Careful Peach Takes First in Picnic Design

Karen Morava thinks it’s possible that s late entry into a picnic design competition, and the lack of time she had to worry or change her mind, led to a first-place win in the contest.

She said she took Ravinia’s DIY Ultimate Picnic Competition, which took place July 10 in Highland Park and was judged by HGTV’s Monica Pedersen, as sort of a “runway show.” The contest was open to the Chicagoland area and included 50 total participants.

The picnic may have been “a little more over the top than usual, but I tried to stay true to the contest,” said Morava, who owns the boutique at 1024 North Blvd.

Another goal, she said, was to aim for someone to "legitimately recreate this type of picnic without much hassle."

Along the same lines, Careful Peach contestants were a bit shocked when they discovered they were the only entry that didn’t have actual chairs for their picnic — Morava designed thick cushions using some fabric from the store.

“When I think of a picnic, I think of dining in the grass,” she said.

While she said some inspiration came from Manet's "Le Dejeuner sur L'Herbe,” mostly she wanted to have a “pleasant outdoor dining experience, which is what a picnic should be.”

After employees found out about the competition, Morava said she immediately knew what would make up the base of the design: a painter’s canvas she already had in the store.

She also made the food for the picnic, including a watermelon, feta and basil salad, and macaroons they brought from . Fresh flowers were provided by D. Michael Floral Designs.

Everything was color coordinated, including the outfits the group wore during the competition. Many remarked that Careful Peach’s setup looked straight out of The Great Gatsby.

Careful Peach employee Sarah Plovanich said it may have also helped that their group seemed to enjoy their own setup so much.

“The judges said, ‘I wish I could just hang out with you guys,’” she said.

Careful Peach has been open in Oak Park for more than six years, but moved to the North Boulevard location 14 months ago. The store sells unbreakable Melamine dishes and glassware, as well as European-style luxury items.

“I saw other setups that were charming and cute,” Morvana said, “so I’m thrilled. I’m thinking about next year already."