Park and Oak Interior Design – Park & Oak Design is a full service interior design studio in Glen Ellyn, Illinois

Room Reveals

Reveal: Historic Wilmette Home

Learning the stories behind the historic houses we work in, and how…

Continue Reading

Updates

Park & Oak at Eight

We keep telling ourselves that things will be less crazy when… but…

Continue Reading

Research

Paint Finishes

Sherwin Williams Dark Night, Walls in Matte finish, Trim in Satin finishvia…

Continue Reading

Updates

Park & Oak in Traditional Home

We are so proud to reveal that Park & Oak has been…

Continue Reading

Room Reveals

Reveal: Glen Ellyn Refresh

When our clients were making the move from the city to suburbs,…

Continue Reading

Round ups

Summer Reads

Do you read more in the summer? Summer seems tailor-made for reading,…

Continue Reading

Round ups

Collected Curates: Rattan

In the heart of summer, natural materials reign: rattan, cane, bamboo, teak,…

Continue Reading

Inspiration

Tiny Lamps

Sometimes, you just need a litttttttle bit of light. More than a…

Continue Reading

Round ups

Summer Hostess Gifts

The season for summer parties is here. Graduations. Father’s Day BBQs. Post-baseball-tournament…

Continue Reading

Room Reveals

Glen Ellyn Kitchen Reveal

When we met with with this family in the summer of 2021,…

Continue Reading

Updates

Glen Ellyn Housewalk

We are so fortunate to live and work in a community that…

Continue Reading

Research

Boxwoods

Oh, how we love a boxwood. Is there any more classic element…

Continue Reading

Inspiration

Waiting for Summer

Our friends in California and the southern East Coast are already deep…

Continue Reading

Color Story

Color Story: Soft Blues

Have you noticed more soft blues in your feeds lately? We have.…

Continue Reading

Updates

Welcome to The Parlour at Park & Oak

We’ve been a little busy these last few years at Park &…

Continue Reading

Q+A

Designer Q&A

We were so excited to be able to film this round of…

Continue Reading

Research

An Interview with Annelise Madsen, Associate Curator, Art Institute of Chicago

Annelise Madsen is the Gilda and Henry Buchbinder Associate Curator, Arts of…

Continue Reading

Updates

Wrapping Women’s History Month

The end of Women’s History Month always sneaks up on us, as…

Continue Reading

Inspiration

Contrasting Wood Tones

We get a lot of questions about how we decide which wood…

Continue Reading

Inspiration

The Three Seasons Room

It’s time!!! March is here, and just because it’s 35° and snowing…

Continue Reading

Updates

Women’s History Month

Maybe you are a woman who owns a business, like us. Maybe…

Continue Reading

Updates

Park & Oak Collected Spring Launch

Is there anything better than the arrival of spring? Nevermind that it…

Continue Reading

Q+A

Designer Q&A

We are excited (and a little nervous!) to be starting something new…

Continue Reading

Room Reveals

Reveal: Wheaton New Build

We’ll get to this dramatic back kitchen later in the post. First,…

Continue Reading

Round ups

Valentine’s Gifts

Let’s talk a little history first… The origins of Valentine’s Day are…

Continue Reading

Round ups

Collected Curates: Candles

Candles are a hot commodity this time of year. Is there anything…

Continue Reading

Inspiration

A Winter Palette

Spring is still a long way off in the Midwest, so we…

Continue Reading

Inspiration

Home after the Holidays

The holiday decorations have mostly disappeared back into their bins. Bye-bye tartan…

