Young House Love

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My Date With Nate

A bunch of you have been asking what I got from Tar-jay for Nate’s big weekend debut, and since I’m a die-hard fan (remember when our hands almost touched here?) of course I was the first girl at the store on Sunday morning right as they opened. Yup, even though we just got back from Cincinnati the night before, I’m a Noupie (Nate Groupie) so you can bet my buns were there, and they were excited. Then I went in. Womp-womp, no Nate stuff out. And when I asked where it was, the two sweet Target girls were all “Nate who?”

Instead of extolling the virtues of Nate, which I totally would have done if time weren’t of the essence (I was picturing mobs of people at other Targets a la Missoni) I ran out to the car and said “other Target, go!” breathlessly to John. Second Target: nada. Then I started to get nervous. It wasn’t that they’d sold out, nothing had been put out yet. So I started to worry it was only available in exclusive cities. We had a family par-tay to get to on the other side of town, so my hunt was put on hold until we were on our way home and passed another Target. But… they only had an unlabeled end-cap with a few towels by Nate. So I just resolved myself to the fact that maybe it wouldn’t come to Richmond or it was a week late or something. And then John surprised me by stopping at yet another Target on the way home, “just to be sure.” Yes, there about a ten Targets in our city, apparently. And when I walked in, I saw this:

Our Instagram

And the clouds parted and I heard angels singing. Stylish accessory-loving angels. Of course I instagrammed that shot immediately, so some of you might recognize it. And I had actually taken that picture after I snatched up the two things I wanted and stood next to them protectively (I was still waiting for a stampede of people to come through and grab every last item). So here’s my “mine” shot:

Target Finds

I’d been ogling the white tortoise shell ever since I saw it in a preview video of his collection, and the little spiky urchin was so quirky and porcupine-esque that I couldn’t resist. When I got back to the car I was holding up my scores and smiling so maniacally that John (who had stayed in the car with Clara) actually started laughing at me. I was that grinny.

And perhaps the funniest thing was that within 24 hours Katie instagrammed her scores, and lookie what she grabbed:

Katie Instagram

Does it confirm best-friend-ness when you buy the same things without knowing it? I think it should. I called her the second it posted and we both cracked up. Good times.

As for where things ended up, this corner always felt a little heavy on the left side…

Office Corner Before

… so hanging the tortoise shell seems to balance things out a little more. It’s so glossy and ceramic-animal-esque. LURVE.

Office Corner After

Bam. Close up. Isn’t it cute on our stenciled wall?

Shell Detail

And here’s where the urchin ended up – on my little fall mantel. Since I already had a bronze spiky orb thing on the other side (you can check it out here), the new guy seems right at home.

Urchin Mantel

So there it is, my date with Nate. What did you guys get? Did you have trouble finding things? Did anyone get any of the bedding or towels? What about those cool chains in those bold colors. I loved the yellow one, I just didn’t really have an idea of where I’d put it, so I passed (it could be a fun DIY project with an old heavy chain and some spray paint though).

Comments

  2. Georgette says

    :::Sigh::: I just LOVE Nate. He is cuter than Eminem, no? ;) This post is so funny. I was doing some online Tar-jay shopping yesterday (thanks, YHL for tipping me off to the benefits of the Red Card) and I saw the Nate collection and immediately thought of Sherry when I saw the white tortoise shell and sea urchin! Score!

    Reply

  3. Amy says

    My Target actually had items out on Thursday last week, so I was lucky to get a sneak peek and buy my stuff early! I picked out one of the bath rugs but we’re using it at our kitchen sink instead. I also picked up a couple of the woven baskets in the bathroom section that I’m using at a little coffee/mug station I set up in our dining room! Sea turtles are my favorite animal, so I was really tempted by that tortoise shell, but haven’t figured out a good place for it, so I passed. Still thinking about it though!

    Reply

  4. svy says

    I went to Target yesterday and seriously the first thing that came to my mind when I saw that turtle shell was “OMG, Sherry from younghouselove would totally dig this!” :)

    Reply

  5. Carrie says

    the only thing at my store is his bath line. Which is really nice but doesn’t fit with my girly/spaesque bathroom.
    I want the spiky ball thing! (I am certain that is the technical term for it.)

    Reply

  6. Ellen says

    I bought 8 of his ikat towels! I sooo wanted some of those gold geometric vases but my target was out :( Hopefully I’ll get to grab one or two soon.

