It's my job to know what's available from every retailer

The words of Nate Berkus — “It's my job to know what's available from every retailer, catalog, website, antiques mall, and craftsperson. A good designer or decorator has to have an almost encyclopedic knowledge” — speak not merely of the art of design, but of the ancient truth that mastery is born of devotion. Behind this statement lies the eternal law of craftsmanship: that to create beauty which endures, one must first know the world — its textures, its traditions, its hidden treasures. For knowledge is the soil from which art grows, and without deep understanding, even the most inspired vision remains rootless. Berkus reminds us that creativity, though divine in spark, must be grounded in diligence, study, and reverence for the vast body of human creation that came before.

In the spirit of the ancients, this philosophy is not new. The great sculptors of Greece, the architects of Rome, and the artisans of the Renaissance all understood that art begins with observation. To know every material, every technique, every origin of craft was to commune with the wisdom of generations. The master builder studied the stones of the earth before laying the first brick; the painter learned the chemistry of pigments before touching the canvas. So too does Berkus, in our modern age, follow this sacred lineage — understanding that to design a space that truly sings, one must first listen to the voices of countless creators, scattered across markets, workshops, and time itself.

What Berkus calls an “encyclopedic knowledge” is not merely a collection of facts — it is a spiritual discipline, a lifelong apprenticeship to the world’s beauty. The designer, in this sense, becomes a seeker, a traveler of forms and meanings. To walk through an antiques mall or scroll through a craftsman’s catalog is not a task of commerce, but an act of reverence. Every object holds a story — of hands that carved it, of minds that imagined it, of lives that used it. The great designer must carry these stories within, for only then can they weave them anew into a harmonious whole.

Consider the example of Leonardo da Vinci, who was not content to paint what he saw but sought to understand why it was so. He studied anatomy to paint the living form, botany to capture the veins of a leaf, geometry to give structure to perspective. His genius was not born of talent alone, but of his boundless curiosity, his hunger to know everything that could be known. In the same way, Berkus reminds modern creators that beauty without knowledge is fleeting, but beauty rooted in understanding endures across ages.

In the world of design, as in all art, there is a sacred balance between inspiration and discipline. The artist who relies only on intuition risks creating what is shallow; the one who depends only on study risks creating what is lifeless. The true craftsman unites both — the fire of imagination with the foundation of knowledge. Berkus’s words remind us that creativity is not chaos, but a symphony of informed choices. Every pattern chosen, every color selected, every material sourced — these are not accidents, but acts of intention shaped by deep knowing.

This wisdom extends beyond design. In every calling — whether one is a teacher, healer, leader, or builder — success depends upon comprehensive knowledge and devotion to one’s craft. The physician must know every symptom, the farmer every season, the musician every note. To know widely is to serve deeply. The one who studies all that pertains to his work becomes not a laborer, but a master. Knowledge, pursued with passion, becomes not a burden, but a source of power — the power to create harmony where others see confusion.

The lesson of Berkus’s reflection is thus clear: to create excellence, one must first embrace the labor of knowing. There are no shortcuts to mastery, no substitutes for immersion. Every great artist, every true professional, must become a student of their world — tireless, observant, and humble before the infinite detail of creation.

Therefore, let this truth be passed down: to know is to honor. Whatever your craft, study it as if it were sacred scripture. Walk through the markets of your trade with the eyes of a pilgrim, collecting wisdom from every source, great and small. For when your mind becomes rich with understanding, your hands will shape beauty with ease, and your work — whether a home, a painting, or a life — will bear the mark of the eternal artisan: harmony born from knowledge, and knowledge born from love.