Down a quiet, tree-lined street in Clayton’s Brentmoor Park sits the home of Dr. T.S. and Meeaeng Park. A 1911 turn-of-the-century beauty, it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Inside, the Parks have created an elegant, soothing oasis that incorporates decor hinting at the couple’s Korean roots.
T&S | How long have you and Dr. Park lived in the home?
MP | My husband bought this house in 1990, and I moved in 10 years ago. He fell in love with it and its ‘wow’ effect immediately.
T&S | How would you describe your decorating style?
MP | My husband loves floral patterns, but I like more muted tones, so we’ve had to compromise. Design-wise, we try to keep it in the spirit of the house’s history.
T&S | Have you renovated or updated much?
MP | It’s pretty much all original. Because it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places, we’re not really supposed to renovate, especially the exterior. Even the kitchen is almost entirely original.
T&S | What is your favorite room?
MP | The butler’s pantry. It holds a lot of dishes. I really love entertaining, and I love to cook. So instead of jewelery, I get dishes.
T&S | So you entertain a lot?
MP | Yes, we use the dining room often, but the house overall is great for entertaining. Now that we are empty nesters, we thought about moving to a smaller space, but because of my husband’s career as a pediatric neurosurgeon, we still entertain a lot, as much as five or six times a month. We might have parties for 150 people, or just for five or six if it’s a more intimate business dinner.
T&S | Where do you get design inspiration?
MP | I like to honor the history of the house. And personally, I’m drawn to classic pieces that are traditional and timeless. And when I say ‘classic,’ I don’t mean something my grandmother would have. I like a fresh look; I try to bring fresh and transitional elements to my traditional home. Since both my husband and I are from Korea, we like to bring our culture into our home, too.
T&S | What are some examples of Korean touches or decorations you’ve incorporated?
MP | Little things here and there. We have a mother-of-pearl chest in the dining room that’s from my mother-in-law. The round table in the dining room is Korean style, and we have these chests placed around the house that are Korean. They’re beautiful.
T&S | Are there other meaningful decorations or art around the house?
MP | My friend wrote a poem about me and my husband, which I had framed.We were given it as a Christmas gift—it’s very meaningful to me. A lot of my husband’s patients are from out of the country, and they sometimes give us artwork they’ve made.
T&S | Is there a particular designer or store you turn to for furnishings?
MP | I have specific ideas, and a clear vision of what I like, but I don’t know where to look, so my designer, Maria DeGange, helps me. Again, I always look for traditional, timeless pieces. It’s hard to describe, but I know it when I see it.
T&S | The landscaping is beautiful! Was there a certain look you were trying to recreate
in the yard?
MP | The previous owner was a big gardener, and the home was featured in some gardening magazine, but I’m not a gardener at all. So we have a gardener to do this for us. I just like a bit of a formal look, like old boxwood gardens.
Photos: Suzy Gorman