Continue Reading

Inspiration

2023 Inspiration

This time of year there is such a treasure trove of inspiration…

Continue Reading

Updates

The Year of the Bath

In 2022, Park & Oak designed nearly 20 bathrooms. If you need…

Continue Reading

Updates

Kitchen Highlights of 2022

From kitchens with gorgeous original details to those built from the ground…

Continue Reading

Inspiration

NYE Ready

Even though most of us are still fully entrenched in Christmas and…

Continue Reading

Updates

Happy Holidays

It’s snowing in Glen Ellyn, and Christmas is just a few days…

Continue Reading

Round ups

Holiday Gifts: The Client or Colleague

Still needing some last minute gifts for a client or colleague? The…

Continue Reading

Research

Gifts with a Story

It’s always our goal to help clients, friends and followers create a…

Continue Reading

Inspiration

The Holiday Table

There is something a little zen-like about setting a holiday table. The…

Continue Reading

Round ups

Holiday Gifts: Stocking Stuffers

It’s never too soon to think about stocking stuffers, and they are…

Continue Reading

Inspiration

Holiday Mood

If you decorate for the holidays, you probably start with the big…

Continue Reading

Round ups

Holiday Gifts: The Gentleman

We tried to think outside the box for our holiday gift collection…

Continue Reading

Updates

Shopping Small Businesses

We’ve been strolling downtown Glen Ellyn a lot lately, watching the Christmas…

Continue Reading

Updates

Feeling Thankful

It feels like the holiday hustle and bustle starts earlier each year,…

Continue Reading

Round ups

Holiday Gifts: The Host

We’ll be featuring gift guides over the next few weeks for all…

Continue Reading

Inspiration

Trimming the Tree

Whether you’re Team Real or Team Faux, putting up a tree is…

Continue Reading

Inspiration

Holiday Decorating

It’s only about a week until Thanksgiving, and that means it’s time…

Continue Reading

Q+A

Designer Q&A

This new feature is such fun. As with last month, we picked…

Continue Reading

Inspiration

The Thanksgiving Table

At Park & Oak, our goal in designing homes is to create…

Continue Reading

Updates

Park & Oak at Seven

The years are really flying by now. Owning a business feels in…

Continue Reading

Round ups

Collected Curates: Pillows

Our team is not messing around when it comes to sourcing pillows.…

Continue Reading

Inspiration

Vintage Art

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Pablo…

Continue Reading

Inspiration

Fall Porch

We love cruising our neighborhoods and seeing all the fall porch scenes…

Continue Reading

Research

Choosing a Rug Size

Ah, the age old question: what size rug do I need for…

Continue Reading

Research

Exploring Rug Materials

If you keep up with the blog, you may have seen our…

Continue Reading

Q+A

Designer Q&A

You asked…we answered! We loved seeing all your questions come in through…

Continue Reading

Round ups

Cocktail Fridays

We’ve started an occasional feature over on the Collected Instagram page, and…

Continue Reading

Room Reveals

Reveal: Historic LaGrange Home

It’s so bittersweet to see this project cross the finish line. We…

Continue Reading

Inspiration

Fall Decorating

We know many of you are pretty excited to be sending off…

Continue Reading

Research

Botanicals

We know everyone loves the real deal. We do, too! Freshly cut…

Continue Reading

Round ups

Collected Curates: Dinnerware

Ah…dinner parties. Just the thought of it fills us with joy. Friends…

Continue Reading

Research

Wood Species

Often homeowners or interior design and home DIY enthusiasts initially become familiar…

