park & oak collected – Page 4 – Park and Oak Interior Design

0 In Updates

Feeling Thankful

It feels like the holiday hustle and bustle starts earlier each year, doesn’t it? Ornaments in checkout lanes in August. Full-fledged holiday mayhem at the big box stores by early-October. It makes us more grateful than ever to have this one day, every year, to pause for a moment and really reflect on all that we have to be thankful for. And we are thankful for so much.

As always, we are humbled by the unwavering support of our friends and families who stand by us through good and bad. This year came with some particular challenges, and we needed those strong shoulders to lean on.

Our team continues to grow exponentially, and this year we asked more of them than ever as we launched our new retail business, Park & Oak Collected. Unsurprisingly, they rose to the challenge. Their ability to meet setbacks head on, with grace and good humor is unmatched. They are the soul of Park & Oak and we thank our lucky stars for them constantly. Below we’ve included some of the things they are grateful for, and let’s be honest, couldn’t we all use a little more coffee sometimes?

Finally, we are so grateful for all of you…the trust you place in us to make your dreams of home come to life takes courage. We hold that trust dear and are mindful that you make all of this possible.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, and happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Chris & Renee

I am thankful for the fire hoops that have challenged me and provided an opportunity for reflection and growth. For a team that feels like family. Friends that are my tribe, and a family that is my rock.

Target. Technology. Cozy weather. And of course, good health, family and friends.

I’m grateful to have incredible friends and family in my life, and although my circle is small, the love within it is enormous and genuine. I’m also lucky to spend my days at “work” surrounded by inspiration, collaboration, friendship and most importantly, laughter!

Holiday-scented candles.

TIKTOK. Not only for the delicious recipes I have found, cleaning hacks, and DIY home projects, but also for the countless minutes of hilarious content in between stressful moments.

Coffee.

All the cozy feels with holidays lights and decorations going up everywhere.

This year, I am thankful for the health of my family and the wonderful and wildly talented team I get to work with every day.

I am thankful my entire family lives close by.

Spa weekends with my sister. And spa treatments…period.

I am thankful for all of the inspiring and talented women I am lucky enough to work with everyday! I am thankful to be a part of something so rewarding and thrilling. I am thankful for a healthy family, a warm home in the winter, reliable transportation, and all of the memories I’ve made this year.

A good night’s sleep.

Thankful for a healthy family and time off for the holidays.

I’m grateful to be surrounded by insanely talented people everyday, for getting to do what I love, health, and friends/family.

More coffee.

Seat warmers.

November 24, 2022 By Park and Oak

0 In Q+A

Designer Q&A

This new feature is such fun. As with last month, we picked out a few of your questions from IG stories to answer here on the blog, and we’ll add some to Instagram as well — stay tuned for more “Ask the Designer” next month!

Sure! Ceiling heights and scale of the light will come into play. It’s best to have any lighting that someone will walk underneath a minimum of 7’ above the floor (there are some additional rules for very height ceilings). Some of our favorites pictured below!

-Vanessa

You can definitely add darker pieces to an already airy space. We always like a pop of darkness in a room to offer contrast and a place for your eye to go. Creamy white walls, light drapery, and layering in texture and pattern through with colors will help balance the palette and create an inviting space.

-Erica

For narrow staircases, avoid artwork that could get bumped and fall. Play up the texture and subtle details and incorporate wall moulding details, like a chair rail with wainscoting and an integrated handrail. Add a wool stair runner to wood stairs. You can also add shallow depth sconces (4” to 6″ overall projection) at the base and the top of the staircase to create more interest and drama.

– Joanna

YES!!! Velvet—love. Brown—love!

-Vanessa

Some quick fixes to warm up the cool tones of a home would be to swap out light fixtures to a warm brass metal. Incorporate some warm wood furniture pieces and create softness by layering accessories such as vintage rugs, textured and warm toned pillows, throws and artwork. Bring in more ambient lighting with table and floor lamps and change bulbs to 2700k for a warmer glow. (Learn more about color temps in our recent post on the topic.)

-Joanna

We love the use of frame TVs! This allows for the space to become very versatile. It looks beautiful when not in use and becomes a finished piece. If space allows, we will also add a picture light to give the look of real artwork. Frame TVs also offer the ability to display your own family photos, which is such a treat!

