Independent Oak Park shop CarefulPeach Boutique was recently announced as the first-place winner of Traditional Home and Juliska’s nationwide “European Affair” contest for their Bastille Day 2012 celebration, Jour de Fête, the shop’s largest and most successful event to date. This year’s innovative contest asked retailers to design and execute a European living-inspired event based on the timeless beauty of Juliska’s new Country Estate dinner and serveware collection. The now award-winning party, which took place on July 14, 2012 in Downtown Oak Park, Illinois, incorporated live music, gourmet treats created by two of Chicago’s top chefs, costumed staff, goodie bags, and a $500+ value raffle prize, among other delights.
Owner Karen Morava and staff were influenced by the beauty of the shop’s signature tableware line, Juliska, and their new Country Estate Collection for the look and feel of the 1920s-inspired Jour de Fête. The Peach was transformed inside and out into a lush Jazz Age European garden party, with guests enjoying an exclusive meal prepared for the fête by Chef Didier Durand of Chicago’s Cyrano’s Restaurants and Chef Sandra Suria, the director of the American Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival and private chef catering to celebrities. A portion of the proceeds of the exclusive Luxury Dining Tent and raffle went to the Children’s Clinic of the Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society. “It was a complete team effort,” says Morava, “from our wonderful neighbors and friends helping out in so many ways to my talented and creative staff who made this all happen and the gracious guests who made all our hard work worthwhile. We’re truly just beyond thrilled and honored to have won.” Ms. Morava and her husband, Peach co-owner Peter Morava, will be treated to a 4-day trip to Prague and a visit to the Juliska glass-blowing factory, and CarefulPeach Boutique will be featured in the November/December issue of Traditional Home. The runner-up, Morning Star Florists of Centerville, Ohio, will receive $1000 worth of Juliska merchandise.
