0 In Inspiration

Nostalgia

We can’t be the only ones pining for simpler times. Summer often brings with it a bit of longing for ages past, memories of childhood, and the idea of slowing down. Reliving the best parts. We feel this deeply in this, the heart of summer. Summer nights by a fire pit, lazy days riding the neighborhood with friends, reading books in the grass in the late afternoon. Nostalgia often carries with it the unspoken importance of family time — cooking and eating together, spending time at the lake, watching old movies well into the night. Speaking of movies, even popular culture gets in on the spirit of nostalgia each summer as classic movies are re-released, or long-awaited sequels are dropped (hello, Maverick, Lightyear, Firestarter).

Of course, the centerpiece of time with family is our homes. At Park & Oak, we feel so lucky to work in these most personal spaces, and one of the things we pride ourselves on is how we incorporate clients’ sentimental and personal things into the overall design, because part of what we react to in certain spaces is the feelings evoked. This aspect of home design is so important to us, as it honors each family, and allows them to celebrate nostalgia in a way suits them best. This is also why as a rule we love vintage pieces, because they add patina and history to a space. They tell a story.

These days, as many of us seek something to soothe the soul a bit, we wanted to revisit the personal touches in our projects. Below are some of the ways we’ve used a family’s own collected objects — or the original details of an historic home — to evoke the positive, comforting feelings that go along with nostalgia. Here’s to slowing down, and appreciating the best things in life.