Oakley Builders Transforms a Modest Home into a Showpiece

It’s the happily ever after story of a not-quite ugly duckling that’s turned into a gloriously beautiful swan—right in the heart of downtown Downers Grove.

Over the past nine months, the former Nancy's Tea Room, a structure dating back to the 1940s, has been meticulously recreated as the spectacular new headquarters for Oakley Builders. 

“I’m loving it here. It’s unbelievable that this is where I go when I go to work. It’s a dream,” said Steve Sobkowiak, who owns Oakley with business partner Ryan Dunham.

In designing their new office, at 4912 Main St., the partners were seeking to do something unique. “We wanted to show off our abilities," Sobkowiak said. "We wanted to have a place that people can walk in and say, ‘this is perfect. I’ll take this.’ It’s a meeting place for clients, design center for selections and also a functioning office for our corporation,” he said.

It’s also a seemingly effortless blending of various styles, starting with the building’s original masonry, which was maintained and integrated seamlessly into the design.

The office maintains the look of the original Cape Cod house, which helps clients visualize what their new home can look like, Sobkowiak said. “People come through the front door and say, ‘this is perfect’.”

The interior showcases two distinct styles to provide clients with different options. “Left to my own devices, I’d go more modern. My partner is more traditional. This is a really good melding of both styles” Sobkowiak said.

On the first level, the kitchen/design center and living room/meeting room have a markedly traditional feel. In contrast the upstairs, which is comprised of large and airy office spaces, features exposed brick, beamed ceilings and boasts the feel of a loft.

The entire building is impressively high tech. “Everyone loves remote controls,” Sobkowiak, said acknowledging he’s no exception. The building is wired to allow just about every function to be controlled by iPhones or iPads.  

“I can sit at my own house and can turn the lights on or off in the office," Sobkowiak said. "I can check security cameras, check the temperature. I can control locking the doors, the lights, the heat, the music the TV. All from my iPhone.”

The technology also is used to help customers with the selection of design elements for their home. With large plasma TVs in just about every room, Sobkowiak can bring up images of just about anything within seconds.

“For example, I can show siding on five houses on the plasma screen and give addresses for clients to go check them out. We can show carpeting, trim detail, tile, counters, cabinets, roofing. We can show renderings. People can’t visualize things very easily so we can show them samples,” he said.

Oakley Builders bills itself as the premier builder of the western suburbs. The company's homes are predominantly in Downers Grove, Hinsdale, Western Springs and Naperville. Approximately 50 percent of its business is custom homes, with the other half split between speculative building and remodeling.

“People find they can’t sell their homes for huge equity. In the past, they would just move, but now they stay put and put their money into remodeling their current homes,” Sobkowiak said. Most of their new homes range in price between $500,000 and $2 million.

Fortunately, business has been “fantastic," Sobkowiak said. "We’ve doubled every year. People still have money and people are looking for value. In our homes, there’s a value proposition. No one ever says our homes are overpriced.”

In the eight years they've been in business, Oakley Builders has developed a great and well-earned reputation throughout the western suburbs, Sobkowiak said, attributing it to their dedication to listening to clients, along with a strong commitment to quality and value. “Our clients realize that they’re moving into their new home with equity,” he said.

Sobkowiak said renovating the Main Street house has been a fun project that has provided them with the opportunity of showing off their creativity. It’s been duly noted. “People walk down the street and stop us and compliment us. On the 4^th of July we had a party here and everyone was walking by and saying how awesome it is. 

"It’s a heck of a building,” said Sobkowiak. “We made sure that it still fits with the area, and looks good. I’m giddy, I’m absolutely giddy. This is where I come to work. This isn’t bad.”