design – Page 10 – Park and Oak Interior Design

0 In Updates

Park & Oak at Six

When we squeezed our eyes shut, linked arms, and dived headfirst into this partnership six years ago, we were just two working moms, with a passion, some ambition, and a yin-yang of skills that we hoped could equal success. We had dreams. Wouldn’t it be great to build new homes that had the character and warmth of historic ones? To design a home that felt different than the neighbors? We hoped people would enjoy our work enough to follow along on the blog and social media. We daydreamed of designing and selling the furnishings we love. And of someday starting a foundation to reach beyond our usual clientele, because everyone deserves a well-designed respite. Some of these dreams became reality at a speed that both delighted and stunned us. The day we hit 1000 Instagram followers was our first pinch me moment, and they just kept on coming.

Of course, as with any new, growing business, the past six years have not been without challenges. But each challenge has motivated us to be better, sharpen our pencils, and work towards creating a framework for success in the future. A global pandemic, with major implications for the timing and availability of our tools of the trade, as well as the strain on the simple logistics of meeting with clients and physically touring homes, was certainly not in our business plan. But as with so many others, we found creative ways to change, grow and adapt, and we are better for it.

As we look ahead to year seven, Park & Oak is reaching for the unmet goals on our wish list. And we have some pretty exciting news to share on that front. In 2022, we’ll be launching an e-commerce platform, full of the furnishings and accessories that are signatures of our designs. We are so excited to be able to offer a one-stop-shop to help you create a space with texture and warmth, that feels collected and layered. We’ll announce the launch here and on social, so keep your eyes out.

We are no longer a two-woman show. As we embark on our seventh year, it feels critical to point out that the beautiful spaces we put into the world are now made possible by an extraordinary team of people–from designers to business managers; studio assistants to purchasers; client managers to website builders. In Park & Oak’s very first blog post, we said our magic is in the give and take between the two of us. Well, now, we are incredibly fortunate to have assembled a top-notch team, and together they are making some serious magic.

We’ll be highlighting our team more in year seven. Watch this space for visits from the talented men and women who sit side-by-side with us every day. You’ll love them. We certainly do.

Finally, but most importantly, we are exceptionally grateful to you, our clients, for allowing us to do what we love by trusting us with the most intimate spaces of your lives. It’s an honor and a privilege to work with you to make your homes a true reflection of you, and a peaceful retreat from what can be a chaotic world. It’s so important, now more than ever.

Take a look back at some of your homes from year six.

Glenview Colonial Reno

Hinsdale

1908 Hinsdale Reno

LaGrange Reno

Park Ridge

Winnetka

Western Springs

Western Springs Tudor Reno

Winnetka 1912 Refresh

Winnetka Georgian Refresh

October 14, 2021 By Park and Oak

0 In Inspiration

Range Hoods: The Quiet Star

When you dream about a new kitchen, what do you picture? Marble countertops? Custom-stained cabinetry? A magnificent French range? You are probably not immediately besotted with a particular style of range hood, though, right? Ah, but that is the one element with the power to tie it all together. The range hood can be the difference maker. The focal point in a kitchen full of understated elements. Or the quiet place in a showstopper kitchen where special details abound in the cabinetry, fixtures or counters, or, the striking range or backsplash right below it.

Like many elements of a kitchen, the range hood serves a specific purpose and is restrained by any number of code requirements, depending on where you reside. But here’s the thing about range hoods. Beyond those codes, the options are, quite literally, endless. We start with a basic hood insert, and then will revisit the custom choices for the finished design dozens of times. Endless study goes into discovering the balance of the right shape and material for each individual kitchen. There is no one size fits all. And this is where our designers really shine. When we talked about this blog post, Joanna, one of our lead designers, called range hoods “a designer’s paradise.” It’s an area where our collaborative team delights in coming together to create *just* the right hood for your kitchen.

Will it be copper? Brass? Stone? Or designed as cabinetry? Plaster? Fluted? Squared? Should there be a trim detail? We have experimented with all of these materials and more for a completely custom hood for each project. This can be the functional art for your kitchen. Don’t overlook it!

See some of the custom range hoods we created for previous projects in the gallery below.

October 5, 2021 By Renee DiSanto

0 In Inspiration

Checkered Tile

Checkered tile has appeared in interiors throughout history, from Egyptian temples to French chateaus. We love using this classic style in a foyer, bath, or mudroom. Tile is, of course, a practical choice in these spaces where high traffic and muddy feet (or paws!) may be a concern. But, as always at Park & Oak, practicality needn’t be the enemy of beauty. With so much gorgeous stone to choose from now, rooms with checkered tile can be both functional and beautiful.

