Even though most of us are still fully entrenched in Christmas and Hanukkah, we mustn’t forget that New Years Eve is also only a few short days away. And one of our best tips for a successful NYE party? A well-stocked, thoughtfully-placed bar cart.
Some of you may already have dedicated bar space in your homes, whether it’s a full-fledged knockout, like this one…
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…or tucked into the architecture of your home, like this one.
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But the thing about a party is that the bar can get a little crowded, so having multiple spots where guests can refill a drink, or gather for conversation, can help spread your friends and family around your home. Plus, don’t we all have a room we wish people would mingle in, while they instead stubbornly refuse to leave the kitchen? We promise if you stock a bar cart in that room — and add some tasty apps and cookies — the guests will come a-running.
Here are a few of our bar-cart-ready (or bar-tray-ready) rooms for inspiration…
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Ready to set up that bar cart or tray? Our tips for bookshelf and table styling apply here, too, because there is no reason your bar cart can’t also be a feast for the eyes: think in layers, incorporate multiple points of interest, and don’t be afraid to mix styles. A bar cart is a smaller space to work with than a dining table or set of bookshelves, but these are still good rules of thumb. We set up this bar cart as part of a recent client’s home refresh: you see we have the basics — glassware, a few favorite liquors and mixers — and then we’ve added details like a lamp, plant and ginger jar (could do double-duty as an ice bucket!) to make it homey. Set it below a favorite piece of art and voilà…sit back and relax while your guests flock to it.
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Here are a few of our favorite bar cart accessories from Collected…
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.
If you decorate for the holidays, you probably start with the big three: tree, mantle, staircase. There is likely a lot of greenery involved. But once the tree is up and the garland is hung, how do you create a good, cozy holiday mood?
Start by turning down those overhead lights, and adding lots of ambient light, via candles, lamps and, you guessed it, string lights. We start with lots of candles *and* candlesticks. As soon as you dim the lights and light candles, you’re sending a message that it’s time to relax. In particular, there is something about brass candlesticks that instantly brings all the curl-up-by-candlelight vibes.
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Get assertive with accessories. Look for holiday accessories made of mercury glass or natural fibers. The patina on mercury glass lends so much character, and, as an added bonus, bounces all that candlelight around beautifully. Rattan trees add warmth. Brass and other metals bring holiday glow.
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Last, but not least, add blankets, stockings and pillows for the ultimate cozy holiday setup.
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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.
Whether you’re Team Real or Team Faux, putting up a tree is often the signal to family, friends (to yourself, even!)…it’s time. It’s the holiday season…cue Mariah.
For those of you who opt for real trees, you may be cutting that beauty down soon, or at the very least, making a stop at your favorite local tree supplier. The rest of us are digging through a year’s worth of storage to locate our fine, faux varietal. If you haven’t checked out faux trees lately, you are missing out. Many look strikingly real, and with the cost of cut trees skyrocketing, a faux tree will justify its price tag in only a few years. Many come pre-lit, too, which also saves the age-old headache of National Lampoon’s style light-wrangling.
Then it’s time for the fun part. At Collected, we were downright giddy over curating a selection of tree-trimmers to make any holiday heart happy. Mix and match plaid with mercury glass, add a touch of wood beaded garland, and maybe a spray of holly. Get whimsical with little bears or snowmen. If you stick with one color palette, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Make sure to place those larger ornaments first…they work well to fill in any bare spots on your tree, and if you nestle them on the inside, they give depth to the whole arrangement. Then gild the lily: switch out plain twine hangers for velvet ribbon. Add pine cones. Bells. Feathers. Let your inner maximalist stretch a bit.
Don’t forget under the tree! A fur tree skirt immediately brings all the cozy feels. Add some rattan trees nearby. A few reindeer. A basket of blankets. No reason to wait for Christmas Eve for under the tree goodies.
