Today, we’d like to introduce you to Peter Oleck.
Hi Peter, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
My story is one of passion, intuition, and adventure. As a young boy, in my free time, I could be found exploring a small village in Europe or even the deepest jungles in Borneo. I have always been a free spirit driven by the beauty and authenticity found throughout the world. This driving force has always guided me, step by step, into a journey of design and inspiration. I always sketched and drew, and I created before I knew I had something to create.
My professional background stems from working at NELSON Architecture in Chicago, designing retail and high-profile corporate spaces throughout the magnificent city. Later, working at STANTEC in Miami as head of hospitality, designing projects like the Gale Hotel and various restaurants and hospitality projects in Miami. I would then start my first design firm, OS Design Group, doing ultra-luxury residences and small boutique projects.
This expertise would pave the way for the creation of Pietra Casa with renowned Designer Furkan Tan – to create something so special and fill an ultra-luxury niche market that I found was missing in the US market. We created a Combined Luxury Design Boutique/Interior + Architecture Design Firm in Coconut Grove.
We created a showroom bringing in the world’s highest quality, contemporary designed furniture and accessory brands under one roof, most of which rarely or never existed in the United States market previously.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road I travel is always unpaved and unexplored. I believe in making your own road and path and never following the path others have taken. As such, it’s always an adventure, and there are always struggles.
Each “struggle,” however, is a learning experience that makes us stronger and helps define who we are. From aggressive timeframes on projects like the renovation of the Mondrian South Beach hotel to unexpected delays during the COVID crisis to manufacturing issues, each project carries new, unexpected surprises, and we learn how to have backup plans, resources, and a way of life to be solution-driven.
Each design or construction project is a process of creating something new and unique. We never copy and paste old projects, like so many architects and designers, and as such the pressure is greater on creating something new both for us and our team of builders, craftsmen, and artisans.
We’ve been impressed with Pietra Casa, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Pietra Casa is intended to be the most elite and luxurious collection of Furnishings, Accessories, Materials, and Lighting in the contemporary world of design. Additionally, we take on a few ultra-luxury design projects a year with special clients who want an elevated level of design and quality! In our showroom, our brands are all made by hand, one by one, mostly in Italy and Europe.
I believe the items that we surround ourselves with, should be special, authentic, have meaning, and of course be beautiful. We have myriad exclusive brands, each special and unique, design forward, and timeless. Some of our most popular brands at this very moment are Aston Martin Home, Bamax, CPRN, Dom Edizioni, Entrelacs, MisuraEmme, Venicem, and the list continues down a beautiful path of beautiful design and product.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Following your intuition, whatever it says…
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pietra-casa.com
- Instagram: @pietracasa
Image Credits
Peter Oleck – Alisson Marks and Pietra Casa