    Reply

  7. Devon says

    I went yesterday and picked up the 2 hammered gold bowls. I am obsessed with that tortoise shell and also the chevron vases. Will be checking both weekly until they go on sale!

    Reply

  8. Char says

    Hey! Love the Nate stuff… I actually work at a Target in little Appleton, Wisconsin. We have these little things in our breakroom called “table talkers”, which are just little stories about our designers… I got to read the story behind the turtle shell!

    Apparently, Nate’s mom found a turtle shell on the beach during her honeymoon. Her husband thought it was too dirty to take home (and full of bugs!) But she took it home with them, cleaned it up, and hung it on the wall. There it stayed for years and years. It was what inspired Nate’s designer turtle shell. I just love that story! :)

    Reply

  9. Sarah says

    Parallel experience right down to stalking the local Target as the doors opened on Sunday, speed-walking breathlessly to the decor area, and looking crushed as the sales associates stared at me blankly when I inquired about the whereabouts of the Nate Berkus line. One of them finally recognized who I was talking about when I pointed to the giant poster on the wall and she recognized him from Oprah. They sent me away, telling me that maybe smaller stores just get limited stock. This sad panda immediately hopped in the car to visit another, larger Target. The skies parted and angels sang when I snagged one of two white tortoise shells. Unfortunately, there were no urchins, which were my other pick. Thankfully, I feel satisfied with my torty who is hanging in the guest bathroom in a place of honor.

    Reply

  10. Melissa says

    Do you ever get the urge to arrange the stuff on the end aisle when it looks like it’s just been thrown on there? Even moving the price tags to match? Give the shoppers “ideas”?

    Reply

  11. Krissy says

    Beautiful picks! I love the tortoise shell. The “porcupine” makes me cringe, we just spent $300 at the vet getting porcupine quills removed from poor Murphy’s face!

    Reply

  12. Kelly says

    I am SO glad I wasn’t the only one that was expecting the launch to be like Missoni! My friend Bridget and I were at Target at 7:45am ready for it to open at 8am, and everytime a car pulled up we’d look at the person driving and say “I think they’re here for Nate too”. We rushed in when the doors opened… and nothing. Not ONE item. Target #2 had a sad half-stocked endcap that I’d actually seen FOUR DAYS EARLY that I was also really mad about. And just like you – employees gave us blank stares and “who’s Nate Berkus?” comments. Target #3 only had bedding. And yes – I even went to Target #4 where I kindly tracked down a manager and asked them to look in back, where they found a pallet that some poor young kid got stuck stocking on an endcap for me while I watched. I finally found a good selection at Target #5 in downtown Chicago last night and snatched the small gold hammered bowl and one of the round studded trays.

    I was at one of Nate’s Chicago book signings the other night and someone asked about the line – he said he heard a lot of stuff was backordered and he was bummed about it, but he did also say that since it’s an ongoing line things should be refreshed every 6 weeks or so! He mentioned that designs are already solidified for the next 18 months!

    Sorry so long – but I am just so excited to know of someone else that adores Nate as much as I do! :)

    Reply

  14. Susan says

    Yes, I was waiting outside our Target before 8am on Sunday wondering where everyone else was! There were only 3 other people there. I too was surprised that they didn’t have all of the collection in stock. I still managed to buy the white urchin, the rams head (I thought for sure you’d get that too),the chevron urn, and that fun hurricane style glass with the rope around the bottom.

    Reply

  16. Laurena says

    I love Nate and wish I could see his collection in person…but Target is a million miles from my home in Nova Scotia! But we are supposed to have Target here soon…can’t wait. Love the little spikey urchin. :)

    Reply

  17. Alisha N says

    I did the same thing. I just knew Target would be stampeded by other extreme Nate fans that had been counting down like me. We traveled to a few Targets and couldn’t find anything but towels. Our local Target told me they are getting pieces between now and November 2. My poor hubby cheers me on in my decor hunts, but he is even getting tired of stopping by Target to check for new Nate items.

    Your pieces look great in your home! Also, I’m looking forward to seeing what you guys did with the United States cutting board. That had YHL written all over it when I saw it in the store.

    Reply

  19. Kristin says

    Our Target here has a ton of Nate stuff, I want to say his compete line for Target. I pick up a pair of curtain panels of his, slateish with silver sparkle to go with my mercury lamps oh so well. I love the urchin and the horns. At the same time my Target has the Patch NYC line on clearance. Score a feather coffee mug for $3 bucks and the feather tray for $7

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yeah I loved him! But since I have so many other horny things (a rhino, a ram, and ceramic horns in the built-ins in the dining room) I passed. Haha! If I see him with a clearance sticker he’s mine though.

      xo
      s

  21. Rebecca @ the lil house that could says

    Ah! My family room is loosely inspired by our honeymoon in Maui and I have a driftwood turtle from homegoods. That ceramic one would fit in nicely….

