Remodeling with Oak

Asked to remodel a 1980s brick Colonial-style house in Washington, D.C., architecture firm Fowlkes Studio obliged by simplifying both the exterior and the interior, removing fussy window shutters outside and a space-hogging center hall within. The latter was replaced by a series of nearly ceiling-height custom white oak cabinets that act as space-defining partitions while also providing plentiful storage and a warm, modern look. The Real American Hardwood® also was used for kitchen and other cabinetry, as well as for wall paneling in the main bedroom, bringing the same enhanced functionality and welcoming aesthetic throughout the two-story house.

The wall separating the front hall from the kitchen and dining area was demolished and replaced with the white oak partition cabinets, divided into three sections: the first contains a coat closet; the second, next to the dining area, accommodates tableware; and the third, extending into the kitchen, houses a coffee station and other accouterments. Because the partitions offer so much storage, there was no need for above-counter cabinets in the kitchen, which allowed the architects to put a large picture window behind the cooktop. White oak also clads the kitchen island and under-counter cabinetry, providing a sense of unity.

To demarcate the dining area, the adjacent partition cabinets were given doors inset with fabric panels. The island, which separates the space from the kitchen, has a honed marble top and stained-walnut pulls and knobs. Like all the new cabinetry, it’s made of white oak that’s been wire brushed, a finishing technique that highlights the wood’s natural grain, giving it a more pronounced and textured look. The oak floorboards, which are original to the house, were dark but have been refinished with a light, natural stain that complements the new blonde millwork.

The main bedroom suite, which was carved out of two smaller bedrooms, features a headboard wall entirely clad with white oak paneling. This expanse of hardwood not only visually links the serene room to the living zones below but also separates the sleeping area from closets and a bathroom on the other side. Throughout the house, the new millwork helps create spaces that are elegantly pared down without being in any way chilly or austere. The distinctive tone is further enhanced with furniture that exudes a certain European cool, pieces by Finn Juhl, Eero Saarinen, Poul Henningsen, and other masters from Scandinavia, Italy, and elsewhere.