17TH cENTURY OAK PANEL RESTORATION
Designed by Wallace Neff in 1926, and reinvented by Steven Volpe Design Studio, the full renovation of this home included the extensive restoration of the seventeenth-century English oak panels in the living room and adjacent library. In addition to damage over the years, previous alterations and refinishing had resulted in an inconsistent and undesirable appearance.
Some of the more seriously damaged panels had to be removed and replaced, and then the entire room underwent a meticulous color-stripping procedure to reveal the natural grain. To ensure authenticity, we proceeded to distress the new wood panels and then added multiple coats of glazes in order to unify the color. We subsequently added a cerused white wash for a soft and natural antiquing effect. This was followed by a faux-bois technique, to meticulously recreate the distinctive quarter-sawn silver grain characteristic of that European oak from the seventeenth-century.
The panels that did not need to be fully replaced still needed major refinishing work, but we avoided over-restoration in order to maintain the age and history of this beautiful wood paneling. For those panels we used the faux-bois technique and antiquing where needed, to achieve a harmonious unity in the grain pattern.
The result is a seamless integration of artistry, where every faux bois detail blends seamlessly among the new and original panels.
The Living Room with the clients furniture installed. After extensive restoration the oak panels now have a consistent yet appropriately aged appearance.
Some of the panels had to be removed and replaced, undergoing subsequent glazing and distressing. The panels that did not need to be replaced still needed significant restoration work.
Our goal was to maintain the beauty of the paneling but avoid over-restoration.
The Library with the clients furniture installed. We went through the sameprocess as with the Living Room, replacing the most severely damaged panels, and refinishing all the panels for a consistent but time appropriate look.
These images show the condition of the paneling before we started to work on it. You can see where new oak panels (lighter color) were installed.
Another image of the paneling before we started to work on it. It is evident the level of damage on the older oak panels and the undesirable appearance from the previous alterations and refinishing.
Progress photos of the team meticulously working on the antique oak wood panels and carved wood details.
After distressing the new panels with various tools to mimic wormholes and centuries old aging, we started to apply various color glazes to bring back the natural color of the oak.
Details of the paneling during the restoration process.
Library detail showing faux-bois silver grain paneling. The only original oak panel is the small square one to the right.
A detail photo of the faux-bois heart grain pattern that we re-created.
Details of the paneling after restoration.
Another detail of the paneling after restoration.
Another detail of the paneling after restoration.
Two photos showing the finished project.