form & function with park studio interior design

form & function with park studio interior design

For their family’s first Los Angeles home, Ben and Jolene Kraus merged a love of design with the needs of their budding brood.

The Krauses scored several of the pieces in their living room—including the pair of swivel chairs and retro sofa that Jolene reupholstered—on Craigslist.

Big Picture Just over a year ago, after getting the news that their firstborn was on the way, Jolene and Ben Kraus knew it was time to get a grown-up house to match their growing family. Having also recently launched their own lighting and interior design company, Park Studio, the busy pair was thrilled to find a two-story, English cottage–style spread big enough to hold the soon-to-be clan of three. The next step was filling the space with babyproof furnishings that wouldn’t compromise their design-forward aesthetic: wool rugs, lacquered tables, and even a leather-clad Eames chair. “We wanted to create a home that was comfortable but with a designer edge,” Jolene explains. “So I made sure to dress timeless pieces with durable—and cleanable—materials.”

Jolene Kraus and her husband, Ben, at home in Oxford Square.

Jolene carved out a small reading nook in the master bedroom using a sleek walnut chair and a space-savvy hanging lamp. Latimer Shaggy Ivory Blue Petaluma

A Tate Gallery print purchased at a flea market perches on a vintage chest of drawers found on Etsy. A woven textile decorates the sleek bar area.

Home-Grown In addition to using several light fixtures and accessories from their Park Studio line, the Krauses took care to speckle the abode with pieces they salvaged at local flea markets, secondhand stores, and estate sales. Furnishings such as the lounge chairs in the living room, bedside tables, and their beloved bar cart were all sourced nearby and brought back to life with new upholstery or fresh coats of paint. The innovative couple also made a point of crafting their own artwork to decorate the space—most of which they made together during one of their many weekend dates—including framed textiles, hand-painted pictures, and even portraits sketched from chalk. “Every piece tells a story,” Jolene says. “Whether about the time we spent making the piece or the neighborhood place we found it in—each has a history.”

A vintage headboard re-covered in rusty orange linen adds an earthy, organic touch to the master bedroom. FABRIC (headboard) Warsa in mustard, $10.85/yard, mcssl.com DUVET COVER vintage linen $292 matteohome.com BLANKET Angela $200 carolinezhurley.com SIDE TABLES by HouseCandyLA, vintage $150/pair, etsy.com PAINT (side tables) Studio Green (No. 93) $8/sample pot, us.farrow-ball.com

Original article and pictures take domino.com site