Posts by Renee DiSanto
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 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…
Read MorePark & 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 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…
Read MorePaint 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 rocket science and high school calculus? Eggshell. Modern Eggshell. Modern emulsion. Pearl. Matte. Satin. Is your head spinning yet? We can help. Let’s take some of the mystery out of what…
Read MorePark & 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 on newsstands now! Traditional Home has always been one of our favorite shelter magazines. Their aesthetic of timeless, classic but dynamic interiors matches so well with our design philosophy. So, when…
Read MoreReveal: 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. 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…
Read MoreSummer 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, 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…
Read MoreCollected 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 furnishings made of these natural materials. We love them for their texture, and their earthy hint of the outdoors. Today, we want to talk about rattan. What is rattan, exactly? Rattan…
Read MoreTiny 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 also perhaps do double duty as a decor item. Enter, the tiny lamp. These diminutive and charming lamps are one of our favorite styling tools at Collected. Functional, but beautiful. An…
Read MoreSummer 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 fun time of year! You’ll probably want to bring a little something for your host. At Collected, we’ve tried to think of everyone so that when you give a gift, it…
Read MoreGlen 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 biggest assignment was turning their very dark, builder-grade kitchen into a bright but sophisticated hub — with much more storage! — for their open-concept home. We’ll get into details below, but…
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