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Park & Oak

0 In Updates

Park & Oak Collected Spring Launch

Is there anything better than the arrival of spring? Nevermind that it will likely snow here several times before consistently nice weather arrives. On a day that we hit 60° in Chicagoland, it feels only fitting that Park & Oak Collected launch its Spring Collection today.

We are giddy over the selections the Collected team has brought in for spring. Here are some previews of our favorite categories.


Florals

Of course, what is spring without flowers? You know we love a well-made faux botanical, and these are some of our favorites for spring.

via Park & Oak Collected


Wildlife

Can you resist a bunny or a bird at springtime? We cannot.

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Natural Fibers

Rattan, wicker, raffia. Natural fibers rule as we head into the spring (and eventually summer!) months.

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…and More

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0 In Q+A

Designer Q&A

We are excited (and a little nervous!) to be starting something new with the Designer Q&A. You’ve had so many excellent questions, and we thought it might be fun to to get together every so often to answer them in person. We’ve included a few here, but to see the full slate, check out our YouTube channel!

0 In Room Reveals

Reveal: Wheaton New Build

We’ll get to this dramatic back kitchen later in the post. First, let’s talk arches. Specifically, the jaw-dropping stone arch that is the centerpiece of this new build home. We came onto this project after the plans had been drawn up by the architect, Derrick Architecture, and right away noticed the exterior would feature some stone accents. We knew immediately that we would want to bring this natural element indoors, as well, and worked with our very talented builder, Muellner Construction, to choose a stone with enough variety of scale, texture and color to really give this room an echo of the outdoors. The stone wraps all the way around to the interior of the kitchen, so regardless of whether the family is relaxing by the fireplace, or getting ready for dinner, the stone arch greets them. The wood beams on the soaring ceiling also help bring warmth and a coziness to this large space.

via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak

With a kitchen open to the main living areas of the home, we needed to make sure there was a happy marriage between the spaces. Carrying the stone onto the kitchen side of the arch helps achieve this, and by using a variety of natural stains and finishes and neutral elements, the kitchen serves as a dramatic focal point beyond the show-stopping arch.

We especially love the soapstone backsplash that covers the length of the space behind the range and accompanying cabinets. Soapstone is porous, and will pick up character marks along the way. But, treating occasionally with mineral oil will help keep its beauty intact as it ages. We like the way this dark piece anchors the large kitchen.

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Two islands mean there is plenty of space for family and friends to gather during get togethers. The seating island — made of flat-cut white oak — is stained with a custom black stain. Stools on the kitchen side are backless to easily slide under the island when not in use. The woven leather adds a touch of texture to the kitchen. The sink island is constructed of rift-sawn oak in a custom stain chosen to coordinate with the floors and doors. Vintage art — one of our favorite accessories to add in a kitchen — helps add patina and originality to the new home. A brass Waterworks faucet and pot filler add a little flair.

via Park & Oak

What’s through those doors? On the left-hand side (besides our tripod 😉) is the mudroom and garage access, plus a craft room and powder room. Through the right-hand side door is a small office for one of the homeowners. All these rooms connect through a hallway near the garage access.

You can see the back kitchen peeking out in the photo below beyond the built-in refrigerator (full-size matching freezer is opposite, not pictured), so let’s talk about this high-drama space. (Side note: what’s the difference between a back kitchen and butler’s pantry? You’d probably get a slightly different definition from anyone you ask, but we define a back kitchen as a fully functional kitchen space. And boy, this one has it all!) Because everything in main areas of the home is light, bright and airy with lots of height and natural light, we wanted to insert a little mood into the nooks and crannies of the home. The entire space is painted in Benjamin Moore Racoon Fur, and is especially dramatic as you enter the space through a hall of built-ins displaying the owner’s collection of family heirlooms and handmade pottery. Because the owners wanted to keep the main kitchen open, with few walls, many of the appliances are housed here in the back kitchen, including ovens, extra dishwashers, and a microwave drawer. This space is also home to a coffee bar, mixer lift, refrigerator drawers, ice maker and steam oven. A library ladder makes reaching the upper cabinets a breeze. Zellige tile wrapped around the room adds a bit of lightness. Counters are the same leathered-finish aria stone marble as the main kitchen.


