Designer Nate Berkus!
Yes, it’s true. Recently I spent an unforgettable evening with interior designer Nate Berkus. I joined him and a group of bloggers in a SoHo loft to try out paint, swap stories, and enjoy a creative night out. It felt surreal — like a moment you only expect to read about on a blog — but there I was, laughing, painting, and learning alongside him.
I was invited by Lowe’s and Valspar Paint to fly to New York, stay in Tribeca, and spend the evening with Nate in SoHo. Needless to say, I jumped at the opportunity.
Centsational Girl & The Inspired Room
I was especially excited to discover that my friend Kate from Centsational Girl was also part of the group. It’s always a treat to meet blogging friends in person, and that day we met in our hotel lobby and walked together to the unmarked loft overlooking SoHo. The weather was perfect, and the mood was upbeat.
Soon we were sitting on the floor in our white dresses, competing in a timed painting challenge right next to Nate. We dove into the task so fully that we hardly noticed he was there — until we wanted design tips or someone to borrow a brush from. The pressure was on: just 30 minutes to complete our piece. Kate took the lead on design and most of the painting; I ran supplies, held the paint can, took photos, and tried to stay paint-free in my dress. It was a fun, frantic team effort.
This event felt like a dream come true for DIY and design bloggers: great company, creative energy, and an opportunity to try Valspar Signature Colors paint in person.
Our table was a whirlwind of brushes, tape, and paint. Kate’s careful taping and design sense created a chevron pattern that came together quickly. I’ll admit she deserved most of the credit — she did the heavy lifting while I assisted where I could. Still, it was a blast to collaborate and to watch our project take shape under pressure.
Nate was generous with feedback and encouragement. He teased Kate that she should have listened to me about painting the hinges and knobs — and then pointed out how a small finishing touch can make a big difference. After the event, Kate painted them right away. We left smiling when Nate awarded us the creativity prize and presented two $250 Lowe’s gift cards to our team.
During his presentation, Nate shared his design preferences — he loves gray walls, white trim, and black doors, balanced with pops of color. It was affirming to hear a designer I admire echo some of the combinations I already use in my home. I recorded a short video of his talk so I could remember his tips and pass them along to readers.
We had the chance to try Valspar Signature Colors paint at the event — the same paint I used on a blue table last summer — and it performed beautifully. One coat covered dark stripes effortlessly, and the finish was lovely. The colors were rich and true, and the coverage made the whole project faster and more enjoyable.
We also learned about the Allen & Roth paint and home decor line at Lowe’s, which gave us even more ideas to bring home. After the event we celebrated with margaritas and Mexican food, chatting about design, blogging, and readers — a reminder of how much we appreciate the community that follows our journeys.
As a thank-you to readers, we decided to give away our winning Lowe’s gift cards. One $250 Lowe’s gift card was offered here, and another on Centsational Girl. The contest asked readers to like the blog’s Facebook page, leave a comment on the post to enter, and optionally share the giveaway on Facebook or Twitter for a second chance. The contest is now closed, and we were grateful for all the entries and enthusiasm.
Overall, the night was inspiring, creative, and a lot of fun — a memorable evening of painting, learning, and connecting with fellow bloggers and a designer whose work we admire.