-Emma

We think it makes such an impact to do so.

-Vanessa

Mix! Representing a variety of eras can work beautifully as long as you consider the overall effect as you add color, texture and pattern.

-Joanna

There are many combinations to consider from a variety of patterns, scale, color and texture. If all the rugs are patterned, it can be overwhelming. Try incorporating a vintage patterned rug with a coordinating textural/solid rug, like a sisal or a wool loop pile with a subtle pattern. A traditional rug can balance nicely with something abstract. A rug with a large scale pattern can work well with a small scale, or subtle pattern. It’s all about finding the right mix to create interest and balance!

-Joanna

We love to combine a mixture of patterns when it comes to pillows, bedding, and other aspects of the home.

Try to offer a variety in the space. You can start with a small pattern, a large scale pattern, and a solid texture in between to break it up. Keep a color theme in mind.

Here is an example of a navy theme pillow scheme. A small scale patterened lumbar pillow, a dark solid euro pillow behind, and large scale stripe bedding.

-Susie

November 8, 2022 By Park and Oak

0 In Inspiration

The Thanksgiving Table

At Park & Oak, our goal in designing homes is to create a warm and inviting atmosphere, where the details tell a story. And, there is perhaps no better holiday to embody this ethos than Thanksgiving. Christmas and other winter holidays are typically full of hustle and bustle, parties, presents, tree-decorating, outings, Santa…often we are too busy to really soak in the intricacies of the holiday scenes that surround us. But Thanksgiving? Typically, that is really the time we can sit back, reflect, get cozy and count our blessings.

With Collected open for business, we can finally offer access to the pieces we love that can help you tell your story. In service of that, we’ve put together some different ideas for Thanksgiving tablescapes, and hopefully one will strike a chord, whether you want to lean into the romantic, the dramatic, or the classic.

Here are some key things to remember when setting a table for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

Layer, layer, layer: Think about color, texture, height. Try to have a mix of each. Combine a small, delicate cup and saucer with a tall wine goblet. Rather than purchasing a set that includes all the same tablecloth or runner, placements and napkins, mix and match a patterned runner with a solid napkin. Use a charger, dinner plate and salad plate. Layer in the napkin. Maybe add a napkin ring. Have a lot of brass on the table? Bring in some black or leather to balance out all that shine.
Incorporate multiple points of interest: Your table will, of course, have a placesetting for every guest, but beyond that is where you can really bring some magic. First, we start with florals: botanicals take a Thanksgiving table from good to great. In fact, we think this is the most important element after the placesetting. And…we often go faux. Here’s why. There is enough to prepare before a dinner party, and clean up after. And in the fall and winter seasons, the options for cut flowers can be limited. A well-made faux botanical can last a lifetime, and do double-duty once it’s time to turn our attention to holiday tables. At Collected, we carry a huge assortment of these beauties, for every style. Add a beautiful wine chiller and assorted candlesticks for additional points of interest.
Mix styles for maximum effect: Too much of one style can feel a little sterile, or even overdone. If you are using a masculine, leather charger, add a pretty fluted plate on top. Similarly, a frilly, scalloped charger might benefit from a dark-tone plate or napkin. Mix your metals! One of our signature styles — in home design and in table styling — is a combination of metals. If all your metal is brass (or silver, or black), you are missing an opportunity to add interest and different places for the eye to rest. Do not be afraid!

Scroll for ideas of how to incorporate these tips at your own table. Happy Thanksgiving!

The Traditionalist

The Free Spirit

The Drama Queen (or King)

The Romantic

November 4, 2022 By Park and Oak

0 In Updates

Park & Oak at Seven

The years are really flying by now. Owning a business feels in many ways like raising kids. Those early years…oh boy. A million small problems. Learning on the fly. No one sleeps. You eventually start to feel like you have a handle on things, but of course, that’s temporary. Growing comes with new challenges. Bigger problems. Sweeter rewards. Still very little sleep.

Astute followers of the Park & Oak blog know that something exciting has been afoot at Park & Oak over the last year. Some growing, indeed. A few months ago, after years of preparation, hard work, and yes, sleepless nights, we quietly launched one of our dream projects: Park & Oak Collected.

