Where Heritage Meets Precision: Custom Millwork for a Historic Fumoir

A Collaboration Rooting in Craftsmanship

When Rick Howell Enterprises partnered with ITC Millwork, the shared goal was to bring timeless character to a new build at Lake Norman. The homeowner—an engineer with international experience—envisioned a richly detailed retreat inspired by the fumoir, or traditional smoking room. His technical sketches were remarkably precise but written in decimal measurements rather than architectural notation, creating a unique challenge that called for both artistry and accuracy.

From Vision to Execution
ITC Sales Representative Chris Kowal worked hand-in-hand with the builder and homeowner, translating the homeowner’s drawings into detailed CAD layouts to guide craftsmen through fabrication and installation. Multiple coordination meetings ensured each elevation and profile worked together seamlessly. Chris also hand-selected and coordinated every moulding profile to achieve visual balance and continuity throughout the room.

“The homeowner had an incredible vision—we just helped make it buildable.”
— Chris Kowal, ITC Millwork

Design & Material Selection
At the center of the design is a coffered ceiling that captures the historic essence of a fumoir while meeting the homeowner’s engineering expectations. The layout, influenced by Middle Eastern smoking dens, features cherry plywood panels, embossed ceiling tiles, and custom cherry mouldings milled by Koetter Woodworking. Every seam in the quarter-inch TNG plywood was intentionally hidden beneath applied panel mouldings, and the crown moulding was designed to support each panel while creating a crisp reveal at the ceiling’s edge.

While the curved cherry double doors were builder-supplied, ITC's expertise defined the surrounding architectural elements, including the paneled walls and built-in bookshelf that anchor the room's symmetry and warmth.

Overcoming Challenges with Precision
Turning the homeowner’s concept into reality required both creativity and problem-solving.

• Non-architectural drawings: converted into CAD for accuracy and field clarity.
• Decimal measurements: adapted to millwork manufacturing tolerances.
• Fifty-eight unique profiles: adjusted to maintain visual proportion within the coffered layout.
  
• Seam concealment: achieved by thoughtful moulding placement for a flawless, uninterrupted finish.
  

A Modern Homage to Tradition
Every aspect of this project—from the translation of engineer-drawn plans to the installation of precisely milled cherry components—reflects ITC Millwork’s commitment to detail and collaboration. Working alongside Rick Howell Enterprises, the result is a refined space that honors the history of the fumoir while celebrating the precision of modern craftsmanship.

Interested in transforming your next project with precision-crafted millwork?
Contact ITC Millwork