Projects
Northbank Panelled Living Room
By Elena Brooks · March 30, 2026
Geometric timber panelling that warmed a concrete shell — and quieted it.
Northbank was a handsome concrete shell with an echo: beautiful at noon, tiring by evening. The brief asked for warmth without visual noise. We answered with a faceted white-oak ceiling and a single panelled wall that carries the television, the books and the concealed lighting in one calm plane.
Each panel was built on stable engineered cores, veneered in sequenced oak so the grain flows corner to corner. Behind the slatted section sits acoustic felt, which cut reverberation nearly in half. LED channels were routed before finishing, so light washes the facets at night with no visible fitting.
The quietest room in the house is now the one covered in wood.
Portland, Oregon · 2024 · sequenced white oak, acoustic felt, concealed LED. The clients report the room is used twice as much — proof that comfort is a dimension, not a decoration.