Collected is a brick and mortar and e-commerce manifestation of our goal in designing homes: to create a warm and inviting atmosphere, where the details tell a story. We believe everyone deserves to feel happy and comfortable in their homes, and with Collected, we can finally offer access to the pieces we’ve been carefully curating over many years to help you achieve that goal.

Phase one of the brick and mortar store is open for business in Glen Ellyn, with a large selection of home and kitchen decor, barware, dinnerware, small furnishings, curated gifts and lots of our favorite vintage finds, including many one-of-a-kind vintage rugs. Phase two, opening in 2023, will bring with it some exciting additions: a cocktail bar (as you know, we love a cocktail room), display kitchen cabinetry to help visualize your new kitchen, larger furnishings, and specialized services. Come visit us at 499 Pennsylvania Avenue to see what we’ve been up to.

The online store mirrors the brick and mortar, though many of our smaller curated vintage finds and gifts are only available in person. Online, you’ll find an expanded selection of lighting, mirrors, high-quality rugs and other larger items. We’ve done our best to make the online shopping experience pleasant and seamless, and feel as much like being in the store as possible.

We are, of course, also still busy with our first love, building and designing homes that provide a respite for busy lives. We’ve included a gallery below of the work we’ve done this past year. We are so proud of these projects, and feel very honored to have been trusted by these clients to bring their dreams of home to life.

As always, we remain extremely grateful to our team, our families and friends, and all of you for joining us on the journey to make Park & Oak a success. We really, truly could not do it without you. Here’s to year seven!

Cheers,

Chris & Renee

Enjoy a few photos from the community preview opening of Collected!

Projects from Year Six

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Glen Ellyn Kitchen

Glen Ellyn Study Refresh

Hinsdale Outdoor Oasis

Hinsdale Refresh

Historic LaGrange Reno, Part II

Historic Oak Park Reno

Leland Lakefront

Western Springs Refresh

November 2, 2022 By Park and Oak

0 In Round ups

Collected Curates: Pillows

Our team is not messing around when it comes to sourcing pillows.

Tiffany, our purchasing lead, makes a yearly summer sojourn to coastal New England. Is she just relaxing in the summer breeze while she is there? Nope. Last summer, she stumbled across one of our new favorite partners for pillows, a small company producing truly unique pieces, made from hand-blocked and mud printed textiles. Their fabrics carry all those coastal summer vibes, but because they produce them in year-round colorways, they are still look just at home during the fall and winter months. And, Collected is the only place in the Midwest you can find these!

We carry these hand-blocked prints with a whole array of new solid pillows in a variety of textures, like velvets, boucles, linens. We love mixing textures, which is just as important as having a variety of colors and patterns. Varied textures bring interest and a cozy, collected feel to a space. For example, using a larger linen or boucle pillow as the base on a bed or sofa, then layering in smaller pillows with pattern is a foolproof layering strategy. Velvet works too! And we are fans of mixing patterns as well, but when we do, we always incorporate either two different patterns (i.e., a stripe and a floral) or those with different pattern scales, for example, a larger floral print paired with a smaller, quieter pattern.

Hope these tips from our pillow experts are helpful as we enter the season of frequent decor changes!

Shop the Look

Inspiration

October 25, 2022 By Park and Oak

0 In Inspiration

Vintage Art

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
Pablo Picasso

Art is such an important element in helping a house become a home. At Park & Oak, we appreciate art in all its forms, but there is one type of wall art in particular that we turn to over and over: vintage art.

What qualifies as vintage? Firstly, it must be an original piece of art. The second qualifier — age — is a little more fluid. Some define vintage as over 20 years old, though others consider 50 years to be the right marker. We think anything in this range fits the bill. What is the difference between vintage and antique? Antique has a more rigid definition — must be over 100 years old!

