High-profile designer, Nate Berkus, gets up close and personal with his latest design book, The Things that Matter. He reveals intimate details of his life and upbringing and talks about the people who have influenced him and his sense of style.

Yes, he takes you home with him and into the homes of 12 other stylish people as well. As you would expect, all of the places are beautiful and executed with an exceptional eye for detail. But, this is a text-heavy book where he shares stories about the people who live in the handsome places and what is meaningful to them.

The homes all have eye-catching collections of interesting and unique objects and each tells a tale. A brass gazelle named Fiona sits regally atop a smoked glass table in the heart of a chic black-and-white living room. Fiona is a treasured object from a humble source: EBay. Other treasures in other homes speak of esoteric interests and exotic places.

The homes are not all palatial. Fiona lives in a cookie-cutter contemporary apartment of modest proportions. He visits the tiny apartment (450 sf) in Greenwich Village of his hair dresser whose charming home is skillfully edited.

Some places are sleek and glamorous; others are cozy and filled with vintage furnishings. You see the home of Dr. Ruth Westheimer, sex therapist and media personality. You also see the swanky digs of Chris Gardner whose rags to riches career – and year of homelessness – was chronicled in the movie, The Pursuit of Happyness.

Along with the many talents that have made him a successful designer, Berkus is a good story teller.

- Jane