One family’s Oak Brook beginning

BY HINSDALE MAGAZINE GROUP STAFF

Ten years before they ever broke ground on their own house, Oak Brook was already quietly working its way into Inna and Sulman Husain’s future.

Inna still remembers the early suggestion that first planted the idea. “I still remember 10 years ago when I first started working in Chicago, my senior colleague at work told me we just had to move to Oak Brook because of the fantastic community and amazing school district. Every time I would see her, she would say, ‘Are you moving to Oak Brook yet?’” she says. “Since that time, it was always in the back of my mind.” As more friends and family moved to the area and shared similar experiences, the decision became clearer. When it came to leaving downtown Chicago, Oak Brook rose to the top of their list.

Alaya, Sophie and Roya during the building process.

With daughters Alaya, 11, Sophie, 9, and Roya, 7, their priorities had shifted toward finding a community that could support both their children’s education and their day-to-day family life. The school district was a central factor, along with the opportunity for their children to grow up in a culturally diverse environment. They were also looking for a setting that combined the convenience they were used to in the city with a stronger connection to the outdoors, a place where it would feel like nature was in their backyard.

The search for the right house proved more complicated. With a multi-generational household, they needed spaces that could comfortably accommodate everyone. After touring many homes, they realized that building would allow them to create the layout and functionality they could not find.

Construction began in July 2024 on Oak Brook Road, and the family moved in just over a year later in August 2025. From the start, the goal was to make sure each family member had a space that reflected their needs while also creating areas designed for gathering. Hosting had always been important to them, and they wanted both indoor and outdoor spaces where family and friends could feel comfortable spending time together. Just as meaningful was the idea of a central hub, something they had struggled to achieve while living downtown.

Today, that hub is the living room. “We love gathering in our living room, it is such a central part of our home, it serves as a place to not only recap on everyone’s day, but a place to gather to watch sporting events with friends,” they say. The breakfast nook has also become a favorite, offering a quieter start to the day and a view of the backyard, where deer occasionally pass through, a moment that still feels new after years in the city.

“Building a home can take a lot of work and often doesn’t come without frustrations, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

– Inna and Sulman Husain

As newcomers, much of their connection to Oak Brook has come through their children’s schools. Participating in school events and joining the Oak Brook Park District

The Husain family enjoy watching the deer that occasionally pass through their backyard.

has helped them meet neighbors and begin building relationships within the community. They are especially looking forward to their first full spring and summer and the chance to experience more of what the village has to offer.

The building process came with the expected challenges, but the result confirmed their decision. “Building a home can take a lot of work and often doesn’t come without frustrations, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel,” they say. “When you see your vision come to life, see your family not only comfortable at home but excited to spend time at home, you know it was all worth it.”

For the Husain family, the move to Oak Brook is more than a change in location. It is the realization of a long-considered plan and the beginning of a new chapter in a home designed around the way they live, gather, and grow together.