Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent discovered the past two years that there’s nothing like being forced to stay indoors to make them appreciate the outdoors even more. “We realized during the pandemic that some of our very best memories and the best activities we did with our kids were outdoors,” Berkus said. The excursions were not only a safe way to give their kids some exercise and a change in scenery, but also offered opportunities for learning and discovery. “The kids love to explore, and they’re very precocious,” Brent added. “There’s an entire world out there and an opportunity to find beauty in everyday things. That’s really what this is about.”
The duo’s outdoors experience has been so positive they’ve become committed to getting other families outside, too. “One of the things that we found so devastating is there was this study commissioned by the makers of Claritin that 74% of parents said that their kids don’t spend as much time outside as they did,” Brent said. To encourage families, Berkus and Brent are hosting a $10,000 sweepstakes for a backyard makeover, which includes a virtual consultation with the designers. “It’s the perfect time to upgrade the space,” Berkus said. “That could be a jungle gym plus all the outdoor furniture. That could even be a hot tub — $10,000 can go a really long way. The fun part is that whoever wins the sweepstakes will get to meet [us] virtually, and we’ll help them spend the money.”