Continue Reading

Inspiration

The Breakfast Nook

Breakfast nooks are becoming a major hub in today’s homes, and with…

Continue Reading

Room Reveals

Reveal: Carmel Kitchen

The Midwest is home to many traditional architectural styles – Tudor, Colonial,…

Continue Reading

Round ups

Coffee Table Books

We are entering the shoulder season, when you start looking around the…

Continue Reading

Room Reveals

Reveal: Oak Home Pool

The hardest choices to make as a designer are in your own…

Continue Reading

Round ups

Home Office

While the last several years have seen a shift to more people…

Continue Reading

Research

Antiques & Vintage

When we were preparing to launch Collected, there were a gazillion decisions…

Continue Reading

Updates

Sneak Peek: Wheaton New Build

Something exciting is coming soon…!! Check out the progress on this beauty.…

Continue Reading

Inspiration

Nostalgia

We can’t be the only ones pining for simpler times. Summer often…

Continue Reading

Research

Lantern Lighting

One of our favorite types of interior lighting has its origins in…

Continue Reading

Research

P&O Tips: Bed Pillow Placement

The next installment of an occasional series where we share tips and tricks…

Continue Reading

Inspiration

Gallery Walls

Who doesn’t love a gallery wall? We’ve been designing a lot of…

Continue Reading

Color Story

Color Story: Benjamin Moore Montpelier

We loved working with this color so much on our recent Winnetka…

Continue Reading

Room Reveals

Reveal: Hinsdale Outdoor Oasis

Gosh, we love this home’s outdoor living spaces. Everything came together here…

Continue Reading

Travel

Spotlight Destination: Puerto Vallarta

Many of us just returned from spring break – we know some…

Continue Reading

Updates

In Honor of Women

This is our outstanding team (most of them). And these women? They…

Continue Reading

Room Reveals

Reveal: Hinsdale Refresh

This one has its own special place in our Park & Oak…

Continue Reading

Room Reveals

Before & After: Glen Ellyn Kitchen

With our client needing to move into their new home on a…

Continue Reading

Research

P&O Tips: Hall Lighting

The next installment of an occasional series where we share tips and…

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Inspiration

Mudrooms

The hardest working room in the house, mudrooms have become an essential…

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Inspiration

Trends that Endure

We were honored to be one of a handful of designers recently…

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Inspiration

Contrasting Metals

You may have painstakingly sought out perfectly matching fixtures for a recent…

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Room Reveals

Reveal: Carmel Butler’s Pantry

There will be more reveals to come for our Carmel-by-the-Sea project, but…

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Room Reveals

Before & After: Glen Ellyn Study

As you’ll see from the before photos, we started with a blank…

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Updates

Sneak Peek: Wheaton New Build

Thought you might enjoy seeing the progress at our Wheaton New Build!…

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Inspiration

Home after the Holidays

We’ve been gradually making holiday decorations disappear back into their bins. Bye-bye…

Continue Reading

Room Reveals

Reveal: Oak Park Kitchen

All renovation projects have unique and interesting details that keep us on…

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Updates

Feeling Thankful

There has been a fair share of heartache, worry and disappointment over…

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Round ups

Holiday Gift Guide

The shipping delays that have been plaguing our industry for the last…

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Inspiration

Moody Rooms

You may have noticed … we like a moody room at Park…

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Research

Wall Molding

Park & Oak is fortunate to work on projects ranging from new…

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Inspiration

Thoughts from High Point Market

Phew. We spent two jam-packed days at High Point Market last week,…

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Research

P&O Tips: Lighting above an Island

The next installment of an occasional series where we share tips and…

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Updates

Park & Oak at Six

When we squeezed our eyes shut, linked arms, and dived headfirst into…

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Inspiration

Range Hoods: The Quiet Star

When you dream about a new kitchen, what do you picture? Marble…

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Inspiration

Checkered Tile

Checkered tile has appeared in interiors throughout history, from Egyptian temples to…

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Room Reveals

Reveal: 1912 Winnetka Refresh

Historic homes have such great bones. Our clients recently purchased this beautiful…

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Research

Houseplants

Our homes come alive in the details. A beautifully furnished room can…

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Research

P&O Tips: Lighting above a Table

Welcome to the first in an occasional series where we share tips…

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Room Reveals

City-to-Suburbs Reveal

One of our longstanding clients recently moved their growing family from a…

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Room Reveals

Reveal: 1908 Hinsdale Renovation

It can be tempting in a large renovation project to go down…

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Room Reveals

Reveal, Part II: Western Springs Tudor

A few months ago, we revealed the kitchen and dining room of…

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Color Story

Color Story: White

Don’t say it. We know…it’s not *really* a color. And while technically…

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Research

Integrated vs Panel Ready Appliances

If you’re embarking on a kitchen renovation, you’ve got a lot decisions…

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Inspiration

Before & After

Thought we would share some great before & afters we found while…

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Research

Chinoiserie

Chinoiserie. (It’s ok, we can’t pronounce it either.) The term describes European…

