Designer Jake Arnold is no stranger to a Crate & Barrel collaboration. First, he designed his dream sofa (and 49 other pieces), and now he’s back with two new collections for the brand. One tackles outdoor living, his first in this particular category. “For me, especially living in California, outdoor furniture is such a huge part of design,” he says. “But it seems to be a huge challenge because we always end up making a lot of custom pieces. What excited me [about this collection] was bringing the inside out.” This assortment has no shortage of curvy silhouettes and refreshing material combinations (hello, wicker and metal pitcher!).
But that’s not it—Arnold also created a curation of furniture for Crate & Kids, spanning beds, linens, storage solutions, and accessories. The overall vibe skews nautical, paired with soft pastels and cozy fabrics. “With kids’ spaces, it’s so easy to go theme-y,” Arnold shares. “I find I always look to nature, and the seaside, particularly. There’s so many motifs and playful, whimsical concepts.”
Ahead, in his own words, he reveals a few of his favorite moments, from a particularly eye-catching outdoor cushion to a vintage-inspired dresser.
The Dainty Poolside Seating
I lived in this incredible building in West Hollywood called The Colonial House. Around the pool, there were architectural details that were Old Hollywood glam, sort of whimsical regency. The [furniture] was very much white piping and sage green. I’ve always remembered that, and so that’s why I wanted to take a risk and stay away from black metal.
The On-Theme Weatherproof Pillow
I had a verdure tapestry hanging on the walls of one of my old apartments that had these browns in it. I was like, Okay, this feels like a perfect way for me to bring that refinement of an interior space outside.
The Double-Duty Umbrella
Crate & Barrel
The Cobden 9′ Round Outdoor Umbrella with Felix Wicker Base Side Table by Jake Arnold
$1,798
I am a serial beverage person. I’ll have three beverages [with me], no matter what. And I’m always like, where do I put these? Plus, when I’m designing a pool space for a client, I don’t love the look of a chaise and an umbrella and a side table. There’s a lot happening. So, we created an oversized umbrella with a wicker base. It almost creates this feeling of being in a cabana.
The Not-Just-Teak Table
Crate & Barrel
The Townsend 85.5″ Wood and Stone Outdoor Dining Table by Jake Arnold
$3,999
I learned that a lot of outdoor teak tables are slatted to allow water to flow through them. But I don’t really love the look of slats, so the solution was to do this gorgeous limestone top. I integrated an ogee edge so it didn’t feel too contemporary. No matter what chair you put with it, it’ll look great.
The Secret Storage Bed
I didn’t realize how much every little inch of storage is so appreciated by people, and with kids’ spaces especially. We have drawers on this bed, and what’s great is they’re on casters, meaning that you can decide which side you place them on.
The Dresser That Only Looks Antique
There’s so much waste with kids. I always have my clients invest in certain pieces, like dressers, nightstands, and even bed frames that they can reuse or recover in the future. Knowing this piece could either be a changing table or storage in a guest room one day, I wanted it to have that heirloom quality.
The Lighting Minimalists and Maximalists Will Love
I think there’s a lot of people out there who steer clear of color because they’re a little scared to commit. And then there’s those who want to take risks. The lighting was an easy way to have those little nods—a contrast piping and a tassel—without it being too overwhelming.