The main floor laundry has plenty of storage and practical touches, like the rolling hampers to make separating laundry easy. She’s a real looker, though, too, with the zellige tile backsplash, display shelves and beautiful cabinetry painted in Benjamin Moore Ranchwood.

via Park & Oak

Finally for today, the mudroom. We love designing rooms with special details for furry friends. The dogs come in and out of the yard via this mudroom, so it was important to think of them when planning the space. Built-in dog crates with custom made-to-fit dog beds lie behind mesh inserts, leaving plenty of air flow and allowing the homeowners to have occasional-use crates tucked away. A space for dog bowls is built-in to the island, with a marble backsplash to make cleanup easy. A vintage rug warms everything up.

via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak

There is so much more to this beautiful home that we hope to bring you sometime soon, so stay tuned!

0 In Round ups

Valentine’s Gifts

Let’s talk a little history first…

The origins of Valentine’s Day are shrouded in a bit of mystery. It was likely born of a combination of events throughout history, beginning with a bacchanalian Roman festival — complete with matchmaking — that occurred annually between February 13-15 in ancient Rome. Later, in different years but on the same day — February 14 — Roman Emperor Claudius II executed two men named Valentine. The Catholic Church would eventually recognize them with sainthood, and began celebrating St. Valentine’s Day on February 14 during 5th century. The Normans of the time celebrated a holiday around this same time each year called Galatin’s Day, meaning “lover of women.” It’s possible because the two words sound alike — Galatin, Valentine — that the meaning of the two days also become muddled into one.

Slowly, over time, the holiday took on more romantic overtones. Valentine greetings became common in the Middle Ages, and in 1375 the influential English poet Geoffrey Chaucer wrote about St. Valentine’s Day as a day of romance. Written valentines became more common, with Dukes and even King Henry V sending notes to their loves. Shakespeare romanticized Valentine’s Day in his plays. And so it went on until the American industrial revolution, when printing presses began churning out factory-made cards. Hallmark Cards joined the fun in 1913, and the rest, as they say, is history.


We love giving Valentine’s gifts. To our kids, friends, partners. It never hurts to have a little nudge to show the people in our lives how much they mean to us. We are especially excited for this year’s gift guide, as we have curated a selection of Valentine’s gifts at Collected (for women *and* men!) that can fit any recipient – from delicate pink champagne coupes to hand-carved heart-shaped bowls to gorgeous books to leather journals and everything in between. We hope you find something you like, and are inspired for giving to the ones you love.


Estelle colored glass coupes are always a favorite. And they come with a great story.


It wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without hearts.


And flowers! But make them last year-round.


Match pewter also has a storied history, and makes for a family heirloom that can be passed down through generations.


Maybe she’d like to browse some beautiful things.


Or settle into a warm bath.


Of course, Valentine’s Day should have jewelry, don’t you agree?



Don’t forget the boys!



via Park & Oak Collected



More for the Ladies


More for the Men

0 In Round ups

Collected Curates: Candles

Candles are a hot commodity this time of year. Is there anything more zen during cold weather than relaxing by the fireplace with a candle and your beverage of choice? We think not. At Collected, we’ve done our best to curate a thoughtful selection of luxurious candles with long burn times, premium ingredients and impossibly gorgeous scents. We have another criteria, though, that we apply to our candle selection: a backstory. Because in a saturated market like candles, knowing how your candle is made, where the ingredients came from and why the scent was chosen by the creator can make all the difference.

Today we’re profiling a few of our current favorites, but the selection in store and online is even greater, with more candle backstories to come!


