The original house at Willow Oaks Plantation was built by Robert Brodnax in 1818. It was composed of simple, clean lines favored in rural plantation homes in North Carolina since before the American Revolution. The gabled exterior featured a pair of chimneys at each end. Two different roof lines on the rear of the main structure allowed for a higher ceiling in part of the second floor. The original interior floor plan included a broad entry/stair hall between two pairs of flanking rooms with porches on the formal front and informal rear.

Consistent with the traditions of the time, the exterior of the home featured understated yet finely-crafted details such as the leaded fanlight and side lights at the entry. The interior by contrast employed elegant and sophisticated detail, particularly in the formal rooms of the main floor. Wainscoting, fireplaces, and built-ins are clearly influenced by the Georgian and Adamesque styles favored by local artisans beginning around 1800. During the renovation and construction process in 2001, all of these interior finishes were immaculately repaired and restored by Arthur Construction and Linda Knight Carr Interiors.

The addition to the Willow Oaks house was designed to complement the original structure while remaining deferential in scale and detail. In contrast to the existing formal rooms, the new rooms were meant to be more informal and conducive to an active outdoor lifestyle. The addition is connected to the main house by the original side hall. The new rooms include the spacious kitchen and greatroom, dining area, guest bath, screened porch and family entrance.

This new construction is set back from the front of the main house to maximize the expansive views to the south and minimize the visual impact of the addition on the historic main structure. It employs details which echo the style of the main house, with interior finishes featuring wood and stone to reflect the natural setting which stretches in every direction, just as it did 200 years ago.