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Room Reveals

Reveal: Winnetka Georgian Refresh

We’ve been visiting the 1920s a lot through our work lately and…

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Research

Antique & Vintage Rugs

If you’ve been following us for awhile, you have probably noticed how…

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Room Reveals

Reveal: Western Springs Tudor Kitchen & Dining Room

In the early 20th century, classic English architecture from the era of…

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Updates

Park & Oak Wins Two Luxe RED Awards

We are so proud to share that last week we were honored…

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Room Reveals

Reveal: Park Ridge Kitchen

In any new build kitchen, part of the challenge and reward is…

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Travel

Boutique Shopping: NYC

Doesn’t spring in New York sound lovely? We’ve been cooped up a…

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Inspiration

Creating Space

One outcome of the past year has been a space reckoning inside…

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Room Reveals

Reveal: Glenview Kitchen

Part of what is so rewarding about working with an older home…

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Inspiration

Reimagining the Kitchen Faucet

If you were getting ready to renovate your kitchen, what would you…

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Inspiration

A Welcoming Entry

Think about the first time you go to visit a new friend.…

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Updates

A Note of Thanks

We had some time earlier this week to catch our breath for…

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Favorite Colors

Park & Oak Palette: Green

This week we’re giving an inside look to one of the shades…

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Round ups

Antique & Vintage Shopping: Chicago

With the Vintage Shop Hop getting underway this weekend in the Midwest,…

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Room Reveals

Reveal: Grove Home Kitchen

We created the design concept for this kitchen almost two years ago,…

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Room Reveals

Home Spotlight: Grove New Build

We are so lucky to work with such amazing clients, one of…

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Room Reveals

Room Reveal: Siena Home Kitchen

We recently completed a new build in Naperville with our friends at…

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Room Reveals

Hinsdale Kitchen Reveal

Two years ago, Christina and I met with a client in Hinsdale…

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Room Reveals

Dining Room Before and After

Last week, we installed the dining room at our Kildeer project. The…

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Room Reveals

Naperville Boy’s Room

Christina and I headed over to Naperville yesterday to finish accessories for…

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In Room Reveals
Reveal: Historic Wilmette Home

Learning the stories behind the historic houses we work in, and how our clients wound up there, can be such a fun part of…

Continue Reading →
In Updates
Park & Oak at Eight

We keep telling ourselves that things will be less crazy when… but the reality is that after eight years, we are finally realizing that…

Continue Reading →
In Research
Paint Finishes

Sherwin Williams Dark Night, Walls in Matte finish, Trim in Satin finishvia Park & Oak Is there anything more vexing than paint finish? Well…besides…

Continue Reading →
In Updates
Park & Oak in Traditional Home

We are so proud to reveal that Park & Oak has been featured in the issues of Traditional Home and Beautiful Kitchens & Baths…

Continue Reading →
In Room Reveals
Reveal: Glen Ellyn Refresh

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.…

Continue Reading →
In Round ups
Summer Reads

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,…

Continue Reading →
In Round ups
Collected Curates: Rattan

In the heart of summer, natural materials reign: rattan, cane, bamboo, teak, raffia. At Collected, we curate an extensive selection of decor, lighting and…

Continue Reading →
In Inspiration
Tiny Lamps

Sometimes, you just need a litttttttle bit of light. More than a candle. Less than a desk lamp. Something small enough that it could…

Continue Reading →
In Round ups
Summer Hostess Gifts

The season for summer parties is here. Graduations. Father’s Day BBQs. Post-baseball-tournament get togethers. Ladies who brunch. Bridal showers. Baby showers. It’s such a…

Continue Reading →
In Room Reveals
Glen Ellyn Kitchen Reveal

When we met with with this family in the summer of 2021, they were wanting to breathe new life into their home. And the…

Continue Reading →
In Updates
Glen Ellyn Housewalk

We are so fortunate to live and work in a community that places a high value on giving back. It is one of the…

Continue Reading →
In Research
Boxwoods

Oh, how we love a boxwood. Is there any more classic element to traditional landscape design? For gardening enthusiasts and fans of elegant landscapes,…

Continue Reading →
In Inspiration
Waiting for Summer

Our friends in California and the southern East Coast are already deep into summer weather and the decorating that goes along with it, but…

Continue Reading →
In Color Story
Color Story: Soft Blues

Have you noticed more soft blues in your feeds lately? We have. Whether in a kitchen or a cocktail room or a bedroom, soft…

Continue Reading →
In Updates
Welcome to The Parlour at Park & Oak

We’ve been a little busy these last few years at Park & Oak. Growth is inspiring and fun and exciting, but boy it requires…

Continue Reading →
In Q+A
Designer Q&A

We were so excited to be able to film this round of Designer Q&A in our new space, which opens tomorrow!! Learn more about…

Continue Reading →
In Research
An Interview with Annelise Madsen, Associate Curator, Art Institute of Chicago

Annelise Madsen is the Gilda and Henry Buchbinder Associate Curator, Arts of the Americas at the Art Institute of Chicago. As part of our…

Continue Reading →
In Updates
Wrapping Women’s History Month

The end of Women’s History Month always sneaks up on us, as it coincides with so many school breaks. But we did not want…

Continue Reading →
In Inspiration
Contrasting Wood Tones

We get a lot of questions about how we decide which wood species and stains to use in a space, and how to ensure…

Continue Reading →
In Inspiration
The Three Seasons Room

It’s time!!! March is here, and just because it’s 35° and snowing in Chicagoland doesn’t mean that three seasons room weather isn’t right around…