Baobob

As much a decorative object as a candle, Baobob has been perfuming the indoors since the 2002. The mouth-blown glass vessels are true works of art, with special editions sometimes even incorporating precious metals or handcrafted leather. Because the company considers itself a perfumer, specialized “noses” scour the globe for essences and raw materials resulting in unparalleled scents. And the hand-poured wax goes through several phases of production to achieve the highest-quality burn. True beauties.


Bastide

Leave it to the French to create a candle that is effortlessly luxurious and beautiful. The word bastide itself even means “manor house,” a south of France mainstay of luxury and beauty. Bastide was recently acquired by a third generation family of scientists and formulators, serious about bringing captivating scents and Provence’s most natural ingredients to Bastide candles and beauty products. Each product line is overseen by a “Beautisan,” the term coined by Bastide to honor the French artisans who create them. In the case of Bastide candles, a team of these beautisans, including a dedicated “nose,” work together to bring these elegant candles to market. Scent inspiration in Provence is easy to come by, and Bastide candles evoke memories of lavender fields, sun-soaked afternoon walks or a lazy lunch. Each scent has its own wax blend designed to maximize that specific fragrance. And each candle is made from hand-blown bubble wax, resulting in a perfectly imperfect and unique vessel.


Homesick

Homesick pays homage to the essence of communities and captures the spirit of memory, all with a touch of whimsy. But they are not just slapping a label on a candle that smells good and calling it Chicago. No, for a location candle like Chicago, Homesick speaks to between dozens of residents, visits local favorites, pays attention to the scents of the food and the city itself, and then tests different scents with community members until they feel they have captured the essence of their city. This painstaking process means that if you own a homesick candle, you’ll likely be experiencing core scent memories from the comfort of your own home.


Lumira

Lumira candles were born from a love of travel and passion for design. Each artisanal Lumira scent is reminiscent of a specific spot on the globe – whether a countryside village, luxurious island resort, or bustling metropolis – again, evoking the important human connection to scent memories. The woman behind Lumira, Almira Armstrong, (three cheers for women-owned businesses!) is also passionate about sustainability, and so the brand is committed to environmentally conscious business practices and giving back to their community.


Looking for a scent or brand not featured here? Check Collected for more options!

0 In Inspiration

A Winter Palette

Spring is still a long way off in the Midwest, so we are doing as the Scandinavians do and embracing winter in all its beauty. Gettin’ hygge with it, if you will. (Actually, the correct pronunciation is “hoo-gah” but we could not resist the urge.) In essence, we are leaning into the cozy and warm in all things.

One way to dress up your home for winter and embrace the cozy is by incorporating a winter palette.

via Park & Oak Collected

This doesn’t mean re-painting (though you could do that…go crazy!). But we are thinking smaller scale. Take a look at your display items on bookshelves, coffee tables or in cases, and lean into winter whites, blues and greens. Here’s our team putting together some examples:


Pretty simple, right? Switch out pillows and throws and things really start to come together.


Now, light a candle. Or a fire. Or both! And enjoy the slowness of winter.

0 In Inspiration

Home after the Holidays

The holiday decorations have mostly disappeared back into their bins. Bye-bye tartan plaid pillows. See you later reindeer. Till next year Christmas tablescapes. But, anyone else find the emptiness left in the wake of the un-decorating to be a little bleak? To spruce things up, our team put together a wintery cocktail table for inspiration. And that got us thinking, how else can we continue to embrace winter in our homes? After all, here in the Midwest, we’ve got a lot of it left! Below, a few of our favorite tips for sprucing up your winter decorating after the last strand of garland has been tucked away.


1. Plants!

Just because the tree and garland are gone, doesn’t mean you have to forego the green again entirely. Visit your local plant shop (here in Chicago, we love our neighbors at Good Roots!), and bring home some green that lasts forever. A plant adds life to a room in a singular way. Even the teeny-tiniest plant can liven up a room that’s feeling a little naked after the holidays. Have a black thumb? At Collected we carry beautiful faux botanicals, from stems and branches to tabletop flower arrangements to large fiddle leafs. The construction and attention to detail on these is painstaking. You won’t be sorry.

