Color Story – Park and Oak Interior Design

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Color Story: Soft Blues

Have you noticed more soft blues in your feeds lately? We have. Whether in a kitchen or a cocktail room or a bedroom, soft blue has been making its case as a go-to neutral, and this is one trend we wholeheartedly endorse.

We have turned to soft blues like those pictured above in many homes throughout the life of Park & Oak, and if you’ve been following for awhile, you probably recognize some of our frequently shared projects.

Here’s one from the early years, featuring Boothbay Gray, which our designers love for its balance of warm and cool undertones, and perfect saturation level.

This is another earlier project, also in Boothbay Gray.

More recently, we used Boothbay in this impossibly charming kitchen.

And in this sophisticated dining room.

But it can also be perfect in a kids’ bedroom.

Or a bath.

And even a laundry room.

Looking for something with just a little more warmth? Try Duxbury Gray.

Metropolitan is an even softer option, and contrast trim makes such an impact.

Van Courtland Blue is probably the purest blue in the soft blue lineup, and it really makes this kitchen shine.

And finally, Santorini Blue was just perfect in the boys’ bedroom.

April 28, 2023 By Park and Oak

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Color Story: Benjamin Moore Montpelier

We loved working with this color so much on our recent Winnetka project, so we thought it deserved a highlight here on the blog.

It may come as a surprise that paint is not always the first thing we think about. Once a budget is set for a project, we want to make sure we are selecting the best possible finishes for the space. Often, this means waiting to choose a paint color until we have a rug, lighting, upholstery. In this project in particular, the abundant natural light in the room meant that the color story could wait a bit – virtually any shade would work here.

What we did know was that we wanted some wow factor in this space. As you move through the entry of the home, and into the living room, this room beckons from the back. We wanted guests to spy a glimpse of this room and think…”oooo, what’s back there?” A jewel-box cocktail room was a natural choice here, the question was just, what color?

We kept coming back to the Montpelier swatch in other color research, so when the rug and upholstery were chosen for this cocktail room, after also considering the black floors, and warm wood stain for the built-ins, we knew that Montpelier would be the perfect complement.

See how it came it together!

April 26, 2022 By Park and Oak

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Color Story: White

Don’t say it. We know…it’s not *really* a color. And while technically it is true that white is the absence of color, the white paint colors we use in and on our homes all are pigmented with other shades, even in just the slightest amounts: blue, green, red, black and everything in between. These white shades can work magic when used in the right ways.

Our work often draws attention for dark and moody spaces, and we do love a jewel box. But white has just as important a role for us. White is what we often turn to as the backdrop in kitchens, where we like our dark and moody to reign on cabinetry. We love white in a hallway with wall moulding. Often, white is the right foil for bathrooms, where beautiful tile and hardware is the star. You need white to sit alongside dark paint colors or black windows to draw attention to the drama. And if your furnishings vary in colors and textures, you’ll want at least a little white to balance things out. So, while white gets a bad rap for having the potential to be cold or sterile, when it’s used thoughtfully, it is the perfect way to highlight other design elements.

P&O Favorite Whites

July 22, 2021 By Park and Oak