Check out these modern takes on a classic style.

September 29, 2021 By Park and Oak

0 In Room Reveals

Reveal: 1912 Winnetka Refresh

Historic homes have such great bones.

Our clients recently purchased this beautiful Georgian circa 1912, and because the home was so well-built and designed (in fact, by the same architect who designed the village’s city hall), no major renovations were necessary. Instead, we delighted in breathing new life into the gathering spaces of the home.

Three of those spaces–the breakfast nook, cocktail room and dining room–surround an exterior courtyard, bringing beautiful light into the home and providing ample opportunities for guests to wander in and out through multiple spaces during get togethers.

In the cocktail room–quickly becoming a Park & Oak signature–the abundant light allowed us to choose a mid-tone color for the walls, ceiling and trim, making the room cozy for conversation and libations without being gloomy. As a guest walks through the home, this little jewel box beckons from the back. The room is full of art and objects curated by the owner, an avid antique and vintage collector, and these personal touches help the room feel intentional for this family.

Our clients frequently entertain large groups, so the dining room includes an expandable table to seat extra guests. The Morris & Co. wallpaper gives a touch of elegance to the room, while the layering of natural and upholstered material for the chairs keeps the room from feeling too formal for this unfussy family.

The breakfast nook is a hub of activity. To maximize comfort in this much-used space, we added an upholstered piece for lingering. (Performance fabrics work miracles for families!) The softness of the sofa pairs with the stone table and woven chairs for a space that has just the right balance of polish and practicality. Because this nook is offset by a cased opening, the dark ceiling helps delineate the space from the kitchen while also drawing special attention to it.

And finally, the family room includes a hanging gallery wall, intentionally designed so our client can rotate their art collection without the nuisance of holes in the wall.

September 28, 2021 By Park and Oak

25 In Room Reveals

Elmhurst Farmhouse Kitchen Reveal

There is something magical about finishing a home. It’s when you and your client, stop, stare, and say, wow okay, we did it! Experiences like that always touch your heart and remind you that with a collective vision and hard work, you can make life as beautiful as you want it to be, inside and out. Seeing clients experience this kind of joy is the most rewarding part of our job.

This kitchen is part of a new build. There was literally a pile of dirt before there was this farmhouse style kitchen! In the space we wanted to do something a little different and decided to face the upper cabinets with wire mesh instead of clear glass. It adds a textured shimmer that is glamorous yet understated.

Similarly, we mixed and matched cabinet countertop materials. There is honed marble around the perimeter and a gorgeous dark walnut on the island. If you didn’t get a chance to see our post about countertops last week, you can see it here. It has a information about different countertop materials with a list of our top choices. We absolutely love wood countertops and even have them in our own homes!

The palette we used for this kitchen design is a mix of black, white, silver, glazed pottery, and marble. While there isn’t much color, it doesn’t feel plain at all. The secret lies in the texture. Texture is neutral’s flare. It creates movement and interest everywhere you look. To add drama, we added large black pendant lights with a copper finish. These fixtures are classic farmhouse style but have an edge with their exposed wiring.

Last but not least, accessories. Accessories really help warm this space up. We find the aesthetic beauty of space just as important as creating a feeling of comfort. We always want to evoke of sense of lived vs don’t touch that. And let’s face it, kitchens have the best accessory options. Olive wood vases, bowls and spoons, ceramic canisters and glass jars, baskets, cutting boards and cookbooks.

To help you get the look, we pulled a few of our favorite inspiration images and a round up of kitchen accessories. Hope you like them!

one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine / ten / eleven / twelve

July 19, 2018 By Renee DiSanto

0 In Research

Countertops

When designing a kitchen one of the toughest decisions a client will have to make is which countertop material they would like to use. Often times it creates a sense of uneasiness that we can definitely understand. Countertops are permanent. Once you pick a slab, cut it, and glue it to the cabinets, that’s pretty much it. You can always have your cabinets repainted and your hardware swapped out, but the countertops will need to remain in place unless you plan on ripping everything out and starting all over again. Of course plastic would be more forgiving but anything heavy like a traditional stone countertop is challenging to replace without damaging cabinetry or backsplash.