    Now that I think about it, I also have those driftwood urchin looking things from West Elm last year. Guess I just have the driftwood version of your white ceramic love!

    Reply

  22. Sophie says

    Oh goodness, how I wish we had Target in England ;__; Your scores were DIVINE, Sherry! :)
    (I really love Target okay – last year I was in the US; we drove past a Super Target and I cried. Legitimately cried.)

    Reply

  24. Marlen says

    First I thought it was a toilet lid :ooooops: but that would be funny too! Haha

    So what did you say, when is your book tour going to start in Germany? ;o)

    Reply

  25. Cara says

    Long story…but a good one. We have a great Target-Nate story. We have just moved from South Florida to Knoxville, TN. We have just put a contract on a new house and are staying at the local Residence Inn till we close on it. My husband and I have been planing on buying new bedding when Nates line came out. (Our current bedding was from Nates linens and things line from 6 years ago). A move and limited storage space couldn’t keep us from being at Target when they opened on Sunday. We too were expecting mobs of people grabbing the stock off the shelves. Got there and no mob so we risked getting coffee at the in store Starbucks. Walked to home decor and no Nate stuff, asked a few associates close by and were informed that it didn’t come out till Dec. 1st. My husband kindly showed them on our phone that the line was avaliable online now- so an associate checked the computer in the back an we waited. Turned out they had the stock in boxes and boxes in the back and totally missed stocking their shelves on time. The store manager took my empty pumpkin spice back to Starbucks and got me a free refill and we all stood in the middle of target (my husband and I and 4 associates) going through all the boxes discussing every item we pulled out. It was a blast. We got new bedding for the master, and the guest room, lots of pillows for both, new towels, the spike thing, the small urn, the silver shell, and a picture frame. It felt like Christmas. Can’t wait to find places in my new home for everything. Target totally made it a fantastic shopping experience. Love that store!

    Reply

  26. Kirstin says

    Love the reference to Tom from Parks and Rec! I totally think about the names that he would give to things all the time. Such a great show! I wish more people would watch it.

    Reply

  27. Jen says

    So weird, I stumbled upon the Nate stuff in a Chicago Target a few weeks ago. I wonder how they decide where/when it goes…

    Reply

  28. Leanne Wight says

    Just got my copy of Richmond Magazine in the mail today and guess who is on the cover of R Home! I was so excited! Is it weird that I’ve never met you but I felt like I had famous friends on the cover of a magazine? Great article and pictures!

    Reply

  29. Jen@The Decor Scene says

    Love what you found. YAY more white ceramic animals of sorts. ;) At the one Target I went into they only had the towels and nothing else. I looked around and didn’t see anything else. Bummer! :( But of course I could have gone to other Targets since Long Island has a ton of them, but it was our Anniversary and I couldn’t go into another Target to “shop” on our anniversary. ;)

    Reply

  30. Kara says

    I can’t be the only one who things John deserves serious props for driving to Target after Target and patiently waiting in the car for you to hunt out Nate stuff. And then surprising you with another Target stop? That’s major hubs points right there.

    I’m sure you’re excitement at finding something you loved made it completely worth it.

    Way to go John!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yes, he’s the best! He knows how crazy I am for Nate (since he met me I’ve been in love with that man) so I thought it was very sweet of him indeed.

      xo
      s

  31. Leslie@MsMagpieWrites says

    Sherry, you need to call Target corporate and find out where their “premier stores” are. They are the ones that will get every new/special collection. I found this out the hard way after driving to every Target in Pittsburgh in search of Proenza Schouler!

    Reply

  32. Ashley says

    I was obsessed with the tortoise shell too! Only I wanted the green one as it fits perfectly with my purple, green, aqua color scheme in my living room. I frantically searched for it on Target online the day the collection went live so that I would know which Targets in the area would have it! I’m so glad I was not the only one obsessed with getting the tortoise shell!

    Reply

  33. Jill says

    Oh Sherry, I love how target nerdy you are. I totally agree, sometimes I like to get up early on a sunday, get a latte and just walk around. It’s sooo relaxing…

    Reply

  34. Meg says

    (hides) I also don’t know who Nate is – but I spotted this collection at Target yesterday. I wanted the gold spiky, but they only had one, and he was chipped. Sad :-/
    I’m digging the turtle shell though!

