Learning the stories behind the historic houses we work in, and how our clients wound up there, can be such a fun part of the job. For example, this 1927 home has a twin sister next door, built for real-life, early 20th century sisters. Our clients initially bought a house down the street, even though they had been eyeing these twin homes for years. When this one hit the market, they knew they had to make the move…again. And we can see why. This home has such beautiful bones: intricate woodwork throughout, checkered tile floors, that grand staircase. It was easy to understand why our clients h ..read more

We keep telling ourselves that things will be less crazy when… but the reality is that after eight years, we are finally realizing that building and nurturing Park & Oak will always be crazy. And we wouldn’t have it any other way. In keeping with the pace of the last few years, in year seven we added significantly to our business. In April, we opened the doors to our expanded Park & Oak Collected shop and showroom, and with it, The Parlour at Park & Oak. The Parlour is the final piece of the Park & Oak puzzle (for now! ). A place where we can welcome the community to enjoy cock ..read more

Love an outdoor festival or event but can’t hang with the kids at Lollapalooza? The Chicago area still has plenty that we are looking forward to this August. Millenium Park Summer Film Series Watch new blockbusters and classic favorites, all with the iconic Chicago skyline as a backdrop. (Tuesdays thru August 29) : Abel Arciniega @tequilagraphics via Choose Chicago Wine and Art Walk at The Morton Arboretum Not far from our Glen Ellyn studio sits picturesque 1,700 acre Morton Arboretum. In addition to being the perfect spot to wander among native trees and plants, the Arboretum hosts various ev ..read more

It’s an exciting week at Collected! We are in the thick of our biggest ever sale, the annual Glen Ellyn sidewalk sale. So much of our curated stock is on sale — accessories, small furniture, pillows, tableware, antiques — at up to 70% off. It’s a doozy! If you are local, come see us! Interesting catch: we’ll all be hosting indoors this year on account of the ongoing major construction happening in downtown Glen Ellyn. So, do not be deterred by the heavy machinery and gravel sidewalks. The sales are still spectacular. Plus, the store and Parlour are comfy places to escape the summer heat! Here ..read more

When our clients were making the move from the city to suburbs, they knew they wanted a home that came with some built-in character. Often, you just can’t replicate the feeling of a home that has been lived in, has stood the test of time. What they found was a perfect blend of a stately Georgian and cozy English cottage, built in 1965. The bones were there — solid wood doors, beautiful wood trim and door casings, elaborate built-ins — but it needed some updating to bring it to life again, and turn it into both an oasis for the family, and also a spot made for entertaining. Transforming this ge ..read more

Do you read more in the summer? Summer seems tailor-made for reading, with long, lazy days at the lake, sittervising kids at the pool, or just enjoying the breeze on a covered porch. What are you reading this summer? In the studio, we tend to pass books around, so some of us are still catching up on last year’s favorites. (And we’re betting we’re not the only ones! ) Here’s the round-up of what our team is reading this summer. Hope it helps you with your next book selection! Fiction Non-Fiction The post Summer Reads appeared first on Park and Oak Interior Design ..read more

If you are someone who loves a deal, this is your week. Amazon Prime Day converges with the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale to form the perfect storm of shopping opportunities. So many other retailers get in on the fun at this time of year, also! Here are some things that caught our eye. via Nordstrom via Nordstrom via Amazon via Nordstrom via Nordstrom via Amazon via Nordstrom via Amazon via Amazon via Nordstrom via Nordstrom And how about something to read? via Amazon See you next week! The post The Weekly Edit appeared first on Park and Oak Interior Design ..read more

As if Austin didn’t have enough going for it, tucked into a hillside just four miles outside downtown is the stately and magnificent Commodore Perry Estate, opened in 2020 under the umbrella of the luxury Auberge Resorts Collection. The 10,000-square-foot mansion that houses the Commodore Perry has a long history. Cotton merchant and real estate developer Edgar Howard Perry (“Commodore” was a nickname given to him after a boating accident) was golfing in the early 1900s at the Austin Country Club when he spotted a large gravel pit across the way. Ever the visionary, Perry imagined it as the ..read more

Hard to believe the Fourth of July is here. Summer goes too fast for most of us (the Autumn-lovers excepted). We’re glad to revel in it a bit longer. Here are a few things we’re eyeing before retailers all start turning their attention to fall. via Mirth via Corkcicle via Clare V via Park & Oak Collected via Anthropologie via shopbop via Mark & Graham Now settle into a summer read. via Target See you next week! The post The Weekly Edit appeared first on Park and Oak Interior Design ..read more

The July Fourth holiday always reminds us of childhood…lemonade, sparklers, bare feet in the grass, popsicles dripping down our chins. Adults relaxing in rockers on the porch, shooting the breeze in the hot summer sun. Did you know modern day American porches have their ancestry in the porticos of ancient Greece? Then, a portico’s primary purpose was to add grandeur to entryways…is that any surprise coming from the ancient Greeks? In 17th and 18th century Europe, porticos would eventually evolve into more functional galleries and verandas, providing shade for gardens and public outdoor spaces ..read more