Continue Reading →
In Updates
Women’s History Month

Maybe you are a woman who owns a business, like us. Maybe you stay home raising kids. Or have a corner office. Sit on…

Continue Reading →
In Updates
Park & Oak Collected Spring Launch

Is there anything better than the arrival of spring? Nevermind that it will likely snow here several times before consistently nice weather arrives. On…

Continue Reading →
In Q+A
Designer Q&A

We are excited (and a little nervous!) to be starting something new with the Designer Q&A. You’ve had so many excellent questions, and we…

Continue Reading →
In Room Reveals
Reveal: Wheaton New Build

We’ll get to this dramatic back kitchen later in the post. First, let’s talk arches. Specifically, the jaw-dropping stone arch that is the centerpiece…

Continue Reading →
In Round ups
Valentine’s Gifts

Let’s talk a little history first… The origins of Valentine’s Day are shrouded in a bit of mystery. It was likely born of a…

Continue Reading →
In Round ups
Collected Curates: Candles

Candles are a hot commodity this time of year. Is there anything more zen during cold weather than relaxing by the fireplace with a…

Continue Reading →
In Inspiration
A Winter Palette

Spring is still a long way off in the Midwest, so we are doing as the Scandinavians do and embracing winter in all its…

Continue Reading →
In Inspiration
Home after the Holidays

The holiday decorations have mostly disappeared back into their bins. Bye-bye tartan plaid pillows. See you later reindeer. Till next year Christmas tablescapes. But,…

Continue Reading →
In Inspiration
2023 Inspiration

This time of year there is such a treasure trove of inspiration as everyone starts goal-setting for the new year and all the information…

Continue Reading →
In Updates
The Year of the Bath

In 2022, Park & Oak designed nearly 20 bathrooms. If you need inspiration for a bathroom renovation, look no further!…

Continue Reading →
In Updates
Kitchen Highlights of 2022

From kitchens with gorgeous original details to those built from the ground up, we did it all in 2022. Here are some highlights. #POwheatonnewbuild…

Continue Reading →
In Inspiration
NYE Ready

Even though most of us are still fully entrenched in Christmas and Hanukkah, we mustn’t forget that New Years Eve is also only a…

Continue Reading →
In Updates
Happy Holidays

It’s snowing in Glen Ellyn, and Christmas is just a few days away, which leaves us feeling warm and happy. It’s been a busy…

Continue Reading →
In Round ups
Holiday Gifts: The Client or Colleague

Still needing some last minute gifts for a client or colleague? The thing we love about this category is that it can span so…

Continue Reading →
In Research
Gifts with a Story

It’s always our goal to help clients, friends and followers create a warm and inviting home atmosphere, where the details tell a story. And…

Continue Reading →
In Inspiration
The Holiday Table

There is something a little zen-like about setting a holiday table. The soft, familiar music, flickering candles (a must!), breaking out the fancy plates…

Continue Reading →
In Round ups
Holiday Gifts: Stocking Stuffers

It’s never too soon to think about stocking stuffers, and they are so much fun! Here are a few of our favorites from Collected……

Continue Reading →
In Inspiration
Holiday Mood

If you decorate for the holidays, you probably start with the big three: tree, mantle, staircase. There is likely a lot of greenery involved.…

Continue Reading →
In Round ups
Holiday Gifts: The Gentleman

We tried to think outside the box for our holiday gift collection for the man in your life. Because they’re not all fans of…

Continue Reading →
In Updates
Shopping Small Businesses

We’ve been strolling downtown Glen Ellyn a lot lately, watching the Christmas tree rise up in the square, seeing garland strung in store windows,…

Continue Reading →
In Updates
Feeling Thankful

It feels like the holiday hustle and bustle starts earlier each year, doesn’t it? Ornaments in checkout lanes in August. Full-fledged holiday mayhem at…

Continue Reading →
In Round ups
Holiday Gifts: The Host

We’ll be featuring gift guides over the next few weeks for all the special people in your lives. First up, and just in time…

Continue Reading →
In Inspiration
Trimming the Tree

Whether you’re Team Real or Team Faux, putting up a tree is often the signal to family, friends (to yourself, even!)…it’s time. It’s the…

Continue Reading →
In Inspiration
Holiday Decorating

It’s only about a week until Thanksgiving, and that means it’s time to get our holiday decorating plans together. It feels like kismet that…

Continue Reading →
In Q+A
Designer Q&A

This new feature is such fun. As with last month, we picked out a few of your questions from IG stories to answer here…

