Oakwood Revival

This home in historic Oakwood in Raleigh, NC, came with something many clients don't have: a collection of family antiques that actually deserved to stay. We sorted through everything, kept what had good bones, and reimagined pieces with new upholstery to fit the design. The result feels personal and collected, vintage mixed with fresh furnishings, nothing too precious. One of the design challenges was figuring out where the TVs should live. We didn't want them as focal points, so we created a cozy seating area in the office for watching, tucked a hidden projector into the snug room, and left the living room screen-free. The living room needed more architectural presence, but the budget didn't allow for custom millwork. Instead, we worked with a local muralist to add hand-painted details that mimic molding—grand but casual, elevated without feeling stuffy. Lighting became a thread throughout the house, with a floral motif tying fixtures together across rooms. The vintage pieces do a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to imbuing the rooms with character: they're already storied and rich, so layering them in made the whole house feel lived-in from day one. This project is about honoring what came before while making space for how this family actually lives.