Fort Worth’s Temple of Style — Park + Eighth Mixes Antiques, Mid-Century Gems and Art Treasures

When you walk into the new Park + Eighth showroom on Camp Bowie Boulevard in Fort Worth, one is immediately impressed by the collection of boutique vintage furnishings, original artwork and select antiques. To say that this is the desired effect is an understatement.

The combination that sits before you is the creation of none other than Christina Phillips, founder and owner of Park + Eighth.

Christina Phillips is a pistol. She has an air of confidence coupled with phenomenal taste, but she possesses a down-to-earth magnetism that makes being around her down right fun. She has a talent for effortlessly curating the multiple vignettes found in the new Camp Bowie location.

Antiques flow seamlessly with mid-century modern pieces, all paired with jaw-dropping art. Phillips feels that art often becomes the key to mixing the different genres together.

“As our Park Place location began to expand, I broadened my search for unique vintage décor and well established artists that would compliment our collection of local artists,” she tells PaperCity Fort Worth. “I wanted to bring something unique to the Fort Worth market and that meant sourcing inventory beyond the Texas borders.”

Phillips’ career took off almost immediately after she graduated from Texas Christian University with a degree in Interior Design in the 1990s. She jumped into the Fort Worth world of design head first with many local projects as well as several in other states.

On the weekends, Phillips frequented estate sales searching for hidden gems. A hobby that would end with four storage units full of vintage finds and the need for a store front.

As luck would have it, the original space on Park Place Avenue became available and Phillips opened in late 2016. Thus, began Fort Worth’s love affair with Park + Eighth.

It wasn’t long before the Phillips family began to see a need for a larger space and a little over a year ago, they decided to make the move to Camp Bowie. A well planned debut fell on Fall Gallery Night in early September. Have no fear, the original location of Park + Eighth will soon become a high end consignment store (something Fort Worth desperately needs) meets furniture store for the DIY crowd, and will also feature emerging artists at friendlier price points than the marquee Camp Bowie location.

“I buy what I like and luckily it all seems to go well together,” Phillips laughs. “It’s all about a gut feeling when I’m arranging spaces. I love helping people mix vintage and mid century pieces in with their existing furniture, no need to throw the baby out with the bath water. It’s about collecting things you love that tell a story.”

After all, what truly sets Park + Eighth apart is that it is owned and operated by a designer, a skill that comes naturally to Phillips.

She’s positively giddy telling me about mixing elements, especially her two favorites — lucite and brass — into otherwise tired spaces.

“When you add lucite and brass to any existing decor, it immediately elevates the space and makes it more current, modern and glamorous. Those two materials have made refreshing a space relatively easy,” Phillips says.

“Nothing really goes out of style for very long. It all comes back around. We are in a design era of Anything Goes, so don’t be afraid to incorporate multiple styles.

“It’s cool… and current.”

Phillips believes that right now we are seeing a continued resurgence in mid-century style and Asian-inspired decor because that is the antique of this generation. Her exuberance for her work is contagious.

“I never take a break from this,” she says. “I don’t know how to turn it off. I’m always looking for good decor and constantly thinking about it. Lucky for me, I have a very supportive husband and family. They are all on this roller coaster with me, and luckily I think they finally see the vision for my retail decor concept.”

If Phillips’ track record is any indication, the new location of Park + Eighth will be another resounding success. With treasures all around.