    Reply

  35. Christa @ a*typicaljourney says

    I could not find the decorative accessories in either Target in my town. I haven’t given up yet, though!!
    I did swing by the linens and felt up pretty much every item on display. The knit pillows are SO UBER soft it’s insane. I normally am not down with paying $20 for a pillow, but I may have to bend the rules just a little bit.
    I love the graphic towels, but when I touched them they were awfully hard and scratchy – definitely more for show than for use.
    I’m gonna be making another trip out tonight to see if they have more put out yet – I’m dying over that hammered gold bowl. Want it on my nightstand for my bobby pins and jewelry at night. <3
    Congrats on your scores! The tortoise shell definitely screamed $herdog the first time I saw it!

    Reply

  36. Mallory says

    I stumbled upon the Nate Berkus line by accident on Monday afternoon when I just so happened to be on a shopping trip for apartment decor. So I got the small chevron urn. I LURVE it! I just don’t know though, is it creepy to have an urn on a mantel without anything in it? I don’t even care, it’s so dang cute!

    Reply

  38. Mary says

    I RAN to Tar-jay on Monday to grab a tortise shell after checking inventory on the website. I got the only white one – I just can’t decide where to put mine. LOVE the turtle shell and I had to chuckle when I saw the title on your post and I knew right away you got the same thing.

    Looks awesome on your stenciled wall!

    Reply

  39. Karen says

    Great picks!! My target didn’t have any Nate stuff on sunday either. :( I haven’t been able to get back since, but I hope I can still score some of the goodness this weekend!

    Reply

  40. Erin says

    Ohmigosh I LOVE that tortoise shell!!!!! I immediately got online and ordered it in green. I’m so excited I can hardly stand it. We are moving soon, to a rental, and my husband has forbidden any purchases because we don’t want to add to what we have to move, but you know it’ll be gone soon so I bought it anyway. YAY!!!!

    Reply

  41. Caitlin @ Desert Domicile says

    Nate’s collection was delayed a day in our stores but I was able to go on lunch Monday and I got the same white tortoise shell (great minds!) and I ordered the ram’s head online that afternoon since it had already sold out in our stores! I wanted the yellow shell but the one our store got looked more lime-greeny yellow than mustard yellow like I was hoping for :(

    Reply

  42. Gina says

    I was just at Tarjay today. I love your tortoise shell! They had one but it was bright green, I didn’t see the urchin. Cool finds Sherry!

    Reply

  43. Kellie says

    Last month I was in NYC and my friend and I got tickets to the opening of a Broadway show. During intermission, we were in the snack line and guess who was right in front of us? Nate!! I almost peed my pants for you Sherry!

    By the way, I’m from Rhode Island and hoping to make it you Wilton, CT book signing :-)

    Reply

  45. Laura says

    Just gotta say that I’m obviously not one of the cool kids in the know, as I didn’t know that there was a magical Nate unveiling day. Last weekend I dragged my hubs all over creation looking for the rectangular gold vases that I had seen in a magazine…or what I was longingly calling my lovely golden vessels. I’m pretty sure that he thought I was nuts! Good to know that now I can actually go and find them…the top of my book shelves will feel so much better with a little bit of bling.

    Reply

  48. Jessica says

    Unrelated to this post… West Elm just closed the RSVP list for your Chicago signing! Good thing I RSVPed (although I don’t think it really matters, but I am slightly concerned about the hoards of people that are going to see you in Chicago)! How exciting!

    Reply

  49. Erin @ WriteTasty says

    Haha, we got the same stuff. Well, Katie and I did. I love the gold urchin-y thing. Is it totally bizarre that I’m patting myself on the back over here for my good taste? In any case, yay for finding it and yay for sophisticated accessories on a budget!

    Reply

  50. Anna says

    Sherry, you’ll get a kick out of this—

    I was doing some armchair shopping in my neighborhood (north Brooklyn) and popped into an amazing antique furniture store. The first chair I spotted was this beautiful brown leather deal, so I asked the owner how much it was. When he told me the price ($1,800), I couldn’t get out of it fast enough. As I was politely scrambling away, he yelled “Nate Berkus sat in that once!”

    And lo and behold, the brown leather chair is on the cover of his Parade mag shoot:
    http://abullseyeview.com/video-nate-berkus-parade-behind-the-scenes-target-collection/

    Reply

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