When searching for vintage art for your own home, we have some tips for what to consider:

First and foremost, buy art that speaks to you. Sometimes, that’s as simple as the visual interest you have in a piece. But we also recommend looking for an artist’s signature, so you can do a little research on the artist, as well. Do they have a gallery? Or news stories written about them? Maybe a biography? Sometimes the life and body of work of an artist will resonate with you based on your own life experiences. If you have a personal connection to your art, it will hold a more meaningful place in your home.
Check to be sure you are buying an original piece and not a print. Reputable sellers will clearly distinguish prints from originals.
Physically, the frame is just as important as the art itself. If you are new to vintage hunting, you may be picturing only ornate, gilded frames, but vintage art comes in all different frame types to fit all different tastes (much like the art inside it!) Sometimes, we will even buy a piece for the frame alone and switch out the artwork.
Make sure the piece you choose fits into the scheme of your home. In a gallery wall, use similar colorways, or try to focus on one form: for example, a collection of nude sketches, in different mediums like watercolor, charcoal, etc.
Consider the age/condition of the painting. We love when a painting shows its age through cracklature and don’t mind discoloration in spots, but if you see a rip/tear or other markings, you may want to consider if the art can be salvaged or would work in your space.

However you approach it, vintage art brings soul to the wall and to extension, your home.

Inspiration

October 18, 2022 By Park and Oak

0 In Inspiration

Fall Porch

We love cruising our neighborhoods and seeing all the fall porch scenes coming together. The retailers may be busy reminding us that Christmas is coming, but we are going to take a minute to revel in autumn first.

It can be tempting to make the leap straight from summer to holiday, but then you’re missing out on one of the easiest, coziest outdoor updates. With a few pumpkins, some mums, and fall colors in your pillows and blankets – rust, evergreen, mulberry – a fall porch scene can come together quickly. There are so many beautiful October days left to be outdoors…grab your coffee, a blanket, and a book and soak it in.

Check out how we pulled this fall porch together:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Park & Oak Collected (@parkandoakcollected)

Inspiration

October 15, 2022 By Park and Oak

0 In Research

Choosing a Rug Size

Ah, the age old question: what size rug do I need for my bedroom/dining room/living room/kitchen/etc.?We know that this can be a pickle. Too big or too small both have the potential to feel unbalanced.

Below, we’ve provided some illustrations for common rug arrangements found in different types of rooms. What works in a family room may not necessarily be right in a bedroom. And what to do in entries and kitchens? We’ve got you. Read on.

Family Room & Cocktail Room

Dining Room

Entry

Bedroom

Kitchen

October 11, 2022 By Park and Oak

0 In Research

Exploring Rug Materials

If you keep up with the blog, you may have seen our post earlier this week where the design team took on questions from our Instagram followers. One question revolved around selection process, and what comes first…paint? Furnishings? There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but for us, the rug is often number one.

Why? Well, first off, a rug defines and anchors your space. Its placement is going to dictate where your furnishings go. In most rooms, it will see a lot of footfalls. And of everything in your home that is not nailed down, it is one of the most tedious elements to replace.

So, if a rug is your first selection, where and how to narrow down which rug? Today, we’re focused on materials. (Stay tuned later in the week for tips on sizing.) Rugs fall into two major material categories: natural fiber or synthetic.

Natural Fiber

In our book, natural fiber rugs rule. Wool. Sisal. Jute. These are the workhorses of the rug and carpet domains. Why? Natural fibers are inherently stain and static resistant, hypoallergenic, and provide maximum durability and longevity. Synthetic rugs are made to mimic the properties of these natural fibers — with varying degrees of success — so whenever possible, we say go with the original!

Wool

Wool is nearly always our top choice for a single rug. Nothing beats the strength and soft hand of 100% wool. A well-made wool rug will maintain its pile quality for years, and bounce back easily from furniture compression. Its durability in the face of heavy foot traffic is unmatched. Bonus points for being environmentally friendly!

Jute & Sisal

Jute and sisal are similar fibers, though come from different plant sources: jute from the jute plant (also where burlap and twine originate), sisal from the agave plant. Jute has a softer hand-feel than sisal, but is a bit less durable. Both are still excellent choices for heavily trafficked areas.

In particular, we like jute and sisal for layering…this is where you can get the most bang for your buck if you want the look and style of a vintage or antique Persian or Turkish rug, but without spending many thousands of dollars for one that is 9×12 or 10×14. Instead, buy a large jute or sisal rug — long-wearing, neutral-colored — and layer a smaller vintage rug atop it. This technique also means that over time, you can switch out the top rug — or even do a full furnishings overhaul — at a much lesser cost.

