Design Veterans Renee DiSanto and Christmas Samatas are making a stylish splash in Glen Ellyn with their chic showroom/cocktail lounge, Park & Oak.
The Park & Oak Collected showroom highlights curated pieces that add serious personality to the space.
Design showrooms are a dime a dozen across the city and suburbs. But a showroom that also happens to be a cocktail lounge? Now that’s a unique proposition—which is exactly the idea behind Park & Oak.
Established in 2015 and fueled by the creative forces of design veterans Renee DiSanto and Christina Samatas, this game-changing venture is shaking up the Chicago interior design scene.
The kitchen features carefully selected details, from custom built-ins to a plaster-finish range hood and elegant lighting fixtures.
Opened in 2022, the Park & Oak Collected showroom and retail store allows clients to explore design concepts through room vignettes and browse art, textiles, and customizable furnishings. Last April 2023 saw the expansion of the showroom, accompanied by the introduction of the Parlour, an adjacent cocktail lounge. This cozy yet sophisticated setting, adorned with eclectic light fixtures and carefully styled casegoods, extends an invitation to the community for gatherings and events.
Christina Samatas and Renee DiSanto
Together, these spaces encapsulate the firm’s mission of crafting warm, inviting environments with layers of detail and personal touches. “When we were getting ready to open the Parlour and the expanded showroom for Collected, it felt like we were putting together the final pieces of a puzzle,” DiSanto shares.
Cozy seating areas and assorted artworks create a homey atmosphere at The Parlour.
A key aspect of Park & Oak’s aesthetic is the use of color and mixed materials to add visual appeal while staying true to the client’s taste. Deep, moody hues might grace a cocktail room, or an unexpected trim shade could bring new life to traditional millwork. It’s these detailed choices that ensure their designs remain timeless yet modern.
The Hojnacki Breakfast Nook offers a unique mix of textures from custom fabrics to natural elements.
At the heart of the brand is the complementary partnership between DiSanto and Samatas. Renee’s artistic background as a photographer and painter blend with Christina’s experience in marketing and custom home design. This synergy is what defines their overall design approach. “We really do have a sort of magical yin-yang that makes everything work,” Samatas notes.
The space offers versatility with a custom desk for work and stylish leather club chairs for entertainment.
As Park & Oak continues to grow, DiSanto and Samatas remain dedicated to finding new ways to engage with both their Park & Oak customer base as well as their community, just as they have with Collected and the Parlour. “Ultimately, we’d love to design our own product lines,” said Samatas. “We are always cooking up something new.” 499 Pennsylvania Ave, Glen Ellyn, parkandoak.com
Photography by: Courtesy of Park & Oak