Continue Reading →
In Inspiration
The Thanksgiving Table

At Park & Oak, our goal in designing homes is to create a warm and inviting atmosphere, where the details tell a story. And, there…

Continue Reading →
In Updates
Park & Oak at Seven

The years are really flying by now. Owning a business feels in many ways like raising kids. Those early years…oh boy. A million small…

Continue Reading →
In Round ups
Collected Curates: Pillows

Our team is not messing around when it comes to sourcing pillows. Tiffany, our purchasing lead, makes a yearly summer sojourn to coastal New…

Continue Reading →
In Inspiration
Vintage Art

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Pablo Picasso Art is such an important element in helping a house become…

Continue Reading →
In Inspiration
Fall Porch

We love cruising our neighborhoods and seeing all the fall porch scenes coming together. The retailers may be busy reminding us that Christmas is…

Continue Reading →
In Research
Choosing a Rug Size

Ah, the age old question: what size rug do I need for my bedroom/dining room/living room/kitchen/etc.?We know that this can be a pickle. Too…

Continue Reading →
In Research
Exploring Rug Materials

If you keep up with the blog, you may have seen our post earlier this week where the design team took on questions from…

Continue Reading →
In Q+A
Designer Q&A

You asked…we answered! We loved seeing all your questions come in through Instagram stories last week. We picked out a few to answer here…

Continue Reading →
In Round ups
Cocktail Fridays

We’ve started an occasional feature over on the Collected Instagram page, and it’s a good one: cocktail Fridays. There comes a point in the…

Continue Reading →
In Room Reveals
Reveal: Historic LaGrange Home

It’s so bittersweet to see this project cross the finish line. We dived into the renovation on this late 19th century Victorian at the…

Continue Reading →
In Inspiration
Fall Decorating

We know many of you are pretty excited to be sending off summer this weekend and diving headlong into fall. This particular change in…

Continue Reading →
In Research
Botanicals

We know everyone loves the real deal. We do, too! Freshly cut peonies…a magnolia branch pruned at just the right time to bloom indoors…the…

Continue Reading →
In Round ups
Collected Curates: Dinnerware

Ah…dinner parties. Just the thought of it fills us with joy. Friends and family, gathered together…laughter, warmth, good conversation. With summer nearly behind us,…

Continue Reading →
In Research
Wood Species

Often homeowners or interior design and home DIY enthusiasts initially become familiar with different wood species as they relate to furnishings: dining tables and…

Continue Reading →
In Inspiration
The Breakfast Nook

Breakfast nooks are becoming a major hub in today’s homes, and with kids going back to school, these spots are sure to be getting…

Continue Reading →
In Room Reveals
Reveal: Carmel Kitchen

The Midwest is home to many traditional architectural styles – Tudor, Colonial, Georgian, Federal, Cape Cod. The list goes on. We love designing in…

Continue Reading →
In Round ups
Coffee Table Books

We are entering the shoulder season, when you start looking around the interior of your home thinking, oh, hello old friend…let’s dust off some…

Continue Reading →
In Room Reveals
Reveal: Oak Home Pool

The hardest choices to make as a designer are in your own home. Everything is crystal clear in someone else’s space, but we encounter…

Continue Reading →
In Round ups
Home Office

While the last several years have seen a shift to more people working from home, the summer season typically always means logging a few…

Continue Reading →
In Research
Antiques & Vintage

When we were preparing to launch Collected, there were a gazillion decisions to make about what types of products we would carry. Vases and…

Continue Reading →
In Updates
Sneak Peek: Wheaton New Build

Something exciting is coming soon…!! Check out the progress on this beauty. We are so proud to have been involved in every step of…

Continue Reading →
In Inspiration
Nostalgia

We can’t be the only ones pining for simpler times. Summer often brings with it a bit of longing for ages past, memories of…

Continue Reading →
In Research
Lantern Lighting

One of our favorite types of interior lighting has its origins in the humble outdoor oil lamp. Outdoor lantern lighting can be traced as…

Continue Reading →
In Research
P&O Tips: Bed Pillow Placement

The next installment of an occasional series where we share tips and tricks of the trade to help you navigate sometimes puzzling home design questions.…

Continue Reading →
In Inspiration
Gallery Walls

Who doesn’t love a gallery wall? We’ve been designing a lot of them lately, and are reminded what great character and layers they give…