Like many other design decision dilemmas, it’s usually a question of form vs function. The most beautiful materials have functional drawbacks and vice a versa. Things like material type, color, durability, and cost all come into play.

Marble is probably the most famous example of countertop jitters. Many clients love marble for it’s timeless elegance and light grey veining. Usually it’s their number one choice…until they start reading about it in online forums. Questions like, will they be okay with etching, scratching, having to wipe up spills quickly, and re-sealing start to arise. This is where the soul-searching comes in. Will scratches and etches drive you bananas or will you see them as part of the charm? Everyone has a unique perspective.

Bottom line, it’s good to take your time making a decision like this. You want to be comfortable and happy in your kitchen. Our take, if you love it, sometimes you have throw caution to the wind. The Taj Mahal is clad in marble, has been around for 370 years, and still looks great.

To help, we created a list of our go to light and dark countertop materials with pros and cons to consider. We find that these options accomplish both form and function well. We also included inspiration images so you can see how each surface looks in real life and a board for quick reference.

Marble

We use marble in many of our designs. Marble is clean, bright, and elegant. Colors range from mellow white, to gold, and dark grey. Since marble is a soft and porous material it’s prone to etching and scratching. Acidic foods will strip the surface if you are not careful. Or you can be like Meg Ryan. A design urban legend says she poured tomato sauce all over her marble countertops day 1 just to get it over with! Rare types of marble can be costly but Carrera marble is affordable and always readily available. You can have it honed or polished. We usually recommend honed to clients for the matte finish. It hides nicks and scratches better. Either way, we’ve never seen a marble countertop we did not love.

Quartz

Quartz is made from one of the hardest minerals on Earth and is arguably one of the most durable kitchen countertop materials there is. Unlike marble, which is mined, this material is engineered in a factory. Because of that, you can find it in a wide variety of colors, everything from white to red. They even make natural stone look-a-likes with sparkles and grey veining. Quartz is low maintenance (doesn’t even need to be sealed) and designer friendly coming in very large slab sizes. It’s rare but sometimes slab size can be an issue with mined stones depending on how much surface area you need to cover. There are not many drawbacks to report on Quartz other than it can be a bit more expensive and cannot take extreme heat or outdoor use.

Quartzite

If you like the look of marble, but are worried about patina, quartzite is an excellent choice. Quartzite is a natural stone that looks just like marble without the maintenance. It comes in whites and greys and shades in between. Fine by us! We love those tones. Quartzite can be nicked and scratched, not as easily as marble, but won’t etch. So while it will need to be resealed annually, at least you don’t have to worry about squeezing a lemon over it. Since Quartzite is such a strong and versatile natural stone it can be on the pricey side, but it offers peace of mind.

Soapstone

We love soapstone, this is an excellent dark countertop choice. It’s practically black with pretty white and grey veining. Some slabs can come in a deep green as well. Soapstone is used in science labs so we always recommend it from a durability perspective. The only drawback is that it’s a soft natural stone. If your knife slips, you’ll definitely give it a good scratch. We find it doesn’t tend to show much though. Soapstone is highly resistant to heat. It can take a pot directly off the stove without consequence. We also like soapstone for 2 toned countertop designs (eg, soapstone island with marble around the perimeter). Regular mineral oil is all that’s really needed for upkeep.

Honed Granite

Honed Virigina Mist granite is soapstone’s lovely cousin. It has almost an identical look without needing to mind sharp objects or treat with mineral oil. Granite in general is a very strong material and has been traditionally used in kitchens for a long time. It’s so strong that it can even be used as pavers outdoors. However, depending on the size of your counters and shape, you may get a few seams. Average slab size is around 9ft by 5ft. As far as granite goes, the honed Virginia Mist variety is our favorite. Granite will eventually need to be re-sealed at some point but not as frequently as it’s natural stone counterparts. It is also highly resistant to chemicals and budget friendly.

Wood

Butcher block is a another popular choice for kitchen countertops. We even use it in our own homes. It’s a warm and extremely quiet option. The sound of pots and pans hitting wood is so much nicer than stone. This benefit is not immediately obvious but it will not go unnoticed. Wood does come with other drawbacks though. It’s not heat or scratch resistant. The good news is, scratches can be sanded out, or left for character, but hot plates will always need to be used so you don’t end up with a giant burn mark. Spills and water may also warp the wood over time. Otherwise, wood is a gorgeous cost effective option. We would also recommend wood for 2 toned countertop designs.