EP 445 | Risk & Reward: How Park & Oak Built a Thriving Multi-Stream Interior Design Business

September 9, 2025

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What happens when interior design meets entrepreneurship, experimentation, and bold creative vision? In this inspiring episode, Kimberley Seldon sits down with Christina Samatas and Renee DiSanto, the powerhouse duo behind Park & Oak, to explore their ten-year journey from independent designers to leaders of a thriving design, retail, and event brand.

Their story is a masterclass in taking risks, embracing pivots, and building multiple income streams that support and elevate their core design business. Christina and Renee share how they followed intuition rather than a traditional roadmap, why collaboration became their competitive advantage, and how saying yes to new opportunities—even imperfect ones—helped them grow faster and smarter.

For interior designers dreaming of expanding their business, diversifying revenue, or stepping into larger possibilities, this episode offers real-world insight into scaling with creativity, courage, and intention.

In this episode you will learn:

  • Why the path to your ideal design business is rarely straight
  • How multiple revenue streams can complement and strengthen your design firm
  • Why experimentation, failure, and refinement are essential to growth
  • How partnering with people who complement your strengths creates true synergy
  • Why memorable design experiences can lead to your next best clients
  • Why rolling up your sleeves, learning as you go, and making mistakes is part of the entrepreneurial process

 

DESIGN INTERVENTION

Be open to pivoting. Follow your passion and lean into what you love. Push through challenges. Even through hard times, perseverance leads to the best results.

 

WATCH ON YOUTUBE

About Christina Samatas and Renee DiSanto

Founders of Park & Oak, the complementary personalities and skill sets of Christina Samatas and Renee DiSanto merge to create timeless, sophisticated interiors that feel both welcoming and refined. After starting their respective careers in PR and marketing (Christina) and photography, baking, and content creation (Renee), the two joined forces in 2014 to build Park & Oak, a now nationally acclaimed design brand based in Chicagoland celebrating their 10th year in business in 2025.

www.parkandoak.com

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Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Aquavato!

Aquavato is a trade-focused plumbing showroom in Toronto designed to support interior designers with expert product guidance, educational support, and concierge level service. Inside, the House of Rohl Studio has curated selections of Perrin & Rowe, Rohl, Shaws, Victoria + Albert, Emtek & Schaub.

Learn more about the Aquavato Trade Program at aquavato.com.

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Legal Disclosure | This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be used for any legal decisions. Kimberley Seldon Design Group, Kimberley Seldon Productions Inc., Kimberley Seldon Design and Media, Inc., Business of Design™, or any of its affiliated companies or staff is not responsible for any errors or omissions effecting accuracy in any content, and they will not be held liable for the use or misuse of information, facts, details or any other aspects should there arise any defects, errors, omissions or perhaps inaccuracies. Extensive research has been conducted to put this podcast together for the purpose of educating our industry in order to better serve the public. Care has been taken to acknowledge ownership of copyrighted material. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for every situation. This work is offered with the understanding that we do not render any legal, accounting or other professional advice. Seek the advice of a lawyer and/or other competent professional person in all matters of law. Further, listeners should be aware that internet websites mentioned may change or disappear between when this was recorded and when it was listened to.

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