Continue Reading →
In Color Story
Color Story: Benjamin Moore Montpelier

We loved working with this color so much on our recent Winnetka project, so we thought it deserved a highlight here on the blog.…

Continue Reading →
In Room Reveals
Reveal: Hinsdale Outdoor Oasis

Gosh, we love this home’s outdoor living spaces. Everything came together here in just the right ways for an end result that feels relaxing,…

Continue Reading →
In Travel
Spotlight Destination: Puerto Vallarta

Many of us just returned from spring break – we know some of you still have breaks upcoming – but we are already dreaming…

Continue Reading →
In Updates
In Honor of Women

This is our outstanding team (most of them). And these women? They make everything possible. Yesterday, we featured women throughout history that we admire,…

Continue Reading →
In Room Reveals
Reveal: Hinsdale Refresh

This one has its own special place in our Park & Oak hearts since the client ultimately became one of our team members!! Lisa…

Continue Reading →
In Room Reveals
Before & After: Glen Ellyn Kitchen

With our client needing to move into their new home on a short timeline, time was of the essence in the renovation of this…

Continue Reading →
In Research
P&O Tips: Hall Lighting

The next installment of an occasional series where we share tips and tricks of the trade to help you navigate sometimes puzzling home design…

Continue Reading →
In Inspiration
Mudrooms

The hardest working room in the house, mudrooms have become an essential space in any new build or renovation we work on at Park…

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In Inspiration
Trends that Endure

We were honored to be one of a handful of designers recently featured in Redfin’s 2022 Trending Interior Design Styles report. Their round-up highlights…

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In Inspiration
Contrasting Metals

You may have painstakingly sought out perfectly matching fixtures for a recent renovation, wanting to achieve just the right look for a kitchen or…

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In Room Reveals
Reveal: Carmel Butler’s Pantry

There will be more reveals to come for our Carmel-by-the-Sea project, but we couldn’t wait to show you the butler’s pantry, the first finished…

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In Room Reveals
Before & After: Glen Ellyn Study

As you’ll see from the before photos, we started with a blank slate at the Glen Ellyn study. While that may seem daunting, our…

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In Updates
Sneak Peek: Wheaton New Build

Thought you might enjoy seeing the progress at our Wheaton New Build! We are all enamored with so many details of this home, but…

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In Inspiration
Home after the Holidays

We’ve been gradually making holiday decorations disappear back into their bins. Bye-bye tartan plaid pillows. See you later fair isle stockings. Till next year…

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In Room Reveals
Reveal: Oak Park Kitchen

All renovation projects have unique and interesting details that keep us on our toes and make doing this work exciting and fun. But every…

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In Updates
Feeling Thankful

There has been a fair share of heartache, worry and disappointment over the last two years. But as we head into a holiday season…

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In Round ups
Holiday Gift Guide

The shipping delays that have been plaguing our industry for the last year are impacting Santa’s sleighs now, as well. So, we are taking…

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In Inspiration
Moody Rooms

You may have noticed … we like a moody room at Park & Oak. Now, we have no beef with light and airy (see…

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In Research
Wall Molding

Park & Oak is fortunate to work on projects ranging from new build to century-old historical homes, and everything in between. One of the…

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In Inspiration
Thoughts from High Point Market

Phew. We spent two jam-packed days at High Point Market last week, and our feet still hurt! We’re excited to give you a recap…

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In Research
P&O Tips: Lighting above an Island

The next installment of an occasional series where we share tips and tricks of the trade to help you navigate sometimes puzzling home design…

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In Updates
Park & Oak at Six

When we squeezed our eyes shut, linked arms, and dived headfirst into this partnership six years ago, we were just two working moms, with…

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In Inspiration
Range Hoods: The Quiet Star

When you dream about a new kitchen, what do you picture? Marble countertops? Custom-stained cabinetry? A magnificent French range? You are probably not immediately…

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In Inspiration
Checkered Tile

Checkered tile has appeared in interiors throughout history, from Egyptian temples to French chateaus. We love using this classic style in a foyer, bath,…

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In Room Reveals
Reveal: 1912 Winnetka Refresh

Historic homes have such great bones. Our clients recently purchased this beautiful Georgian circa 1912, and because the home was so well-built and designed…

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In Research
Houseplants

Our homes come alive in the details. A beautifully furnished room can be lovely to look at, but until someone lives in it and…

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In Research
P&O Tips: Lighting above a Table

