It’s snowing in Glen Ellyn, and Christmas is just a few days away, which leaves us feeling warm and happy. It’s been a busy year, and there is something about snow at Christmastime that is so magical, even if it forces a little bit of a slow down.
As we wrap up another year, we are feeling so grateful to all of you for supporting us and Park & Oak. We made a big leap this year into home retail (retail + the holiday season is no joke!), and you cheered us on from near and far, making this experience so special.
We are looking forward to a white Christmas with our families, and we hope you and your loved ones have the merriest of holidays.
Still needing some last minute gifts for a client or colleague? The thing we love about this category is that it can span so many different interests and hobbies. And we’ve got a little something for everyone…
It’s always our goal to help clients, friends and followers create a warm and inviting home atmosphere, where the details tell a story. And one of the benefits of working in our industry is exposure to unique, handcrafted products — products with a story — that are not readily available elsewhere. With Collected, we are so excited to finally have a forum to bring some of our favorites to you. Here are a few that also happen to be perfect for gifting this holiday season.
Vietri
Lee Gravely had dreamed of a trip to the Amalfi Coast ever since she clipped a photo from a feature in National Geographic magazine in the early 1970s. In 1983, with her two daughters, Frances and Susan, Lee finally got her opportunity. One of their first stops was the San Pietro Hotel in Positano, where they dined on the hotel’s colorful, handcrafted dinnerware. Completely taken by the natural patterns and evident craftsmanship, they spent the next day meeting the artisans and touring the factory in the town of Vietri sul Mare. Vietri dinnerware was born soon after, and has been a mainstay in handcrafted, artisan dinnerware ever since.
Vietri takes the same care today in their product line as those Italian artisans of 40 years ago. Their clays and glazes are still made from the soil of the Italian countryside. And the message behind them is simple: Slow down. Linger. Enjoy each other’s company over a meal.
Stephanie Summerson Hall spent summers in South Carolina antiquing, cooking and learning about life with her grandmother, Estelle. Estelle was passionate about fine antiques, and was especially proud of her colored glass collection, which she added to every year. These experiences with her grandmother were transformative, and were the backbone of Hall’s inspiration to launch Estelle Colored Glass in 2019. The collection is comprised of original commissioned pieces, whose colors are custom-formulated by Hall and then hand-blown by glass artisans in Poland. They are reminiscent of heirloom, vintage pieces, but with the refinement of modern glassware.
When David Reiss visited Florence in the early 1990’s while in the employ of a department store carrying pewter goods, he met the artisans of a family-owned pewter workshop that had been working with the material for generations. The pewter from this workshop was far more popular with the clientele of the store than any of the other pewter pieces offered. Though Reiss eventually left the store, the memory of those artisans remained with him, and he ultimately decided to pursue a business solely based on the pewter wares of Italian craftsman. Match Pewter was born in 1995.
All Match designs are rooted in classic European forms from the 14th through 19th centuries, and many are cast from molds made of original antiques. They remain handcrafted by Italian artisans, and are highly sought-after. Look for their distinctive markings: M95 — M, for Match, 95 for the year the company was founded and the percentage of pewter content of each Match piece.
There is something a little zen-like about setting a holiday table. The soft, familiar music, flickering candles (a must!), breaking out the fancy plates and glassware. It all just feels so comforting.
Here are some shots of holiday tables we’ve put together to help inspire you, and some of our favorite tablewares from Collected to help you put the finishing touches on your own holiday table.
We tried to think outside the box for our holiday gift collection for the man in your life. Because they’re not all fans of cocktails and golf, right? (But, some are. We’ve got you.)
Your brother, cousin, uncle, husband probably likes things that smell nice. But maybe they don’t know where to start. Help them out.
We’ll be featuring gift guides over the next few weeks for all the special people in your lives. First up, and just in time for Thanksgiving gatherings, The Host.
The shipping delays that have been plaguing our industry for the last year are impacting Santa’s sleighs now, as well. So, we are taking the advice the elves whispered in our ears, and we’re shopping early for our friends and family. Here are some of the things making it into our holiday shopping carts.
The modern, floral scent is bewitching, but looking at the gorgeous bottle is almost as good.
Did you or someone you know devour The Queen’s Gambit last year, and then subsequently take up chess? There are many things to love about the show, including bringing an elegant game — that looks good on display in your moody cocktail room — out of the mid-century Russian zeitgeist.
Do you know someone who spends this time of year wandering around their yard — like we are — snipping branches off everything in sight in search of the perfect foraged fall arrangement? No bush is safe! Guard your maples!
Once safely back indoors, your favorite accidental landscape architect will love having this beautiful kit on hand to make sense of their treasures.
Can’t you just picture curling up in this robe, in your favorite jammies, glass of wine in hand, and watching Love Actually for the 42nd time? Wait, this is a gift guide. Maybe this one should go on *your* wishlist.