You can go big…

…or small…

…or somewhere in between!


2. Accessorize

When we decorate for the holidays, we are basically accessorizing to the max. While you’d eventually grow accustomed to the pared-down version of your home after the holidays, there’s no reason you can’t still embrace the winter season through accessories. Incorporate lots of candles and be sure to light one with a winter scent. Bring some cozy texture to your throw pillows with boucle, velvet or chenille. Lean into winter whites and navy blues. Drape a fur or cashmere blanket over an armchair or sofa, or at the end of your bed. Change out your artwork or display books. This may also be a good time to switch up the patterns in your accessories; a change of pattern can make the whole room feel like new again. Little changes can make a big difference!


3. Light a Fire

Use that fireplace to create ambience in your home reminiscent of the inherent warmth and coziness of the holiday season. Add a basket with blankets near the fireplace so you can really settle in. Change up your mantle styling and coffee table to help things feel fresh. This is often the room where we spend our down time, so focus your attention here if you’re really wanting to amp up winter style after the holidays.

Sufficiently inspired for the refresh? Shop some of our favorite items for livening things up after the holidays in the gallery below.


Post-Holiday Decorating

0 In Inspiration

2023 Inspiration

This time of year there is such a treasure trove of inspiration as everyone starts goal-setting for the new year and all the information sources we follow (news, TV, movies, art, home, social) are full of interesting aesthetics and products to consider.

In light of that, we pulled together eight things we are inspired by going into 2023:

1. Bold Trims & Doors

We’ve been exploring trim treatment in recent projects, and love the way a room is completely transformed when the trim isn’t considered the stopping point for the paint (or stain).

via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak

2. Velvet & Upholstery

Regular followers know that we really love dark and moody here at Park & Oak. And one of the secrets for achieving the right balance? Carefully chosen upholstery. But even in a bright, light room, velvet upholstery feels so luxurious. We are on board with this!

via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak

3. Brass Accents

Brass really brings the drama sometimes, doesn’t it? But brass can also be understated, or just the right addition to a subtle, serene room to give it a little life and shine. Unlacquered brass also ages beautifully, and brings the patina and character that is the lifeblood of good design.

via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak

4. Hidden Details

Whether it’s a built-in stepstool or a camouflaged door, hidden details help make the design of a room feel seamless, while still bringing all the practicality needed for modern families.

via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak

5. Curves & Arches

Oh curves and arches, how we love thee. Of course, curves and arches are not new in the design world, but we are seeing more and more of them, and have been incorporating them into our new build work frequently. We love the way a curve brings unexpected beauty to small spaces, and great big drama to larger ones.

via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak

6. 70’s Vibes

There is so much inspiration to draw from the different decades and of course the 70’s are no exception. You’re not likely to see us going full-fledged postmodern anytime soon, but we will always love the bold florals and beautiful, large stone associated with the 70’s.

via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak

7. Natural Elements

Bringing nature indoors can mean so many things, whether it’s a bamboo ceiling, rattan chairs, a vase of florals, or a stone arch. All of these elements help connect us more to the outdoors, even when we’re enjoying the comforts of being inside.

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via Park & Oak

8. Minimalism

Always in style.

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via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak
0 In Updates

The Year of the Bath

In 2022, Park & Oak designed nearly 20 bathrooms. If you need inspiration for a bathroom renovation, look no further!

0 In Updates

Kitchen Highlights of 2022

From kitchens with gorgeous original details to those built from the ground up, we did it all in 2022. Here are some highlights.

#POwheatonnewbuild

#POcarmelbythesea

#POlagrangehome

#POlelandlakefront

#POglenellynreno