Let the Sun Shine In

Shadowed by memories of a lost husband, Hilary and her living room needed an infusion of joy. How do you brighten the mood without painting over the past? That's where the brilliant and intuitive Nate Berkus comes in.

Tasteful and urbane, Hilary's living room has a few inspired flourishes, like the cowhide table cover. But the lighting is dingy, the palette is too subdued and the flat-screen TV is too dominant. More troubling still, the room is filled with painful reminders of Hilary's husband Joe's battle with cancer. Joe passed away shortly after his daughter Carly's first birthday, and Hilary hasn't been able to change the room. Nate's challenge, he says, is to help Hilary and Carly "find a new beginning while still honoring Joe's memory."