Nate Berkus gives Valentine's Day tips; go simple and personal

We catch up with him during recent visit to The Webster on Miami Beach

By Fred Gonzalez | fgonzalez@miamiherald.com2/13/2012

Who better to get ideas for Valentine’s Day gifts than Nate Berkus, the home, design and lifestyle expert who is best known for his initial work with Oprah Winfrey before turning into a household name and New York Times bestseller. Recently in Miami Beach for the launch of his partner Carlos Huber’s new perfume line – Arquiste – at The Webster, Berkus took a few minutes to get us prepped for the romantic holiday.

Is simple better on Valentine’s Day, or is it an excuse to go excessive?
I see the TV commercials and it says do you have everything you need for Valentine’s Day and that’s the part that I run from. I think personal always wins. So I think you have to drown out the over-commercialization of it. If you are a traditionalist and with someone who is expecting a gift, I think it’s about something that is intensely personal, regardless of the price. A great, vintage frame or a beautiful photo that was taken of you when you both had the best time, maybe it was 10 years ago or maybe it was last weekend.

What else gives that personal touch?
Stationary. You know I got in trouble with this from my little brother on his birthday. I don’t buy cards, I write notes to people on my own stationary. My brother said ‘I can’t believe you’re so lazy you don’t go out and get a card.’ I told him that’s not the point. There’s nothing that a card is going to say to you that I am not going to say, and I always think something on your own stationary is much finer.

What are some simple gift tips that don’t scream purchased off the rack?
Just pay attention. If they wear the same watch everyday with a leather band, go buy an alligator band for their watch. Take one of their rings that they wear and take it to a jewelry store and match up the ring size and buy them a ring they can wear on their other hand of some beautifully big costume jewelry. You have to know your audience.

So are the chocolates and roses and cards overrated?
Yeah, roses are great but could you go buy a great glass Danish vase to put them? It doesn’t have to be expensive but could it be something that doesn’t go away? Could you get a set of teacups that you find in a flea market and put a flower in each one? That to me is something that keeps you going.

Any other gift ideas for Valentine’s Day?
One of my favorite gifts for any holiday is art, or a great photograph from an up and coming artist. All the students have shows and you can find an original painting or photo or sculpture. For me that’s rewarding the youth and paying it forward.

Are you personally big on gifting for Valentine’s Day?
I have never been one to give gifts on holidays. I love to shop and it’s a huge part of why I do what I do. The hunt. The discovery. Why I love going through vintage warehouses and finding furniture and things like that. So for me I usually give a gift to someone when they least expect it. I have a hard time with the convention of it all. I remember getting Valetines when I was a kid and it’s great for children in elementary school. I think candy in the middle of the day is great. But as adults I think we have an obligation to do something more interesting.