Technically speaking, one would not be incorrect to describe the new Roman and Williams office as wood. Its desks, tables, cabinets, paneling, seating, shelves—all timber. Still, to summarize the vibe so succinctly would be to miss the finer points. Because that’s not just any wood. It’s white oak, a shipbuilding standard and a favorite of expert artisans from Copenhagen to Kyoto, not to mention a longtime staple for firm founders Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch, who liken the durable material to stone. Here, its tight grain dazzles in myriad forms, whether the soaped matte finish of chairs, the untreated surfaces of walls, or the oyster-rubbed texture of a conference table. Nuance, this space goes to show, makes all the difference.
That was precisely the goal for the AD100 duo when…