Synthetic

Synthetic rugs can be constructed of acrylic, nylon, polyester, and olefin (aka polypropylene) — all types of synthetic polymers (i.e., plastics). These materials are sometimes used in a blend with wool or cotton to improve the longevity or hand. When cost is a primary factor, synthetic rugs can be a good choice. Construction of these synthetics has improved over time to to mimic the look and feel of wool, though nothing compares to the original.

We like olefin (aka polypropylene) for outdoor rugs. What they lack in softness, they more than make up for in weather-resistance and durability.

Stay tuned later in the week for tips on how to determine the right rug size for your room!

Inspiration

October 6, 2022 By Park and Oak

0 In Q+A

Designer Q&A

You asked…we answered! We loved seeing all your questions come in through Instagram stories last week. We picked out a few to answer here on the blog, plus some on Instagram — stay tuned for more “Ask the Designer” next month!

Embrace the cozy element that an 8’ ceiling brings to a home but at the same time use some tricks to make the ceilings feel taller: bring your drapery and drapery hardware from the ceiling to just kissing the floor; bring cabinetry and built-ins to the ceiling; choose one color for the room (base, wall and crown), choose furniture that scales nicely in the space and isn’t too big and overpowering.

-Vanessa

There are certain tricks and careful consideration with scale of furniture. Mount your drapery rods close to the ceiling or crown so your panels are as long as possible, it helps create the illusion of greater height. Also opting for taller baseboards, like 7” is a subtle change that gives the sense of more height. Remove any soffits and anything built in should extend up to the ceiling, such as kitchen cabinets. In a small room, furniture should not be oversized, consider a sofa that is 34-36” deep, rather than 40-42”, and always be mindful that your flush mount light fixtures don’t drop too low.

–Joanna

The key to mixing light fixtures is focusing on different types of lights and making intentional changes.

Mixing metals is great, but keep them in the same warm tone. For instance, polished nickel with brass are two different metals, but both have a warm undertone.

Another tip is to mix fixture types. One can be shaded, while the other has an exposed bulb or globe. One can be a linear light, while the other is a pendant.

Mix dimensions and width for added layers of interest and your space will look timeless and collected.

PS: Stick to the same color temperature! Around Just under 4000 lumen will give you a natural and neutral warmth.

-Susie

It is best to approach this type of room by playing into the asymmetry. Designers like Darryl Carter aim for this style by keeping layout eclectic and creating separate, smaller vignettes of seating areas throughout the room. This design style is great at tricking the eye. You can also level out some of the asymmetry and achieve a balance by adding a tall bookcase beside an off center window and matching that height on the other side of the window with a taller floor lamp and wall art.

-Erica

It’s helpful to lay out a palette in front of you, in this case paint samples! We recommend seeing the paint color in different light throughout the day to help make a decision. A few of my favorites are Pale Oak by Benjamin Moore, Dead Salmon by Farrow & Ball, and Pewter Green by Sherwin Williams.

-Giselle

It depends on the space. Generally, start by looking where your cans would be placed in a room. In most cases, you can reference this and this is where you could place the mini flush mounts. Consider symmetry, and creating a leading line when placing these. Features in the room like windows, fireplaces can be another aspect you would plan their placement around.

-Emma

Absolutely not! With the way homes are designed and/or reconstructed today, clients oftentimes omit a formal dining room in leu of a Great Rooms, which are a combination of kitchen/dining/family rooms.

With this design change, people are often left with a kitchen size that is conducive to two islands.

Rather than incorporating two visually heavy islands within a space, we will typically designate the island closer to the perimeter wall as the ‘work horse’ island, which houses the main sink, dishwasher, trash roll out etc. while maximizing the storage capabilities.

This offers us the opportunity to design a second island to read more like a furniture piece while still complimenting the kitchen built-in design. This also provides our clients the ultimate counterspace for more casual gatherings as well as a sizeable dining table for more formal celebrations.

-Patricia

October 3, 2022 By Park and Oak

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