Welcome to the first in an occasional series where we share tips and tricks of the trade to help you navigate sometimes puzzling home…

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In Room Reveals
City-to-Suburbs Reveal

One of our longstanding clients recently moved their growing family from a Chicago brownstone we helped outfit to a larger home in the suburbs.…

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In Room Reveals
Reveal: 1908 Hinsdale Renovation

It can be tempting in a large renovation project to go down to the studs and start completely fresh. The sky’s the limit! Endless…

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In Room Reveals
Reveal, Part II: Western Springs Tudor

A few months ago, we revealed the kitchen and dining room of a carefully restored and renovated Tudor revival in Western Springs. Interior design…

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In Color Story
Color Story: White

Don’t say it. We know…it’s not *really* a color. And while technically it is true that white is the absence of color, the white…

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In Research
Integrated vs Panel Ready Appliances

If you’re embarking on a kitchen renovation, you’ve got a lot decisions in your future. Paint and stain colors. Styles and finishes of cabinet…

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In Inspiration
Before & After

Thought we would share some great before & afters we found while cataloguing photography this week. We truly love helping our clients make these…

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In Research
Chinoiserie

Chinoiserie. (It’s ok, we can’t pronounce it either.) The term describes European interpretations of Asian culture and objects, and originated in 17th century, when…

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In Room Reveals
Reveal: Winnetka Georgian Refresh

We’ve been visiting the 1920s a lot through our work lately and are really loving it. Having the opportunity to revive homes with so…

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In Research
Antique & Vintage Rugs

If you’ve been following us for awhile, you have probably noticed how much we love using vintage and antique rugs* in our designs. There…

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In Room Reveals
Reveal: Western Springs Tudor Kitchen & Dining Room

In the early 20th century, classic English architecture from the era of the Tudor dynasty experienced a revival in the suburban Midwest and Northeast…

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In Updates
Park & Oak Wins Two Luxe RED Awards

We are so proud to share that last week we were honored with two Luxe RED Awards in the regional categories for Kitchen and…

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In Room Reveals
Reveal: Park Ridge Kitchen

In any new build kitchen, part of the challenge and reward is in creating a space that has character. That doesn’t yell: “Look at…

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In Travel
Boutique Shopping: NYC

Doesn’t spring in New York sound lovely? We’ve been cooped up a long time, and Manhattan is calling. Here are some of our favorite…

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In Inspiration
Creating Space

One outcome of the past year has been a space reckoning inside our homes. Suddenly, homes that seemed plenty big enough to work, play,…

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In Room Reveals
Reveal: Glenview Kitchen

Part of what is so rewarding about working with an older home is the imagination required to take a space not necessarily built for…

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In Inspiration
Reimagining the Kitchen Faucet

If you were getting ready to renovate your kitchen, what would you start daydreaming about first? A showstopper French range? An integrated double-door refrigerator?…

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In Inspiration
A Welcoming Entry

Think about the first time you go to visit a new friend. Have you wondered what the inside of their house will look like?…

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In Updates
A Note of Thanks

We had some time earlier this week to catch our breath for a minute and reflect on this last year...…

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In Favorite Colors
Park & Oak Palette: Green

This week we’re giving an inside look to one of the shades that has become a signature of Park & Oak. If you’ve seen…

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In Round ups
Antique & Vintage Shopping: Chicago

With the Vintage Shop Hop getting underway this weekend in the Midwest, we have antique and vintage finds on the brain. There is nothing…

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In Room Reveals
Reveal: Grove Home Kitchen

We created the design concept for this kitchen almost two years ago, so it is always exciting to see everything come together. We worked…

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In Room Reveals
Home Spotlight: Grove New Build

We are so lucky to work with such amazing clients, one of whom we had the pleasure of designing their new home in a…

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In Room Reveals
Room Reveal: Siena Home Kitchen

We recently completed a new build in Naperville with our friends at Siena Custom Homes. Here are a few photos of the project!…

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In Room Reveals
Hinsdale Kitchen Reveal

Two years ago, Christina and I met with a client in Hinsdale that was building a new home. Ten minutes into the discussion, we…

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In Room Reveals
Dining Room Before and After

Last week, we installed the dining room at our Kildeer project. The first phase of the project was the dining room, entry, and office.…

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In Room Reveals
Naperville Boy’s Room

Christina and I headed over to Naperville yesterday to finish accessories for a little boy’s room. We had previously done this little boy’s brother’s…

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