps things vintage, focusing on collecting old-world relics that reflect the homey vibes he wants his offices to imbue, especially now that his team is no longer remote.

“I’ve been searching for options worldwide for paintings, for vintage furniture, for vintage lighting," says Berkus. "I want our work environment to be as special as the residential environments that we designed. Every decision has been deeply and thoughtfully considered because if we’re [not] going to work from home again, I want the environment to be very home-like.”

Photos: American Express